Metal Gear Acid 2
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| Metal Gear Acid 2 | |
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| Developer(s) | Kojima Productions |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Designer(s) | Shinta Nojiri (director) |
| Series | Metal Gear (non-canonical) |
| Engine | Metal Gear Acid |
| Release date(s) |   December 8, 2005 (JP) (HK) March 21, 2006 (NA) April 1, 2006 (KR) May 19, 2006 (EU) |
| Genre(s) | Stealth Action, CCG |
| Mode(s) | Single-player (Story, Arena), multiplayer (Wireless Battle, ad-hoc only) |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (M) CERO: 15+ BBFC: 15 OFLC (AU): M |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Portable |
| Media | UMD |
| System requirements | PSP Firmware 2.00 (JP) PSP Firmware 2.60 (US) |
| Input | 'Solid Eye' Visual Add-on |
Metal Gear Acid 2 (rendered Metal Gear Ac!d², abbreviated MGA2) is a video game developed by Kojima Productions and published by Konami for the PlayStation Portable. As the sequel to Metal Gear Acid, it establishes the Acid games a separate franchise from the main Metal Gear Solid series. MGA2 uses the same turn-based strategy and trading card-based system as the original MGA. The presence of a superscripted "2" next to the game's logo is a reference to the upgradable card system, resulting in more than twice the number of cards than the original game. As from the first game, ACID stands for "Active Command Intelligence Duel."
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[edit] Story
Metal Gear Acid 2 is a direct sequel to the original Metal Gear Acid, featuring a new storyline based on the gameplay of the first. While the game does feature some story elements of the previous Acid, the plot is not significantly connected.
Metal Gear Acid 2 begins with Snake, a young woman named Consuela Alvarez, and two pilots named Dave Copeland and Roddy Louiz, flying into the United States illegally when they are arrested by FBI SWAT Teams. After being caught, Snake is pressed into a mission by his captor, an FBI agent named Dalton. Snake agrees to the job to free his friends and clear his name with Dalton. Snake's initial objective is to infiltrate a research facility operated by SaintLogic (Pronounced StrateLogic as in Strategy Logic), a military arms manufacturer, located on an isolated North American island. Dalton is investigating SaintLogic for inhuman actions towards children, and utilizes Snake's abilities to infiltrate SaintLogic and uncover the truth behind their business practices.
Shortly into Snake's mission, Dalton's authority is exceeded by General Wiseman, an official with the United States Department of Defense. Snake slowly learns that Wiseman's involvement is in response to a SaintLogic executive, named Thomas Koppelthorn, who has made demands that the United States release several prisoners and has threatened to use nuclear weapons. Wiseman proceeds to offer Snake information regarding his past in return for Snake's assistance in eliminating the present SaintLogic threat. Snake teams with Venus, Wiseman's own operative, and together they search SaintLogic for Koppelthorn. Soon after, a test is initiated, and Snake becomes aware that SaintLogic has developed a Metal Gear which Koppelthorn has taken control of. It later becomes evident that Koppelthorn is seeking revenge for an incident that occurred three years before, and among his demands are that the United States release Snake to him. General Wiseman constantly comments on a Lucinda File, which he wants Venus to obtain. As Snake and Venus search SaintLogic's research facilities, they encounter a researcher, Dr. Takiyama, and a young girl, Lucy, who proceed to join Koppelthorn's scheme. Before crossing to the building where Koppelthorn is located, Snake and Venus are met by Metal Gear Kodoque from the first Acid which was rescued before being destroyed during the events of the last game.
