Metal Gear Solid, or MGS as all the kids know it. Another masterpiece, and guess what? It seems to work flawlessly in what I’ve tested here on the PSIO prototype! That’s a considerably nicer result than some of the other games I’ve been trying.

I’ve got two versions to test, the original Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid: Integral, but we’ll start with the standard game. The opening sequences appear, the audio is working, and before long I’m in control of Snake. So far, so good!

Unfortunately, having a functioning game doesn’t mean I have the faintest idea how to play it. I’m supposed to be sneaking around and avoiding the guards, but instead I’m spending half the time trying to remember which button does what. I’m not particularly good at stealth, as it turns out.

The guards are rather keen on chasing me, and I’ve managed to get myself caught more than once. Between watching the radar, crawling around and waiting for the elevator, it’s turning into quite an adventure. Who designed this elevator system anyway? It seems determined to make as much noise as possible!

Eventually I got through the first area and into the facility beyond, with the cutscenes, dialogue and gameplay still behaving nicely. That’s exactly the sort of result I was hoping to see from the prototype. I haven’t played through the entire game here, but everything I’ve tried so far has been working.

Please remember this is PSIO hardware 1.1 with software 1.1A. It’s still a prototype, and my successful test doesn’t establish compatibility with every part of the game or tell us anything definitive about later hardware revisions.

You can hit up ps-io.com if you have any questions, since I’m but a mere tester. I don’t understand the technology behind this wonderful invention!

Prototype test conditions

  • PSIO hardware: 1.1
  • PSIO software: 1.1A
  • PlayStation: SCPH-5502
  • CD deck: removed