Customer Reviews

Metal Gear Acid

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

Metal Gear Acid is quite different from any other Metal Gear game before it. Most of the time when a game in the series is "different" from the others, it's slapped on with a "For Die-Hard fans only." This isn't the case in Metal Gear Acid. This isn't for die-hard fans, but for tactical RPG fans. To put more simply, if you like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy Tactics, this game should please you just fine.

On the other hand, Die-Hard Metal Gear fans may be disappointed that this isn't your typical Metal Gear game. This has more RPG elements, and while it influences stealth and strategy beyond all else, it isn't as exhilirating as the previous Metal Gear Solid games.

Our story begins when a plane flying above Lobito Africa is suddenly hijacked by terrorists. All the passengers on the flight were paralyzed by fumes from the plane. Once again, Snake is called out of retirement because he's the only one capable of stopping this terrorist plot.

Acid takes place outside the Metal Gear timeline. Snake is actually the only returning character in the series. His commander's name is Roger, and he's also your tutorial guide. This may sound great, but it's Metal Gear Acid's first flaw. The card system is new and unique. Roger does a terrible job at explaining things to you. Most of getting to know this card system is because you'll have to experiment with it yourself, and that takes nearly three hours of gameplay, and attempting the same missions over and over again.

The Card System isn't terrible, but it could use it's improvements. Each card grants certain abilities. Everyone of them allows you to move, but depending on the card depends on what you do. For example, a silenced socom card lets you shoot your enemies, a cardboard box card can be equipped to evade enemies and a ration card restores your HP.

Roger also neglects to let you know your cards are drawn at random for every turn. You're also never told you can equip cards so that they're not always randomized. Really, Roger is useless, and don't think the instruction manuel will help you much either. You'll basically have to figure out the card system as you go along, and you may die several times in the process.

Each mission consists of you, as Snake, getting from one end of the level to the next. It starts off as simple as getting past a fence, and then getting past guards. Be forewarned that while this is a short game, it's going to take you a while to complete each mission. Metal Gear has always been about stealth, and Acid is no exception. You'll be expected to go undetected. Likewise, the cards will let you crawl, use stun grenades, flatten against walls and knock on them, and whatever else you can think of.

The game also ranks you after each mission. You can always play through levels again to get a better ranking. Your ranks is based on how long it took you, how many enemies you killed, how many times you were spotted, how many continues you used and how many rations you used.

As you get further into the story, you'll be able to buy more cards to help you along in your quest. Any Metal Gear fan will LOVE looking at some of the cards. Some date as far back as the NES days, others are more recent and from MGS2 and 3. You'll get to see Metal Gear REX and RAY, and even all the different reincarnations of Snake.

Once you get to a certain point in the game, it goes from being just Snake you control, to controlling Teliko as well. She's Snake's ally, and just the same, you'll have to get her through each mission as well.

Later on you'll also unlock a multiplayer game, and it's quite fun. You can connect with other user's wirelessly for some combat fun against one another. You're goal here is to collect as many disk as you can and kill your opponent. There's a set time limit, so you'll have to be fast about it.

Graphically, Metal Gear Acid is one of the most beautiful handheld games ever made. Sometimes the framerate slows down, but it's forgiveable. Also, it's really nice to see the character animations on the cards. If it weren't for the card battling, you'd probably think Acid was just another normal Metal Gear game.

Likewise, the audio is great! The music in the missions is incredible, and the sound effects are even pretty cool and unique. Definitely Metal Gear music.

Of course not everything about this game shines. I really didn't like the slow pace of the game. The cutscenes are LONG and it isn't the classic voice acting that Metal Gear fans enjoy. The cutscenes are LONG and drawn out, and like most MG games, they talk about useless things that aren't important. The good news is you can blow through them by holding down the X button.

There are a bunch of hidden cards, but they require you playing through the game all over again. Metal Gear Acid is fun, but like most tactical games, you have to be very patient. Some parts may not be worth going back to play just for a goddamn card. Essentially, you could blow through the game with just the default deck. But that's not a whole lot of fun, is it? I didn't think so.

Metal Gear Acid is for the tactical RPG fanatic. If you're looking for a more action packed Metal Gear, you're going to have to wait a while. Metal Gear Acid is great, but not for those who enjoy the Metal Gear games for their promising stories, deep characters, and action. This is for those who enjoy the stealth part the most.

This game is going to appeal mostly to a very specific audience, but it's flexible and interesting enough to be appealing to a fairly wide audience if they give it a try. It might even serve as a good entry for some into the tactical/strategic gaming genre.

MG:Acid is reminiscent of Final Fantasy: Tactics, or Tactics: Ogre, or even the Front Mission series. Tactical turn-based play with a sort of 'card' system to commit actions and equipment to play. It's fairly innovative and very interesting, and the MG storylines are always pretty involved. The missions (so far) have been fun and not excessively long (clearly designed with portable gaming in mind.)

Some will dislike the fact that the game has steered away from real-time, full freedom gaming, but I think MG:Acid really focusses on the essence of the game, distilling gameplay to the tactical level and combining it with excellent graphics.

The audio leaves something to be desired, and the gameplay won't appeal to everyone, but I believe that this title will definitely provide good solid entertainment and be a precursor to many similar games to come. Give it a whirl, you probably won't be disappointed.