Upon finally meeting with Koppelthorn, Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh, Lucy, and Dr. Takiyama, Snake and Venus learn that Koppelthorn has been 'resurrecting' his wife in the form of a young girl, Lucy. Before the final fight against Koppelthorn, it is revealed that Snake is actually a Model 3 Test Subject who was created in SaintLogic labs by Koppelthorn's wife. Snake then learns that he is a clone of Solid Snake, who SaintLogic recovered after the Lobito Incident. Snake was sent to Serena to quell an uprising of Model 2 subjects, better known as the Praulia Massacre. The Lucinda File is unmasked to be a log of the events of the incident in Serena. After Snake and Venus defeat Koppelthorn, Lucy reveals herself to not actually be a rebirth of Lucinda Koppelthorn, but rather her own being with the consciousness of Lucinda. Lucy then declares the truth about Lucinda, who had helped Snake to escape SaintLogic and wanted to die because of her inhumane actions. Lucy kills Tom Koppelthorn and takes control of Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh acting on her true nature of being test subject designed to kill. Snake and Venus must once again defeat Chaioth Ha Qadesh and Lucy as well.
Snake and Venus next learn that the SaintLogic facility is wired with explosives, and learn the location of Dr. Takiyama as well as the Lucinda File. After recovering both, Venus pulls a gun on Snake at Wiseman's command. Wiseman announces that he was responsible for the Praulia Massacre because he wanted to hurry along the project with a field test. An ethnic uprising that was occurring in Serena at the time was an opportune time to test the SaintLogic subjects. This initial test did not provide sufficient information concerning the limits of the test subjects, and Wiseman ordered for the subjects to be pushed to their limits. After the massacre, Wiseman arranged for Snake to flee to the United States. Dalton was informed of Snake's entering the country and, as desired by Wiseman, apprehended Snake. Wiseman's original plan was for Dalton and Snake to attempt to infiltrate SaintLogic but become tangled in the facilities guards. At this time Wiseman was to have Venus work her way through SaintLogic and recover the Lucinda File, and place any blame on Dalton and Snake. Venus is then revealed to be a test subject, newer than Snake, who was placed in the care of Wiseman after the activities in Serena. Snake learns that Venus was the cause of his amnesia, as she had shot him during the Praulia Massacre. Snake and Venus duel and, following Venus's defeat, work their way out of the SaintLogic buildings with Dr. Takiyama. Venus and Dr. Takiyama escape however Snake is trapped inside. Venus and Takiyama escape the building safely, and outside SaintLogic witness Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh return to life. The US military, which has been called in to secure SaintLogic, fires upon Metal Gear and a missile from its rear launches, and lands in the ocean a short distance away. It is revealed in a cutscene that Snake was in the launcher instead of a missile and utilized it to escape, breaking most bones in his body. He recovered extremely quickly.
The game ends with Dr. Takiyama and Venus safely recovering from the SaintLogic incident, with General Wiseman arrested and facing charges of war crimes. Snake is confronted by Dalton, who provides him with a United States identity, his friends, and $15 million.
In the US version, several illustrations that accompany the end credits show what happens to the game's main characters after the incident. Wiseman is shown being led away by law enforcement personnel, but his manner remains undaunted, implying perhaps that there is yet a way for him out of his predicament. Dalton gets dressed down by a superior at the FBI, although he retains a smug demeanor not unlike Wiseman's. Dr. Takiyama is merely shown looking pensive in the helicopter that carries her off the island. And in a vignette that could have been taken much later after the events of the SaintLogic incident, Venus is seen manning the checkout counter at a supermarket, hinting at her quiet assimilation into everyday life.
[edit] Characters
- Snake - The primary protagonist in Metal Gear Acid 2. The major note to make about this incarnation of the character is that he is not the "real" Solid Snake per se, but rather a full-grown clone of Solid Snake from the original Metal Gear Acid, created from cell samples taken from the Lobito Island incident. Prior to the events of the game, Snake contracts amnesia and is unable to recall his past. Arriving in the United States illegally, Snake is captured by Dalton and is forced to investigate SaintLogic's practices. He is then placed under Wiseman's command, who he only cooperates with to get his memory back.
- Venus - female partner to Snake. She also suffers from memory loss and feels no remorse for killing. Her suit sleeves contain shuriken-type devices, although they are only seen used in cutscenes. She was sent to the SaintLogic facility by Wiseman to contain the situation there. Originally, Wiseman never planned to make his presence or Venus' presence known to Snake and Dalton.
- Dalton - An ex-FBI agent who captures Snake in the beginning of the game and forces him to infiltrate the SaintLogic facility to retrieve files on SaintLogic's business practices.
