[PSP]Metal Gear Solid

It's been a while since the last installment of the Metal Gear Solid series, which was Snake Eater on the PS2 on November 17, 2004 (Not counting Subsistence), but we finally have a true sequel to the game, and it's on the PSP.However, Portable Ops is different. Very different. But its a GOOD different. Sort of. Instead of the typical "straight" missions (immediate jump to the next level) you encounter in the previous MGS series, you have a map in which you choose your location, so you can jump to which ever place you wish to go, very similar to Metal Gear Acid.Also, your not the only one on a mission anymore, you'll be helped by your comrades on a mission, which you recruit yourself by managing to get the enemy into your truck to convince them to "Join your side". These guys can help in many ways from producing medial supplies, working on new technical equipment, gathering Intel from a certain location, and helping you on your mission. Each one of these members have their own skills, so its up to you to place them where they appropriately belong. When you bring your recruits to the battle field, it's not like you can have them all moving at once, while the current player is on the move, everyone else hides in cardboard boxes (ahh.. The good ol' box), and when your ready to bring another member out, you must first find a place to hide, then you can start playing the other member.The levels are pretty short, so I tshould usually no longer take no more than 10 minutes, unless your stuck, which can happen quite often. But they're fun, and the levels look great on the PSP. The effects are also fantastic, but rarely you may experience a drop in frame rate in heavy battles, which can be sometimes bad, especially since Portable Ops doesn't seem to get beyond 20 fps. Play Portable Ops for about 5 days straight, then go play Snake Eater, you'll be surprised how smooth Snake Eater runs compared to Portable Ops, but its not fare to compare frame rates to the PSP's bigger brother, so the PSP frame rates are perfectly acceptable.Konami did a pretty good job of fitting the same style gameplay into the tiny PSP, but because of the absence of the 2nd analog nub and L2 R2 shoulder buttons, some cuts had to be made, and unfortunately, keeps this game from getting a perfect score. Because the game utilizes the 3D camera found only in MGS 3: Subsistence, it can be very annoying trying to control it while playing. You use the analog nub to move, and the directional buttons to move the camera, and although this is a much better idea rather then holding down a separate button and using the nub to move the camera, which stops you dead in your tracks, you still have to find some magical way to get the angle you want while your still moving.In Portable Ops, you can only carry 4 weapons/items with you at a time. Yes, you heard right, weapons AND items. A drastic cut from the 16.. Or was it 14... You could carry in Snake Eater. And you cant just take out your backpack and replace those items, you have to go back to the level select screen and change it from there.The story is, of course, fantastic, and the boss battles get the adrenaline pumping. The cut-scenes feature animated art by Ashley Wood but unfortunately, it doesn't please me too much, but I should be grateful there is actual dialog by the original voice actors. It just would be nice to have the original cut-scenes we've been used to. It would also be nice to have dialog in the codec and when Campbell is talking to you in the level select menu. But thats asking too much, is it? The music is also fantastic and fits the levels perfectly and sound effects sound clean and crisp. Overall, this game is damn fantastic, and should not disappoint the Metal Gear Solid fan. Its a definite buy, but if you just want to try the game out, you can also rent it. I finished the game in about 20 hours total (not all in one day, mind you), but it was worth every minute I spent on it.85/100Pros: Fantastic storyUnique gameplayGreat detail in levelsGood frame ratesAdrenaline pumping actionCons:Controls can be problematicMay not please those looking for a shooter