Metal Gear Acid 2
In THREEEEE DEEEEEEE
Published: February 2, 2006
Hardcore fans of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear series reacted in very interesting polarizations when the first Metal Gear Acid hit the PSP. It was a launch title, sure, and comparatively a good one with a nice budget and good production values, but plenty of gamers just wanted a real, full Metal Gear Solid in PSP form.
Sorry, kids, but you're just going to have to keep waiting. MGA clearly did well enough to develop a sequel, but that doesn't mean that the developers didn't take some of the comments to heart. Metal Gear Acid 2 still retains the simple turn-based and card-driven gameplay of the original, but there have been minor tweaks the formula.
For starters, and likely the biggest cause for applause from the fans of the original, the game has shifted to be more action oriented during turns. Snake can move freely to any square within his movement radius, as well as climb ladders and boxes without having to waste a turn. This should speed up combat, something that Konami no doubt supports; though they dropped online multiplayer (you can still run ad-hoc games), a Duel Mode will allow you to play against a ton of MGS bosses, including Liquid Snake, Revolver Ocelot, Fortune, Vamp, The Boss and The End.
500+ cards have been included this time around, along with the ability to import cards from the previous game -- including US-exclusive MGS4 (we spotted an Otacon and eyepatch card, but no clue as to what they do). The cards themselves have one major addition that should tweak things nicely: linkage cards. Linkage cards allow you to stack effects or additional attacks onto an action card, thus triggering additional damage or adding status effects to an enemy. For instance, you can attach a linkage card to your ammo, turning rounds into explosive and in turn incendiary ammo that can continue to damage your opponent after the turn is up.
Aside from the new female protagonist (with realistic chest swaying action!), the maps have gotten a more action-oriented layout (vehicles can move on their own, for example), and the look of the game has shifted rather dramatically to something resembling a comic book. This was done for more than a visual overhaul (though director Shinta Nojiri and his team did upgrade the graphics engine), it was done to complement the Solid Eye add-on that will ship with the game.
After unfolding it and wrapping it around the PSP screen, activating the Solid Eye mode of the game will split the screen into two similar but subtly different versions of the same image. When looking through the Solid Eye, your eyes will pick up the differences and interpret it as being 3D. The effect can range from subtle to genuinely ViewMaster cool, and seeing it all in motion is very, very cool.
The storyline is still something that remains to be seen (unless you know Japanese and want to import the game, since it's already hit there), but we won't have to wait much longer for a translated copy of our very own, and then it'll be updated impressions time.
Sorry, kids, but you're just going to have to keep waiting. MGA clearly did well enough to develop a sequel, but that doesn't mean that the developers didn't take some of the comments to heart. Metal Gear Acid 2 still retains the simple turn-based and card-driven gameplay of the original, but there have been minor tweaks the formula.
For starters, and likely the biggest cause for applause from the fans of the original, the game has shifted to be more action oriented during turns. Snake can move freely to any square within his movement radius, as well as climb ladders and boxes without having to waste a turn. This should speed up combat, something that Konami no doubt supports; though they dropped online multiplayer (you can still run ad-hoc games), a Duel Mode will allow you to play against a ton of MGS bosses, including Liquid Snake, Revolver Ocelot, Fortune, Vamp, The Boss and The End.
500+ cards have been included this time around, along with the ability to import cards from the previous game -- including US-exclusive MGS4 (we spotted an Otacon and eyepatch card, but no clue as to what they do). The cards themselves have one major addition that should tweak things nicely: linkage cards. Linkage cards allow you to stack effects or additional attacks onto an action card, thus triggering additional damage or adding status effects to an enemy. For instance, you can attach a linkage card to your ammo, turning rounds into explosive and in turn incendiary ammo that can continue to damage your opponent after the turn is up.
Aside from the new female protagonist (with realistic chest swaying action!), the maps have gotten a more action-oriented layout (vehicles can move on their own, for example), and the look of the game has shifted rather dramatically to something resembling a comic book. This was done for more than a visual overhaul (though director Shinta Nojiri and his team did upgrade the graphics engine), it was done to complement the Solid Eye add-on that will ship with the game.
After unfolding it and wrapping it around the PSP screen, activating the Solid Eye mode of the game will split the screen into two similar but subtly different versions of the same image. When looking through the Solid Eye, your eyes will pick up the differences and interpret it as being 3D. The effect can range from subtle to genuinely ViewMaster cool, and seeing it all in motion is very, very cool.
The storyline is still something that remains to be seen (unless you know Japanese and want to import the game, since it's already hit there), but we won't have to wait much longer for a translated copy of our very own, and then it'll be updated impressions time.