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Top 5 on PSP: Strategy

There may not be much PSP related news out of GDC yet, but you can comfort yourself by knowing the system has lots of great games already. With that in mind, every day this week we'll feature a new genre and list the top 5 games (according to metareviews), so no matter what you're into, you'll have some idea of what games you should own. Today the focus is on strategy games, which the PSP doesn't have a lot of, but there are some notable and enjoyable ones (like the games on the list below).

Top 5 Strategy games on PSP

  1. Sid Meier's Pirates!
  2. Metal Gear Ac!d 2
  3. Field Commander
  4. Metal Gear Ac!d
  5. Worms: Open Warfare

I know many gamers hated the Metal Gear Ac!d series, but they are some of my personal favorite games on the system. Actually, I enjoyed all the games on this list, except for Pirates!, only because I have yet to try it. But what do you think about these 5 games? What strategy games aren't on this list that you think every PSP owner should have?

If you missed it, you can check out our previous top 5 game lists:

Action

Racing

Sports

Fighting

[Data Via Metacritic]

"The Best" budget line expands in Japan


The PSP's lineup of Greatest Hits games in America is relatively small, and hasn't grown in quite some time. (In order to qualify for Greatest Hits status, a game must sell more than 250,000 copies and be more than 9 months old.) Japan's "The Best" series in Japan, though, continues to grow. Sure, it features really ugly packaging, but at the low, low price of 2800 yen (about $25), it might be worth it. The latest additions to the budget lineup include: Metal Gear Acid 2, Sengoku Musou, Bleach Heat the Soul 2, and Harvest Moon Portable. If you're wondering how these titles are selected, don't: unlike in America, it doesn't appear the Japanese budget program actually has qualifications.

[Via Siliconera]

Metareview - Metal Gear Acid 2

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."

New MGA 2 card to be a hoot

Apparently, IGN hosted a Metal Gear Acid 2 contest a while back where they asked readers to submit their ideas for a new card for Solid Snake's deck of tricks. Hon-Kwan Ronald Siu from Wisconsin was the lucky bas---, uh, winner of the contest with his simply but witty submission of a banana peel.

To tell you the truth, I can't imagine why this hasn't been included in the game already, what with all the Easter Eggs like girly posters and gaming magazines that have already made appearances. That said, if you had your own idea for what kind of card should show up next in MGA, what would it be?

MGA2 to feature sexy coeds in full-on 3D

Here's a really good reason to pick up the Japanese version of Metal Gear Acid 2: It seems the "Solid Eye" add-on peripheral for the game not only promises enhanced gameplay, but portable tomfoolery as well. Special cards in the game will unlock 3-D enhanced video clips such as a noted "sexy scene with Eva" and will also feature an eyeful of female models (many of whom have "accidentally" forgotten to wear their clothes to the photo shoot) courtesy of Japanese men's mag Sabra.

[Thanks, Timmeh]

Metal Gear Acid 2 import available online

If you can't get enough of Solid Snake and you know how to speak Japanese, then today may just be your lucky day. Both Lik-Sang and Play-Asia indicate they have stock of the Japanese version of Metal Gear Acid 2 today and are currently available to make shipments to international locations (for a premium, naturally). Since PSP games are normally region-free and the US version isn't due till March 2006, you might be able to get your card-battling fix earlier than expected. Neither of the sites make mention of the "Solid Eye" add-on touted earlier this year, however, so there's no telling at this point if it is or isn't included in the package.

[UPDATE:] Lik-Sang reports that the "Solid Eye" will be packed in with the game when it ships.

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