When Sony debuted the PlayStation2 Computer Entertainment System, they boasted that it was more than just a game machine and would become the heart of your digital entertainment lifestyle. While we're all still waiting for this type of convergence to actually materialize, there are a few products that at least hint at what Sony was talking about. Developed by Konami, The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 is the first example of interactive entertainment that doesn't strictly fall under the category of a "game". Sure, there are some VR missions to play, but the bulk of this disc is concerned with the creation of one of the finest video games of our time, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. This set is analogous to an "extras DVD" that might come in a two-disc set (Shrek, for example), and contains a staggering amount of well-organized and fascinating documentation.

This value-priced DVD ($19.95) is the most extensive and engrossing "behind-the-scenes" account of game development that has ever been available to the public. The disc is divided into two main sections: Making and VR Training. The Making section comprises the bulk of the disc and is subdivided into twelve areas consisting of 3D model viewers, conceptual artwork, photo collections, game plans, making-of featurettes and sound tests. While some of these features have appeared on other game discs (SSX Tricky and Soul Reaver 2, for instance), they have never been as complete or robust as they are in The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2. While many younger players might be upset when they learn there isn't a new Metal Gear game on here, older players will likely find a lot to like about this excellent product.

The first three areas (Characters, Mechanics and Background) are the most interesting to me, as they allow me to examine in-game models to my hearts content. Using the face buttons and the analog sticks you can rotate the camera and zoom it in and out, allowing you to see all of the intricate detail that goes into each and every 3D object in MGS2. Every character in the game is available for viewing, including various types of enemy soldiers, hostages and NY citizens. There are alternate versions of some characters (Snake and Raiden, mostly) and even an unused cartoon-shaded Mei-Ling. You can adjust lighting and fog parameters, and certain models even give you the option of adding character-specific props (Snake's cigarette or Raiden's wigs, for instance). Ever wonder what Raiden is hiding underneath his hands while he's naked? Well, wonder no more! You can also see how the programmers conserve polygons in certain models. For instance, Snake's raincoat model has no body underneath the poncho! I would love to see this type of material for every game produced, and I'm just thrilled that Konami went to this much trouble for their fans.

The Mechanics section enables you to check out the various military hardware that pops up in the game, from the Harrier Jet to the Kasatka helicopter. The multi-colored reflective sheen on Metal Gear Ray looks incredible and is much more noticeable than it was during the game. Konami was even thoughtful enough to let you examine the detailed cockpit of Metal Gear Ray. Nice! Much to my chagrin, there's even a fully-textured model of Metal Gear Rex, suggesting that Ray might have been intended to slaughter a fleet of Rexes at one point in development. Damn! The Background area gives you the same type of freedom with the games' many 3D areas in both the Tanker and Plant chapters. You can check out the bow of the tanker finally, (there's not much there) or zoom through the streets of a ruined Manhattan. And eerily enough, there's even a full model of Arsenal Gear after it has crashed into Manhattan, just blocks away from a fully-modeled World Trade Center. This was scene was cut from the game due to the September 11th attacks, but it's great to finally see what we were missing.

Other areas of the Making section include Game Plan, which outlines Hideo Kojima's original game plan notes for MGS2. Sadly, these are only available in Japanese, limiting their usefulness to us gaijin. Sound offers a basic sound test that allows you to cycle between different states of enemy alert to see how they affect the background music. Program provides some detailed notes on programming games for PlayStation2 for all you aspiring game designers out there. The Script section provides, as you might have guessed, the complete script for the game. The cool thing here is that there are callouts which describe the action, and it's fun to see how things ended up being interpreted visually. Chronicle presents the user with a timeline of MGS2 development, starting in 1998 and continuing up to 2002. Certain events are linked to material elsewhere on the disc using an MGS-style menu system activated by the shoulder buttons. This is an excellent method of navigation that works extremely well with this set of material, and I applaud Konami for implementing it so cleanly.

A Special Footage section presents two types of video featurettes: promotional and development. The promotional videos show the various trailers and preview movies of MGS2 that were shown at various events, ranging from internal milestone meetings to E3 and TGS. Seeing that very first trailer from E3 2000 brought back a lot of fond memories and reminded me how awe-struck I was when I saw MGS2 in action for the first time. There's even a rarely-seen promotional video that introduces Raiden for the first time that was shown on the day of the US release. The development videos take us behind the scenes at motion capture sessions in which the mo-cap actors and actresses explain the unique challenges they face in this line of work. These are interesting, but I would have liked to have seen more of them, along with voice actor and staff interviews. Finally, there is a Staff section that honors the men and women who slaved away for nearly four years creating MGS2, and an Items section that provides pictures of just about every MGS2 product you can think of.

After seeing this extremely impressive array of documentation, one could be forgiven for wanting to dive right back into MGS2. Luckily, Konami has included a set of five VR Training missions for you to try your hand at. Controls are identical to MGS2, but having not played any MGS in a long time I found myself extremely rusty when trying to play. Needless to say, I got tore up pretty badly. There are five different exercises, ranging from simple sneaking engagements to stealth kill levels. There's a fair degree of challenge here, and MGS vets will likely have a lot of fun with this part of the disc. While it doesn't last that long, the VR Training missions are a nice little morsel to tide fans over until MGS2: Substance hits the shelves early next year.

The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2 is an excellent entertainment product that proves that PlayStation2 is useful for more than just playing games. Anyone who bought Metal Gear Solid 2 would do well to pick this disc up, as its robust feature set and miniscule price tag should find favor with just about every MGS2 fan. I'm hoping that more companies follow Konami's lead and release similar DVD sets, because fans like me are very appreciative of these types of products. With fan-friendly products like The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2, along with games in the Metal Gear, Silent Hill and Contra franchises, Konami is rapidly distinguishing themselves as the premier provider of content on PlayStation2. Show your approval by buying this disc; at $20, you just can't lose.