History VideoGame / MetalGearSolidPortableOps

* GuestFighter: A few characters from [=MGS3=] can be recruited by fulfilling certain side-missions, even though they don't play much of a role in the main story (particularly egregious with EVA and Raikov, who have no influence in the story at all).
** Teliko and Venus, the heroines from the ''MetalGearAcid'' games, can also be recruited.
** In ''Portable Ops Plus'', Old Snake and Raiden (in addition to Roy) can be both used as well.

''Portable Ops'' was followed by a expansion pack of sort titled ''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus''. It eschewed the story mode from the original game with an "Infinity Mission" mode, while introducing new multiplayer modes, maps, units and unique characters based on [=MGS1=], [=MGS2=] and even [=MGS4=].

While initially advertised as the missing link between [=MGS3=] and the original ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', MPO is considered more of a side-story than a main episode in the Metal Gear Saga, as it was developed without HideoKojima's own direction. Kojima would take directorial helm of the next PSP game in the Metal Gear series, ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', building upon MPO's design and chronicling the further exploits of Big Boss.

* CutSong: When allegations of plagiarism in the series main theme began to surface during the game's production, the game's theme song, "Show Time," which [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHhAcD8TS4 originally]] included the series main theme, was re-edited so that it didn't. Sadly, this was not a temporary change, and the main theme has [[ExecutiveMeddling never surfaced again]], even in the 20th anniversary soundtrack collection. (Also, this is the only game with "VideoGame/MetalGearSolid" in the title that doesn't have ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'''s game over music at all, including the Game Boy Color one, but this is generally viewed as less significant by fans.)

* FanDisservice: Big Boss does wind up naked at one point, but the circumstances and art style drain all the possible {{Fanservice}} out of the moment.

* GuestFighter: A few characters from [=MGS3=] can be recruited by fulfilling certain side-missions, even though they don't play much of a role in the main story (particularly egregious with EVA and Raikov, whose respective presences in the game are rather superfluous). Teliko and Venus, the heroines from the ''MetalGearAcid'' games, can also be recruited. In ''Portable Ops Plus'', Old Snake and Raiden (in addition to Roy) can be both used as well.

''Portable Ops'' was followed by a expansion pack of sort titled '''''Portable Ops Plus'''''. It eschewed the story mode from the original game with an "Infinity Mission" mode, while introducing new multiplayer modes, maps, units and unique characters based on [=MGS1=], [=MGS2=] and even [=MGS4=].

'''''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops''''' ([[InsistentTerminology officially abbreviated]] ''MPO'') is a Franchise/MetalGear game released for the {{PlayStation Portable}}. Following the release of a few Metal Gear spinoffs for the PSP (both ''MetalGearAcid'' games and ''Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel''), Kojima Productions decided to develop a legitimate MGS game for the handheld system that remained true to the stealth action game design with a story set in the main continuity.

Set in 1970 (six years after the events of ''MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''), Naked Snake (aka Big Boss) finds himself abducted by members of his former unit, FOX, and imprisoned in a base somewhere in the San Hieronymo peninsula in Columbia. After escaping from prison, Snake finds out that the U.S. Government has accused of him leading the FOX unit's revolt, who are now threatening both, the U.S. and the Soviet Union, after joining forces with members of the Red Army and taking over a secret Soviet missile base. Unable to take down the FOX unit by himself, Snake join forces with a Green Beret soldier named Roy Campbell as they try to convince members of the revolt to join their cause and take down the FOX unit and clear Snake's name.

'''''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops''''' ([[InsistentTerminology officially abbreviated]] ''MPO''), released in 2006 for the PlayStationPortable, is the sequel of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3''. It is also the first canonical game Franchise/MetalGear series released on a handheld console.

While initially advertised as the missing link between [=MGS3=] and the original ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', MPO is not considered a main episode in the Metal Gear Saga, as it was developed without HideoKojima's own direction. Kojima would take directorial helm of the next PSP game in the Metal Gear series, ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', building upon MPO's design and chronicling the further exploits of Big Boss.

