Not sure how old you are, but I was a senior in high school when Atlas Shrugged was released and you know what everyone was saying? While Ayn Rand’s previous work, The Fountainhead was considered exceptional, they were ripping Atlas Shrugged apart. While it was obvious that most of them had an issue with the powerful ideas that were presented in the book, often the criticism would be the way the story was presented.

Atlas Shrugged is a very long book. There are parts which seem to be long to the average reader, especially the sixty-page speech made by a character near the end. Likewise some of the dialogue by the heroes seem very unreal and by the time you get half-way in, things start getting more bizarre when the events that have and will take place are somewhat revealed.

In comparasion, Sons of Liberty has faced similar scrutiny. The game was meant to be a message about the gaming industry’s reliance on game sequels as well as a philosophical look at digital statism as well as free will. Sure, there are long cutscenes but like Atlas Shrugged, they have their purpose. Sure, the plot is somewhat inconclusive but like Atlas Shrugged, the author meant for the reader to use reason to make the right conclusion. Atlas Shrugged was never meant to have a sequel. Neither was MGS2.

Over time, people decided to ignore the pundits and critics and decide for themselves. Atlas Shrugged is now one of the most sold American novels. Sons of Liberty is out of print but there seems to be a much larger understanding of it now than in 2001 when everyone was complaining about not being able to play as Solid Snake. Talk about fanboys.

I do agree though that the storyline did turn for the worst but this actually started with MGS3: Snake Eater. MGS4: Guns of the Patriots hit the nail on the coffin though. Why Hideo Kojima decided to go against his wishes and continue the series is beyond me. His literary genius is now a thing of the past in titles such as Sons of Liberty and Policenauts.