Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Cover art of Peace Walker released in North America, Oceania and parts of Europe.
Developer(s)	Kojima Productions Bluepoint Games (HD port)
Publisher(s)	Konami
Director(s)	Hideo Kojima[1]
Producer(s)	Hideo Kojima
Designer(s)	Hideo Kojima
Artist(s)	Yoji Shinkawa
Writer(s)	Hideo Kojima
Composer(s)	See Music
Series	Metal Gear
Platform(s)	PlayStation Portable PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 PlayStation Vita
Release date(s)	April 28, 2010 MGS: Peace Walker PlayStation Portable JP April 28, 2010[2] NA June 8, 2010[3] EU June 18, 2010[3] MGS HD Collection PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 NA November 8, 2011[3] JP November 23, 2011[2] AU 20110202February 2, 2011 EU February 3, 2012[3] PlayStation Vita JP TBA 2012 NA TBA 2012 EU TBA 2012
Genre(s)	Stealth, action, Third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, cooperative multiplayer
Rating(s)	ACB: MA15+ BBFC: 15 CERO: C ESRB: T OFLC: R13 PEGI: 18 USK: 16
Media/distribution	UMD, Blu-ray Disc, DVD-9, Download

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (メタルギアソリッド ピースウォーカー, Metaru Gia Soriddo Pīsu Wōkā ^?) is a video game produced by Konami and Kojima Productions that was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2010.^[4] Peace Walker is the fourth Metal Gear title for the PSP, although it is only the second to be considered part of the series' main canon, following Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. It is also the first game in the series for a portable platform to be directed by series' creator Hideo Kojima.^[1] The series' former tagline, "Tactical Espionage Action," has been replaced by "Tactical Espionage Operations" to fit the game's heavy cooperation gameplay. Due to the game's intended audience, Peace Walker is the first major title in the Metal Gear series to receive a "Teen" rating from the ESRB. Peace Walker's original title was Metal Gear Solid 5: Peace Walker.^[5] The development team that worked on Peace Walker is as large as the team that worked on Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.^[6]

Set in 1974 in Central America, the game follows the exploits of returning protagonist Naked Snake, now known as Big Boss, as he runs a mercenary unit using the resources he acquired from Gene at the end of Portable Ops, four years before. The game also adds more information behind the founding of the military state Outer Heaven.^[7]

Gameplay

Sample of gameplay screen during a Co-Ops mission. The image had Naked Snake in Naked camo hiding from a Peace Sentinels soldier, armed with a M60 GPMG. The player's partner is barely seen hiding on the other side of the truck

Some changes are made to the standard Metal Gear Solid formula. Movement is done on the analog stick; actions such as co-op actions use the directional-pad; melee actions, which include multiple throws into crowds of enemies, use the R button; and weapons use the L button with the R button. Players will be unable to move or shoot while lying down and while pinned on a wall. The player can set the control system according to that of Portable Ops,^[8] Guns of the Patriots, or Capcom's Monster Hunter.

The Comrade System from Portable Ops has been removed in favor of cooperative gameplay, with two players in main missions and up to four players in boss missions, called Co-Ops. Players can choose one of various different load-outs including one's camouflage.

• Naked — wearing only light clothing, players using Naked uniforms move fast at the cost of lower stealth, weaker defense and fewer items. The swimming suit outfit allows the player to move faster than any other uniform, but lets the player take only one primary weapon.
• Jungle Fatigues — A balance of stealth, defense, weapons and inventory. Available in multiple camouflage patterns.
• Sneaking Suit — A different version of Snake's uniform from Portable Ops, the Sneaking Suit allows players to move without generating foot noises and have higher camouflage compared to other suits while moving, but can carry up to five items and six secondary weapons.
• Battle Dress — A heavily armored variant, players equipped with the suit can carry a third primary weapon and absorb much damage, but at the cost of less items, slow movement speed and a lower camouflage index.
• Tuxedo — wearing a tuxedo, players using the Tuxedo can carry many items, but at the cost of less secondary weapons and camouflage index.

There are several actions that can take place when two Snakes are next to each other. 'Snake-in' allows players to hold on to each other as one player leads the way, also allowing the players to fire on the move. Other co-operative actions include holding up closing doors, performing CPR on fallen comrades, sharing items, and acting as a spotter for other players whose vision is obscured. The game adopts certain mechanics from Metal Gear Solid 4, such as the ability to move while crouched, the over-the-shoulder shooting view, the CQC system, and the ability to search held-up soldiers. The truck from Portable Ops, where players can bring subdued enemies for recruitment, has been discarded in favor of the Fulton Skyhook, which players attach to subdued soldiers and prisoners. The Wi-Fi recruitment system from Portable Ops has been modified that instead of tapping the Circle button to obtain a strong enough signal from an access point, the player will have to knockout soldiers using CQC to accept them. The cardboard box used to hide from enemy soldiers is now available in two-man versions called Love Boxes, which have different variants. The Surround Indicator in Portable Ops can also be used only when it is equipped in the item box and players will also develop and use an early version of the Soliton radar system from Metal Gear Solid. The game features the camouflage index system from Snake Eater, but the player will not have the ability to change camouflage uniforms during a mission as the point index will be entirely based on movement, position, and the size of the weapon equipped in the weapon box. The player can also use marking devices to call in artillery strikes or resupply drops.

