15 Games That Overcame the Odds to Become Successful

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.