Metal Gear Acid |
PSP |
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Review by Matt Paprocki |
Konami |
Strategy |
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Graphics: 8 |
Sound: 6 |
Gameplay: 7 |
Overall: 7 |
Obviously, Konami believes that card based games can work alongside any
genre, regardless of how much sense it makes. Metal Gear Ac!d almost seems like a
cruel joke to fans of the series, at least from the start. It takes time to adjust, learn,
and appreciate just what it is. ![]() The mechanics of it all work out, in the end, better than you would think. Each card of course has an assigned value, a specific power, and a way it should be used. Weapons can be equipped or used and dropped. The greatness of it all comes from the flexibility. You can play this just as you have the other games in the Solid series. If killing everyone in a section is how you handle these games, go for it. If you prefer to sneak around, go ahead. You're obviously graded higher and earn more points (used to buy more cards) if you use stealth, but the game can still be completed as a near suicide mission. It's more flexible than is expected from a card game. Everything is broken down into smaller sections, perfect for portability and level design. There are times when it seems you need to backtrack too often, so make sure the area behind you is secure at all times. Elevation in the levels also plays a role. If you're on a lower level than an enemy and spotted, they have the opportunity to do more damage. Have your back turned and to be on a lower level is almost certain death. It makes sure you're contemplating every move you make, what direction you're facing, and where you can go next. ![]() The same set of completely off base characters this series has become known for are all here, including a pair of psychotic dolls that manage to slaughter everyone they come in contact with, all with a school girl glee. It's eerie, disturbing, and Metal Gear Solid all the way through. The story around them (and around the entire the game) does fall into a trap where it seems impossible to follow at times. Everything is done via text; there's no voice acting here from Snake's voice David Hayter anywhere in the game. You can still figure out that it's Snake with or without the voice acting. The model used here looks to be an upgraded version of the one used in the original Solid on the PS One. The textures are clean and facial detail is strong. The animation seems strangely stiff, and that goes for everyone else. Environments are clean and are spattered with an occasional detail, including much needed foliage. Explosions are amazing, especially the particle effect. Accompanying the text-based storyline are still pictures, done in an anime style. It doesn't particularly fit the series, but it's necessary to get the story across. ![]() For being such a radical departure, attempting to try something innovative, and still coming through with an enjoyable gameplay experience, Ac!d is commendable. It depends on patience to really get started. It's not a game you can try for 20-minutes and decide you don't like it. It requires time to develop and once it does, you'll feel happy to spend about 15 hours of your life on it. |