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The surprise PSP launch title gets a sequel. Metal Gear Acid 2 isn’t fundamentally different than its predecessor but it manages to provide the same quality gameplay and style that the series it known for, making it difficult to dislike it.
In Metal Gear Acid 2, Snake is suffering from amnesia after a mission in Africa. Upon returning home, he is tricked by a person posing as an FBI agent and forced to complete an infiltration mission for his freedom. The story isn’t quite that straightforward we soon learn, but in the process the game introduces a number of new characters and bosses as you learn more about Snake. That said, the distinctive Metal Gear style is clearly present in the game.
The gameplay in Metal Gear Acid 2 is pretty similar to that of the first game. You’ll still have to create decks by collecting cars, then use those decks in battle as you use the cards to heal, attack and even move. The game includes over 500 cards. These range from traps, items, weapons, character cards and weapon cards. To purchase cards you’ll need points which you get from completing stages, though you’ll also unlock some cards in battle. To use weapon cards, you’ll need to have ammo cards and place the weapon cards into the two equipment slots that you are allotted.
The battles themselves are turn-based, and you’ll have a limited number of actions per turn. The cards also increase your cost, which you have to get to zero to take a turn. Some cards in the game can affect both cost and actions. The battles range from destroy-everything-you-see to stealth missions, though you’re allowed to use either approach. The enemies range from typical guards to a giant ape. Further, the game allows you to control either Snake or Venus, a female mercenary, and though both characters use the same cards, you’ll able to customize different decks for them.
New to the game is the Solid Eye peripheral. This is basically a cardboard slip that you place in front of the PSP to let you view the game in actual 3D. As with any 3D effect, using it for too long will eventually cause vision troubles and headaches. Keeping this in mind, the game lets you switch from normal to 3D view at any given time, though the 3D view does come in handy at times.
Aside from the main game, the game includes Solid Eye Theater, which lets you view short clips from Metal Gear Solid games and even some scantily clad females playing with guns. There is also an arena mode which lets you play against bosses from the Metal Gear Solid games. The game includes a two-player mode via local wireless multiplayer. Lastly, you can replay cleared stages to get new objectives.
The game’s visuals have markedly changed from the first game. Instead of the typical Metal Gear look, you’ll now find a cel-shaded style. It makes the game appear like an interactive comic book and gives the Metal Gear series some much needed color. The character models are great and the style is as good as ever. The framerate is smooth, as well. Likewise, the audio is good. The music and sound effects are about what you would expect from the Metal Gear series, though they fit in with Acid 2 quite well.
Metal Gear Acid 2 features a lot of replay value thanks to the plethora of cards available. If the first one didn’t catch your attention, you probably won’t want to put in the 15 or 20 hours it’ll take to clear Acid 2 since the gameplay isn’t fundamentally different this time around. If you liked the first one, though, you’ll be right at home with this game. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Mar 26, 2006
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