Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker TGS 09 demo impressions

SO by now you’ve probably heard that the Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker demo for the PSP is available on IGN right now. And if you’re anything like me you downloaded it the second you could put your recently exploded head back together.

The demo is very short to be sure, but it does show off quite a lot of what gamers can look forward to next year. For starters the cutscenes are fully voiced and animated in the motion comic book style from Snake’s previous PSP outing, Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops. The overall presentation of the game is excellent, even the user-interface looks slick and is easy to use despite being in another language. 

The most noticeable change is the controls, especially the camera movement. Similar to Resistance Retribution, Peace Walker allows the player to control the camera with the face buttons (circle, triangle, x and square). I was worried that this new control scheme may make the game more action orientated, but this layout is actually quite accommodating to stealth as well. Snake has also worked out how to go prone and walk slowly instead of crawling on his belly which makes sneaking much speedier affair.

Another addition to the Peace Walker is the camo-index that was first used in Metal Gear Solid 3. Though the system seems much more simple here, and there doesn’t appear to be any option to change your camouflage type while in the game, it still adds another layer of gameplay. The demo also has four different types of outfits (Naked, Jungle, Sneaking and Battle) for Snake, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Battle outfit for example gives you more weapons and armour but makes sneaking much more difficult.

While the introduction level and the first real mission gave me some insight into the game it wasn’t until repeat play throughs that I full appreciated what Peace Walker has to offer. For instance, in the second level of the demo the third area has a log lying next to a river as well as one stationary and two patrolling soldiers. Trying to earn an S-rank I worked out my stealthy plan of attack – the first step was tapping down on the D-pad to go prone and then going down to the riverbank while one of the patrolling guards was walking away from me. I continued in my prone position for as long as I could beside the log that separated me from my foe’s route and quickly dropped to the ground just as he turned around by holding the down button on the D-pad. My camo index went up to around 85%, so to him I was invisible.

As he walked past I released the down button and went back to being prone, then I continued on my path and came up behind a tree with the stationary guard on ther other side of it. Dropping to the ground again, so as not to alert the second patrolling guard, I used the new camera controls to see both patrolling guards movements and when the coast was clear I went back to prone and snuck off silently, then quickly shuffled off to area’s exit.

This one section can be played out so many ways. For example I could easily knock out one of the bad guys with either CQC or the tranquilliser pistol, then attach a Fulton balloon to their body called which sends knocked out baddies flying into the air and out of sight. Then again I could always come in guns blazing with the battle armour and not worry about any of this. Or in a new twist for the series, I could invite a friend to join in and help me take everyone down in complete silence.

Peace Walker isn’t the first Metal Gear game to go online, but it does have a unique take on this particular feature. From what I’ve seen and read players can host or join games with other owners of this demo and have them help you. The first level is totally solo, the second area supports up to two-players and the third can be played by four-players. Having four different Snakes in one level may sound like overkill, but the third area of this demo has Snake attempting to take down a tank, so really you need all the help you can get. Even with the Battle suit and a lot of practice it’s still not an easy task to do alone. 

Unfortunately seeing as I’m the only PSP owner I know and certainly the only one I know who would bother player a Japanese demo of an upcoming PSP game it’s impossible for me to test the CO-OP modes. But regardless, I can tell how much fun this game would be with friends and can’t wait to give the new CO-OP mode a spin. The demo only supports playing locally via Ad Hoc, but hopefully (and most like it will) the full game will have full online support.

Some of my fears for this game have been alleviated with this demo while others have only been slightly eased. For one thing I’m glad that this game is Kojima’s priority and that from what I’ve played and seen it will most likely be another brilliant addition to this incredible series. What worries me is the possible dependence on finding help from other players to beat certain areas.

While the tank level is the only level that makes me think this way, and I’m almost certain that it’s only going to be “challenge map” of sorts rather than a real “story mission”, I just don’t want my single-player experience to be interrupted by the need to seek out help. Hopefully these two worlds will be kept separate enough that the game will be awesome with just one player and a different kind of fun with a larger group, much like Portable Ops.

Peace Walker was always on my radar. From the first trailer right up til now this game is quite possibly my most anticipated title. While I do still have some concerns over where the series is headed I have a lot of faith in Kojima and his team and I’m confident Peace Walker will be an awesome game that was well worth the wait.