Costa Rica, 1974. The Peace Sentinels, a mysterious military force equipped with the latest weapons, have established a presence in the country, a presence that the Costa Rican government is powerless to prevent. Naked Snake and his Militaires Sans Frontières mercenary group have been charged with the job of turning back the threat, which could endanger the balance of power between the East and West...

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker takes the Metal Gear Solid (MGS) franchise in a new direction with incredible visuals, as it sheds new light on well-known adversaries and allies, along with a wealth of new characters.

The game is set after the events of MGS 3: Snake Eater and MGS: Portable Ops. Once again you play as Naked Snake as he is dropped into a series of hostile scenarios, as a terrible plan for world domination is revealed.

This is certainly the best looking PSP MGS offering to date and the inclusion of co-op mode adds another interesting angle. Here you work as a team to achieve your goals - distracting enemies while your team mate takes them out, or sneaks past them; or administering medical help to colleagues, sharing munitions, or providing cover for each other using the Snake formation to cover each other's blind spots.

The game play and control system has been improved since the last game and there are other benefits (like the ability to carry more weapons) that help ensure this is a game you'll keep coming back to.

This is without a doubt one of the finest PSP games currently on the market. MGS fans will not be disappointed.

9

Nick Smithson