AS pretentious, funny and action packed as the Metal Gear Solid series undoubtedly is, when it reached its stunning conclusion with Guns Of The Patriots in 2008, many of us waved a tearful goodbye. Creator Hideo Kojima had other ideas, however, and was already toiling away on a new addition to the stealth-action series.

AS pretentious, funny and action packed as the Metal Gear Solid series undoubtedly is, when it reached its stunning conclusion with Guns Of The Patriots in 2008, many of us waved a tearful goodbye. Creator Hideo Kojima had other ideas, however, and was already toiling away on a new addition to the stealth-action series.

Two years on and the fruits of his hard work can be seen in Peace Walker. Featuring an absorbing single-player campaign, tons of bonus missions, local co-op for two to four players and a competitive multi-player option, it’s a riot of silent take-downs, close-quarter combat and invincible boss battles.

Following on from events chronicled in Snake Eater and Portable Ops, you take control of Naked Snake (aka Big Boss) who now commands a private militia in Costa Rica. It’s 1974 and the Cold War is at its peak, with the CIA and the KGB fighting a turf war in Central America. After uncovering a plot to launch a nuclear missile, Snake leaps into action (silently, of course) in an effort to save the day.

As befits a handheld game, missions are kept fairly short, with boss battles taking place separately. The idea is to complete missions without being seen or heard, with an arsenal of gadgets to help you avoid detection. As well as the story missions there are 100+ Extra Ops to complete, ranging from shooting galleries and stealth runs to extra boss fights. Almost every mission can be played in local co-op, providing you can find a PSP-owning friend who owns a copy of the game.

In between missions, your base of operations is an offshore rig. From here, you can assign soldiers to specific roles, such as researching new weapons or and healing the wounded. It’s a mini resource management game, capable of soaking up hours of your time, and you’ll need to send combat teams on automatic Outer Ops missions to fund your research efforts.

Peace Walker’s controls can prove fiddly, especially when trying to direct the camera, but it’s still a joy to play. From the intense combat missions to some fan-pleasing revelations, it represents another thrilling adventure in the Metal Gear Solid universe.

Publisher: Konami

Price: �29.99

Format: PSP

Age rating: 15+

Score: 4/5 Stars