- Wiseman - General with the United States Department of Defense. He claims to know about Snake's and Venus's past, and offers it in return for their assistance with his operation. He prefers efficiency over morality, and appears to have a hidden agenda.
- Dr. Thomas Koppelthorn - Vice President of SaintLogic, who demands the release of 12 high ranking officials or he will launch a nuclear attack. He also demands that the SaintLogic president, Rodzinski, hand over the Lucinda File to him. Although this is Dr. Koppelthorn's actual first appearance in a Metal Gear game, previous games have referred to a character of that name. In Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, Mei Ling attempts to quote from him, only to get interrupted by Snake every time. He is also mentioned in the IdeaSpy 2.5 easter egg in that title. In Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, the Koppelthorn Engine is a VR simulation program that actually serves as a gateway to parallel worlds and is mentioned in one of the Snake Tales, External Gazer.
- Rodzinski - President of SaintLogic. Rodzinski has possession of the Lucinda file and is unwilling to reveal it to anyone. It is later discovered that Rodzinski was involved in the events of the Lucinda file and does not wish their contents to be publicized.
- B.B. - Self-proclaimed hacker extraodinaire. B.B. views the incident as some kind of game. He occasionally contacts snake though Codec with advice. His image is firewalled and cannot be seen. In the end, Wiseman sends a police unit after him revealing that B.B. stood for BlackBoard and that B.B. was just an elementary school kid.
- Lucinda Koppelthorn - Thomas Koppelthorn's deceased wife. She was killed in the Praulia Massacre and left a record of what the test subjects really did, this record is called the "Lucinda File". Snake is accused by Koppelthorn of having murdered his wife, when, in reality, Lucinda actually wished to to kill herself for performing extensive experiments on humans (which usually destroyed their body and sometimes their mind).
- Vince - Chief of security at SaintLogic hired by Rodinski. He wields an RPG-7 and in combat is seen with 3 RPG shells on his back. During combat with him, the player can see black birds, possibly crows or ravens, flying around. These crows are somewhat significant, as they provide him with extra ammunition for the RPG if he uses all three shots. He has glowing blue eyes and hides his face at all times using a black mask indicating that he may not be fully human. He is an unusual character, as he fires 'warning shots' during combat with his enemies.
- Dr. Michiko Takiyama (瀧山美知子, Takiyama Michiko) - Researcher at SaintLogic who assists Koppelthorn out of pity.
- Lucy - Young girl who is always with Dr. Takiyama and appears to be timid. In reality, she is the reincarnation of Lucinda Koppelthorn, and is bound to the EGO system.
- Harab Serap - Harab Serap is one of the test subjects in SaintLogic. Once he was released, he attempted to kill all those who tormented him, and abused him. His attacks include his detachable fists that he launches at Snake, along with a close range slamming attack. These arms also serve as a means of rapid transportation: He launches his fists, which latch onto a nearby object--usually a wall--and pulls himself towards it. Also, when his health is depleted to a certain point, his fists/forearms will "grow" blades. This suggests that--along with the fact that he's covered with small metallic orfices that spit steam, and his electrical animation when he's regrowing his arms--he's a cyborg. In the Kabbalah faith, Harab and Serap are two unholy Sephiroth.
- Golab - Golab is a test subject who carries a large tube filled with oil or some kind of gasoline. One of his attacks is to swallow some fuel out of his tube and spit it out like a flamethrower over a wide area. Another attack that he uses starts off the same as the last one except he spits out the liquid onto a square on the field causing an oil slick spot. Also, he may set himself on fire and gain one action point, much as Snake can with the "Action +" card. Golab happens to claim to be Snake's brother, which is confirmed in later events, seeing as they are both test subjects. Golab is another of the Kabbalah's unholy Sephiroth.
- Chaigidiel - Another of SaintLogic's test subjects. Chaigidiel's specialty is in hypnosis and psychic powers, which he can use to walk on ceilings and take control of one of the characters, saying things such as "give in" or "there is no hope". He is armed with an M79 Grenade launcher. However, he is extremely vulnerable on the ceiling, because it is much simpler to set up cover fire attacks on him. Yet another unholy Sephiroth of the Kabbalah faith.
