Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Encyclopedia
is a video game produced by Konami
and Kojima Productions
that was released for the PlayStation Portable
in 2010. 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
. The series' regular tagline, "Tactical Espionage Action", was opted out for this entry in favor of "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 was originally intended to be the fifth numbered entry in the series, but later had the "5" removed. 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
.
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.
.
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 a number of different load-outs including one's camouflage.
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, tank
s, 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.
franchise, the Tigrex and Rathalos, where players will be rewarded with unique items. Completing the Extra Ops missions would also help in expanding the Mother Base modules.
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.
), 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
), 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.
, 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.
. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
to listen to the game's background music. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
, 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). The game made its playable debut at Tokyo Game Show
2009, and IGN
released a Japanese-language demo version.
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. A survey was made available on Konami's website for the rest of the month after December 17.
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. 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.
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. This pack was released on June 8, 2010 for US$199. Among the exclusive items included, is a FOX Unit camouflage and a Stealth Gun.
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.
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.
) 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. 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.
; 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. 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". 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".
that the game would become an international hit, 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, 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, selling only 52,000 physical UMD copies, a markedly worse performance than Metal Gear Acid
. 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. Industry analyst Mike Hickey told IGN
that poor sales of the PSP
platform itself was likely "the main cause" for Peace Walkers unimpressive sales. 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.
. IGN later put the game in its Best of 2010 list, garnering awards for Game of the Year, Most Addictive Game, Best Visuals, Most Bang for Your Buck, Best Story, Best Co-Op and Coolest Atmosphere
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
and Kojima Productions
Kojima Productions
is a Japanese video game development studio under the guidance of game designer Hideo Kojima. The company is a subsidiary of Konami, and is located in Roppongi Hills in Roppongi, Tokyo. The studio had just under 100 employees in 2005 but has since grown to over 200 people for the development of...
that was released for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
in 2010. Peace Walker is the fourth Metal Gear
Metal Gear
Metal Gear is a series of video games.Metal Gear may also refer to:*Metal Gear , bipedal tanks appearing in the Metal Gear series-Metal Gear video game series:...
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
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
is a stealth game directed by Masahiro Yamamoto and written by Gakuto Mikumo, with series creator Hideo Kojima acting as a producer. Portable Ops was developed by Kojima Productions and published by Konami in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable. It is the third Metal Gear title for the PSP and the...
. It is also the first game in the series for a portable platform to be directed by series' creator Hideo Kojima
Hideo Kojima
is a Japanese game director originally employed at Konami. He is currently the director of Kojima Productions and was promoted to Vice President of Konami Digital Entertainment in early 2011...
. The series' regular tagline, "Tactical Espionage Action", was opted out for this entry in favor of "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
Entertainment Software Rating Board
The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games as well as entertainment software in Canada, Mexico and...
. Peace Walker was originally intended to be the fifth numbered entry in the series, but later had the "5" removed. 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
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
is a video game developed by Kojima Productions for the PlayStation 3 console. The game was directed by Hideo Kojima and made its worldwide release on June 12, 2008, ten years after the release of Metal Gear Solid and twenty years after the North American release of Metal Gear.Guns of the Patriots...
.
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.
Gameplay
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, Guns of the Patriots, or Capcom's Monster HunterMonster Hunter
Monster Hunter is an action game for the PlayStation 2. The game was developed and published by Capcom. Monster Hunter was released in North America on September 21, 2004...
.
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 a number of 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
Sniper team
A sniper team typically consists of a sniper and a spotter as described in military doctrines of the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Both members can perform either role and often rotate between the two...
for other players whose vision is obscured. The game adopts certain mechanics from Metal Gear Solid 4
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
is a video game developed by Kojima Productions for the PlayStation 3 console. The game was directed by Hideo Kojima and made its worldwide release on June 12, 2008, ten years after the release of Metal Gear Solid and twenty years after the North American release of Metal Gear.Guns of the Patriots...
, 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
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
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
Ocean thermal energy conversion
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion uses the difference between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface ocean waters to run a heat engine and produce useful work, usually in the form of electricity....
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
Morale
Morale, also known as esprit de corps when discussing the morale of a group, is an intangible term used to describe the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal, or even in oneself and others...
