History VideoGame / MetalGearSolidPortableOps

''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' ([[InsistentTerminology officially abbreviated]] ''MPO'') is a ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' game released for the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation Portable}} in 2006. Following the release of a few ''Metal Gear'' spinoffs for the PSP (both ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'', ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid2'' and ''Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel''), Kojima Productions decided to develop a legitimate ''Metal Gear Solid'' game for the handheld system that remained true to the stealth action game design of its console counterparts, with a story that followed the events of ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater Metal Gear Solid 3]]''.

* CanonDiscontinuity: The game's events are never referenced in subsequent games in the series.

While initially advertised as the missing link between ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' and the original ''{{VideoGame/Metal Gear|1}}'', ''Portable Ops'' is considered more of a sidestory, as it wasn't directed by Creator/HideoKojima. Kojima would take directorial helm of the next PSP game in the series, ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Peace Walker]]'', building upon the game design of ''Portable Ops'' and chronicling the further exploits of Big Boss. Kojima [[WordOfGod has since clarified]] that while the game '''is''' part of the ''Metal Gear'' canon, [[BroadStrokes future games may take some liberties with certain elements of the plot]].

While initially advertised as the missing link between ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' and the original ''{{VideoGame/Metal Gear|1}}'', ''Portable Ops'' is considered more of a sidestory, as it wasn't directed by Creator/HideoKojima. Kojima would take directorial helm of the next PSP game in the series, ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Peace Walker]]'', building upon the game design of ''Portable Ops'' and chronicling the further exploits of Big Boss.

* BroadStrokes: How the events are interpreted in succeeding installments. The entire side mission to recruit EVA contradicts how Big Boss and EVA were actually reunited according to ''Metal Gear Solid 4'' and [=Metal Gear ZEKE=] from ''Peace Walker'' is now considered to be the first Metal Gear tank ever built (in-universe) instead of the ICBMG. Though considering [[CanonDiscontinuity the usual]] [[AlternateContinuity treatment]] given to the non-Kojima installments, it actually got off comparitively light.

* CallForward: Ursula and Elisa have different visions about Snake, regarding his "accursed Snake children". [[spoiler:As she lay dying, Elisa has one final vision for Big Boss and his future; him building the TX-55 Metal Gear at Outer Heaven, one of his sons will bring the world to ruins, while another will save it]].

* CallForward: Ursula and Elisa have different visions about Snake, regarding his [[CloningBlues "accursed Snake children"]]. [[spoiler:As she lay dying, Elisa has one final vision for Big Boss and his future; him building the TX-55 Metal Gear at Outer Heaven, one of his sons will bring the world to ruins, while another will save it]].

* BroadStrokes: How the events are interpreted in succeeding installments. Basic details, such as Big Boss forming FOXHOUND to take down renegade FOX members and Zero gaining the missing half of the Philosophers' Legacy, are still considered canon. However, the entire side mission to recruit EVA contradicts how Big Boss and EVA were actually reunited according to ''Metal Gear Solid 4'' and [=Metal Gear ZEKE=] from ''Peace Walker'' is now considered to be the first Metal Gear tank ever built (in-universe) instead of the ICBMG. Though considering [[CanonDiscontinuity the usual]] [[AlternateContinuity treatment]] given to the non-Kojima installments, it actually got off comparitively light.

While initially advertised as the missing link between ''Metal Gear Solid 3'' and the original ''{{VideoGame/Metal Gear|1}}'', ''Portable Ops'' is considered more of a sidestory, as it wasn't directed by Creator/HideoKojima. Kojima would take directorial helm of the next PSP game in the series, ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Peace Walker]]'', building upon the game design of ''Portable Ops'' and chronicling the further exploits of Big Boss. Kojima [[WordOfGod has since clarified]] that while the game '''is''' part of the ''Metal Gear'' canon, [[BroadStrokes future games may take some liberties with certain elements of the plot]].

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/naked_snake_portable_ops.jpg]]

** Gene's speech as well as Elisa's precognition. See Harsher In Hindsight on the YMMV for the former.

* {{Cap}}: The virtual calendar on the Briefing screen starts on November 2, 1970 and moves forward as the player participates in missions until it reaches December 31, 1971. From that point on, the date will simply say "time paradox."

** Gene's speech as well as Elisa's precognition. See HarsherInHindsight for the former.

* TimedMission: Towards the end, when you are infiltrating the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon.

* {{Nerf}}: CQC, even when used by Snake, is a lot less effective than it was in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''; It's more difficult to grab an enemy from the front and the CQC knife can't be used to slit throats and, as such is reduced to a WeaponForIntimidation.

''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' ([[InsistentTerminology officially abbreviated]] ''MPO'') is a ''Franchise/MetalGear'' game released for the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation Portable}} in 2006. Following the release of a few ''Metal Gear'' spinoffs for the PSP (both ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'', ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid2'' and ''Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel''), Kojima Productions decided to develop a legitimate ''Metal Gear Solid'' game for the handheld system that remained true to the stealth action game design of its console counterparts, with a story that followed the events of ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater Metal Gear Solid 3]]''.

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

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

''Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops'' ([[InsistentTerminology officially abbreviated]] ''MPO'') is a ''Franchise/MetalGear'' game released for the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation Portable}} in 2006. Following the release of a few ''Metal Gear'' spinoffs for the PSP (both ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'' games and ''Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel''), Kojima Productions decided to develop a legitimate ''Metal Gear Solid'' game for the handheld system that remained true to the stealth action game design of its console counterparts, with a story that followed the events of ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater Metal Gear Solid 3]]''.

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: In one of Snake's radio calls to Para-Medic, after she explained to him about the lost city of Gold, El Dorado, and similar locations in South America, including golden knives, Snake expressed interest in the golden knife part as he would use it to distract the enemy with CQC. This causes Para-Medic to exhasperatedly state that she didn't mean it like that. This was also somewhat in-character with Snake, or rather Big Boss's ending speech in ''[[VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake Metal Gear 2]]'', where he made it clear that he doesn't even care for wealth.

* DummiedOut: The Japanese version has eight special camo soldiers based on various retailers that promoted ''Portable Ops'' during launch. These retailer soldiers are normally inaccessible in the North American version, but can still be used with a cheat device, along with the shirtless version of Snake from the tutorial and Roy Campbell (the latter being completely mute in action).

* PromotedToPlayable: It's possible to recruit returning characters from ''[=MGS3=]'', such as Zero, EVA, Ocelot, Sigint, Paramedic, and Raikov, and have them perform missions in the field.

** Para-Medic's dream of creating a group of parachuting medics was referenced in an optional radio call.

* AFatherToHisMen: Snake plays this straight, while the {{big bad}} does a twisted parody of this.

* BadassLongcoat: Gene.
* BadassPacifist: Elisa.
* BigBad: Gene.

* CallForward: Ursula and Elisa have different visions about Snake, regarding his [[CloningBlues "accursed Snake children"]]. [[spoiler:As she lay dying, Elisa has one final vision for Big Boss and his future; him building the TX-55 Metal Gear at Outer Heaven, one of his sons will bring the world to ruins, while another will save it]].

* BroadStrokes: How the events are interpreted in succeeding installments. Basic details, such as Big Boss forming FOXHOUND to take down renegade FOX members and Zero gaining the missing half of the Philosophers' Legacy, are still considered canon. However, the entire side mission to recruit EVA contradicts how Big Boss and EVA were actually reunited according to ''Metal Gear Solid 4'' and [=Metal Gear ZEKE=] from ''Peace Walker'' is now considered to be the first Metal Gear tank ever built (in-universe) instead of the ICBMG.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nakedsnakebb.JPG]]