Make Sure You Play - Metal Gear Acid

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The Metal Gear Solid franchise is built on the idea of freedom, both narratively, and with gameplay. MGSV: The Phantom Pain in particular presented one of the most impressive sandbox type games, where you’re literally dropped into an area, and missions can be completed via countless methods. Spin-offs haven’t really been a staple of the franchise, but there are a few, including one which shackled you to tile based movement, and instead of letting Snake run free, made him pick a card, any card, in order to complete his mission.

Released in 2004 (2005 in UK and EU) for the PSP, Metal Gear Acid took the Tactical Espionage Action of MGS and turned it into an Active Command Intelligence Duel – aren’t acronyms fun. A jumbo jet carrying a political VIP is hijacked by terrorists demanding The US government turn over Pythagoras – a new Metal Gear. Solid Snake is sent on a mission to a remote island to investigate and help rescue the hostage. The game is non-canon, and Hideo Kojima served as a Producer, while MGS alumni Shinta Nojiri stepped in to direct.

The turn-based-strategy genre is a surprisingly ingenious way to come at the world of Metal Gear. The premise remains the same as other titles in the franchise – get from point A to point B, while trying not to be spotted by the enemy. Utilise a stealth approach to sneak past guards, CCTV cameras and traps, while choosing wisely when to unload a few rounds or choke out an enemy. Here in ACID though, your actions play out through utilising a deck of cards. I know how it sounds...but this ‘card game’ adds an extra layer of planning and strategising to your sneaking mission that means you can’t just leg it through an area in one go. Your actions in a turn are limited of course, so planning a few moves ahead is key. When it’s the turn of the enemy, you’re locked into your position and may be open to attack if you’ve not smartly plotted your route.

Each card can be used for movement, or its own special purpose (attacking, healing, setting claymores etc), and the diversity in the cards (there’s 204 in total) means there’s never just one way to progress. The random nature of how the cards are dealt means you’ll need to adjust your method each time too - what worked before, may not be possible on a second attempt or new stage. This delivers a continuously fresh, but also tense situation that encourages you to use brains, not brawn. Completing a stage can take anywhere from 5 minutes, to 50, depending on your actions and cards. As with many turn-based games, it feels more like a game of chess than an action-shooter.

The game is drawn out, but never feels dull. Being spotted can happen fairly regularly, but it doesn’t mean fission mailed. Once guards go into attack mode, you can use your own weapon cards and take them out. Shoot at them directly, fire at exploding barrels, throw a grenade, slice them with a ninja sword – you’re rarely short of options, so battles can be immensely thrilling. Although you’re more restricted than the console games, limitation is the mother creativity 'n all that, and only having certain cards in hand encourages you to try new tactics. It makes completing a stage feel all the more like you’re some kind of secret agent super genius.

It’s easy to assume a Metal Gear card game for a handheld might have been half-arsed in its development, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Packed onto the UMD are many hours of a replayable game, with almost PS2 level presentation, beautifully stylised cutscene artwork, and a truly bonkers story. The soundtrack is obscenely high quality too, and I highly recommend you play with headphones. Some of the cutscenes – which play out with on screen text (voice acting is limited to short phrases and grunts) – can be quite long, but this is Metal Gear after all. The save system is a bit fiddly too, but once you get past those minor gripes, this is a game that can consume you if you really want to study every last card and “collect them all!”.

Even in 2022, Metal Gear Acid feels like one of more impressive handheld games of an often overlooked era, and if you still have a PSP, this a must play. The sequel’s good too!