A Metal Gear game with a new interesting twist. (Full review inside)
My Score system does not work like GS, this is how i mark it:
1 - So bad you want to remove your eyes, ears and other facial features from your body using some sort of kitchen utensil
2 - Abysmal
3 - terrible
4 - Bad
5 - Below average
6 - Average
7 - Good
8 - Really good
9 - Great
10 - Total Perfection (varies, if a package such as Orange Box, 10 may go for value of money for example) This grade has never, and most likely never been awarded to a game iv reviewed.
QUICK NOTE:
I would like to note that this IS NOT A METAL GEAR SOLID GAME. Solid is not in the title, so dont expect the same trademark gameplay. This is METAL GEAR ACID. Like i said earlier, SOLID is not in that title. Dont go rushing to buy this game if your expecting a MGS game, its not one of them.
Now to business:
GRAPHICS
MGA's graphics are surprisingly good. The character models are clear and well animated and very detailed for a hand held game. The environments are equally as well detailed. Unfortunately, there are no proper cutscenes that the MG series is known for, and instead has basic in game cutscenes or still image scenes with a lot of text. This doesnt really matter because it still does the job of telling a pretty good story. 8/10
SOUND
You will instantly notice that MGA has no voice acting at all. It is entirely text based. This may be a let down to some, but it gives me a nostalgic feeling from when MG was just MG. Personally, i like it like this. The sound effects are really good. All the guns sound different, and sound like they really have a punch in them...even if they suck, such as the AKA 74 U. The music is also great. Its what you would expect from any MG game, and it just adds to the overall experience of the game. 8/10
CONTROLS
The controls for the most part are good. There is a in depth tutorial that tells you how to do pretty much everything. However, one of my pet hates in games is when X is cancel and O is enter. I often selected to end a turn instead of moving because of the mix up in buttons.In its defense however, this only ever happened when i had just came off a different game and was used to the conventional methods. 7/10
GAMEPLAY
MGA is a Turn based Strategy Tactical Espionage Action Card Collecting Game...try saying on a Saturday morning. As the long game type title suggests, this is not a standard MG game. Instead of walking around sneaking a gunning people in real time, your running around gunning and sneaking in using a turn based method and the addition to cards. This may sound weird but it works. You will often be put in a tricky situation that is on par with any situation in a MGS game. This makes the play different, but feel right at home. There are over 200 cards in MGA all with different effects and abilities. Part of the fun is making a deck that can effectively counter any threat. Of course, thats not possible because of limited Deck Space and enemy tactics. But you can always try eh? :)
You can take control of Snake, and early on also gain control of Teliko who is a member of HRT and a former friend/pupil of Roger, who is your mission director guy. This means you have 2 decks to customize which to some people means double the fun. The story in MGA is also pretty good. Although its all in text, it retains the MG awesomeness that Kojima is so good at doing.
On a down side though, you may find your self waiting for a long time trying to wait for your character to draw the right cards for the right situation, which can really be a pain in the backside on certain missions. 8/10
OVERALL
MGA takes the MG in a new direction and pulls it off remarkably well. Of course, not everyone will enjoy this title because of its change of pace. However, those of you who enjoy turn based strategy games and are a fan of MG will love this. For £6($12) its a bargain.
I give Metal Gear Acid a commendable 8/10, but as mentioned, do not go near if you don't like Turn Based Strategy genre.