Why Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is Still Worth Playing 15 Years Later

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Peace Walker can be seen as an early precursor to The Phantom Pain, paving the way for it to excel while Peace Walker served as a preparatory stage. Essentially, Peace Walker allowed The Phantom Pain to run at full speed, providing a foundation for the expansive open-ended stealth gameplay. However, it’s essential not to diminish Peace Walker as merely a precursor or a mere shadow of more substantial games within the Metal Gear Solid series. Instead, it is a full-fledged mainline Metal Gear Solid game in its own right, despite being released as a PSP side game. But beyond its role in the Metal Gear Solid series, Peace Walker offers an incredible and entertaining gaming experience with a wealth of content to explore. Here’s why Peace Walker was secretly one of the most outstanding games within the Metal Gear Solid franchise.

Among the unique aspects that set Peace Walker apart from other games in the series is its focus on portability in design. While you can certainly enjoy Peace Walker HD comfortably on PS3 (and soon, likely, in the Master Collection Vol 2), it was specifically crafted to cater to the shorter battery life of the PSP. To address this challenge, the game features a mission structure broken down into manageable pieces that permeate almost every aspect of the game. One of the benefits of organizing missions in this manner is that it eliminates the lengthy 30-minute cutscenes that MGS4 was known for.

As a dedicated fan, I can confidently say that the main operations missions, packed with intriguing narratives, can be finished in approximately 15 hours if you bypass the extensive side content. However, to uncover the true ending, there’s a considerable amount of effort involved. This is where the diverse extra ops missions become essential. These side quests offer some of the most exciting gameplay variations within the series. Expect to engage in classic stealth infiltrations, sabotage enemy cargo, destroy an assortment of mechs, and capture soldiers to strengthen your own base. I’ll delve deeper into that aspect later. Each mission evaluates your performance, with S rank being the pinnacle, and trust me, that’s reserved for the most dedicated Metal Gear Solid enthusiasts.

Among all MGS games, Peace Walker seems to stress stealth tactics and non-lethal solutions in missions more than others. This is due to the game’s penalties for killing enemies or getting discovered. Instead, it’s much more satisfying to sneak past as many missions as possible. This creates a tough challenge even for experienced MGS players. Additionally, Peace Walker boasts a great deal of replayability with its substantial Mother Base mode and multiplayer options. All in all, Peace Walker might have the most comprehensive gameplay content out of any MGS game, especially for those who want to explore every aspect of the game.

Many might think that Metal Gear Solid 5 was the first game in the series to introduce base building, but actually, Peace Walker had its own developed Mother Base mode, which was introduced five years prior to The Phantom Pain. Although Peace Walker built upon Portable Ops’ recruitment mechanics, it’s worth noting that. What makes managing Mother Base so engaging is how it complements Peace Walker’s missions. In the game, Snake uses a Fulton parachute to transport defeated soldiers back to the Mother Base, where they can contribute to various projects. The excitement comes from capturing soldiers, tying them up, and watching them fly through indoor areas as they yell in fear. It’s quite an amusing experience!

These units possess unique roles and ranks, contributing significantly to the management of Mother Base by conducting research to enhance Snake’s weapons for missions. They also participate in Outer Ops missions (which are superior to those found in The Phantom Pain), provide food as part of a mess hall team, and even recruit special characters like Paz with exceptional intel abilities. For mech enthusiasts, the Metal Gear, named ZEKE, can be developed through Mother Base. Players who enjoyed base building in The Phantom Pain should consider playing Peace Walker, particularly for the expanded Mother Base features.

One aspect often overlooked by many players is that the campaign of Peace Walker is primarily designed for cooperative play. In essence, it appears as though the game was initially conceived as a cooperative experience, given the increased health of most boss enemies, particularly in later stages. Engaging in these challenging missions with a partner via the Co Ops mode significantly reduces the tedium and frustration that some bosses can cause. Additionally, there’s Versus Ops, where six players compete against each other in death matches and capture challenges. A unique feature is that the weapons and items unlocked during single-player can be utilized in PvP encounters as well.

Packed with diverse Mother Base content, numerous missions, and both cooperative and Player versus Player modes, Peace Walker is bursting at the seams with gameplay options. However, one might wonder why it isn’t treated as a mainline Metal Gear Solid game like its counterparts. The reason could be due to its origin on the PSP, which may have contributed to its lesser-known status. But considering that it was among the largest projects the team had undertaken at that time, with staffing similar to that of MGS4, one might question if it truly deserves its current reputation.

In the game “Peace Walker,” we gain valuable insight into why Snake appears so disillusioned and fatigued. This story unfolds a decade after the occurrences in “Snake Eater.” Significant flashbacks detailing his confrontations with The Boss and introspective dialogue help illustrate Snake’s transformation across games. Beyond delving into character development, Yoji Shinkawa’s character designs and Ashley Wood’s drawings are outstanding throughout the Main Ops missions. Most cutscenes are depicted as comic strips, showcasing the franchise’s distinctive art style. In contrast to the lengthy cutscenes in “MGS4,” this game incorporates interactive quick time events that keep players engaged with the intriguing narrative. While some may criticize quick time events, their integration with the beautifully hand-drawn artwork offers a refreshing change from the cinematic style of “MGS4.

In contrast to previous games like MGS3, Peace Walker boasts several elements similar to MGS4, particularly in terms of gameplay. For instance, the game flows more smoothly, with features such as crouch walking and aiming while moving noticeably improving upon the restricted movement and jankiness found in earlier installments. Furthermore, Peace Walker embodies the essence of a classic Metal Gear game, just like all the numbered entries do. It retains the peculiarities, intricate storylines, and distinctive characters that define this cherished series. Interestingly, even The Phantom Pain, which was technologically advanced, did not incorporate a mechanic where you build your own Metal Gear. This suggests the level of care and enthusiasm invested in developing Peace Walker.

Enthusiasts of the game, Monster Hunter, will find plenty to be excited about, as there’s an entire island specifically designed for hunting down formidable creatures like Ratholos and Tigrex. In Monster Hunter, Trenya even arranges a flight for Snake to reach this island, but remember to come well-equipped since these renowned monsters have vast amounts of health. An intriguing hidden gem can be found within one of the Extra Ops missions. One of these missions includes a location where Snake can execute a leap reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed into a pile of hay, which can later be used as a disguise. The game Peace Walker boasts such a variety of enjoyable secrets that it would require another video just to cover them all.

As a gamer, I might not be too fond of the excessive gear-grinding and oversized boss health in Peace Walker, but it’s undeniable that this game is jam-packed with substantial content. The team behind its creation has made no secret about the massive scale of Peace Walker’s production. Plus, the way it delves into Snake’s character development post-Snake Eater is pivotal in the timeline. All things considered, despite a bit of grind, Peace Walker is an outstanding Metal Gear Solid game, and its gameplay benefits make it worth the journey.

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2025-04-28 16:42