Real Metal Gear Solid Bound for PSP

After more than a year into the portable's life, the PSP is finally going to see a true Metal Gear Solid game. First screens.

Metal Gear star Snake has been a regular on the PSP since its debut in Japan at the end of 2004, but his exploits on Sony's portable have been relegated to quirky, card-based tactical games far removed from the games the character is best known for. But Konami is at last set to fix this with a brand new game for the PSP called Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

The game is set to act as a missing link of sorts, tying together the events from the '60s seen in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and the more modern happenings in Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

The story, which has been realized by artwork done by acclaimed comic artist Ashley Wood, will also reveal some of the backstory that fuelled the first two games in the series.

Simply slapping the console game onto the PSP won't work, though, so Konami has gone back to rework the game's camera system. You'll play through the game in third-person perspective, which the company says gives you a better eye on the action.

The developers have also added a new squad-like mode. It works something like this. While you're playing through the singleplayer parts of the game you'll be able to recruit characters. Once you go online, you can use the force you've amassed or trade with other players online for more characters.

Konami says it also has a host of other plans in the offing. One thing it's not talking about yet is when we'll see it, but we should hear more on this later in the year.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games