Metal Gear Solid Mobile sneaks onto Verizon phones

by Ross Miller { Mar 21st 2008 at 1:30PM }

Konami has announced (via Game Daily) that Metal Gear Solid Mobile is now available for download exclusively on Verizon phones. The game is fully 3D and has an original storyline takes place reportedly between MGS1 and 2.

MGS Mobile also includes online ranking system and VR missions, according to 1UP. While not as ridiculous and looking at the back of the game box for a codec number, the game does have you use your camera phone to take pictures of certain colors around you to alter Snake's camouflage. Metal Gear Solid 4, the one you're really waiting for, is coming June 12.

Tags: metal gear solid, metal-gear-solid, metalgearsolid, mgs, mgsm

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Gewurztraminer (needs more umlaut) @ Mar 21st 2008 1:38PM

Why oh why does "an original storyline [that] takes place reportedly between MGS1 and 2" have to be on Mobile phones?

I want MGS 1.5 on my TV!

kbomb1upc @ Mar 21st 2008 1:41PM

That looks really good for a phone. I wonder how it looks in motion?

kevinski @ Mar 21st 2008 2:46PM

It's actually really smooth. It easily looks better than the PlayStation [1] version. The detail in Snake's face is pretty impressive for something that's on a cell phone. As for the game play, it's actually quite good so far. Do realize that I'm playing it on an LG VG-8550, though, which is the new Chocolate. I kinda loathe the wheel for playing games like this.

darkeyez @ Mar 21st 2008 3:19PM

@ Kevinski: yeah, the latest Chocalate is awful for gaming. I base every cell phone on "can it play Tetris." That scroll wheel was just annoying causing me to make moves I did not intend to make. Even with the God Of War game, it just didn't work out. So I switched to the MotoRizr Z6TV. Much better, but games run a bit slow...

Jody Anthony (cookingrebels.com) @ Mar 21st 2008 1:42PM

"use your camera phone to take pictures of certain colors around you to alter Snake's camouflage"

ok, that is simply an awesome idea.

Co @ Mar 21st 2008 1:43PM

lol yea it is....

looks liek i'll be downloading this for the ole Voyager!

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 21st 2008 1:42PM

I've lost my phone so I'm currently without one at the moment. But even if I did have a phone I'm not sure it would have been able to handle this. In fact, phone games are fail. The control schemes are usually atrocious.

So, Konami, how about a DS port? Or a DS MGS?

kbomb1upc @ Mar 21st 2008 2:00PM

If you think phone games are a fail, you really need to try Lumines and the God of War game. Both are equally cool.

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 21st 2008 2:09PM

Alright, when I get my stuff together I'll check out Lumines. And the other one as well, probably.

Lijik @ Mar 21st 2008 1:45PM

It should also be noted Hideo Kojima worked on designing this game and was heavily involved.

Unless that interview was EGM's April Fools joke and not Lego Halo.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 21st 2008 1:51PM

Okay...but is it fun?

Incidentally, I scored that MGS box set today. I didn't know it was even out yet! Can't wait to go back through them before 4 drops this summer.

Tim Harding @ Mar 21st 2008 1:53PM

Anyone want to be a guinea pig and try this out? I haven't had much luck with 3D graphics games on my phone and don't want to waste $11 on another one if it's no good.

Omar @ Mar 21st 2008 1:56PM

No chance that's what it really looks like.

chacho89 @ Mar 21st 2008 1:57PM

interesting, but I hate gaming on my phone thats why I got me a DSL and a PSPL

FOXHOUND @ Mar 21st 2008 2:08PM

My gripe with mobile phone gaming is that the good games (like this) aren't usually available across providers... i.e, if I have T-mobile, there is little chance of DLing a Verizon game legally.

Buzzkit @ Mar 21st 2008 2:10PM

Tried to purchase it on my verizon phone but its not listed in the store. I have a fairly new phone as well. So much for "available now".

FOXHOUND @ Mar 21st 2008 2:23PM

Did you try Texting "MGSM" to 566264*? At least, that's what's mentioned on the official page for the game.

