Lots of Metal Gear Solid fans freaked out when they found out that the PSP-exclusive rendition of their favorite series was turned into a strategic, card-based game more similar to Pokemon than Splinter Cell. Fortunately, the game was received somewhat well by the general gaming population, and undoubtedly led to the creation of a sequel, Metal Gear Acid 2, less than a year later. But is the follow-up still worth looking into? Most everyone says, "Uh, I guess so."

Metal Gear Acid 2 features a gaggle of new cards as well as smoother, more refined game play. Although if you never took a shine to Metal Gear Acid's style of play, it's safe to say that its sequel won't impress you much either. The addition of the gimmicky but workable Solid Eye peripheral may sway a few skeptics out there, however we really can't imagine anyone would feel particularly enthused about the game based solely on the add-on's inclusion. But hey, if you love Snake's mullet enough, half a day staring at a screen smooshed a few inches from your face may be an endeavor not too difficult to manage.

• 1UP (9.0 / 10) - "It still won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if strategy, gambling, comic books, and espionage are high on your gaming wish list, this might be the perfect portable title for your needs."
• GamePro (4.0 / 5) - "With all the improvements and tweaks to the gameplay system, it's hard to really find anything really drastically wrong with the game other than personal taste. If you have the patients [sic] to play a methodical strategy game wrapped around an action game facade then Acid 2 is for you."
• GameSpy (4.0 / 5) - "Metal Gear Acid 2 shows that the switch to turn-based play was a sound one, after ironing out the wrinkles in the first game. This time around, you'll play MGA 2 not for the name on the box, but for the content inside -- and you'll leave much happier."

When first glancing at screenies of Koei's historical hack-and-slash title Samurai Warriors: State of War, it's easy to see the resemblance with their other historical hack-and-slash game, Dynasty Warriors. Although that would probably be due to the fact that it's essentially the same game, only revised for the handheld market. And despite the fact that this franchise has already been done to death, there are a few improvements (aside from, yes we said it before, a portable version) that would warrant this at least a look-see.

Overall reviews for this game put it in the "okay, but not quite there" category, with statements like GameSpot's complaint of the title's bland gameplay and Worth Playing's mentioning of Samurai Warriors' "under-decorated backgrounds". Gamebrink's observation may at least appease long-running fans of the series by saying that the game is an improvement over the disappointing Dynasty Warriors for PSP.

GameSpot (6.5 / 10) - "No doubt, if you enjoyed Samurai Warriors on consoles, you'll take at least something positive away from State of War. It's very much the same formula translated reasonably well onto a handheld platform. The trouble is that the formula itself is no better off in handheld form than it was on consoles, and the action becomes utterly stagnant after a short while."

WorthPlaying (7.9 / 10) - "Samurai Warriors: State of War often reminds you that you're participating in some trumped-drama for the sake of justifying mass slaughter, but it benefits more than it suffers from its familiar setup. With a large cast of warriors and a diverting map system, character-building and charm-casting effectively replace storytelling to encourage continued combat, even if a slow-to-react camera and under-decorated environments make it a less-than-perfect execution of the huge-clashing-armies formula."

Gamebrink (76% / 100%) - "[Samurai Warriors] is KOEI’s honest attempt at mopping up that former mess and their efforts are very visible with this worthy addition to the PSP’s library. For those that felt that the original Dynasty Warriors for PSP felt a bit lacking and would have liked a game that did justice to the beat em’ up fighter that was Dynasty Warriors for the console then Samurai Warriors is here to pave the way."

Syphon Filter hasn’t made a striking appearance on a console since, well, the first Syphon Filter came out on the PSOne back in 1999. Fans of the third-person shooter can breathe a sigh of relief then knowing that the newest addition to the franchise, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror for the PSP, has made an equally large splash.

Excellent graphics, effective use of the PSP controls, and great online multiplayer mark Dark Mirror “the game to beat on the PSP” by IGN, and while 1UP has issues with the originality of the story (“The story…isn’t something to pay close attention to”), both they and GameSpot agree that the ability of the game to play well even without the help of a second analog stick is a blessing.

Gee; two great games and news of several landmark peripherals in the span of a week. Suddenly that feeling I had as a neglected PSP owner is feeling somewhat less soul-deadening.

• IGN (9.3 / 10) – “Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror packs an uncommon amount of detail, variety and overall quality. It blends intense action sequences with stealth in a way no portable game has before, and it does so with style to spare.”
• 1UP (8.0 / 10) – “Better than any PSP shooter yet, Dark Mirror functions without a second analog stick. The extraordinary grace of the remaining controls is enough to almost forget how nice dual-stick control would be.”
• GameSpot (8.8 / 10) – “With everything Dark Mirror has to offer, including its great controls, varied campaign, and high-caliber presentation, Syphon Filter is easy to recommend to anyone who likes action games.”