Some of the game's cut-scenes will require button inputs from the player to advance the plot and can count towards the rating for completing a mission.

The crew management system from Portable Ops also returns through a feature called the Mother Base, an abandoned OTEC research platform in the Caribbean that serves as the MSF's headquarters. Aside from managing the combat, medical, intelligence, and technology research teams seen in MPO, the player can assign personnel to the mess hall crew to feed the troops and keep up their morale. Rebellious or injured personnel can be brought to the brig and sickbay, respectively. The player will also have a chance to capture military vehicles that appear in the game as minor boss opponents, such as armored personnel carriers, tanks, and attack helicopters. Up to 350 soldiers can be recruited; excess staff caught in a mission must be discharged and up to 50 vehicles can be captured over the course of the game.

Outer Ops

Outer Ops is a new game mechanic where players can deploy their combat unit soldiers (with the exception of Snake and other unique characters) and captured vehicles on certain missions against computer opponents. Each assault force codenamed from Alpha to Hotel has eight slots for assigning vehicles or soldiers, who can gain combat bonuses such as additional hit points and Psyche points, and generate income for the team. Depending on the scale of the enemy's firepower, MSF soldiers who are defeated during the battle can either die or be brought to sickbay for treatment. Vehicles that show damage in one mission will still show damage unless they are taken off the front for repairs, while decommissioned vehicles will be stricken from the inventory.

Extra Ops

Extra Ops are a series of stand-alone challenges which will be unlocked as the game progresses. The 128 challenges vary from shooting exercises to full-blown battles featuring more powerful custom versions of the game's bosses. Some of the missions, which are set in a nearby mythical island, feature monsters from Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise, the Tigrex and Rathalos, where players will be rewarded with unique items.^[9] Completing the Extra Ops missions would also help in expanding the Mother Base modules.

Versus Ops

Versus Ops are multiplayer matches played over special versions of certain maps. The player has a choice of whether to organize individual or team deathmatches, base capture and quetzal capture missions. Certain items or weapons unlocked in the single-player campaign can only be used in the mode. Each match can gather up to six players with restrictions included, such as life and Psyche points not regained and limited time for CPR revivals.

Plot

Metal Gear series fictional chronology
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Metal Gear Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake Metal Gear Solid (The Twin Snakes) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Metal Gear Solid: Rising Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Peace Walker is set in Costa Rica in November 1974, four years after the events of Portable Ops and ten years after Snake Eater. Snake (Big Boss) returns as the main character and is running his own mercenary unit after he decided to break away from The Patriots group founded by Major Zero. A mysterious group equipped with the latest weapons, called the Peace Sentinels (PS), has been deployed in-country. Despite the PS being equipped with the firepower equivalent to that of a land army, the Costa Rican government cannot do anything about them because the country's constitution does not allow the creation of an armed forces. The PS presence threatens to endanger the balance of power between the East and West.^[10]

Characters

Main article: List of Metal Gear characters

The game's main protagonist is Naked Snake (Akio Ōtsuka/David Hayter), who is leading a new mercenary group called the Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF) after leaving The Patriots which was under the command of Snake's former CO Major Zero. He is assisted in this endeavor by MSF deputy chief Kazuhira Miller (Tomokazu Sugita/Robin Atkin Downes). They are eventually joined later in the game by Sandinista rebel leader Amanda Valenciano Libre (Romi Park/Grey Delisle) and her kid brother, Chico (Kikuko Inoue/Antony Del Rio), Paz Ortega Andrade (Nana Mizuki/Tara Strong), a student at the University of Peace; Hal Emmerich's future father Huey (Hideyuki Tanaka/Christopher Randolph),^[11][12] and French ornithologist Cécile Cosima Caminades (Yu Kobayashi/Catherine Taber).

The game's main antagonists are Hot Coldman (Mugihito/H. Richard Greene), who is the CIA Central America station chief, and Ramon Galvez Mena (Hōchū Ōtsuka/Steve Blum), Paz's instructor. Dr Strangelove (Yumi Kikuchi/Vanessa Marshall) is a British AI expert whom Coldman hired to work on the Peace Walker Project and is later attracted to Huey.