[edit] Features
- A completely new cel-shaded graphic engine, replacing the darker graphics from the first game.
- A new character, Venus, replaces Teliko, Snake's partner from the first Acid.
- A tutorial mode for beginners.
- Over 500 cards, more than twice the number of the original game, are available, including upgradeable cards.
- Weapons used by the characters are displayed graphically when they're equipped.
- A new mode entitled "Arena" allows players to battle boss characters from previous games such as Liquid Snake and Vamp using the Acid 2 card-battling system.
- Players can now pick up items such as weapons and card packs by simply running over them, instead of having to end movement on top of the item.
- The game comes with a PSP add-on called the SOLID EYE, which is a folding cardboard box with specialized lenses that fit over the PSP's screen, creating a stereoscopic image.
- The North American & European (Australian) versions include ten new cards not included in the Japanese release, six of which are based on Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Name (Password), Solid Snake (snake), Otacon (otacon), Metal Gear Mk. II (mk2), GEKKO (gekko), Solid Eye (tobidacid) and No Smoking (smoking)) The remaining four are fan made cards (an alternate Naked Snake card from MGS3 (sonofsully), a Banana Skin (ronaldsiu), Possessed Arm (thespaniard) and Emma's Parrot (ginormousj)) which were selected in a Konami sponsored contest by four online publications (Game Informer, IGN, GameSpy, 1UP).
- Solid Eye Theater with videos of the "famous" Japanese women seen on posters and magazines throughout the Metal Gear series and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater cutscenes that utilize the Solid Eye attachment.
- Interconnectivity with Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for the PS2 allowing users to take photos, then transfer and view them in 3D with the Solid Eye on their PSP.
[edit] Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh
Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh is the Metal Gear model that has been developed by SaintLogic, and is stolen by Koppelthorn. The name Chaioth Ha Qadesh is derived from the Keter, a high level in the Kabbalah religion. The name refers to a group of angels, called the Holy Living Creatures.
Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh is powered by an OS named EGO. This Metal Gear model was originally designed to control SaintLogic's test subjects using its EGO, which is programmed to mimic human nature. Chaioth Ha Qadesh is armed with dual machine guns on either arm, a rear missile pod, and a laser unit on its lower torso. Unlike other Metal Gear models, Chaioth Ha Qadesh is capable of launching a neutron bomb rather than nuclear weapons, enabling it to only kill living organisms.
[edit] Solid Eye
Metal Gear Acid 2 ships with a viewing device called the Solid Eye. The Solid Eye is a folding cardboard box that slides over the PSP, separating the image with a divider in the center. The entirety of Metal Gear Acid 2's game is playable with the Solid Eye, as well as without it. When switched into Solid Eye mode, the game displays two images on either side of the PSP screen. When used with the Solid Eye, the images overlap and produce a pop-out, 3D comic-like effect. The game and manual warn that using this device for extended periods of time may lead to eyestrain, and prolonged use is not recommended. As more cards are collected, videos are unlocked in the Solid Eye Theater, available from the game's menu. These videos are only viewable as Solid Eye footage, and showcase videos of Japanese women as well as cut scenes from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Japanese Version).
[edit] Metal Gear Solid: 3 Subsistence Connectivity
Metal Gear Acid 2 is capable of communicating with Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for the PlayStation 2. By connecting a PS2 to a PSP, it is possible to take photos in Subsistence and transfer them to a PSP for viewing in 3D with the Solid Eye. The manual that is included with the American version of the game is significantly thinned down, and as such, does not contain a specific guide on how to utilize this feature. Instructions can be found in the downloadable manual.
The manuals included in the European and Australian releases have been amended to include the Subsistence Connectivity information.
[edit] External links
- Official site at Konami
- Expanded Game Manual
- Official Tokyo Game Show 2005 page at Kojima Productions
- Interview with Shinta Nojiri regarding gameplay, SOLID EYE, and release date
- Gamespot article on Story and Arena mode
- Metal Gear Acid 2 at MobyGames
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