Once upon a time, a novice in the gaming industry had a dream, he wanted to make a game, one that would hopefully bring some scrath to the company he worked for. The problem was that the game he wanted to make could not be done on the hardware available, for as soon as more then three moving objects showed on the screen, the game console would slow down. He took this downside and used it to his advantage, he decided to make the game based on stealth, rather then run and gun, and thus the genre Tactical Espionage Action was born along side the Metal Gear series.

Hideo Kojima has a very unique past, one that spans nearly three decades, it seems as though every game he touches is gold, be it Policenauts, or the Metal Gear series. Over the last 25 years, we have been introduced to about 8 or so Metal Gear games, all the way from the horrible Snakes Revenge, to the odd Ac!d series. When Kojima Productions announced that the Metal Gear series would be coming to the PSP, it made a lot of people including myself, curious. Then the Ac!d series was born, a love it or hate it type of game. Some wondered if we would ever see a standard Metal Gear Solid game on the PSP.

Let me introduce you to my little friend, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. It's a game that takes place after Metal Gear Solid 3, and is set in the 1970's. The game itself looks pretty good, and promises a lot of features, and provides explanations regarding other Metal Gear titles based in the future. Not only does the game offer an in depth single player mode, but it also offers an intuitive online mode as well.

Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops is set to redefine the stealth action genre on the PSP with an all-new and original storyline, which follows Big Boss shortly after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. In Portable Ops you will be able to recruit your own comrades of NPCs with different abilities to form a unique fighting force known as FOXHOUND. You will use your fighting force in an attempt to hunt down the treacherous FOX unit, which has started a bloody revolt in South America. The returning cast includes but isn't limited to Para-Medic, Major Zero, Sigint, Revolver Ocelot and the very vivacious Eva.

Even though this is a PSP title, don't think you are getting away without some lengthy videos, which are fully voiced; Kojima-san has packed those in as well! Kojima Productions even went the extra mile to include a 3D camera (introduced in MGS3: Subsistence), which is geared specifically for the PlayStation Portable. Along with recruiting NPCs in game, you will also be able to recruit NPCs via wireless access points, each one generates a unique group of allies. At press time, it could not be confirmed if this feature refers to in game wireless access points, or actual ones.

Multiplayer includes a wide variety of environments made specifically for online play. You will also be able to use your single player squadron against others in multiplayer and even recruit and trade new members. Online mode also includes a "White Flag" system, which a player may choose to surrender and live to fight again.

But How Good is It? The game looks real good, and brings a lot of promise to the fans of the standard fare of Metal Gear titles. I can say that this is one game that will probably be a system seller, and a must own in every collection.