Is Acid 2 another trip you want to take?
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The first Ac!d title was a PSP launch game and presented a new way for fans to Metal Gear thanks to a quirky card based gameplay system. The game featured quite a number of gameplay flaws, but as a whole, it still created a unique gaming experience that was perfectly acceptable for a launch title. However, the developers reworked all the major problems with the first title and implemented additional niceties in new ways for this sequel.
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Right off the bat, gamers will notice the new cel-shading type graphics. Unlike the rather bland grays and blues of the previous game, Ac!d 2 now sports a completely new coat of paint. All the drab and depressing colors from the first game have been thrown out and replaced with a more vibrant pallet. Environments are now a lot livelier and characters look well detailed. It is, however, most unfortunate that most NPCs are still pallet swapped. Players will grow tired of fighting the same red-vested bald guard and simple robot-patrol bot within just a few levels. But I find it funny that the second playable character, Venus, wears a bright red suit. Not exactly ideal for sneaking missions, but it does display her confidence. And why is Snake dressed like a French man from the 1700s?
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Giving the game a gimmicky edge are the new 3D glasses, dubbed the “Solid Eye.” This thin boxed piece of cardboard comes bundled with each game, housed behind the instruction manual. Unfortunately, there are no instructions on how to put the damn thing together. Because these 3D glasses have a few different pieces, an untrained eye will become confused. It is a total shame that the instruction booklet does not contain any form of instruction on how to piece these paper cut-outs together. Even the downloadable PDF instruction booklet features nothing about putting together this gizmo.
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Once the thing is put together, Metal Gear Ac!d 2 can be played in full 3D. While this is certainly cool and unique for a handheld system, it will give the player a strong headache within a few minutes. Adding more quirkyness to the title, movies can be unlocked by achieving specific requirements in the main gameplay. But these movies can be classified under two catergories: Metal Gear Ac!d 3: Snake Eater, or softcore porn. Many of Snake Eater’s movie clips can now be watched in full 3D thanks to these migraine inducing glasses. But nerds everywhere are sure to enjoy the real life Japanese female models posing politely for the camera. These females will be displayed in about a 20-30 second clip in which they stare soullessly into the camera, breathe heavily, or act curiously with a real handgun. These clips will either spark arousal or fear. Most likely, the latter of the two.
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Besides the new visual style, Ac!d also reworked the overall gameplay. Menus are now much more fluid and easier to control. Players can now move Snake in real time instead of using a move the cursor first, then Snake will follow-after-it-is-confirmed play control. This speeds up gameplay tremendously and offers players a more convenient way to play. However, this also forces gamers to play a little more cautiously because if Snake travels within the path of an enemy, you can not “take it back” and restart your movement.
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Snake’s other movements have now been mapped to the face buttons. CQC fighting, back against the wall, crawling, and knocking can now all be performed with a single button press. Compared to Ac!d 1’s play control, Ac!d 2 is like night and day. It is just unfortunate that the player does not have more input with camera controller. Not having the ability to zoom in decreases the amount of action that can be displayed and the level of detail in the texturing and modeling cannot be admired to its fullest.
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Acid 1 players will be glad to know that a few major annoyances in the first game have been fixed in this addition. You no longer have to waste a turn in front of a door to keep it open. If a character jumps in with some conversation in the middle of a battle, you will no longer lose your turn. Saving and all menus are now a lot easier to read. Kudos to the developers that really took the time to analyze all the flaws from the first title and fix them.
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Just like Ac!d 1, all movement and action is performed with the use of a card. Most cards usually allow for one of a few actions: movement, equip, or immediate use. Some cards are equipped and used when necessary like the body armor that will automatically absorb gun fire. Other cards like the SOCOM or Ration can be used immediately depending on the card played. But, just about every card can also be used to move. If you have a card in your hand that you don’t want to use, then it can always be used to move Snake. This gives even crappy cards a use in the game.
