After two strategy games baring the Metal Gear name, fans finally receive a real-time espionage game for the PSP. Just because this game was produced on a handheld system does not mean it is not worthy to continue the Metal Gear legacy. Portable Ops has received the royal Kojima Productions treatment, providing top-notch gameplay in every category.
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Portable Ops uses a 3rd person perspective, similar to the new camera system that was implemented Subsistence. The time era is set in the early 1970’s. Six years after Operation Snake Eater, Big Boss has stepped away from the FOX unit. The game opens with Naked Snake being tortured in a South American prison cell. An interrogator is demanding information about the Philosopher’s legacy, as Snake was the last person to hear anything about it.
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The story continues in the usual “edge of your seat but complicated” Metal Gear way, complete with twists, turns, backstabbings, lies, and double crossings. Snake must clear his name by stopping a new Metal Gear on a South American peninsula. In the process, the gamer learns first hand a little more into Big Boss’ psyche and the reason why and how he started Outer Heaven. This link between Snake Eater and the first MSX version of Metal Gear is a highly detailed and well presented gaming package. While Solid Snake works best in solo sneaking missions, the player finally realizes that Big Boss, Solid Snake’s father, is a commander.
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The control scheme will require the most patience. Although resembling the PS2 versions, the analog nub and single set of shoulder buttons require some getting used to. The “R” button brings up the First Person view mode while the “L” button centers the camera behind the playable character. When equipped with a weapon and if an enemy is within distance, the “L” button will also lock on to the enemy, allowing the character to strafe and circle around at will. While in FPS mode, the analog nub looks in the corresponding direction. However, the D-pad can be used to move in First Person mode, a unique quality for a Metal Gear title.
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While the lock-on function may seem a little cheap, it was a feature that really needed to be implemented into the final product. Not having that second set of trigger buttons really requires some crafty button scheming. Luckily, the designers developed a control scheme that works well for the PSP and closely resembles the PS2 versions, a trait that is absolutely crucial to a title of this caliber.
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The game looks great. The environment and character models are very detailed, mimicking the other Metal Gear titles on PS2. But the biggest difference between Portable Ops is its Digital Graphic Novel comic book cutscene presentation. Instead of a real time cutscene, the game often breaks into this comic-like narrative. Just like the Digital Graphic Novel, this art style is very respectable and sometimes awe-inspiring. The unique presentation helps raise the bar in a new Metal Gear way. Ashley Wood’s messy brush enhanced calligraphy works surprisingly well in the Metal Gear universe, especially when they are given that unique 3D touch.
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Each one of these cutscenes works in conjunction with full voiceovers. David Hayter once again returns as the role of Snake and does a fantastic job. Each Metal Gear title sets the standard in voice acting, and this PSP game is no different. But one downfall, there are only voiceovers during cutscenes, not codec conversations. Talking over the radio looks very similar to the text box used the in Ac!d series. Because of the lack of voicework during these radio salutations, I found myself not pushing that Select button as much as I should have. When you are used to having the best voice work in video gaming, it is hard to go back to just reading text. But at the same time, this is a portable game contained on a single UMD, so the lack of spoken text is still understandable.
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Unfortunately, while the voice acting is quite stellar, the musical soundtrack is not as powerful as previous Metal Gears. This is mostly due to the fact that Harry Gregson-Williams was not the composer. While the musical theme does resemble the sneaky action of Metal Gear, it is not as strong as it once was. Either way, be sure to play this game with a decent set of headphones to obtain maximum quality.
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Metal Gear has always been about solo sneaking missions. Portable Ops starts to break this motif by introducing some squad based tactics. Because Snake literally has to face an army, he needs some help on his side. After meeting up with a young Roy Campbell, Snake is given the task of recruiting enemy soldiers to his side. If an enemy is stunned, the player can then drag his limp body to the cargo truck that Campbell drives into each mission. After these soldiers are thrown in the back of the vehicle, they might turn to your side within a few days. Once converted, the player can use these characters as he sees fit.
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There are few different ways to use soldiers. The most obvious is within the Sneaking squad. These characters are the ones that are sent into battle. Once the mission starts, the first character in this four man squad becomes playable. Spread throughout each stage are specific hiding spots to make character changes. The first playable character hides in a cardboard box while a new member of the team takes the helm. Each character might have a specific strength and could work best for a given situation. For example, one character might be able to drag enemies faster than normal, one soldier might be a wizard with firearms, and another could run twice as fast. Forming a well balanced squad is crucial to get the most out of each mission.