. Rebellious or injured personnel can be brought to the brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
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, tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s, 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 HunterMonster Hunter
Monster Hunter is an action game for the PlayStation 2. The game was developed and published by Capcom. Monster Hunter was released in North America on September 21, 2004...
franchise, the Tigrex and Rathalos, where players will be rewarded with unique items. 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
Peace Walker is set in Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
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
Military of Costa Rica
On December 1, 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer of Costa Rica abolished the military of Costa Rica after victory in the civil war in that year....
. The PS presence threatens to endanger the balance of power between the East and West.
Characters
The game's main protagonist is Naked Snake (Akio Ōtsuka/David HayterDavid Hayter
David Hayter is a Canadian-American voice and screen actor and screenwriter. He is best known for providing the English voices of Solid Snake and Big Boss in the Metal Gear video game series, and for writing the screenplay for X-Men and co-writing the screenplay for The Scorpion King and X2...
), 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
Tomokazu Sugita
is a Japanese voice actor employed by Atomic Monkey. Best known for his role as Gintoki in Gintama, he also voices Kyon in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. He is also one of the three hosts on the radio show Bururaji promoting the videogame Blazblue which is produced and released on Nico Nico...
/Robin Atkin Downes
Robin Atkin Downes
Born in London, England, Robin Atkin Downes is an English actor who is one of the most prolific voice-over actors in Los Angeles. He is well known for his work in film, television and voice acting...
). They are eventually joined later in the game by Sandinista rebel leader Amanda Valenciano Libre (Romi Park/Grey Delisle
Grey DeLisle
Grey DeLisle is an American voice actress, singer-songwriter, and comedienne. To date, she has released four solo albums and has featured on the tribute album Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash and film soundtrack of Loggerheads...
) and her kid brother, Chico (Kikuko Inoue
Kikuko Inoue
is a popular Japanese voice actress and singer. She has been part of the singing groups DoCo and Goddess Family Club, among others, and is the manager of her voice-acting company, Office Anemone. Inoue tends to play the "perfect girlfriend" or "motherly" role in many series, but she has also played...
/Antony Del Rio), Paz Ortega Andrade (Nana Mizuki
Nana Mizuki
is a popular Japanese singer-songwriter and voice actress. She was born and raised in Niihama, Ehime, Japan, Mizuki was trained as an enka singer. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1998; however, she released her debut single "Omoi", under the King Records label on December 6, 2000...
/Tara Strong
Tara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
), a student at the University of Peace; Hal Emmerich's future father Huey (Hideyuki Tanaka
Hideyuki Tanaka
is a Japanese voice actor. He is a graduate of the Toho Gakuen School of Music. He is most known for his roles in Dokaben , Kinnikuman , Captain Tsubasa , Touch , Saint Seiya , Metal Gear Solid and Slam Dunk .-TV Anime:*Akagi...
/Christopher Randolph
Christopher Randolph
Christopher Randolph is an American actor known for providing the English voice for Hal "Otacon" Emmerich in the Metal Gear series. Prior to landing his role as Otacon, he auditioned for multiple parts, including Solid Snake...
), and French ornithologist Cécile Cosima Caminades (Yu Kobayashi
Yu Kobayashi
is a female voice actress from Tokyo, Japan and is affiliated with HolyPeak. She also occasionally works as a key animator.-Anime:*12Riven - Yuyu Hoshino*Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori - Emily Adachi*Amatsuki - Benitobi...
/Catherine Taber
Cat Taber
Catherine Taber , also known as "Cat Taber", is an American actress who has appeared in films, television and video games.-Filmography:* Final Fantasy XIV - Various...
).
The game's main antagonists are Hot Coldman (Mugihito
Mugihito
, better known by his stage name of is a Japanese voice and stage actor from Musashino, Tokyo. He is employed by Media Force. Mugihito was formerly credited under his birth name and also...
/H. Richard Greene), who is the CIA Central America station chief, and Ramon Galvez Mena (Hōchū Ōtsuka
Hochu Otsuka
, also known by the his stage name , is a Japanese voice actor from Okayama Prefecture, affiliated with the talent management firm Crazy Box. He is the official Japanese dub-over artist for: Gary Oldman and Jean-Claude Van Damme....