http://www.konamimobile.com/gamedetail.aspx?rkw=mgsm&tss=1

FOXHOUND @ Mar 21st 2008 3:24PM

*correction*
```````````````

This game does work with SOME of the other Providers' phones, but assumably, meant for Verizon.

Buzzkit @ Mar 21st 2008 2:29PM

yeah i tried but it just ended up telling where to look for it...and it wasnt there....called Verizon customer service just now and was told that its not available yet......FAIL!

baby sea tuna @ Mar 21st 2008 3:10PM

Thanks for trying though, dude. Good sleuthing!

creid @ Mar 21st 2008 7:42PM

Not available for me either, I'm using a Motorola E815. I assumed it just doesn't work on my phone.

Sean May @ Mar 21st 2008 2:44PM

I've downloaded it and tried it on my LG Chocolate

I'm pretty amazed, it looks just about as good as MGS on the Playstation. Smooth framerate too. I'm just worried that it'll be way too short.

NvM @ Mar 21st 2008 2:41PM

I remembering seeing this yesterday.
Unless it's Metal Gear Classic.

coast19 @ Mar 21st 2008 2:41PM

I got it last night. And yes the graphics really do look like that, I've got the Voyager. Its freagin sweet! (for a cell phone game)

kevinski @ Mar 21st 2008 2:47PM

I'm playing it now. It's actually worth the price. Honestly, I've seen 3D games on cell phones with far simpler level and model geometry that didn't even run nearly as well as this. It's silky-smooth.

Jay @ Mar 21st 2008 2:50PM

I almost downloaded this right when I read the article but then I remembered I'm actually getting a new phone tomorrow.

I'm sure it will better on a voyager than it is on a first-gen chocolate

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 21st 2008 2:54PM

Do you still use cellphones?

Pffff... Nextel FTW =p

Kodros @ Mar 21st 2008 3:03PM

Yeah, I like to have adult conversations on my cell phone...not play walkie-talkie.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 21st 2008 3:14PM

Seriously. 90% of NexTel users are some kind of NextLevel ignorant assholes.

*chirp chirp* nobody-gives-a-shit *chirp chirp*

FOXHOUND @ Mar 21st 2008 3:22PM

Srsly... the chirping is damn annoying(and leaves me to wonder if it's necessary). Due to my occupation, that's all I hear during inspections. :\

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 21st 2008 3:23PM

I always use my Nextel in Private... almost everyone use it in private.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 21st 2008 3:30PM

I'm glad you're responsible, Fernando, but as for the rest of society...well, you must live around a very different "everyone else" than I do.

kevinski @ Mar 21st 2008 11:52PM

Oh my God...that chirping is annoying as Hell. Honestly, it's ridiculous how inconsiderate Nextel users can be. Using a cell phone as a walkie-talkie makes sense for business use, but not for private use, unless you're trying to irritate those around you.

Cutty @ Mar 21st 2008 2:55PM

Damn you, Konami. Why must you make a canonical game that most fans can't play? =(

CJH @ Mar 21st 2008 4:08PM

You mean like Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PS3?

Ka-chow.

mr mobius @ Mar 21st 2008 3:53PM

I never really got into mobile games. My phone is only really adapted to simple games like Tetris or other puzzlers. It also annoys me how awkward the button set up on my phone is. I can manage to have a d-pad set up with 2,4,6,8 and a select button with 5 and thats about as far as it can go comfortably.

That picture reminds me of Goldeneye for N64. The soldier just looks like the facility soldiers.

JMD @ Mar 21st 2008 9:13PM

Not on the Games list on my Verizon phone :(

ryanpolly @ Mar 21st 2008 10:39PM

the graphics look remarkable for a cell phone. true that.

kevinski @ Mar 21st 2008 11:57PM

I'm surprised that the E815 is supported. I loved that phone, and I only upgraded from it because my charger port went bad. According to the Konami Mobile site, it's definitely supported. Try getting the game via message, rather than Get It Now.

Resident Lune @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:07AM

Bought it, and played through it a couple of times the past couple of days. Thought I'd comment here about my hands-on experience with MGS:Mobile.

In terms of total gameplay time, that can seem to range from 1 hour to 2 hours, 1 for the second time through and if you know what you're doing, and 2 if you're new to the game and feeling it out. Not too shabby for a cellphone game, to be honest, though I admit I wish it could have been a bit longer.

I'm not sure if the 'use your camera phone to take pictures of colors for your camouflage' was something that was ever in this game. If it was, maybe it was only done for the Japanese version. Suffice it to say, the Verizon version simply makes you zoom in to 1st person view as Snake, and pick a color from somewhere in the game to mimic. The wall, a soldier's uniform, stuff like that.

Plot-wise, I liked it. It had the trademark MGS humor, with an additional surprise twist at the end (actually more like 2-3 twists), which I'll avoid spoiling.

The controls could be a little clunky. Shooting around the corner of some cover was impossible, for example, so if you got in to a firefight, you had to be ready to get hurt. And I kept accidentally banging on the wall to get a soldier's attention, when what I meant to do was either change my camo, or fire my weapon. So you couldn't do either of those when you were leaning against a wall.

But all this griping and critical analysis aside, this was possibly the best game I've played on a cellphone. Graphic-wise and quality-wise, I'd give this something like a B. Maybe even a B+.

Alex @ Apr 13th 2008 12:01PM

Hey would you be kind enough to email me back at "ayparr@hotmail.com" about the story. I dont have a Verizon phone and I want to know what the story to this was before playing MGS4. I dont think it'll actually affect MGS4 much but I'm still really curious in the story to this Mobile game, well, just because it has Metal Gear in the Title. If the story is any bit long or detailed just give me the Cliff Notes version of it if you would. Thanks.

Richard @ Mar 24th 2008 4:11AM

As soon as I read this, I went and checked my phone for this game. Sure enough, there it was for $11 on get it now. Kind of expensive for a mobile game. But, it was MGS, so I bought it. And WOW, am I surprised. I have never seen a mobile game look like this. This looks at least as good as the PS1 game. And it's actually got a decent little story and everything. But, most of all, it was FUN. Most mobile games are not that fun. I have the God of War mobile game and the Ratchet and Clank mobile game, and although they are decent for a mobile game, this game is decent for a PS1 game. Well, almost. It's a bit on the short side. My first finishing time was 2:24 I think, but I died alot, so I spent more like 4 hours on it. Heck, that's almost as long as Chains of Olympus for PSP. I say it's the best mobile game by FAR. It looks good, plays good, and it's fun. Yes, it even plays good. I have an older LG Chocolate for those who are wondering. Not the model with the wheel thingy. And no, you don't use your phone camera for the camo in the game. You use a little camo camera thingy in the game to take "pics" of whatever you want to blend in with. It's a nice nod to the coming up MGS4, and it's actually a good gameplay addition that would work well in any future console MGS games. This game is good. I promise. Go get it.