Lost Classics: Metal Gear Solid (Game Boy Color)

Metal Gear Solid 4 was released earlier this week, so this week’s $20 Game of the week and Lost Classics will spotlight 2 entries from the series. So once you get done with 4, seek them out if you haven’t played through them already! Despite the similarity in names, this is not the Playstation smash hit, but it’s the American release of what is known in Japan as Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel. Ghost Babel exists outside of series canon, and contains a new plot, new characters, and new enemies.

Solid Snake is pulled out of retirement, and is sent to the Central African nation of Gindra to stop a terrorist group known as the Gindra Liberation Front and destroy their hijacked Metal Gear. While the look and feel of the game is similar to the NES/MSX Metal Gear games, several game mechanics have been taken from the Playstation Metal Gear Solid. Snake can flatten himself against walls, peek around corners, and crawl on the ground. Almost all of the weapons from the Playstation game were included, the only exceptions being the Stinger missile and the sniper rifle (both of which were used from a 3-d view, which wasn’t available in this game). The GLF bosses are every bit as unique as the FOXHOUND leaders from the Playstation game. They sport names that seem similar to Mega Man X villains (Slasher Hawk, Marionette Owl, Pyro Bison), they have complex backstories, and the battles against them require lots of strategy.

Instead of the game being one huge open world, the game has been divided up into separate levels. After each level, you are ranked based on your performance, and a stage select feature allows you to replay levels again to get higher rankings. After the game is completed, a Special mode opens up which lets you play through the stages with new objectives. There is also a game link mode for 2 players, and 180 VR missions, most of them taken from the Playstation game. Even after the game is completed, there is plenty to keep you busy.

Although the portable Metal Gear Solid exists outside of the series main storyline, the game is every bit as enjoyable as any console Metal Gear Solid game. It does a great job of bringing back the classic look and style of the NES Metal Gear while integrating what people enjoy about the Playstation Metal Gear Solid. If you still have your Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance, you’ll want to seek this game out and add it to your collection.