Metal Gear Acid
While the Metal Gear series is generally known for its convoluted and epic story, with players expecting all kinds of over-the-top turns, everyone can more or less agree that the gameplay is consistently great throughout. But when Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (the precursor to Kojima Productions) announced a spin-off for the PlayStation Portable with collectible cards, turn-based and tactical RPG mechanics and cel-shaded visuals, no one knew what to think.
Seeing such bizarre spin-offs wasn’t new for the series (see: Snake’s Revenge), but this felt even more out of left field than normal. But perhaps the craziest part is that Metal Gear Acid wasn’t a complete mess. Yes, it received some mixed reviews for its difficulty and story, but the overall consensus is positive, mostly praising the turn-based gameplay and visuals. Whether it did well in sales or not, it was enough to bring about a sequel better in every regard. Fortunately, this wouldn’t be the last Metal Gear spin-off experiment.
