A special forces team is sent to Lobito to retrieve Pythagoras but is repelled with extreme force. With further military action seemingly futile, different options are explored by the United States government. When things look bleak and other options falter, only one man can be relied upon for a precision strike: Solid Snake.

Konami takes the MGS franchise on a tangent with Acid. That's still Snake skulking about the screen with hardened demeanor and badass aura but the gameplay is radically different. Instead of deadly quickness, Snake's moves are now stutter-step on lighted grids which determine range of movement. Weapons and attacks are relegated to the realm of cards. Select a card and watch an attack play out. We're divided on the game this morning but we'll play it to death today and explore it further for more impressions.

From the publisher
KONAMI REVEALS NEW METAL GEAR ACID™ DETAILS

REDWOOD CITY, CA - January 27, 2005 - Konami Digital Entertainment - America, a division of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., announced today exciting new details about Metal Gear Acid™, the first Metal Gear title for the PSP™ handheld entertainment system. Offering gameplay based on strategy and sharp decision-making skills, Metal Gear Acid is a turn-based, tactical espionage game requiring players to collect cards and strategically construct their own decks to complete various missions and objectives. Boasting a compelling storyline filled with new characters and incredible cut scenes, Metal Gear Acid will draw players into an all-new adventure packed with intrigue - designed specifically for the portable gaming enthusiast.

Metal Gear Acid takes place in 2016 on Lobito Island, located in the fictitious Tejan Republic of South Africa. Players once again take the role of Solid Snake, the famed top-secret agent, who has been called out of his retirement when a plane is hijacked over U.S. airspace. Tasked with infiltrating an unknown terrorist organization holding passengers hostage thousands of feet in the air, players must diffuse the situation to save hundreds of innocent lives. While playing through the game, Solid Snake encounters numerous dynamic characters, including a new playable female heroine. Players will have the ability to strategically control both Solid Snake and the new female character to defeat their enemies.

Focusing on stealth and deep tactical strategy, two of the trademark elements that form the basis of the Metal Gear series, Metal Gear Acid allows players to concentrate their energy on planning and executing a series of riveting missions according to turn-based actions. Prior to each task, players will build their deck, selecting a limited number of battle cards. Each card, containing its own unique abilities and actions, is an instrumental component for players to effectively complete their mission objectives. Additional cards, featuring weapons, action and characters based on those found throughout the entire Metal Gear series, will enhance the player's characters and give them a much needed edge over their foes.

Metal Gear Acid also adopts a stage-based system, and players have to fulfill the objectives for each stage in order to advance to the next. After beating each stage, players are ranked according to a number of factors, such as how much cost has been consumed and how many times a player has been discovered by an enemy. Players earn points according to their grade and can exchange points for cards in a shop menu that they can access between each stage.

Rounding out the game are incredibly high resolution graphics and a majestic new soundtrack - providing PSP handheld system users with one of the most unique gameplay experiences in the Metal Gear series.