Metal Gear Solid

"It's Metal Gear Solid... for the Gameboy Color!"

Back way when, while very obscure, Konami had released a Gameboy Color port of their infamous Metal Gear Solid, adding a new part to the franchise. It's unbelievable of the amount of effort and content that went into this single cartridge, all to become up to par with it's predecessor. Metal Gear Solid fans, prepare to be pleased.

Gameplay:
While you play through the game, you're going to shout out "Hey, this is like on the Playstation!" which is exactly right. Konami felt it almost necessary to bring the whole game of Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation right into the Gameboy Color. Just about everything in the game, from the story to the stages and tasks you are sent to do plays out almost exactly like the Playstation counterpart, though with a new cast of characters. But pretty much every functionality you seen implemented in the Playstation version was put to use in here. You can blow up walls with C4, you can knock on walls to get guards attention, you can play the VR missions (which, yes, are almost identical map layouts like on the Playstation version), there are security cameras and gas chambers and trip lasers. Just about everything that made the Playstation version famous is in this game. However, due to some graphical limitations, you don't get a sniper rifle or Stinger missile launcher.

Ok, enough rambling about how similar it is to the Playstation counterpart. You're probably wondering if this actually delivers. After all, you could just cram everything "Metal Gear" into a game, and execute it poorly. However, this game doesn't do the slightest. The action and stealth in this game is top notch. You'll be mashing that D-Pad trying to press against the wall to avoid the security cameras from spotting you. You'll be rushing to knock out that guard to move on to the next section. For a Gameboy Color game, being the only of it's kind, Metal Gear Solid feels like a stealth game, runs smoothly, and isn't the standard "platformer" or "Pokemon adventure". It's simply brilliant.

Boss battles are really cool, and take a lot of thinking to beat. There are a lot of puzzles you need to solve in the game, which can be quite challenging. Fans of Metal Gear Solid should feel right at home and can easily get started with this game.

Story:
As I said before, this game is very reminescent of the classic Metal Gear Solid. There are several new characters, though, have similar personality and stories that are like the Playstation counterpart. And, although there are no voice overs, the writing for this game is ridiculously awesome. The dialogs and cutscenes that occur in the game are well written, and is geared to please all the fans.

Terrorists have their hands on Metal Gear Gander on a remote facility and you're sent in to take them out, just like you did before. Though this plot is simple, it didn't fail the original Metal Gear Solid.

Graphics:
It's a Game Boy Color game, the graphics are blah blah blah blah.

That's all I've been hearing about the graphics for this game. That's complete nonsense. The frame count on all of the sprites are ridiculous, and though the only have 3-4 colors a piece, they are beautifully animated. Snake actually does look like he's punching, shooting, and falling over. The cutscenes are beautifully animated.

Wait, what was that? Not only does this game have detailed, well animated sprites, but CUTSCENES? Yes, that's right. Yoji Shinkawa's beautiful original art fills these cutscenes with the top-notch movie style dialog. I mean, it doesn't get any better than this on a Game Boy Color game.

The backgrounds at times can be quite bland, but are typically pretty detailed. The style of art remains "clean" and not over the top, which is pretty neat.

As I said before, just looking at these sprites, you can immediately see the effort they put into making it look identical to the PSX counterpart. Really cool stuff.

Sound:
<beep beep>

This is Snake!

Yup, that's right, the Codec sound is in here. Your feet make noises in the mud and clink on the metal. Explosions and weapons sound just right. Did I mention, there's also the infamous "!" sound effect when you're spotted? Heck yeah, this game has it all.

They also put a lot of work in the sneaking music. They are pretty memorable, and, honestly, might actually outdo the tunes in the PSX counterpart. Boss battle theme songs, the Alert tune, cutscene music.... this game aims to please. And these aren't just "run of the mill" tracks. The Alert theme is the actual Alert theme from Metal Gear Solid Integral.

Content/Replayability:

Don't get me started. First off, the single player campaign alone should take you about 20+ hours, but, that is if you are reading the cutscenes and trying to get a good rank. But that's not the end of it. You also get VR Missions. And no, Konami didn't cut short off these either. It's not like they only included Weapon mode and Sneaking mode. There's several hundred levels that this game has to offer, each, challenging in their own sense, much like the original. Granted, you won't get to be the Cyborg Ninja, but it's still pretty satisfying.

But wait, there's more! There's a Stage Select option, so that you can go back to your favorite levels (something I wish Metal Gear Solid would have today). Not only that, but you also get challenge levels. There's this "Donkey Kong" level where you have to dodge barrels. Don't. Ask....

Wait, we're not done! If you have a friend who has this game (which, given the obscurity of this game, isn't likely), and you have a link cable and such, there's a VS mode! Yeah! Though, I'm not very familiar with it, it does involve stealth and collecting data disks or something. Player one is "Blue Snake" and Player two is "Orange Snake". There's also a feature in it that renders the player invisible until they enter their line of sight, which, preserves the element of stealth. Not like you'll be playing VS mode, but it's there for extras.

As for unlockables, there isn't much. There is a Sound Test mode in which you can unlock after beating the hundreds of VR missions. It's great to listen to the sound effects and music tracks played in game.

Conclusion:
I just have to say, that this game is the most insane Game Boy Color game out there on the market. You've got the whole genius Metal Gear Solid writing, the VR missions, the sneaking and the weapons, the sound effects and music, just about everything is packed in this small cartridge. I don't remember the last time I ever spent over 100+ hours playing a portable game. Metal Gear Solid (or Metal Gear Ghost Babel) feels like a complete, perfect version of a pocket Metal Gear Solid. It's pretty much puts all other Game Boy Color games to shame.

Rent or Own? Definitely own. Buy the game off eBay. It's seriously worth it, no matter how much you pay.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/16/09

Game Release: Metal Gear Solid (US, 04/24/00)