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When a new location becomes available to enter, it is possible for the player to send out a reconnaissance team to scout ahead and possibly find out some critical information such as the location of a hidden weapon. This Spy Unit can also work to the benefit of the Sneaking Unit that is deployed there. Some characters belong in the Spy Unit because they can unlock a more detailed map and can even lower the health of all enemy soldiers in that location.
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Characters can also be placed into a Medical and Tech unit. The Medical Unit can restore health faster to wounded soldiers and develop healing items to be used in combat while the Tech Unit will develop new technology and allow the Sneaking team to hold more ammo. If given enough man power, the Tech Unit can develop helpful items such as thermal goggles and mine detectors.
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Snake can gather up to 100 soldiers onto his side. Each character, however, can only carry four items into a mission. Unlike the infinitely sized backpack of Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid, this limited item storage helps bring a little more balance and strategy to the title. Do you take extra healing items into battle, or more ammo? Should you take the shotgun or sniper rifle? Questions like these will bug the player before each mission but will also get the brain moving and strategies flowing.
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Handheld games need to be tailored to fit for portability. This title fits this requirement. Levels are shorter. You can save your game often. And you never really need one long gaming session to get to the next crucial gameplay point. Unfortunately, there is major gripe with this system. Most levels will have the player going in to sabotage something, rescue someone, or perform some other similar task. However, once this task is completed, the player is magically taken out of the level and brought back to the main menu screen. Using this quick exit format does work, and probably works best for the portability of the system, but it also takes the player out of the reality of the game. For example, one mission requires Snake to blow up some supplies to hinder the enemy’s progression. But as I stuck the TNT to the target, I had half a dozen enemy soldiers chasing and attacking me. As soon as I set the TNT, I was greeted with a Mission Complete codec conversation and was immediately taken back to the menu screen. Even though it worked in my favor, I still can’t shake the fact that I took a cheap way out.
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For the first time, Metal Gear is an open ended game. Throughout the course of the adventure, the player will unlock extra side missions that are usually unnecessary to complete, but will be quite rewarding if completed. This non-linear gameplay is best fitted for a portable title, giving it that extra playability factor.
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What would a Metal Gear game be without boss battles? Portable Ops does have some memorable characters but the boss fights are not as polished as its bigger console brethren. This is mostly due to the newer control scheme. Because the player cannot do as much as in the console versions, the developers had to design boss fights with a single analog stick and a harder to manage camera system. Do not get me wrong. These boss fights are worth to carry the Metal Gear name, but they just feel a little watered down as compared to Snake Eater or Metal Gear Solid. But in a way, that is like comparing the Eiffel Tower to the Mona Lisa. Both are master pieces, but are aesthetically unique and strong in their own way.
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Portable Ops as has an extremely detailed online multiplayer mode. Now players can take their armies into combat with one another. Care must be taken, however, as if a character should die, he is dead forever. But the player has the option to put up the white flag, a way of giving up without losing your comrades, if you can spare the embarrassment.
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The single player mode directly affects the multiplayer mode and vice versa. Also, using the PSP’s WiFi functionally, players can scan wireless access points to recruit new soldiers. Playing matches online will also unlock new playable characters. But since all the player has to do is simply scan for access points, driving around in a car to randomly find WiFi signals can become a fun way to build your army. The developers even realized this by placing a warning ad explaining the importance of being aware of your surrounding when looking for access points.
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Jumping into an online game is very easy and detailed. Resembling Xbox Live, the player has the choice to choose which server to join, which game to hop into, can manage a Friend’s and enemy list, and can even send and receive messages. The interface has been crafted with care and deserves a ton of recognition, especially since this is for a PSP game.
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Metal Gear Portable Ops is the first must own PSP exclusive game. This killer app has it all, a solid single player adventure with a robust multiplayer mode. The graphics look great and the comic book art style of Ashley Wood is tremendously inspiring. While the voice work that is present is “A+” quality, the lack of a Harry Gregson-Williams soundtrack is a rather large disappointment. Not too many games piggyback the single player campaign directly with the multiplayer component, so for this unique factor alone, this game should be researched. Portable Ops builds on this idea extremely well. The new control scheme will require the most amount of time to get accustomed to, but once completed, players will be popping headshots more than Hollywood botox injections.
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If you own a PSP, you owe it to yourself to pick up this game. Gain your experience in the highly enjoyable story mode, then move your army to the multiplayer arena. This game will make you carry your PSP around with you wherever you go in hopes of finding a new random access point to unlock a new soldier. Very few handheld titles can force the player to carry around the game at all times while still acting entertaining and exciting.