* GuestCharacter: A few characters from [=MGS3=] can be recruited by fulfilling certain side-missions, even though they don't play much of a role in the main story (particularly egregious with EVA and Raikov, whose respective presences in the game are rather superfluous). Teliko and Venus, the heroines from the ''MetalGearAcid'' games, can also be recruited. In ''Portable Ops Plus'', Old Snake and Raiden (in addition to Roy) can be both used as well.

Built on a modified version of the ''Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence'' engine, MPO introduces a "comrade system" which emphasizes a squad-based approach to the MGS formula in lieu of the traditional solo infiltration style. Featuring a stage-based structure, the player can deploy a team of up to four members to infiltrate various enemy facilities and fulfill mission objectives, as well as scout other territories and gather information. Snake can recruit numerous type of soldiers to his unit, as well as medics, engineers and even main characters from both, [=MGS3=] and MPO. In addition to the single-player story mode, there is also various multiplayer modes based on ''Subsistence'''s online component (''Metal Gear Online'') where two players pit their teams against others', including a Cyber-Survival mode where the winning team gets to steal members of a losing team.

* InsistentTerminology: Big Boss is still uncomfortable with the title of Big Boss at the beginning and still insists on being called Snake, but by the end of the game, it becomes something of a term of endearment by his men, which is fully realized in the sequel.

* MidDevelopmentGenreShift: ''Portable Ops'' originally began development as a competitive multiplayer shooter similar to the "Metal Gear Online" mode in ''Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence'' before the developers designed to give it a story mode and connect it to the main ''Metal Gear Solid'' storyline. This is also the reason why "MPO" was chosen as the official acronym, since the project was originally tied to MGO.

Built on a modified version of ''Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence'' engine, MPO introduces a "comrade system" which emphasizes a squad-based approach to the MGS formula in lieu of the traditional solo infiltration style. Featuring a stage-based structure, the player can deploy a team of up to four members to infiltrate various enemy facilities and fulfill mission objectives, as well as scout other territories and gather information. Snake can recruit numerous type of soldiers to his unit, as well as medics, engineers and even main characters from both, [=MGS3=] and MPO. In addition to the single-player story mode, there is also various multiplayer modes based on ''Subsistence'''s online component (''Metal Gear Online'') where two players pit their teams against others', including a Cyber-Survival mode where the winning team gets to steal members of a losing team.

While initially advertised as the missing link between MGS3 and the original ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', MPO was developed without HideoKojima's own direction. Kojima would take directorial helm of the next PSP game in the Metal Gear series, ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', building upon MPO's design and chronicling the further adventures of Big Boss.

Set in 1970 (six years after the events of ''MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''), Naked Snake (aka Big Boss) finds himself abducted by members of his former unit, FOX, and imprisoned in a base somewhere in the San Hieronymo peninsula in Columbia. After escaping from prison, Snake finds out that the U.S. Government has accused of him leading the FOX unit's revolt, who are now threatening both, the U.S. and the Soviet Union, after joining forces with members of the Red Army and taking over a secret Soviet missile base. Unable to take down the FOX unit by himself, Snake join forces with a Green Beret soldier named Roy Campbell as they try to convince members of the revolt to join their cause and take down the FOX unit.

Built on a modified version of ''Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence'' engine, MPO introduces a "comrade system" which emphasizes a squad-based approach to the MGS formula in lieu of the traditional one-man infiltration. Featuring a stage-based design, the player can deploy teams of up to four members to infiltrate various enemy facilities and fulfill mission objectives, as well as scout other territories and gather information. Snake can recruit numerous type of soldiers to his unit, as well as medics, engineers and even main characters from both, MGS3 and MPO. In addition to the single-player story mode, there is also various multiplayer modes based on ''Subsistence'''s online component (''Metal Gear Online'') where two players pit their teams against others', including a Cyber-Survival where the winning team gets to recruit members of a losing team.

