Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Review - PSP

8

Gameplay: 8
Graphics: 8
Audio: 9
Multiplayer: 7

Introduction

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is probably this year’s most anticipated PSP game. Directed by Hideo Kojima himself, and developed by the team who created the highly popular Metal Gear Solid 4, Peace Walker has been hyped up as the next big game in the series. So, does Peace Walker live up to the expectations gamers worldwide have come to place on any new Metal Gear game? Read on!

Gameplay

If you’ve ever played a main series Metal Gear game, then you’ll know roughly what to expect from Peace Walker. The core gameplay is the same as that of the four console games, sneak around and try to take out enemies from the shadows, using gadgets and items to help you reach your goal. Using non-lethal weaponry is the idea, with a tranquiliser gun being your main weapon of choice for most missions. Not being seen is one of the big factors in the Metal Gear series, the games generally aren’t designed for fast paced action, and you’ll often find yourself quickly being swarmed by enemy soldiers/guards upon being sighted. Being sighted will generally result in an alarm being raised, so neutralising a soldier before he can set one off can save some trouble. Once an alarm has been raised however, the only real choice is to hide and wait for the guards to give up the search. While the emphasis is on stealth, there is still a small selection of standard weaponry on offer, including rifles and RPG launchers. These will be essential in bringing down the game’s many bosses, whose fights play out in a more traditional manner for a third person shooter.

One of the Metal Gear series’ best features has always been the fact that the games are highly story based, with parts of a much larger overall story being told throughout every main series game. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker’s piece of the story takes us back to the days of Naked Snake once more, in what shapes up to almost be a direct sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Having taken down his former lover and comrade during Snake Eater, a masterful soldier known as The Boss, he is now often referred to as Big Boss – a title he’d rather ignore. Snake finds himself called into action once more in order to investigate some strange happenings in Costa Rica - and you can bet that nukes will be involved. Snake is reluctant to take on the job at first, but with the discovery of an audio recording than seems to prove that The Boss is still alive, he dives straight in.

Peace Walker’s setting is highly reminiscent of MGS3, with Snake trekking his way through forest, jungle, and swamp as he makes his way across the country. The popular camouflage element of MGS3's gameplay also makes a return, with players able to equip Snake with various camo outfits to suit almost every occasion. Just as in MGS3, a camo indicator is displayed on screen at ...