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Snake is back. But is it worth $7.99 to resurrect an old friend?
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Just when we thought "Metal Gear Solid 4" was the end for Snake, he's back. Developed by Kojima Productions, "Metal Gear Solid Touch" for the iPhone/iPod Touch puts your fingertips in control of old Snake. The game takes you through an abbreviated version of "Metal Gear Solid 4" in 20 missions, but instead of lengthy, detailed cut scenes (obviously), you'll get a block of text between settings.
The gameplay is simple but clever. Players control Snake who stays at the bottom of the screen, his back facing us. As enemies appear at various times in different areas of the environment (like a shooting range), players will move the reticule by touching anywhere on the screen and dragging it over their target. Also, your finger doesn't have to be directly on the reticule; the reticule moves in relation to wherever your finger is on the screen, so your digit never gets in the way of your view. Once the target is acquired, tap the screen and your weapon will fire. Headshots are always best but time is limited; a timer appears over each enemy, which turns from yellow to orange to red. Once red, the enemies will fire back, and there's often more than one at a time. Snake's health is indicated by a bar on the bottom of the screen; when it's flashing red, he's about to die.
Some enemies are further back, so to perform long-ranged attacks, you can pinch the screen (like you're zooming in on a photo or website), and you automatically pull up a scope on Snake's sniper rifle. Move the scope to the target and tap to shoot. Pinch outward to return to full screen. To avoid gunfire, simply take your fingers off the touch screen and Snake will duck behind cover.
In one mission, I fought a slew of oncoming Haven Troopers. In another, there was the boss in the form of a helicopter firing missiles. While killing enemies and taking occasional cover, I had the chance to shoot GA-KOs (tiny rubber ducks) to restore Snake's health as well as KEROTANs (tiny frogs) which did one of two things: it either turned Snake's weapon into an RPG-7 rocket launcher, which can be used once, or give Snake stealth for a short period of time.
At the end of each mission, you're rated for time, hits and life. You'll also earn Drebin Points, which you can use to unlock various character wallpapers for your device at Drebin's Shop in the main menu. There's also a section that gives you a summary of past game's storylines. Aside from the storyline and characters, players will also notice the same sound effects used in "Metal Gear" games.
With impressive graphics, clever but intuitive touch controls and neat extras, this is a portable game crafted with "Metal Gear" fans in mind -- but it's also the first "Metal Gear" made for the masses.
"Metal Gear Solid Touch" is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch at the iTunes store for $7.99.