The game also features flashback scenes from Snake Eater, particularly the final battle between Snake and The Boss, plus the audiotape that EVA (Misa Watanabe/Suzetta Minet) left behind after Operation Snake Eater. Through a set of audiotape briefing files unlocked upon completing the game, EVA also provides Snake with new information about The Boss' activities during a period where Snake was unable to keep in touch with her. Kikuko Inoue and Lori Alan also reprise their voice roles as The Boss in the flashbacks and as the voice of the Mammal Pod AI construct modeled after The Boss. Trenya from Monster Hunter also appears as Snake's transporter to a mythical island.

Story

Prologue: An Army Without Borders

Two people visit the MSF's base camp in Colombia's Barranquilla Coast on November 4, 1974. MSF deputy commander Kazuhira Miller introduces the guests, Paz Ortega Andrade and Ramon Galvez Mena, to Naked Snake. Since Costa Rica has no army, Galvez tells Snake that the Costa Rican government secretly authorized him to tap the MSF's services in stopping an armed group that has been arriving in the country over the past year. Kaz and Snake, who think the CIA deployed the forces, accept the offer, which includes using an offshore platform in the Caribbean as their staging area for operations in Costa Rica. The two have reservations about Galvez, who also plays a tape where they apparently hear the voice of The Boss.

A few days after the meeting, Snake arrives at a beach in Costa Rica to check out a supply base where Paz claims she was tortured along with a friend. He slips through the security to enter the facility's radio room, where he overhears a radio conversation about "spears" being loaded onto a barge. Snake subdues and interrogate the radio man, learning that the cargo is headed for Mount Irazu. From the previous radio conversation and boxes of film badges found within the room and on the operator, Snake suspects that the CIA is bringing nuclear weapons into the country. A mysterious singing aircraft then passes nearby.

Chapter 1: A Country Without An Army

Remembering Galvez's earlier briefing, Kaz and Snake hit upon the idea of getting a group of Sandinista rebels holed up somewhere in the forest, which they can use to gather more information on the CIA's operations. Snake warns that the presence of nuclear weapons in Costa Rica could violate the Tlatelolco Treaty and generate regional tensions as bad as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Galvez and Paz, in the meantime, have sought refuge in the town of Ciudad Colon. Snake heads to the Sandinistas' secret hideout and frees the rebels, who have been captured by mercenaries.

The leader of the rebel cell, Amanda, briefs Snake about the CIA presence and the route of the barge he is following, when the mysterious aircraft Snake saw earlier attacks. The aircraft opens fire and deploys drones which abducts some of the rebels, including Amanda's brother Chico. Snake follows in pursuit to a banana plantation factory where he encounters a LAV Type-G armored personnel carrier and an escort squad. After the battle, he catches up with Amanda. The drones try to abduct Amanda, but Snake shoots down the drone holding her. The high drop results in Amanda breaking her ankle. Snake, on Amanda's request, rescues Chico at a small village before he could break down under interrogation. Information gained from Chico leads him to the base on Irazu, where he overhears Huey arguing with Coldman not to use his creation to launch a nuke. The heated argument ends with him pushing the wheelchair-bound Huey down a flight of stairs. Snake comes to his aid, and is told that he must stop Coldman. Deep inside the facility, he sees the mysterious aircraft hauling off Peace Walker. Shortly after, the Pupa AI weapon is released to deal with Snake.

After the battle, Huey briefs Snake about the Peace Walker Project, whose goal was to create the perfect nuclear deterrent by creating a mobile fail-deadly system capable of striking from anywhere and can elude an enemy's pre-emptive nuclear attack. Huey admits that Peace Walker still needs some critical AI components stored at a nearby lab and advises Snake to go there and destroy the components.

Chapter 2: The Phantom Hero

Huey briefs Snake about a Mayan ruin within a cloud forest where the Peace Walker's AI lab is located and its chief, a woman named Dr. Strangelove. Snake decides to infiltrate the base using Huey's access card. While sneaking through the forest, he fights off a Hind-A helicopter and later on stumbles upon a scantily-clad woman evidently trying to hide from the guards. The woman, Cecile Cosina Caminades, explains that she was captured trying to record Quetzal sounds inside the ruins, not knowing that there was a base inside. Although Strangelove treats her well, she escapes and brings along an ID card that a guard later takes from her. Snake comes to the AI lab entrance, but the card reader does not accept Huey's card as Strangelove revoked its rights. Snake searches for the guard who got Cecile's card and takes it, enabling him to enter the facility.

