Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Story

The return of Naked Snake

Stories tell of a legendary soldier who, with Metal Gear in his command, had once waged a bloody and brutal war against the entire world. That soldier's name was Naked Snake, aka Big Boss. Now, in response to a world desperate for answers, the truth behind this legend will finally be told in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

The era is the 1970s. Big Boss has stationed his army of men, or Soldiers without Borders, in Colombia, South America. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, as Latin America becomes a key to maintaining the power balance between East and West, Costa Rica has miraculously managed to maintain its peace and neutrality. However, in various regions of the country, a mysterious armed force appears to be engaging in extremely suspicious activities. Now, to preserve peace, the Soldiers without Borders move into action.

Developed by acclaimed creator Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker puts you in control of Naked Snake at a critical junction in modern history. Have you got what it takes to make a difference?

Gameplay

Build an army

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, the latest instalment in the revered series, plays out as third person adventure as you control Naked Snake, journeying through jungles, swamps and military camps. The goal, as in previous Metal Gear Solid titles on PSP, is to get through each mission using stealth as a weapon. The less you are seen or heard by patrolling enemies, the better.

However, you do have a wealth of weaponry to hand to aid you on your quest including a pistol loaded with tranquilizer darts and, for when times get tough, a machine gun. Other slick weaponry available in Peace Walker includes a stun rod, and various types of grenades - and remember, only use bullets if you have to.

You also have a range of close quarter combat moves (CQC). Using CQC allows you to grab enemies and place them in sleeper holds, interrogate them or knock them out by throwing them to the ground, into a wall or at an oncoming enemy. If you find yourself surrounded by a number of enemies you can chain your moves together by pressing the R button when prompted to perform slick takedowns.

Throughout the game you will also have to capture enemies to convert them to your team. This is done by knocking them out and attaching a Folsom balloon to their bodies. Once attached, the balloon opens and yanks them into the sky where they're picked up by a passing helicopter and transported to base.

When you return to base after completing a mission you can then assign these new recruits to divisions of your army such as combat, research and development, intelligence and even catering. Anybody you assign to combat can take Naked Snake's place in the field while research and development members work on crafting new weapons, gadgets and upgrades.

Over the course of the game you'll unlock a number of new suits for Naked Snake to wear too, each of which have various benefits depending on the environment you find yourself in. They also allow you to carry different weapons and items, and feature unique abilities such as being able to move fast and silently. With a vast amount of weaponry and items to unlock, each of the missions can be tackled time and time again using alternate combinations, depending on your needs in the battlefield.

Multiplayer

Fight with friends

Alongside the engrossing single player campaign, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker also features a Wireless Ad Hoc multiplayer mode in which you and three of your friends can work together to complete each of the game's missions and defeat the hulking bosses the game has a knack of throwing at you. It's a fantastic way to experience Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and by playing alongside your friends, you have the opportunity to unlock plenty of gadgets and weapons as well as loading up on personnel for your army.

Of course, if you don't want to work with friends you can always challenge them to a duel in a number of Peace Walker's other Wireless Ad Hoc multiplayer modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture and Base Defence. These are fast, fun and generally frantic matches that add a little extra depth to a game bursting at the seams with features.