Metal Gear Solid (PS Vita): Review

Metal Gear Solid is one of the most successful games of all time. Its success is derived from the uber macho game mechanics that include weapons focused on overkill. Some of the most fun moments of the game come from the well built multiplayer options. The PlayStation Vita release of the game, which coincides with the game’s 25th anniversary, has created quite a bit of buzz among the online gaming community. Let’s take a look at how this game has been adapted for the unique features of Vita.

Image credit: officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk

Konami has put a lot of effort in to modernizing the game to gel well with the Vita’s high-density crisp display. The remastered graphics are a pleasure to use and the amount of content generated for the handheld is truly worthy of mention. This collection of Metal Gear games does not include Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker which is available on the Play Station Portable even though both editions are priced equally. That’s a small price to pay considering the rest of the game has been optimized to include the touch screen features of the Vita.

Keeping with tradition, Solid Snake and Big Boss focus on missions that emphasize stealth rather than out and out blasting. The variety of ways that you can complete missions has always been fundamental to the charm of this series and is apparent in this version too. The quirky dialogue and silly Easter eggs mixed with the game’s serious tones put it in a different class from other third person shooters. 

Some of the new inputs that take advantage of Vita’s new hardware include features to make up for the missing second pair of shoulder buttons. Swiping the screen allows you to peek around corners, while maintaining contact with the touch screen allows you to zoom the camera during cutscenes. Swiping up and down lets you zoom in and out when you use binoculars or rifle scopes. 

Vita’s rear touch pad has different functions in each of the Metal Gear games. For example, swiping to the left or the right moves the character one step in the respective direction in Metal Gear Solid 2. Pinching outward make Snake stand on tiptoe. Swiping downward with two fingers initiates a pull up while hanging and swiping left or right lets the character shimmy in either direction. 

There is one Vita-specific input that does not work well. In Metal Gear Solid 3, you use the back touch pad to initiate a knife attack when you are using a knife. Tapping the left or right touchpad lightly initiates these attacks. If you favor the knife as an attack weapon, you will find it difficult to play on the Vita as avoiding the back touchpads and gripping the Vita tightly are tough propositions. 

Another nice feature that this game supports is “transferring”. It allows you to share saved games between your PS3 version of the game and the Vita version using either a USB or the cloud. This port to the PS Vita is a welcome addition to Vita’s scant lineup of good quality Vita specific games.