''Portable Ops'' was followed by a expansion pack of sort titled '''''Portable Ops Plus'''''. It eschewed the story mode from the original game with a storyless "Infinity Mission" mode, while introducing new multiplayer modes, maps, units and unique characters based on other MGS games.

** Konami's online servers for both, MPO and MPO+, were shut down in 2012, removing the game's online functionality. However, players can still play the online modes with other PSP users via ad-hoc.

'''''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops''''', released in 2006 for the PlayStationPortable, is the sequel of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3''. It is also the first canonical ''Franchise/MetalGear'' game released on a handheld console.

Set six years after the events of ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', the game explains how Big Boss formed FOXHOUND.

''Portable Ops'' is considered a mixed bag. It promised multiplayer, which it delivered. It promised to clear up some details about Big Boss, which it did, and it promised more of the series' trademark gameplay, which it delivered. However, the multiplayer element took over the main game and resulted in a diluted single player experience. The additional plot points, while important, did not reveal all that was promised in the trailers, and while it mostly delivered on the gameplay, it did so in a slightly reduced form (albeit still rather versatile and recognizable to fans).

Soon after release, it got a psuedo-expansion pack in the form of ''Portable Ops Plus'', which was mainly a multiplayer-geared release (though it did have a single player mode).

Note: While this game is canon, it is considered an ObviousBeta. ''Portable Ops'' was succeeded by ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker''.

* LostForever: When you get the rescue Raikov mission, if you wait too long, you'll fail the mission before you even attempt it.

* ArtShift: The cutscenes are similiar in style to a black and white graphic novel, except animated, and work surprisingly well in lieu of actual ingame cutscenes. Worked so well, in fact, that the very next PSP Metal Gear game, VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker, used this in the majority of their cutscenes, as well.

'''''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops''''', released in 2006 for the PlayStationPortable, is the sequel of ''[[{{MetalGearSolid3}} Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]''. It is also the first canonical ''MetalGear'' game released on a handheld console.

Note: While this game is canon, it is considered an ObviousBeta. ''Portable Ops'' was succeeded by ''[[{{MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker}} Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]''.

* ArtShift: The cutscenes are similiar in style to a black and white graphic novel, except animated, and work surprisingly well in lieu of actual ingame cutscenes. Worked so well, in fact, that the very next PSP Metal Gear game, MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker, used this in the majority of their cutscenes, as well.

* BrickJoke: In an optional radio conversation with EVA in MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater, she will state that Raikov possessed a weak stomach despite being a big eater, which acted as the reason why he often goes to the bathroom. When recruiting him in Portable Ops, the location you find him at is right in front of a urinal in his cell.

* CutSong: When allegations of plagiarism in the series main theme began to surface during the game's production, the game's theme song, "Show Time," which [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHhAcD8TS4 originally]] included the series main theme, was re-edited so that it didn't. Sadly, this was not a temporary change, and the main theme has [[ExecutiveMeddling never surfaced again]], even in the 20th anniversary soundtrack collection. (Also, this is the only game with "MetalGearSolid" in the title that doesn't have ''MetalGearSolid'''s game over music at all, including the Game Boy Color one, but this is generally viewed as less significant by fans.)

** Played slightly straight with Big Boss: [[spoiler:After the ICBMG was destroyed, Sokolov attempts to tell Snake that he succeeded, but he doesn't get a response, prompting a worried call on Snake's name from Sokolov, implying that his attempt at destroying the ICBMG may have cost him his life. However, after you see Ocelot murder the DCI, Big Boss and Roy Campbell have a brief phone call about what happened, and you see Big Boss get off of a plane, making it quite clear that he survived.]] Of course, then again, his survival was also somewhat expected considering the fact that he still has to live until the events of MetalGear.

