|
May 04 2005
Metal Gear Acid Review
PSP Game Review | Strategy
| Read reviews & Check out new games
|
READ
|
DISCUSS
 Joytron PSP Sli...
 Pelican for Son...
 PSP IVO Sound M...
 DiGi iNVaDeRS
| Go on! You know you want it
| Summary: Essential!
95
In some ways, the PSP rendering of Metal Gear Acid is actually not as different as some may have you believe. The main characteristics of stealth and strategy are still key and present. The new 'card' style gameplay which sounds kiddy, is actually quite rich and makes for a better portable gaming experience than a purely action/stealth version of Metal Gear would.
If you're having trouble getting your head around the card aspect of the game, think of it this way -- you are in control of a Matrix or Max Payne style bullet mode where you can make microsecond decisions. Don't let the cards deter you, think of them as actions, within each few seconds of activity, there are only a set amount of actions that you can physically take. Whether you choose to move to a new spot, put on bullet-proof armor or crawl under a desk, the soul elements of stealth, strategy and tension are very alive and present in Metal Gear Acid.
Rather than an open-ended style of gameplay, MGA is mission based. As you complete a mission, the story progresses and any extra cards you find in the stage are added to your deck. The turn-based strategy style coupled with mission-based gameplay makes this an optimal game for PSP. You can play each mission in chunks when you have time or set the game down in the middle of a mission.
The ability to plan out your strategy and optimize your mission completion makes the game incredibly addictive. Each turn consists of a random set of cards drawn from your deck, and a certain amount of 'cost' points which you can expend. Basically, this means that you can move, equip items or take offensive/defensive actions a few times per each round. After you run out of points for the round, your enemies get their turn. This may sound tedious, but it is actually quite optimized for mobile gaming, allowing you to think things through and take your time, rather than constantly saving and restarting at the last save point.
The gameplay mechanics and controls are explained over time as you go through your first few missions. This is a great way to get you into the game immediately without overwhelming you with details. The ability to rotate and explore the map, while not realistic, is essential for formulating your plan of infiltration and attack. You can enter buildings and rooms, sneak under vehicles and there are a variety of other strategic maneuvers. Due to the fact that the enemy outnumbers you by far in each mission, and that they have an equal amount of turns, you are forced to sneak around stealthily and strategically. After each mission, you can upgrade your cards and over time your character advances in a variety of ways. This all helps to keep the game fresh as you obtain new moves and abilities.
Our only gripe with the game is that there is no easy way to restart a mission or load a game. You are simply forced to wait until you die or have to restart the PSP. A 'restart mission' option would've made things more bearable.
The graphics and sound do a great job of adding to the tension in each mission. The environments are varied and interesting, keeping gameplay fun and interesting as you advance through the story and areas. Loading times and the fluid way in which you progress all help to make this seem more like a console PS2 game than a portable.
All in all, Metal Gear Acid is inredibly addictive. Beautiful graphics, sound, an easy to learn yet deep gameplay and a riveting storyline all make for a rich action strategy game that is optimized for portable gaming. Take a chance and you'll love it.
REVIEW IT
PRODUCT INFO
BUY IT
| |
Comments
great review. i think u have convinced me to buy it. i was a little leery of the card style but i think ill give it a try.
+
Actually, you can restart a game by pressing X during the mission, going to "SYSTEM", then choosing "RETURN TO INTERMISSION". However, you can't load a different save file while your game is in progress. That would be a great addition for the next MGA game.
Although I love this game and play it more than any of my other PSP games, I don't think it is for everyone. It's great for strategy freaks like myself, but people who like fast paced gameplay should look elsewhere.
+
I have never played card-based, turn-based games in my life. Not Magic:The Gathering, not even FF.
