8.4

Metal Gear Acid

Ok, here we go; another Metal Gear game and I can tell you now that I was thrilled to get this hitting the desk for my PSP. First things first in this review, this is a hard game to learn how to play and I would say that it took me nearly 2 hours or so to really get the hang of it. Why? With a mind to always pushing the envelope, creator Hideo Kojima has moved away from the MGS that we know and love and this is a card battling game. Yes I hear you reeling back from your computer desk or ripping the earbuds from your ipod away from your ears! 

The way that this game plays is certainly different from any other MGS game. You are Snake and you have to once again come out of retirement and fight the good fight but there is a twist; you are playing with cards! That’s right you are using cards to get through the game in a way that suits the world of Metal Gear Solid perfectly! 

It’s hard to get used to at first but once you accept the fact that you are going to have to combine both cards and true stealth you are going to have a great time with this game. The system just works and integrates itself well in the title, which has reverted to still shots and text as a story tool as opposed to the over the top cinematics and voice acting. 

The storyline as always is perfect for Metal Gear, nothing is as it seems with a Presidential candidate aboard a hijacked plane that is commandeered by two psycho dolls. The terrorists also are demanding the Pythagorus Project from a laboratory they have taken over and are using the plane to facilitate their demands. The story is kooky and introduces many new characters to the MGS mythos so make sure that you make your way through the piles of text as there is a great story there.

There are some frame issues with this title when things slow up a bit but for the most part they all fit together nicely. Combat is complex with the card system and even moving around will take some getting used to. My initial reaction to the graphics was their similarity to MGS 2 which certainly was not a bad thing. The real test is making sure that you always have the right cards equipped for any situation so that you can react in time to whatever is there. 

For me it was a delight to see Metal Gear Acid, I do think that it will lose some players though with how complex it is. Trust me tough it out, it will be worth it. 

Recommended.