Inside the lab, Snake encounters Strangelove, who admits having expected to see him. Through a lengthy explanation, Snake discovers that Strangelove researched The Boss' entire career and attempted to recreate her personality in a massive AI core, called the Mammal Pod. She details that a fully automated AI system could proceed with a nuclear retaliation without hesitation, and that The Boss's decision making skills are most suited for the task of planning the retaliatory strike. Snake enters the Mammal Pod and talks with the AI masquerading as the Boss, which turns out to be the voice in Galvez's tape. Inside the pod, Snake is awash in a white light and wakes up in a large courtyard, where he sees a Hind-D helicopter carrying the Mammal Pod off to another location. The Chrysalis is sent to deal with Snake, but is defeated. Kaz informs Snake about Peace Walker's testing location — an underground base disguised as a strip mine — but tries to talk to him about finally letting go of the guilt he had for killing The Boss ten years before.

Chapter 3: A Nation Reborn

Using the Boss' old horse, Snake travels to the quarry 15 miles north of the AI lab. However, he is spotted by a kidnapper drone, triggering an alert that sends Peace Sentinels troops out to kill him. He defeats them and the Cocoon AI weapon while trying to enter the base. Snake sneaks through the base and reaches Peace Walker's hangar, where he sees Strangelove's team taking a break from preparing the unit. He slips through to the Mammal Pod, and interrogates the Boss AI about Operation Snake Eater. As Snake prepares to destroy the AI, Strangelove, Coldman, and several troops surround him. Coldman explains that the deployment of the Peace Walker was part of a plan to re-establish US superiority that went away because of the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the various arms control treaties established ever since. Coldman also admits to being the mastermind of Operation Snake Eater.

Now captured, Snake is tortured by Strangelove about the Boss' ideals and tells him that his refusal to talk gave her the clues she needed to complete the Mammal Pod's programming. Later in his cell, Snake picks the lock and escapes the prison chamber, but Miller alerts him that Coldman has somehow managed to kidnap Paz. Returning to the hangar to see Paz in Coldman's hands, Snake learns that Coldman plans to use the Mother Base as his test target. Peace Walker is brought to the surface, where Snake fights and defeats it. Coldman flies out along with Paz and Strangelove, then activates Peace Walker's second form. The now-quadrupedal unit leaves the base and Snake together with the Boss' horse gives chase all the way to the Nicaraguan border; but the horse collapses from the stress, forcing Snake to euthanize it. The MSF discovers that Peace Walker ended up at an American missile base near Lago Cocibolca.

Chapter 4: The Illusion of Peace

Determined to save Paz, Snake infiltrates the missile base and discovers Soviet troops all over the place. Miller mobilizes the entire MSF to help him in the assault. With the base on red alert, Snake fights his way to the communications tower where Coldman is ready to initiate launching Peace Walker's nuclear weapon. There, Coldman explains that since Peace Walker is designed solely for nuclear retaliation, he will transmit fake trajectory data of Soviet ballistic missiles hitting the United States to force the AI to launch, with Mother Base still as its target. The Soviet troops suddenly turn their guns on Coldman as Galvez appears.

Galvez, who identifies himself as KGB operative Vladimir Zadornov, orders that the Peace Walker change its target to Cuba. He added that since the missile would be fired from a US base located inside a country friendly to Washington, the backlash from the attack would further ignite anti-American sentiment in Latin America, bringing the region under Soviet influence. He also reveals that he hired the MSF to turn the Sandinistas into a powerful force that could take on the Somoza government and win. He also tells Paz to shoot Coldman, but she couldn't, so he does it himself. Zadornov attempts to kill Snake to make him a martyr among the rebels akin to Che Guevara, but as he is about to pull the trigger, Amanda, the Sandinistas, and the MSF attack the Soviet forces and capture Zadornov. After Zadornov, Paz, and a wounded Coldman are flown off to Mother Base, Strangelove apologizes to Snake for torturing him about The Boss.

With his last breath, Coldman inputs the Peace Walker's activation code and admits that while Cuba is still the target, Peace Walker also transmitted the fake data to NORAD. The NORAD staff initiates a DEFCON 2 alert and Huey urges Snake to destroy Peace Walker. Snake attacks and damages the unit enough to stop the launch and immobilize it, but the transmission continues. With the US military getting closer to a nuclear retaliation and Peace Walker being too heavy to be thrown off to Lago Cocibolca, Huey patches Snake to the National Military Command Center and convince the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff not to launch against the Soviets, telling him about Coldman's plot. To confirm his identity, Snake reminds the chairman of how President Johnson conferred him the title of "Big Boss" - a top-secret event. However, some of the officers do not believe Snake and take over the authority to launch the strike. Snake is eventually forced to destroy Peace Walker more thoroughly by attacking the Mammal Pod directly.