** Gene is voiced by [[FinalFantasyVII Vincent Valentine]]. Both him and the former are also cases of {{Funny Aneurysm Moment}}s because they later voice [[MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Vladimir Alexandrovich Zadornov and Paz Ortega Andradne, respectively, who also were comrades in arms]].

* OldSaveBonus: You can unlock secret characters ([[spoiler:namely Teliko, Venus, and Zero]]) for a second playthrough by having save files in your Memory Stick from the three previous ''MetalGear'' games for the PSP (those being both ''MetalGearAcid'' games and the ''Digital Graphic Novel''), although they're also available via passwords.
* TheOtherDarrin: The CIA Director was "voiced" by Paul Collins in ''MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''. In ''Portable Ops'', he's voiced by Jesse Corti. Somewhat justified, though, as while Collins might have voiced the CIA Director, he didn't actually have any lines, only a minor grunt of disgust from Snake not shaking his hand.

* {{Retcon}}: [[spoiler: Sokolov didn't die in ''Snake Eater'']], and Gray Fox's backstory was changed even further than what was done in the first ''MetalGearSolid''.

** Also, Skowronski really begins to lose it after Big Boss met him, causing Big Boss to shoot the lock out of his cage to spare him of his desperate rantings and manic laughter.

** The [[spoiler:CIA Director]] is [[BeautyAndTheBeast LeFou]]

** Played slightly straight with Big Boss: [[spoiler:After the ICBMG was destroyed, Sokolov attempts to tell Snake that he succeeded, but he doesn't get a response, prompting a worried call on Snake's name from Sokolov, implying that his attempt at destroying the ICBMG may have cost him his life. However, after you see Ocelot murder the DCI, Big Boss and Roy Campbell have a brief phone call about what happened, and you see Big Boss get off of a plane, making it quite clear that he survived.]] Of course, then again, his survival was also somewhat expected considering the fact that he still has until Zanzibar Land to be "killed", and then Metal Gear Solid 4 to be killed off for real.

** Gene is voiced by [[FinalFantasyVII Vincent Valentine]]. Both him and the former are also cases of {{Funny Aneurism Moment}}s because they later voice [[MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Vladimir Alexandrovich Zadornov and Paz Ortega Andradne, respectively, who also were comrades in arms]].

** Also the real reason why the Soviet soldiers are serving Gene and FOX after they usurped the command chain even though they obviously don't completely trust either him or his unit (Not Brainwashing): The Soviet personnel, despite working in harsh conditions and losing many of their men either to Malaria or during their allied battles with FARC against the Colombian government, and having little food and laboring under intense weather all so they could accomplish their mission directives for the Soviet government, and weren't even allowed to tell their families due to its top secret nature, ended up being cast aside (in Jonathan's words, "stabbin [the personnel] in the back!") after a regime change and the SALT talks between Brezhnev and Nixon, with all communications and supply transports either being cut or diverted, and they were forced to remain on the peninsula instead of returning back to Russia so that in the event the missile base was discovered, the Soviets would come up with the "convenient" coverstory of it being done by RenegadeRussians.

** BadassLabcoat: [[spoiler: Sokolov]]

''Portable Ops'' is considered a mixed bag. It promised multiplayer, which it delivered. It promised to clear up some details about Big Boss, which it did, and it promised more of the series' trademark gameplay, which it delivered. However, the multiplayer element [[YourMileageMayVary arguably]] took over the main game and resulted in a diluted single player experience. The additional plot points, while important, did not reveal all that was promised in the trailers, and while it mostly delivered on the gameplay, it did so in a slightly reduced form (albeit still rather versatile and recognizable to fans).

* FiveManBand
** Snake \ Big Boss (TheHero)
** Roy Campbell (TheLancer)
** Paramedic (TheHeart and TheChick)
** Sigint (The SmartGuy)
** Ghost [[spoiler: Sokolov]] (alternate TheSmartGuy)
** Python, Null, Jonathan, Raikov, and Eva (alternating SixthRanger)