/Steve Blum), Paz's instructor. Dr Strangelove (Yumi Kikuchi/Vanessa Marshall
Vanessa Marshall
Vanessa Marshall is an American actress, voice actress and model. She is the daughter of actress Joan Van Ark. She got into voice-over work after being discovered at a one woman show.-Films:* Bagboy! - Mrs...
) 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
Monster Hunter
Monster Hunter is an action game for the PlayStation 2. The game was developed and published by Capcom. Monster Hunter was released in North America on September 21, 2004...
also appears as Snake's transporter to a mythical island.
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 armyMilitary of Costa Rica
On December 1, 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer of Costa Rica abolished the military of Costa Rica after victory in the civil war in that year....
, 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"
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
being loaded onto a barge. Snake subdues and interrogate the radio man, learning that the cargo is headed for Mount Irazu
Irazú Volcano
The Irazú Volcano is an active volcano in Costa Rica, situated in the Cordillera Central close to the city of Cartago.The name could come from either the combination of "ara" and "tzu" or a corruption of Iztarú, which was the name of an indigenous village on the flanks of the volcano...
. From the previous radio conversation and boxes of film badges
Film badge dosimeter
The film badge dosimeter, or film badge, is a dosimeter used for monitoring cumulative exposure to ionizing radiation. The badge consists of two parts: photographic film, and a holder. The film is removed and developed to measure exposure....
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 CrisisCuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
. Galvez and Paz, in the meantime, have sought refuge in the town of Ciudad Colon
Ciudad Colón
Ciudad Colon is a small town situated west of Santa Ana, Costa Rica. Ciudad Colon is the head city of Mora Canton, San José Province. It is famous for its warm climate, proximity to nature and its surrounding mountains, folkloric traditions, horse riding, and multiculturalism. Located some...
. 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
AVGP
The AVGP is a series of three armoured fighting vehicles ordered by the Canadian military in 1977.The three vehicles are the Cougar, Grizzly and Husky....
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
Fail-deadly
Fail-deadly is a concept in nuclear military strategy which encourages deterrence by guaranteeing an immediate, automatic and overwhelming response to an attack. The term fail-deadly was coined as a contrast to fail-safe.-Military usage:...
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 forestCloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
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
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
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
Quetzal
Quetzals are strikingly colored birds in the trogon family . They are found in forests and woodlands, especially in humid highlands, with the five species from the genus Pharomachrus being exclusively Neotropical, while the single Euptilotis species is almost entirely restricted to western Mexico...
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
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
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
San Juan River (Nicaragua)
The San Juan River , also known as El Desaguadero , is a 192.06 km river that flows east out of Lake Nicaragua into the Caribbean Sea. A large section of the border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica runs on the right bank of the river...
; 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
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. 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
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
, 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
National Military Command Center
Located in the Pentagon, the National Military Command Center houses the logistical and communications center for the National Command Authority of the United States of America. The facility, which is composed of several war rooms, is the principal command and control center of the Department of...
and convince the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
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
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is a non-specific neuroscience term referring to the ability of the brain and nervous system in all species to change structurally and functionally as a result of input from the environment. Plasticity occurs on a variety of levels, ranging from cellular changes involved in...
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.
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
Balance of power in international relations
In international relations, a balance of power exists when there is parity or stability between competing forces. The concept describes a state of affairs in the international system and explains the behavior of states in that system...
, 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. 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 WalkmansWalkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
to listen to the game's background music. 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.
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
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
(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. 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.
On April 7, 2010, Konami and Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
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
Front Mission Evolved
is a third-person shooter video game developed by Double Helix Games and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd. and was released in Japan on September 16, 2010, September 28, 2010 in North America, and October 8, 2010 in Europe. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
for use in the Wanzers. 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
PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home is a virtual 3D social gaming network developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network . It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar under PlayStation Network. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN...
, 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.
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.
Demo Ops
A nine-minute video was shown at GamescomGamescom
gamescom is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is organised by the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware...
, 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). The game made its playable debut at Tokyo Game Show
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
2009, and IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
released a Japanese-language demo version.
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
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
Japanese demo along with an all-new boss battle. A survey was made available on Konami's website for the rest of the month after December 17.