Even with the Mammal Pod's destruction, Strangelove says Peace Walker is still transmitting the data via adaptive compensation utilizing the Reptile Pod, the AI which was responsible for Peace Walker's basic motor functions. As the time of the fake missiles' impact approaches, Peace Walker walks toward the lake to drown itself and finally stop the signal. On NORAD's screens, the staff see the fake missile tracks disappear and replaced by peace symbols. As Peace Walker sinks below the lake, Snake comes to terms with his past and throws away his bandanna (although the player model and cut-scenes in the following chapter shows Snake once again wearing a bandanna), asking to be called Big Boss at last.

Chapter 5: Outer Heaven

Strangelove joins the MSF and works on Metal Gear Zeke, which is later armed with the nuke recovered from Peace Walker's remains. Zadornov also escapes his cell several times, forcing Snake to recapture him. On the last time, Big Boss finds him at the shooting range and kills him in self-defense after he tries to kill Snake using his rocket hand. Snake is suspicious because Zadornov's numerous escapes points to an inside job. Kaz alerts him about Zeke suddenly moving out of its hangar and rising to the surface of Mother Base.

Although the Metal Gear is supposed to be AI-controlled, Paz turns out to be at the controls. Calling herself Pacifica Ocean, Paz admits she is an agent of Cipher and seeks to launch a nuclear strike at the US East Coast, then frame the MSF as an extremist cult. Snake takes on and destroys Zeke, but before it is destroyed, Paz warns of Snake becoming an international criminal in the decades ahead. ZEKE then explodes and Paz is thrown by the force of the explosion into the ocean. The remains of Zeke are later salvaged. Huey and Strangelove establish a mutual understanding.^[13]

After the destruction of Zeke, Kaz admits learning of Paz's real identity and purpose well beforehand and that "Cipher" is Major Zero, who perpetrated the whole plot and indirectly triggered MSF's expansion. Although Snake is angry at him, Kaz explains that the MSF set a new trend in military operations with their actions in Costa Rica, and predicts that the end of the Cold War will give rise to regional conflicts where the MSF can thrive. Since the MSF's battle capabilities disrupted the global military balance of power, Big Boss warns that certain forces will definitely try to take them down, hence their need to continue operating outside of society.

In a later address over a loudspeaker, Big Boss tells his troops that their group will serve under anyone regardless of nations and ideologies, and they will soon build a nation they can call their own, called Outer Heaven.

Promotion

On March 27, 2010, Japanese beverage firm Suntory released a special line of eight cans in Japan that have images of various Peace Walker characters for the Mountain Dew and Pepsi Nex lines.^[14][15] The drinks will also be promoted in the game as health items, with Snake possibly getting a Mountain Dew shirt after the player inputs a special code found in the actual cans. Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo is also running a similar promotion. However, the labelled products will only be available in the Japanese version; their counterpart in the North American and European versions will have generic names and the MSF logo. The player can also use various incarnations of Sony Walkmans to listen to the game's background music.^[9] Sony also released a limited-edition W Series Walkman, the NWZ-W252CAMO, which comes with special game codes, six exclusive tracks from the game, and a special camouflage skin.^[16]

On April 1, 2010, Konami released a short promotional video with Patrice Desilets, the creative director of Assassins Creed 2. The clip, which was an April Fool's Day joke, features Snake performing Altair's Leap of Faith dive into a large pile of hay (the Assassin's Straw Box) and stealthily knocking out enemies. The Easter egg is part of the game as a special Love Box that players can use to capture enemies, but it can also deteriorate with repeated use.^[17] Konami and Ubisoft earlier produced an Assassins Creed-themed April Fool's Day joke for MGS4 in 2008, which featured Snake wearing an Altair costume.^[9]

On April 7, 2010, Konami and Square Enix unveiled a new line of action figures based on the game. Released under Square's Play Arts Kai series, the line features the Sneaking Suit and Jungle Fatigues Naked Snakes and the game's main boss machines - Chrysalis (the VTOL aircraft featured in the original E3 trailer), Pupa (a derivative of the Shagohod), Basilisk (the mech being carried by Chrysalis in the TGS09 trailer), and the Cocoon (a large mobile fortress with multiple turrets). In addition, parts of the Peace Sentinels mechs, plus special game logos, can be transferred to Front Mission Evolved for use in the Wanzers.^[18][19] The line has since expanded to add figures of Battle Dress Snake, Miller and Metal Gear Zeke, which can be accessorized with certain parts packaged in the Peace Sentinels mech figures.

