IGN: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Review

"Here’s the thing – I could write another nine pages on Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. I could do it with ease. From the missions that have you listening to bird calls to the missions that have you taking photos of ghosts to missions that have you holding people up with bananas, this game is insanely deep. It’s crazy and I want to go on and on about every little thing, but there’s no reason for me to sit here and spoil it for you.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is awesome and you need to play it. It’s not perfect, as the co-op is nearly mandatory in some spots and I could’ve done with a better “how to guide,” but this game is a masterpiece. Not only is it in the running for the title of greatest game ever on the PSP, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is one of the greatest games in the entire Metal Gear franchise."

[N4GAddict]

I'm not surprised, it's Metal Gear Solid 5 after all.

[BiggCMan]

hell yea! a true successor to mgs4. cant wait to play this.

off topic: i was in the process of getting this story in, only this guy must have bin seconds faster!!

[jmd749]

i'll definitely be getting this game in about a month's time, still have a backlog of games till then, including galaxy 2 and GOW3 in chaos mode. :P

[Redrum059]

I luv MGS series
that is all.

[captain-obvious]

i really hoped this was on the PS3

[ReservoirDog316]

Ah, that's just what I did not want to hear. I'm sure it's a great game (see bio for how much I a. love MGS and b. love the story of Naked Snake) but that was my fear when I heard it was a co op focused game. I'm still gonna get it eventually (I'm flat broke right now) but I hate that I won't get the full package of a game from a strictly singleplayer focused series because I'm gonna play it alone.

[ZeroBlitz]

I think what they mean is that some missions are just pretty damn difficult to do on your own. As long as you're good enough at the game and/or try out various methods for the harder missions I don't think there's anything that would make co-op a must.

Edit: just read the review and that's pretty much what he said. If it's too difficult, just check out gamefaqs for some tips or something.

[ReservoirDog316]

"However, co-op leads to one of my main complaints with Peace Walker – and I only have two. This co-op focus means that some of the game is a pain in the ass (if not entirely undoable) by yourself. I've seen a ton of other game critics – folks I know can play – struggle and scream over some of the boss battles in this game. For me, I thought they were crazy until I came to the second battle with the final boss – Peace Walker itself. On my third attempt, I played for 45 minutes before running out of ammo and having the mission called off. "

Seems too impossible for its own good.

[Digitaldude]

It deserves it, an excellent game with some deep gameplay elements.

[UnSelf]

(spits out soda!!) a _|(.6??!?!?

oh a 9.5, sry i was doin a handstand

[Denethor_II]

It happens.

[shoddy]

a missing piece of MGS.
Snake FTW.

[UltraNova]

MGS5 plot:

Snake dies eventually after MGS4. The Patriots (a secret part that was never discovered or destroyed by Snake and company) take Big Boss's (Naked Snake)and Liquid Snake's bodies and merge their DNA into creating the Ultimate soldier yet again and release the new super soldier to do their bit.

Snake's friends have no choice but to bring Snake back to life the same way he was brought into the world the first time (Genetic engineering).

Somehow they manage to bring his life experiences, memories and personality back with him. Snake isnt happy at all. He is tired of the world, of the war.

And once again, left with no choice, embargoes to stop the evil Patriots schemes.

I hope Kojima reads this :p

[ReservoirDog316]

Yeah there's really no reason to tack on an extra piece when MGS4 wraps everything up and ends on a good note. Exploring Naked Snake's untold story is fine. It's untold. But Solid Snake is done. He's had a hard life. Deserves some rest.

[mal_tez92]

I need to buy a PSP now

this game looks too good, but i have no money

[nnotdead]

me too. kind of makes me sad i gave away my PSP to my cousin. :(

[vhero]

The last real MGS game??

[Trey4Lyfe]

scored higher than portable ops and sc conviction! Rising sure has its work cut out for it.

[N4GAddict]

I wonder how much of a role Kojima will have with Rising.

[queerbearandchicken]

won't be too long before Kotaku's Brian Aschraft accuses IGN of being payed off.

[LordMarius]

LMAO

I laughed twice, once for your comment and the other for you name.

[seinfan]

It's a 9.5 RELATIVE to the PSP. IGN has given cell phone games 10s.

@the disagrees
I just think all mobile gaming is awful. I love the MGS series, but even a unanimous perfect score from all the critics wouldn't move me to buy a PSP for this game.

[KongRudi]

Very few peeps buy a console for one game..

But most consoles have alot of good games.
There's allways some good promotions going.
Just check PS-blog/promotions frequently.

In Europe right now, you get 10 free games with the PSPGo, if you register your PSN before September, I believe.
One bad one, Avatar, but the rest are pretty good.

[MikeTyson]

crappy, crunched up controls right. and i have a psp go too!

[bjornbear]

a good game is a good game, live with it.

[nycredude]

I guess you never played GOW Chains of Olympus, Resistance Retribution, patapon 1 and 2, Portable Ops, Killzone Liberation, , Gt5, and on and on. There are alot of very solid psp games. Don't be IGNorant.