This is the first, and while the first half an hour was all about getting used to the movement and use of various items, it becomes really engaging after that. I haven't figured out how to use the more advanced cards yet since they require a cost of 10 and I have something like 4. Just a matter of time, and i'm taking this one stage at a time 
Good stuff, a must-have game for the PSP, even though the learning curve is less 'fun' compared to RR. I'd gladly trade my NFSU:Rivals for this one any day if I didn't already have it.
+
I agrees with captain, once you start playing you forget that you are moving snake and controling his actions using cards, I always choose my cards wiseley according to cost and effect.
+
It took me about a week to wrap my head around the mechanics for this game.
Since then, MG:A hasn't left my PSP. Now if I can only figure out how to equip an "extra" (like area effect) to a weapon. . .
+
It's a great game. The only thing that drives me nuts is that some events are triggered by standing in the right square. I can't tell you how long it took me to actually walk over to the wall in the residence section and stay in the spot before a message came to tell me what to do next. I wish it would be triggered by going over the spot...
Yet in other parts of the game if you enter the right square a cust seem starts loosing you the rest of your action which really sucks if you are closing in to spin kick someone....
overall a really fun game for stratagist.
One thing you should do is go after all those pack of cards you find in the game. I made the mistake of going for finishing fast and didn't hit all the cards I should of. If you go back the cards aren't there anymore... although you CAN go back to any previous map which is pretty cool.
+
i was SO wary of this game when it came out but its sounding like a must have!
+
how is the replay value of this game if there is any? or is it mainly a once over kind of game?
+
I'm on my second runthrough on the Extreme level difficulty. If you thought that the normal level was cake, the extreme level will provide more than enough challenge to keep you occupied--try the BRC-026 boss level on Extreme... very challenging.
I think that strategy nuts will play this game over and over. It's very engaging... I've been playing this pretty much non-stop while Ridge Racer and Wipeout Pure get dusty on my desk.
BTW, I have NEVER liked card games (Magic, Star Trek, etc). This one definitely does not feel like a card game like the others do.
+
I have to say I'm of a different opinion. I dig games like the original Metal Gears, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, etc... But this one I just can't get into. The first problem is the tons and tons of movie clip garbage that you have to sift through. I click right through all of that. I just don't care. Then the game play seems slow to me with the card input. When the girl at the Game Stop explained the card thing I didn't get it. I understand how it works now but I just don't enjoy it. I want to move the character around with the stick and buttons and controls. Anyways, if I could take it back I would but Game Stop doesn't take returns (too bad they bought EB huh?).
If you're expecting Metal Gear or Splinter Cell then I'd recommend staying away from this one. But other folks seems to like it. Definitely a renter for first time play, just because it's so different.
+
I remember before this game came out and a couple weeks after even, it's rating on 1up.com and other places was like 30-40/100 and now it is at 95/100. I think im going to have to go buy it =)
+
dookiebob said: "Although I love this game and play it more than any of my other PSP games, I don't think it is for everyone. It's great for strategy freaks like myself, but people who like fast paced gameplay should look elsewhere."
I totally agree
+
About how many hours did it take you to beat this game?
+
i got this game before i got my PSP its hella fun i rate it a must buy
+
The game is fun but very frustrating. I get the mechanics of it all its just a certain thing the game does that annoys the hell out of me. After selecting a move card and setting a point to move snake to sometimes a cut scene will come in and after its over you are stuck on the block where you were interupted by the cut scene. In other words if I moved snake 4 blocks and a cut scene interupts after he only moves 2 blocks then after its over he is stuck on that 2nd block and this is really crucial if you are trying to get by enemies w/o being detected. Its obviously a minor gripe to everyone else but this "small" flaw has deluded and essentially ruined the whole game play for me. Where is the strategy in loosing the amount of blocks you were supposed to travel with uneventful and rather dull cut scenes. Over all ifeel that this title was a good concept but poor execution and I'm glad i rented it.
+
register / login
|
PSP411 | Top
PSP411.com is not an official site affiliated with Sony in any way.
Content and graphics Copyright 2004-2008 PSP411.com
All rights reserved. | Contact | RSS
|
5