To build interest for the game's North American release, Konami, Best Buy, and Sony Online Entertainment launched a code-collecting contest on May 5, 2010. The "Code Hunt," which is exclusive to United States customers of PlayStation Home, will have teams of five contestants scouring locations for elusive Peace Walker codes, each of which gets them closer and closer to the grand prize. The promo ended on June 2 with the winners announced on June 29. The prizes included $10,000 in cash and Peace Walker Big Boss Bundles.^[20][21]

With the game's Japan release on April 29, Konami embarked on a world tour to promote the game. The Asian leg started simultaneously in Tokyo and Yokohama, followed by events in Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, and Hong Kong. The US leg had events in Los Angeles and New York, with the European legs held in Paris and London, to coincide with the EU release of the game.^[22]

Demo Ops

A nine-minute video was shown at Gamescom, which strongly emphasized its co-operative play (the term Co-Ops was used frequently, obviously mirroring Portable Ops, which utilized a solo sneaking motif for its story mode).^[23] The game made its playable debut at Tokyo Game Show 2009, and IGN released a Japanese-language demo version.^[24]

On December 17, 2009, the official English demo of the game was released on the PlayStation Network, containing the levels from the 2009 Tokyo Game Show Japanese demo along with an all-new boss battle.^[25][26] A survey was made available on Konami's website for the rest of the month after December 17.^[27]

Versions and releases

Two Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Bundle versions have been released in Japan, one consists of the game with a camouflaged PSP-3000, leather pouch, leather wrist strap, cloth, dog tags, numbered collectible stands, and a booklet for ¥36,980 or US$404 with 1,974 copies only being made when the game is released on March 18, 2010, from the Konami Style Store.^[28][29][30] The other bundle offer includes the camouflaged PSP-3000, a pouch, a wrist strap, a camouflaged cleaning cloth and the Peace Walker UMD for ¥26,980 or US$295.^[28]

For North and South America players, Sony released a special GameStop exclusive Big Boss Pack that features a camouflaged PSP-3000 with the UMD game, a downloadable movie voucher for the PlayStation Network, a code to unlock special in-game content and a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo.^[31] This pack was released on June 8, 2010 for US$199.^[32][33][34] Among the exclusive items included, is a FOX Unit camouflage and a Stealth Gun.^[31]

Additional content

After the release of Peace Walker, additional content could be downloaded through the Network function in the extras menu. Additional content included:

• Extra uniform camo patterns.
• Additional Music for the Walkman.
• New AI boss voices.
• Extra Vocaloid songs.

Players could also use the NetVocaloid function to create their own vocaloid files and convert them into working audio files usable in the main game.

Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami‎, the Metal Gear Servers that host the additional content and NetVocaloid services were taken offline in order to conserve power. They are currently back online and can be used as before. ^[35]

HD Collection

On June 2, 2011, Konami confirmed that the game will be ported to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as part of the "Metal Gear Solid HD Collection", a high-definition remastered version which will also include Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Kojima stated that Peace Walker is not included in the PSP Remaster series, however he said the game will also be the first to take advantage of the new "Transfaring" system, which allows PS3 Peace Walker players to transfer their saves to the PSP and continue playing while on the move. ^[36]

Music

The Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Original Soundtrack was released on Apr 14, 2010.^[37] The soundtrack is primarily composed by Kojima Productions' Kazuma Jinnouchi and Nobuko Toda, while Akihiro Honda provides the orchestral theme and the theme songs, "Heavens Divide" (performed in English by Donna Burke) and "Koi No Yokushi Ryoku (Love Deterrence)" (performed in Japanese by Nana Mizuki). GEM Impact's Norihiko Hibino, Yoshitaka Suzuki and Takahiro Izutani as well as Soundelux Design Music Group's Todd Haberman and Jeremy Soule also provide compositions to the soundtrack.^[38] The game also features music from other Metal Gear Solid games, such as Portable Ops' "Calling to The Night", which can be played in the game's Walkmans. The Carpenters ballad Sing is also sung by the Boss AI as Peace Walker sinks under Lago Cocibolca. The game also utlilized the Vocaloid software.^[39]

Reception

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	88.75%[40]
Metacritic	89/100[41]
Review scores
Publication	Score
1UP.com	A-[42]
Edge	9/10
Eurogamer	8/10[43]
GameSpot	9.0/10[44]
GameTrailers	9.1/10[45]
IGN	9.5/10
X-Play	5/5

Peace Walker has received very positive reviews, with an aggregate of 88.75% on Gamerankings based on 34 reviews.^[46] It was given a perfect score of 40/40 in the May 5, 2010 issue of Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu;^[47] making it the fourteenth game to achieve a perfect score, as well as the first title for the PSP. However, gaming blog Kotaku pointed out that there is potential conflict of interest for Famitsu in giving the review because the magazine appears in the game and former Famitsu Editor-in-Chief Hirokazu Hamamura appears in print ads and on a Konami website actively promoting the game.^[48] PSM3 awarded the game 91%, commenting on the game's ability to "take the best bits from every Metal Gear Solid game — the recruitment tricks... from Portable Ops, the camouflage and multi-player from MGS3: Snake Eater, the stripped-down controls from Metal Gear Solid 4 and the bonus missions... from VR Missions".^[49] IGN gave the game a score of 9.5/10, stating that it "is probably the biggest game in the Metal Gear series, and it's only on Sony's smallest system".^[50]