[di0medes]

NICE! I can't wait to play co-op.

[N4GAddict]

Me too. I can't wait to use it with Adhoc Party.

[Esena]

Unfortunately none of my buddies own a PSP :(

[Attila57]

Can't wait for this game :)

[HINDERIZATION]

You've done it again!

[V3N0M]

See this is the only game that's making me buy a psp. i will wait until E3 is over to see what psp to purchase. such a beautiful game.

[Ahmay]

2 differ bundles with peace walker..

both r 3000 models though...

the reason why i want the go is because of bluetooth. play with dualshock controler on big tv...

[nycredude]

If you like GOW and Resistance I would suggest getting both GOW Chains of Olympus and Resistance Retribution. Both awesome games and Killzone Liberation is good too.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

To bad I don't have a PSP, and I won't buy it because I'm saving for other stuff.

I will buy the game for sure, but I will emulate the game on the PC (like I said I don't have a PSP, but I will buy the Game).

[LightofDarkness]

There's no PSP emulator yet available that is advanced enough to run this game at full speed, regardless of your CPU speed. And buying the UMD makes no sense, as I'm quite sure you don't have a UMD drive installed in your machine.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Sigh, yes, is UMD, I didn't remember about that.

[Pink_Uni]

i can believe that

most metal gear games really focus on the story, but this one has more gagets and the mother base

things like that literally open the game up to overall more content i.e. being bigger

[V3N0M]

In the video review you can clearly see they put in alot of focus in the story. all mgs games are story driven. it even has flashbacks to mgs 3.

[BrokenAnarchy]

Awesome score, I can't wait to pick up my copy.

One feature I wish it had is being able to play with a Dualshock like Resistance Retribution. That made the game 10x better especially when you hook up the PSP component cables to your TV.

[Ahmay]

its possible with the GO...

[BrokenAnarchy]

Oh I didn't know about that, I don't have have a GO so I'm not too familiar with its features.

[LightofDarkness]

Buying it. It just sounds too amazing to pass up. And it's on PSP, of all things. If there's one thing you can say about Kojima, it's that he never does half measures.

[hot4play]

Can't wait to play this on my Go and complete the MGS saga. Too bad the PSN price is a bit steep ($40 for the digital download, although I think its worth it for THIS game).

Next- Kojima has to remake Metal Gear 1 & 2 (Outer Heaven & Zanzibar missions!) :)

[saint_john_paul_ii]

this is pretty much, the best PSP game out there

[Doletskaya]

Wouldn't it be great if it was developed for PS3 instead of a dying system? In my opinion, PSP doesn't deserve such a great game. And yes, I also own a PSP. Haven't touched it in years.

[kerrak]

PSP doesn't deserve such a great game? Every system deserves great games, go back to your cave!

You haven't touched it in years? Your loss. Let me tell you a few words:

Dissidia, Gran Turismo, Disgaea 2, Badman, 30 Minute Hero, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, GTA Chinatown Wars, Patapon 2, God of War CoO, Persona Series, Phantasy Star Portable, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance Retribution, Prinny, Eye of Judgement, Blood Bowl, Lunar Silver Star Harmony

and waiting for

God Eater, GoW Ghost of Sparta, FF Agito, Valkyria Chronicles 2, KH Birth by Sleep, Monster Hunter 3 + whatever the E3 will show.

[NewYork214]

Dont forget Resident Evil PSP. Im actually more excited about to see more on this game then any other at the moment. but Im 100% positive once i see some of the new PS3 games that'll change

[ForzaGT]

wow kojima has surely set the standard for the PSP game, definitely getting this on launch

[K-man00]

Really. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is definitely longer than 35 hours.

[CellularDivision]

I lold at ppl saying this is the "true" mgs5 lol. just because it is on a sony-only platform.

[Galaxia]

No, it's because Kojima himself said it's the true MGS5. PW was even called MGS5 for a short while.

Glad to see this get a good score. I just wish this was on PS3 instead. I hate playing the PSP, or any handheld for that matter.

[Michael-Jackson]

lol @ you. Have you seen the mock up logo? it showed MGS5. People are just stating the facts... not just because it's on the Sony PSP.

[DigitalAnalog]

Don't respond to this troll. He bears nothing but extreme FUD on SONY and it's franchises.

-End statement

[cranium]

He held a guy up with a banana. Only in MGS will you see wacky things like that.

[bjornbear]

but sneaking up to someone with a gun object of any kind can prove more effective than you could ever imagine! =D

[MikeTyson]

Id wish they would have made a 'true' "MGS5" for the PS3 and just keep the series on that console.

[Bodyboarder_VGamer]

Kojima should make a new IP as massive as MGS if he's not gonna continue the frachise on consoles. I'm very interested in this game but I hate handhelds!

Peace Walker should have been for consoles and the POS of Raiden for handhelds.

[bjornbear]

i wish this would come out on PSN or smt, i so want this game but i can not afford a PSP a.t.m

[spunnups]

I want to play this on my PS3 based solely on the huge screen. Game looks amazing by the way. I never thought it would be this good. Kojima does it again.