This game starts of with an awsome storyline as usual with Metal Gear games, but after it becomes a totaly new experience. Being a completely different game there is a tutorial at the beginning which is pretty helpful, but could explain more than just the basic movements in the game. The game may be a turn-based strategy card game but it still focuses on stealth like the old Metal Gear games we all love. U can still knock on walls and the guards still use the alert mode and evasion mode to catch you. I loved the short cut scenes everytime you use a weapon, also the character cards are really awsome, like metal gear ray. Overall i loved this game, and even though it is different i think konami successfuly made the transition into the portable game market

I love this game. Its alot different than the previous Metal Gears but that contains alot of the appeal, to me at least. It didnt take long at all to get used to the new card based game structure. Its one of those rare games that creates a challenge without frustrating to crap out of you. If you like a good card based military game, this is for you. Theres alot of history and character apperances from the previous Metal Gear games as well, which is a nice bonus.

This is a great game but do your reserch all the reveiws say they didn't think it was card based when I want a game I make sure its something I want to buy. Besides this game is great if you have enough patince to sit through the great storyline (wich you should if you mant a stealth game)

I am new convert to the Metal Gear series and Ac!d is the first game I've played. I understand that MG is similar to the Splinter Cell series and so I can understand some of the negativity that comes from those type of fans.

However, that said, Metal Gear Ac!d is one of those rare games that takes a favorite series in a new direction. In this game, the character isn't controlled like a typical platformer. Instead, a series of randomly generated cards are presented. These cards represent various abilities, weapons, etc. along with the ability to move the character.

Movement in this game is similar to most turn-based games. The interface allows the player to determine which direction to move the character (represented by a grid) and what actions to take. This is similar to a game like 'Final Fantasy Tactics' or 'Gladius'.

The card that the player chooses to use will either move the character or apply the card's abilities. So, for example, to fire at a target, the player chooses a target and then uses the 'SOCOM' card. If there is no 'SOCOM' card, then the player can't fire at a target - they will have to end their turn and hope for a weapon card to be drawn. This is where some strategy comes in. The player must be very careful in which cards to use in movement (which pretty much every card allows) and which cards to save for its advertised ability. So, save the 'SOCOM' card and use the 'Claymore' card to move - once again, you can use any card to move instead of using its ability.

So beyond being a descriminating card player, the rest of the game also requires a bit of planning. Snake is up against guards and other evil people and must achieve his objectives. Here is where the player must choose where to move, whether or not to lay prone or stay standing, whether or not to cause noise to attract a guard, etc. This is a lot of fun and requires planning, good timing, and skill with using the cards.

For the Ritalin junkie, this game will try the patience and quickly bore. But, for a player wanting a little more strategy in a game, Metal Gear Ac!d will definitely deliver.

I loved the original Metal Gear Solid; played it through a couple dozen times. So when Metal Gear Solid 2: Son's of Liberty came out I figured it was a must have. It was an "okay" game. Yes, it did everything in the world you could possibly want it to, but the story and playability and fun-ness suffered because of its increased complexity, IMHO.

Now enter Metal Gear Ac!d. Wow! Who knew that a Turn Based strategy card game could be so addictive? It's frustrating, it's challenge, it's engrossing, it's addictive, yet it's simplistic enough to enjoy in intervals, which suits very well to a hand held console.

I highly recommend for someone who is looking for a 1st release title.

I thought this game was like the other Metal Gear games.
But I like RPG, and combine an RPG with the characters of Metal gear and you obtain a completely different game.

The graphics are great, it appears some scenes of Metal Gear 1, 2 and 3.

Old characters appear as special cards (cyborg ninja, roy campbell to mention some).

The only thing I have to complain is that sometimes you have to wait to much for your turn.

You can choose like 200 different cards and there are different weapons to choose including a ninja blade.

The game I think is short because it has like 23 levels
But overall I love this game, it is a cool start for your PSP, it was highly graded in Japan and I think it will have good grades here in North America.

Who would have thought that this series would translate so well to the RPG/Stragedy genre. In fact it feels pretty much like the good old metal gear solid I am used to on the PS2. The only difference is you use cards to plan your movement and you have to wait your turn while the guards move around. This is not as hardly as tedious or as dull as it sounds. The game is just as exciting and the pacing is as slow or as fast as you want it to be. The story is told with wonderful drawings, and text instead of audio. I have to give them credit for bringing the MSG experience to the handheld world without sacrificing what made the game so great. Anyone expecting an action shooter hasn't played the original games, and they also were too stupid to read the back of the game box. If your hesitant about buying this game, like I was, let me alleviate your fears. Any MGS fan will get into this game quite easily and you may find that it even takes the game play to a whole new level. I had alot more fun getting used to the gameplay of MGA than I did getting used to MGS3 on the PS2.

There are obviously two polarized sides to the issue of how good this game is. I started off in the camp of people saying "A card-based Metal Gear...wheeeee". Luckily for me, a friend of mine allowed me to borrow it from him, to experience it for myself (I like to try things before making my mind up about them). As soon as you learn a few basics (nothing in the game told me that another gun with the same caliber ammo counted as ammo for loading purposes), this game becomes incredibly engaging. The strategy aspect brought about by having only 6 of your myriad actions available to you at any time, and those 6 decided by chance, really adds a different intensity to the game. I have played regular MGS games, and this is different, but it's a good different, you just have to be willing to give it a chance. As a side note, essentially this game hasn't left my PSP since it's purchase over a month ago, as it is still fun to play even after I've beaten it more than a few times.