When Metal Gear Solid 4 releases for the PlayStation 3 next month, players won't only experience Solid Snake's finale. They'll also gain access to a separate game called Metal Gear Online (MGO), where they can compete against others using sneaky skills and weapon upgrades. After a mild setback, Konami successfully launched the beta for Metal Gear on the PlayStation 3 in the United States last week. We were able to get in on the action and came away somewhat impressed.

Metal Gear Online takes the same kind of approach as other conventional online action games. You're assigned to a team and given the task of taking on a rival faction in a number of matches. Death Match is a given, requiring you to wipe out the opposition through strategy and cunning. Base Mission has your team securing several territories on a game map in order to win the round. Sneaking Mission, a recent addition to the beta, is a little different. One player controls Solid Snake as he runs around and collects dog tags, while his teammates distract the others to avoid his capture. Finally, there's Capture Mission, a variation of Capture the Flag.

Three maps are available with this initial beta – Blood Bath, Groznyj Grad and the recently added Midtown Maelstrom. All three maps are equally great when it comes to design, giving you plenty of room to hide and set up kills. Shooting enemies is one thing; being able to grab them from behind and quietly snap their neck is another. There's something gratifying about being able to take out an opponent with your bare hands rather than relying on your trigger finger.

There are some minor graphical issues that turned up over the course of the beta, including mild glitches and character animation skips. Furthermore, the lack of voice chat hurts, given that it's clearly evident that the game could support it.

Gameplay-wise, Metal Gear Online doesn't change the course of online action. The gameplay is reasonably easy to get into and lots of fun against friends. It's cool how Konami leans on strategy as much as action with the SOP notification system. With this, you keep tabs on your teammates with on-screen icons, so you can see who's positioned where. On occasion, you're given a temporary notification on where enemies are, giving you a slight advantage. Of course, the tables can turn on you rather quickly, so keep an eye out.

At the beginning of the beta, you're given the option to customize your character. Currently, there are only male characters, which is something we're hopeful will change in the final release. You're provided four slots in which to customize your special abilities, and each of these leveling you up. For instance, if you specialize in using an assault rifle, you become better with the weapon over the course of each round.

Thus far, MGO is a solid addition to the Metal Gear legacy. There's still a few beta days left (it ends this Sunday), so hop online and get a little more time with it. You'll need the practice, as Solid Snake's fond farewell isn't that far off.

Related Links

Metal Gear Solid 4 Game Guide

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