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 ¥Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
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. The other bundle offer includes the camouflaged PSP-3000, a pouch, a wrist strap, a camouflaged cleaning cloth and the Peace Walker UMD for ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
26,980 or US$295.
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. This pack was released on June 8, 2010 for US$199. Among the exclusive items included, is a FOX Unit camouflage and a Stealth Gun.
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.
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 LibertyMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
is a stealth action video game directed by Hideo Kojima, developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 in 2001....
and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
is an award-winning stealth action video game directed by Hideo Kojima. Snake Eater was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2, and was released on November 17, 2004 in North America; December 16, 2004 in Japan; March 4, 2005 in Europe; and on...
. 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.
Music
The Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Original Soundtrack was released on Apr 14, 2010. 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 BurkeDonna Burke
Donna Burke, a singer, narrator, and entrepreneur, was born in Perth, Australia, and moved to Tokyo, Japan in 1996. She lives with her guitarist and husband Bill Benfield and her three cats....
) and "Koi No Yokushi Ryoku (Love Deterrence)" (performed in Japanese by Nana Mizuki
Nana Mizuki
is a popular Japanese singer-songwriter and voice actress. She was born and raised in Niihama, Ehime, Japan, Mizuki was trained as an enka singer. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1998; however, she released her debut single "Omoi", under the King Records label on December 6, 2000...
). GEM Impact's Norihiko Hibino
Norihiko Hibino
is a Japanese video game composer and saxophonist.-Biography:After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he moved to Kansas City to start a career as a solo jazz musician...
, Yoshitaka Suzuki and Takahiro Izutani
Takahiro Izutani
Takahiro Izutani is a composer of video game music and a guitarist.- Profile :...
as well as Soundelux Design Music Group
Soundelux Design Music Group
Soundelux Design Music Group is a sound studio located in Hollywood, California.Soundelux Design Music Group specializes in sound design, music composition and voiceover recording for video games....
's Todd Haberman and Jeremy Soule
Jeremy Soule
Jeremy Soule is an American composer of soundtracks for film, television and video games. He has won multiple awards and has been described as the "John Williams of video game music" and "a model of success" for Western composers. He has composed soundtracks for over 60 games and over a dozen...
also provide compositions to the soundtrack. 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
Vocaloid
is a singing synthesizer application, with its signal processing part developed through a joint research project between the Pompeu Fabra University in Spain and Japan's Yamaha Corporation, who backed the development financially—and later developed the software into the commercial product...
software.
Reception
Peace Walker has received very positive reviews, with an aggregate of 88.75% on Gamerankings based on 34 reviews. It was given a perfect score of 40/40 in the May 5, 2010 issue of Japanese magazine Weekly FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
; making it the fourteenth game to achieve a perfect score, as well as the first title for the PSP. However, gaming blog Kotaku
Kotaku
Kotaku is a video games-focused blog. It is part of Gawker Media's "Gawker" network of sites, which also includes Gizmodo, Deadspin, Lifehacker, io9 and Jezebel. Named to CNET News' Blog 100, Kotaku is consistently listed in the top 40 of Technorati's Top 100...
pointed out that there is potential conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
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. 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". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
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".
Sales
Despite critical acclaim and initial hopes from KonamiKonami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
that the game would become an international hit, 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, 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, selling only 52,000 physical UMD copies, a markedly worse performance than Metal Gear Acid
Metal Gear Acid
is a turn-based collectible card video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan for the PlayStation Portable handheld game console. The game was first unveiled at E³ 2004 in May, and was released in Japan on December 16, 2004, in North America on March 22, 2005 and in Europe on...
. 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. Industry analyst Mike Hickey told IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
that poor sales of the PSP
PSP
PSP most commonly refers to the PlayStation Portable, a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.PSP may also refer to:-Computing and programming:*Corel Paint Shop Pro, a graphics editor...
platform itself was likely "the main cause" for Peace Walkers unimpressive sales. 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.
Awards
Peace Walker received the Best of Show and Best PSP Game awards during the 2009 Tokyo Game ShowTokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
. IGN later put the game in its Best of 2010 list, garnering awards for Game of the Year, Most Addictive Game, Best Visuals, Most Bang for Your Buck, Best Story, Best Co-Op and Coolest Atmosphere