Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Review

Official website: MGS: Portable Ops Developer: Kojima Productions Publisher: Konami Designer: Masahiro Yamamoto Genre: Stealth action Platform(s): PlayStation Portable Media: UMD System requirements: Firmware 2.81 Release date (US):   December 5th, 2006 ESRB Rating: M Rating:

Editor's Review

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (officially abbreviated MPO) is a stealth-based game published by Konami and developed by Kojima Productions for the PlayStation Portable released in the US on December 5, 2006. It is the third Metal Gear title for the PlayStation Portable and the first one to retain the series' action-based gameplay. It is also the first canonical outing of the series for a portable platform (that is not adapted from a previous game), being a direct sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Unlike Metal Gear Acid and its sequel, which were turn-based strategy games with stealth elements, MPO retains the action-based gameplay from the console iterations, drawing heavily from Snake Eater and utilizing the camera system from Subsistence. The main addition to MPO is the "Comrade System". Instead of the solo-based missions that the series is known for, MPO goes for a squad-based approach, with Snake having to recruit his own allies and form his own team of trained specialists. At the beginning of each mission, the player must compose a four-man squad, which, at the player's option, includes Snake himself. The desired squad is then sent into the battlefield. Each member of Snake's squad has their own strengths and weaknesses. While some units are best utilized on the battlefield, others may specialize in producing items, healing allies, or providing intel for each of the game's maps.

Another new feature is the surround indicator added to the game's HUD. Similar to the radar in previous titles, the surround indicator allows players to determine the relative proximity of enemy soldiers by the noises they make. The surround indicator is composed of two circles; the outer circle displays the noises made by enemies and inner circle displays noises made by the player themself. The game also contains a Wi-Fi-enabled multiplayer mode, which is an expansion of the "Metal Gear Online" mode previously featured in Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. One's performance in the Online Mode affects their performance in the single player campaign; the player can recruit and trade soldiers from beaten opponents, or vice-versa.

Additionally, certain multiplayer options result in recruits being removed from the one's single player roster permanently (see below). In contrast to the console games in the series, the cutscenes that drive the story are not rendered using the in-game engine. Instead, they are presented using an animated comic style comprised of hand-drawn artwork by artist Ashley Wood; this style was previously utilized in Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel. The game also features full voice acting, consisting of returning cast members from Snake Eater and new actors. However, only the cutscenes and certain in-game sections are voiced, whereas the radio conversations between characters are text-only.

Our verdict: Just what the PSP needed, this latest Metal Gear delivers on all fronts with an excellent story, a deep campaign, and a complete set of multiplayer features. With all the variety offered in this game including signature MGS stealth action, recruitment elements and a captivating and well crafted story, MGS fans would be foolish not to buy this game - it is truly the best PSP game of 2006 and the best MGS game since "Snake Eater."

Detailed Features

	Stealth action game
	Third MGS title for PSP
	Squad-based approach
	Surround indicator in HUD
	Full voice acting
	WiFi-enabled multiplayer mode
	Animated comic-style storytelling
	Musical score by a number of Japanese composers (Norihiko Hibino, Takahiro Izutani, etc)

Screenshots

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