Taking full advantage of the PSP, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker takes the series in an exciting new direction with incredible visuals, as it sheds new light on well-known adversaries and allies, along with a wealth of new characters. The famed ‘stealth’ gameplay that has established the Metal Gear Solid series as a modern classic has also been updated, with Kojima and his Kojima Productions team implementing all-new multi-player co-op elements that add depth to the various missions.

The game is set in Central America in 1974, as players take control of the famed Naked Snake (Big Boss): the legendary hero who had once saved the world from the brink of nuclear war. Snake has now turned his back on his mother country and established 'An Army without a Government' in South America, and is approached by visitors from 'A Nation without a Military' to investigate suspicious activity in the peaceful paradise of Costa Rica. Amidst the turmoil of the cold war, Costa Rica alone had managed to be a beacon of peace in a region torn by conflict, but all of that may change.

In true Metal Gear Solid tradition, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker drops the player into a series of hostile scenarios, as a terrible plan for world domination unfolds. Infiltrating a series of strategic strong-holds, the player takes on a number of increasingly varied missions, and will face some of the most incredible end-of-level adversaries the series has ever produced. Coupled with stunning visuals, incredible enemy AI, and a twisting plot that will delight and surprise as the game is played, it is no wonder Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is already being hailed as one of the most exciting upcoming games.

In addition to solo operations, players can now work together towards a common goal in the multi-player CO-OPS (CO-operative OPerationS) mode. Assist a companion who receives damage by administering medical help, share munitions, or sneak through stages in snake formation by covering each other’s blind spots. Likewise, plans can be formulated to take on adversaries, with players acting as decoys while their friends sneak into advantageous positions.

The first major reveal is the Mother Base off shore plant, which acts as a hub for items and personnel collected within the game. During the course of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, users can recruit felled adversaries and transport them to the Mother Base sea rig by using the Fulton Recovery System. Recruited soldiers each have unique attributes that allow them to support Snake and other characters in a variety of ways.  By gathering more staff, players will be able to expand Mother Base and gain access to new functions. Mother Base also acts as a development area for Snake, where collated information can be used to create and also upgrade all-new armaments.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker also introduces new AI Weapons - giant unmanned behemoths that Snake must overcome to complete his mission. These include hover, airborne, and tank-style vehicles.  Each AI Weapon can speak and even sing during battle using VOCALOID technology, hinting at a surprising level of intelligence.

Finally, Kojima Productions has also confirmed the PSP game will boast extensive multi-player elements, allowing four-player co-operative missions, and a stunning three-against-three battle royale, wherein six players can form teams and engage in huge linked battles via the Sony handheld's Ad Hoc capabilities. Further details will be released shortly, with Kojima Productions looking to the ever-popular Metal Gear Online for inspiration.