There’s a lot of reassuringly familiar names in the PSP launch line-up. And if you were to speculate that Metal Gear Acid had something to do with Hideo Kojima’s long-running sneak-‘em-up of a very similar name, you’d be on to something. However, Konami says the object with this version is to tailor the Metal Gear world to gaemplay that best reflects a handheld’s strengths. It’s no good trying to evade laser tripwires or cut the throat of a distracted guard when you’ve got to worry about wha ... more >>

There’s a lot of reassuringly familiar names in the PSP launch line-up. And if you were to speculate that Metal Gear Acid had something to do with Hideo Kojima’s long-running sneak-‘em-up of a very similar name, you’d be on to something. However, Konami says the object with this version is to tailor the Metal Gear world to gaemplay that best reflects a handheld’s strengths. It’s no good trying to evade laser tripwires or cut the throat of a distracted guard when you’ve got to worry about what station you’re at or whether you should give your seat up to the old lady who’s just got on.

So it is that Metal Gear Acid takes the form that is so popular amongst our Japanese friends: the card battler. The game is still centred on infiltration, and evading detection, and there is a strong storyline running through each mission. But instead of being an action game, your plan what weapons and strategy you will use, all through the medium of cards. It’s subtle, see?

In 2016, a jumbo jet is hijacked by terrorists, who demand the handover of ‘Pythagoras’, a project conducted in a laboratory on the beautiful African island of Lobito. There are two complications: The African country’s government don’t much care for Americans and aren’t willing to help. And the jet has a possible future President of the USA on board. With many first resorts going disastrously wrong, the American government turn to the only man alive with the resourcefulness necessary to retrieve the mysterious project. The retired Solid Snake.

There are some advantages to the delay of the European PSP release, too. We lucky people get an exclusive new mode in Metal Gear Acid, a WiFi battle mode where two players can battle it out in an arena in an elaborate, card battling game of hide and seek.

An intriguing take on an old favourite, Metal Gear Acid brings the established world of Solid Snake to the PSP with a brave new twist. << less