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The player is allowed to use two cards per turn (unless other requirements are met). Each card is assigned a point value. Better cards usually use more points. The amount of points that remain at the end of each turn determines the order in which your turn will come next. This game, just like its predecessor, has a learning curve. To ease this pain, the game forces the player to play through a series of tutorials upon first starting the adventure. While this is a good idea to teach players the rules of the game, it can also restrict them by wasting veteran players’ time as there is no way to skip this.
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If you have a save file from Metal Gear Ac!d, Ac!d 2 allows the player to import one card from Ac!d 1’s deck. This is a nifty feature that thanks players for trying out the first game.
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This game does feature a ton of cards, all of which can be categorized under a specific deck. Decks can be purchased as whole decks or singularly in the card show between missions. The player even has the option to sell cards which can allow for greater variety. However, some cards are just confusing or make no sense. For example, as a main story driven plot point, Snake and Venus retreat to find a sniper rifle. After playing through a level that consists of a few stages, a sniper rifle card is collected. However, I was never able to figure out how to use this card as you must equip it. The game does not allow players to fire a gun that is equipped as they are only automatically used when first shot at. After looking up more information about this card, it says it can be used if you load it with ammo. However, I never found an Ammo Card, rendering my sniper rifle card completely worthless. I found this to be extremely irritating as the game’s story line forces players to find this card, only to not be able to use it.
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Some cards are rare and support previous Kojima made games. Zone of the Enders and even the Metal Gear Solid game that was on the GBC make appearances in this game as cards. Like the trophies in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Ac!d 2’s cards also support a similar collectible theme.
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Ac!d 2’s boss battles and story line are also better than the first game. Thanks to a strange plot line involving mutants, Snake will fight very odd characters like the green bull-type-man-animal that wears samurai pants or the lieutenant who drinks gasoline. The game does feature a number of boss battles, and the Metal Gear fight at the end not only requires a little bit of thinking, it also reveals plot twists in typical Metal Gear fashion.
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Once a stage has been completed, the gamer has the option to go back and replay them, but with different objectives. One objective might be to complete a level without being seen, or eliminate all guards. These revisited levels are actually very entertaining and a well thought out addition the game. Plus, it is a great way to earn extra points to buy new cards with.
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The audio department is very similar to the first game. Music and sound effects coincide with the action on screen, but the narrative lacks voice acting. This is another let down as the game contains a wide assortment of characters from mutants, to a nerdy hacker, or the legendary Snake. Having voice work speak the text on screen would have given the game a more immersive feel.
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Beside the Solid Eye Theater, the game again features a two player link mode via Ad-Hoc. Two players can compete against each other in a death match style gameplay mode. Two players will need their own copies of the game. Also, the cards used in Vs mode directly reflect those obtained in the single player adventure. This could create a massively unfair advantage as some one who completes the game several times over can play against some one who just unlocked the option to play Vs mode (which happens several levels into the game).
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Ac!d 2 also has the ability to link up with Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence on the PS2 through a USB cable. Pictures taken in Subsistence can be uploaded to your PSP and viewed in full 3D thanks to the Solid Eye viewer. This is another innovated feature that proves that the developers wanted to create a detailed game.
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Metal Gear Ac!d 2 is a not only a sequel that is better than its predecessor, it is also one of the better games on the PSP. This is a card based strategy game, but it still involves action and thought. Ac!d 2 is everything Ac!d 1 should have been. The new graphical style not only reflects the more fluid gameplay, it helps enhance the goofiness of the storyline by adding bright colors to the usual depressing color scheme. The plot may be a little strange and the text is not narrated, but the gameplay is rather entertaining. The addition of the Solid Eye and Subsistence link-up proves the developers wanted to craft a game that is worthy of the name Metal Gear. Whether you enjoyed Ac!d 1 or not, you owe it to yourself as a gamer, a Metal Gear fan, and a PSP owner to play this second installment. Ac!d 2 is an entertaining package that will keep the PSP in your hands for hours.