Sales

Despite critical acclaim and initial hopes from Konami that the game would become an international hit,^[51] sales of Peace Walker have been very poor outside of Japan. In Europe the game failed to chart in most countries and placed 13th in the UK its first week,^[52] and by its third week had fallen out of the top 40. In America the game similarly failed to make the top 20 during its first month,^[53] selling only 52,000 physical UMD copies, a markedly worse performance than Metal Gear Acid.^[54] However, with the PSP's digital content delivery option through PSN, it's been noted that perhaps sales on the PSP should be counted differently since digital downloads on PSP and PSPgo are not counted.^[54] Industry analyst Mike Hickey told IGN that poor sales of the PSP platform itself was likely "the main cause" for Peace Walker's unimpressive sales.^[54] However, Konami has stated they have a profit of $15 million from sales of Peace Walker and Pro Evolution soccer games, but they did not provide sales figures for Peace Walker. They have however, said Peace Walker sales helped Metal Gear games sell 1.27 million copies for the quarter.^[55]

Awards

Peace Walker received the Best of Show and Best PSP Game awards during the 2009 Tokyo Game Show. IGN later put the game in its Best of 2010 list, garnering awards for Game of the Year,^[56] Most Addictive Game,^[57] Best Visuals,^[58] Most Bang for Your Buck,^[59] Best Story,^[60] Best Co-Op^[61] and Coolest Atmosphere^[62]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Arendt, Susan (June 2, 2009). "Liveblog: Sony's E3 Press Conference". The Escapist. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/92123-Liveblog-Sonys-E3-Press-Conference. Retrieved June 2, 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} [1]^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b c d} http://www.konami.jp/mgs_pw/en/index2.html^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Announced". Edge. June 2, 2009. http://www.next-gen.biz/news/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-announced. Retrieved June 2, 2009. 
5. ^ "Kojima's blog" (in Japanese). http://ameblo.jp/kp-blogcast/entry-10466416389.html. 
6. ^ "N4G.com: Peace Walker's Development Team as Big as MGS4's". http://n4g.com/news/479339/peace-walkers-development-team-as-big-as-mgs4s. 
7. ^ "Metal Gear Saga page from the official Metal Gear Portal" (in Japanese). http://www.konami.jp/mg/mgsaga.html. 
8. ^ "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Preview: Competitors, Take Notes". Kotaku.com. 2009-09-24. http://kotaku.com/5366536/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-preview-competitors-take-notes. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} Gantayat, Anoop (2010-04-07). "Konami Announces Mountain of Metal Gear Tieups — PlayStation Portable News at IGN". Psp.ign.com. http://psp.ign.com/articles/108/1082269p1.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
10. ^ "Kojima talks Peace Walker". 25 September 2009. http://tgs.gamespot.com/story/6230488/kojima-talks-peace-walker. 
11. ^ "Kojima talks Peace Walker-PSP News at Gamespot". http://tgs.gamespot.com/story/6230488/kojima-talks-peace-walker. 
12. ^ "『メタルギア ソリッド ピースウォーカー』2010年3月18日開戦 - ファミ通.com" (in Japanese). http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1230170_1407.html. "車椅子に乗った科学者風の男性。胸にストレンジラブと色違いの認識票をつけていることから、同じ組織の所属だと思われる。時代的にはオタコンの父親あたりの世代だが......。" 
13. ^ Huey: There's something I've been meaning to ask you... [Strangelove removes Sunglasses] Do you...do you despise me?
    Dr. Strangelove: Doctor, are you asking me out?
    Huey: No no, not at all...
    Dr. Strangelove: [goes over to Huey and gets close to him, as well as rubbing his chin in a flirting way] No? Pity...because I've just had my heart broken by someone else.
    Huey: Wh...what?!
    Dr. Strangelove: I only like those who can stand on their own. If you fancy me, then come walk with me. Who knows what miracles might happen? [removes sunglasses and places them on Huey's eyes] Love is blind, after all.
    Huey: Ah...
    Dr. Strangelove: [walks away and motions goodbye] Take your time...I'll be waiting...
    (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Konami, 2010)
14. ^ Josh Tolentino (2010-03-23). "Metal Gear Peace Walker gets Mountain Dew Peace Walker". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/metal-gear-peace-walker-gets-mountain-dew-peace-walker-168688.phtml. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
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21. ^ "Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. :". Konami.com. 2010-06-29. http://www.konami.com/article/METAL_GEAR_SOLID:_PEACE_WALKER_CODE_HUNT_WINNER/106. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
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25. ^ Miller, Greg (2009-12-17). "Play Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Today — PlayStation Portable News at IGN". Psp.ign.com. http://psp.ign.com/articles/105/1056000p1.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
26. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2010-01-15. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20100115084702/http://www.konami-peacewalkerdemo.com/demo.php. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
27. ^ "Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. : METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER". Konami.com. http://www.konami.com/games/mgspeacewalker/survey.php. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
28. ^ ^{a b} Dale North (2010-01-20). "Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker PSP bundle details". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-psp-bundle-details-161088.phtml. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
