Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)

[GeistAE]

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.
Platform: Sony PSP
Developer: Kojima Productions
Genre: Stealth Action
Rating: M
Multiplayer: Online and AdHoc
NOTE: This is Portable Ops. Not Portable Ops+.
NOTE 2: This review also contains spoilers!

Quick story setup

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops is based off Naked Snake from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which takes place 6 years after MGS3's events. Snake is captured in a Soviet Missile Silo located in Colombia. The silo has been taken control of by the now rogue FOX unit, under the command of Gene, who is threatening to attack the Soviet Union with Metal Gear RAXA. So of course Snake, but this time with the help of comrades you capture in missions, has to stop Metal Gear RAXA and Gene.

Story: 9/10

The story is at first confusing like all Metal Gear games but you can easily pick up and understand it if you have played previous Metal Gear games, more importantly MGS3. The way the game plays the story out with the usual twists and suspense and pure AWESOMENESS as all other Metal Gear games do, but this time with he help of a uniqueish cut scene style is really quite amazing. PO adds both new and old friends which is quite wonderful. Some examples of this is the young Roy Campbell, and Para-Medic from MGS3. The only downside to the story is the little potholes here and there, the majority of them are ignorable but you still feel like it'd be a bit better if you got every juicy detail.

Gameplay: 7/10

The gameplay is good but It gets repetitive quick and can be quite complicated managing all the people you can have. Going to maps to ether destroy something or just infiltrate an area is fun, but at the same time is just the same thing on the different maps. There is a bit of variety though so don't fret. The enemy AI is both predictable but at the same time, smart. At first you will spend most of your time in the missions recruiting soldiers for your army by KOing them and bringing them back to the truck, while fun finding ways to knock em out other then a simple MK22 shot to the head, it can be VERY annoying dragging them to said truck. They don't join you RIGHT away, you have to wait a day or two for them to convert in jail so that adds a bit of realism. The gunplay is good and it feels nice, though some of the weapons seem to lack power its still pretty good. You have a choice of shooting in a locked on state, which makes it easy if your in an alert phase with NO PLACE TO HIDEO, the other is a first person view down the sights which makes stuff like headshots easier. Movement and sneaking isn't awkward or anything, peaking around corner is easy and pop-out shooting is there so don't worry. Characters have skills (I'm not going to list them all), you'll find a lot of repeats but you can release ones you don't like. There are also groups you can put people into, those being.

Sneaking: Ones that go on missions.
Spy: They send you reports for side missions, detail maps with a skill, and procure weapons and ammo/supplies.
Engineering: They develop weapons, ammo, other gun/gadget related things.
Medical: They help heal your solders, and they give you medical supplies.
Independent: Basicly a place to put any solder who isnt in any of the before mentioned groups. Lets them heal, or just... take up space lol.
Prison: Its for the guys you have captured who aren't kissing your ass just yet.

Art: 10/10

The art style to this game is highlighted by the uniqueness of its cut scenes. The previous Metal Gear Solid games have had 3D model cut scenes while PO has a very well executed comic book style by Ashley Wood with full dialogue. The general art during play is good considering the PSP limitations, I noticed a few frame rate issues during an alert phase when a lot is going on and I was grenaded, but other then that its quite smooth. The menu is quite unique and easily navigated after getting used to, and you can sort your soldiers by certain details like health or name or stamina which makes finding them easier. Area's are quite decently sized, and they all look good. Soldiers are unfortunately ALL the same looking guy but with different names. The only exception to that is the officers, some are women which are further different in some cases with different hair color, this sadly is a minor thing. Other then that things like the weapons look great.

Sound: 8/10

MGS:PO's sound overall is great. You'll hear a lot of the same things like when you are reported, but forgiving that detail, things like weapon sounds and the cut scene dialog are VERY well done, especially the dialog and sound effects during said cut scenes. The music like every other game is always great, especially Calling to the Night. Aside from that, there isn't much dialogue other then the cut scenes which is fine so no codec talking.

Multiplayer: ... Sorry didn't play it. But I will mention the details and some of the features.

Well I personally didn't play the multiplayer for reasons that aren't necessary to this review. Of course though, there is you usual deathmatch and CTF. Theres also a squad based combat where you pit you squad vs another person's, If your squad dies that's IT they are DEAD... no longer in your game, even in single player. Each of these are both internet and AdHoc compatible. On the other side, there's a few internet related features that are quite cool. Sharing, basically you set up a guy to be sent wirelessly to someone else who also has someone to share by a simple pass by. Of course what you get is hit or miss, but still cool. There's also a scanning thing, basically you hop onto a wireless signal and mash circle until you get a character, which is hit or miss. Its a one time deal to each IP though... so if you do it at home you cant do it again as far as I know. So go Wardriving if you want . A NON-multiplayer feature of MGS:PO is the option to customize your buttons which is really quite nifty.

Conclusion and two complications.

If you are a fan of the Metal Gear series this is a definite must play game. This adds to the already epic story of Metal Gear Solid by continuing Naked Snake's side. The amazing cut scene style by Ashley Wood is breathtaking and probably one of the best points of this game.

Score recap:
Story - 9
Gameplay - 7
Art - 10
Sound - 8
Multiplayer - N.A.
My Overall score: 9.5

Now for the complications. One MAJOR complication is the fact this game came out years ago and is no longer in print. You CANNOT find this game new in retail stores. I personally found my copy brand new off Amazon.com for 80 dollars. Aside from lucky breaks you will have to settle with a used copy if you can find one.
The second complication is the fact that Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops is EASILY confused with Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops+. PO+ is multiplayer ONLY and if you want the story more then multiplayer PO+ is NOT the game you are looking for.