After two card-based game outings, Metal Gear Solid frontman Snake finally hits the PSP in all his stealth action glory. Introducing a few new elements to the series in the process, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops delivers the goods Metal Gear fans expect, but issues with the PSP itself present some challenges.

Set a few years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Portable Ops picks up with Snake, the renowned Big Boss, regaining consciousness in an unfamiliar land where it soon becomes apparent he must overthrow the local militaristic government. Of course, with an entire country full of soldiers pinned against him, Snake requires support beyond the traditional handful of allies. Therefore, following the standard FOX protocol of acquiring equipment on-site, Snake soon begins to recruit for his army.

A new direction for the series, the recruitment and resulting management of Portable Ops plays a prominent role as the game unfolds. Recruitment is simple enough -- merely drag an unconscious enemy into the supply truck Snake and wait until they're recruited. Each recruit has a specific area of expertise that makes them best-suited for deployment into one of several fields. A skilled medical team produces healing items and does the best job of patching up the injured between missions. The results of gifted technicians involve fancy gear, ranging from thermal goggles to stealth camouflage. Most important of all, however, are the spies, who frequently report on recent events within their assigned area.

With reports ranging from the availability of certain weaponry to the location of important government officials, having lots of spies proves essential to furthering the main story. A good network of spies also offers numerous optional side quests, such as the nearby armory that, if destroyed, will weaken the offensive capabilities of nearby troops.

Once all the reports are in, it's up to the player to choose which location they want to travel to, as well as the troops and equipment they want to take. Both equipment and the choice of recruits factor into a mission's approach, with different characters having different capabilities. Snake may be skilled at combat, but an appropriately clothed soldier who won't trigger any alarms may be the better choice for a recon mission, especially if he's of the type that can drag bodies faster than normal. Fortunately, each team consists of up to four individual characters which you can switch between by locating a nearby hiding spot or the site or an unfortunate death.

Not only does this team-based approach permit multiple attempts at an objective, but it also allows players a large range of possible equipment. With certain missions requiring specific equipment, a well-equipped crew can be the difference between success and failure. Luckily, missions aren't so long that not having the proper equipment results in too much lost time, and even in the event of failure, constant recruitment helps maintain the illusion of progress.