29. ^ Brian Ashcraft (2010-01-21). "First Good Look At New Metal Gear Solid PSP Bundle". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5453508/first-good-look-at-new-metal-gear-solid-psp-bundle. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
30. ^ Spencer (2010-01-21). "Glamour Shots Of The Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker PSP". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2010/01/21/glamour-shots-of-the-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-psp/. Retrieved 2010-03-31. 
31. ^ ^{a b} "Sony Announces Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Bundle". 1.UP.com. 2010-04-08. http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3178725. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
32. ^ by JC Fletcher on Apr 8th 2010 4:30PM (2010-04-08). "MGS Peace Walker PSP 'Big Boss Bundle' is a GameStop exclusive". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/mgs-peace-walker-psp-big-boss-bundle-is-a-gamestop-exclusive/. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
33. ^ Spencer (2010-03-30). "Mexico’s Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Bundle Has Japan’s Camouflage PSP". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/30/mexicos-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-bundle-has-japans-camouflage-psp/. Retrieved 2010-03-31. 
34. ^ Michael McWhertor (2010-03-16). "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Shows Its "Spirited Green" Side". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5494717/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-shows-its-spirited-green-side. Retrieved 2010-03-16. 
35. ^ "Twitter / Kojima Pro Live: To conserve power we are t". Twitter.com. http://twitter.com/Kojima_Pro_Live/status/46508536024412160. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
36. ^ var authorId = "78864510" by Greg Miller. "E3 2011: Metal Gear, Zone of the Enders HD Collections - PS3 News at IGN". Ps3.ign.com. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1172179p1.html. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
37. ^ "METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK". VGMdb. http://vgmdb.net/album/17314. Retrieved January 1, 2010. 
38. ^ "Square Enix Music Online - 16 Apr 2010: Studios Unite for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker". Squareenixmusic.com. 2010-04-16. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/musicnews2.php?subaction=showfull&id=1271445691&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
39. ^ "link". Destructoid.com. http://www.destructoid.com/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-will-utilize-vocaloid-151969.phtml. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
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46. ^ Saim Cheeda (2010-06-10). "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Review Scores". Gamerankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/psp/960566-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker/index.html. Retrieved 2010-06-10. 
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49. ^ "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker review - 91% in PSM3". http://www.computerandvideogames.com/249182/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-review-91-in-psm3/. 
50. ^ var authorId = "78864510". "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Review — PlayStation Portable Review at IGN". Psp.ign.com. http://psp.ign.com/articles/109/1095291p2.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
51. ^ "Konami CEO Talks Peace Walker Sales". andrisang.com. http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/25/konami_ceo_interview/. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 
52. ^ "PAL Charts — Week 25, 2010". Various. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=399668. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 
53. ^ "June NPD". NPD. http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/07/june-npd/. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 
54. ^ ^{a b c} "Peace Walker Sales Difficult To Judge". IGN.com. http://psp.ign.com/articles/110/1106817p1.html. Retrieved 2010-07-17. 
55. ^ Brendan Sinclair (5 August 2010). "Peace Walker, World Cup fever bolster Konami earnings". Gamespot UK. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6272426.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop%3Btitle%3B14. Retrieved 22 August 2010. 
56. ^ "Best PSP Game of the Year 2010 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP - IGN". Bestof.ign.com. http://bestof.ign.com/2010/psp/best-psp-game-of-the-year.html. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
57. ^ "Most Addictive Game 2010 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP - IGN". Bestof.ign.com. http://bestof.ign.com/2010/psp/most-addictive-game.html. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
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59. ^ "Most Bang for Your Buck 2010 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP - IGN". Bestof.ign.com. http://bestof.ign.com/2010/psp/most-bang-for-your-buck.html. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
60. ^ "Best Story 2010 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP - IGN". Bestof.ign.com. http://bestof.ign.com/2010/psp/best-story.html. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
61. ^ "Best Co-Op Game 2010 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP - IGN". Bestof.ign.com. http://bestof.ign.com/2010/psp/best-co-op-game.html. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
62. ^ "Coolest Atmosphere 2010 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP - IGN". Bestof.ign.com. http://bestof.ign.com/2010/psp/coolest-atmosphere.html. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 

External links

• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on the Metal Gear Wiki, an external wiki
• Official Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker site