History YMMV / MetalGearSolidPortableOps

* RecycledScript: Grab ''MetalGearSolid''. Replace Solid Snake with Big Boss, Liquid Snake with Gene, Deepthroat with Null (same guy actually) and some other changes and you'll get a Portable Ops.

** See the MauveShirt entry for another.
* JerkassWoobie: Cunningham is pretty much a big jerk and somewhat two-faced towards FOX and the CIA, but considering what he had to put up with (being forced into a desk job after his leg was amputated, not to mention learning that the CIA basically left The Boss to die, which in his views was an insult to the memory of the Mother of Special Forces), it's kinda hard to blame him for what he did.

* ScrappyMechanic: Whose bright idea was it to have your teammates die permanently in combat? Fortunately, this was remedied to be more tolerable in [[MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker the sequel]].

* RecycledPremise: A retired war hero is called back into action in order to stop his former unit, who are now rogue. This is exactly the same plot as the original ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', only with Solid Snake and FOXHOUND replaced by Naked Snake and the original FOX unit.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. Initially advertised as the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', it essentially tied up all the loose ends between those two games (showing how Big Boss first formed FOX-HOUND, met Roy Campbell and Frank Jaeger, and obtained the funds for Outer Heaven) and even foreshadowed the events of ''Guns of the Patriots''. But despite the generally positive reception it received during its release, Kojima was unsatisfied with ''MPO'' and went on to direct the next PSP game in the series, ''Peace Walker'', which he wrote as a direct continuation of ''Snake Eater'', ignoring everything that happened in ''MPO'' aside from a single reference in which Kazuhira tells Snake to "[[DiscontinuityNod leave all the crap in San Hieronymo behind.]]"

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. Initially advertised as the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', it essentially tied up all the loose ends between those two games (showing how Big Boss first formed FOX-HOUND, met Roy Campbell and Frank Jaeger, and obtained the funds for Outer Heaven) and even foreshadowed the events of ''Guns of the Patriots''. But despite the generally positive reception it received during its release, Kojima was unsatisfied with ''MPO'' and went on to direct the next PSP game in the series, ''Peace Walker'', which he wrote as a direct continuation of ''Snake Eater'' that virtually ignores the events of ''Portable Ops'' aside from a throwaway line which could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. Initially advertised as the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', it essentially tied up all the loose ends between ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'' (showing how Big Boss first formed FOX-HOUND, met Roy Campbell and Frank Jaeger, and obtained the funds for Outer Heaven) and even foreshadowed the events of ''Guns of the Patriots''. But despite having a generally positive reception during its release, Kojima was unsatisfied with ''MPO'' and went on to direct the next PSP game in the series, ''Peace Walker'', which he wrote as a direct continuation of ''Snake Eater'' that virtually ignores the events of ''Portable Ops'' aside from a throwaway line which could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. It was initially advertised as being the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', essentially tying all the loose ends between those two games and was even covered in the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''. However, Kojima would later go on to direct ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', also for the PSP, which he wrote as a follow-up to ''Snake Eater'' that practically ignores the events of ''MPO'' aside from a single throwaway line that could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod. Many recent Metal Gear goods and even timelines tend to cover only the numbered MGS entries and ''Peace Walker'', leaving out ''MPO'' completely, which seems to imply that ''MPO'' has fallen out of favor with Kojima's vision of the series, despite the otherwise positive reception it initially received.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. It was initially advertised as being the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', essentially tying all the loose ends between those two games and was even covered in the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''. However, Kojima would later go on to direct ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', also for the PSP, which he wrote as a follow-up to ''Snake Eater'' that almost ignores the events of ''MPO'' aside from a single throwaway line that could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod. Many recent Metal Gear goods and even timelines tend to cover only the numbered MGS entries and ''Peace Walker'', leaving out ''MPO'' completely, which seems to imply that ''MPO'' has fallen out of favor with Kojima's vision of the series, despite the otherwise positive reception it initially received.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. It was initially advertised as being the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', essentially tying all the loose ends between those two games and was even covered in the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''. However, Kojima would later go on to direct ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', also for the PSP, which he wrote as a follow-up to ''Snake Eater'', which barely acknowledges the events of ''MPO'' aside from a single throwaway line that could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod. Many recent Metal Gear goods and even timelines tend to cover only the numbered MGS entries and ''Peace Walker'', leaving out ''MPO'' completely, which seems to imply that ''MPO'' has fallen out of favor with Kojima's vision of the series, despite the otherwise positive reception it initially received.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. It was initially advertised as being the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', essentially tying all the loose ends between those two games and was even covered in the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''. However, Kojima would later go on to direct ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', also for the PSP, which he wrote as a follow-up to ''Snake Eater'', which barely acknowledges the events of ''MPO'' aside from a single throwaway line that could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod. Many recent Metal Gear goods and even timelines tend to cover only the numbered MGS entries and ''Peace Walker'', leaving out ''MPO'' completely, which seems to imply that the game has fallen out of favor among the game's own developers, despite the otherwise positive reception the game initially received.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. It was initially advertised as being the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', essentially tying all the loose ends between those two games and was even covered in the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''. However, Kojima would later go on to direct ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', also for the PSP, which he wrote as a follow-up to ''Snake Eater'' and barely acknowledges the events of ''MPO'', aside from a single throwaway line that could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod. Many recent Metal Gear products and even timelines tend to cover only the numbered MGS entries and ''Peace Walker'', leaving out ''MPO'' completely, which seems to imply that the game has fallen out of favor among the game's own developers, despite the otherwise positive reception the game initially received.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. It was initially advertised as being the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', essentially tying all the loose ends between those two games and was even covered in the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''. However, Kojima would later go on to direct ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', also for the PSP, which he wrote as a follow-up to ''Snake Eater'' and barely acknowledges the events of ''MPO'', aside from a single throwaway line that could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod. Many recent Metal Gear products and even timelines tend to cover only the numbered MGS entries and ''Peace Walker'', leaving out ''MPO'' completely, which seems to imply that the game has fallen out of favor among the game's own developers.

* ContestedSequel: ''Portable Ops'' bears the distinction for being the only mainline MGS game not directed by Kojima himself and has a peculiar position in the series' canon as a result. It was initially advertised as being the "missing link" between the events of ''Snake Eater'' and the original ''Metal Gear'', essentially tying all the loose ends between those two games and was even covered in the ''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''. However, Kojima would later go on to direct ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', also for the PSP, which he wrote as a follow-up to ''Snake Eater'' and barely acknowledges the events of ''MPO'', aside from a single throwaway line that could be interpreted as a DiscontinuityNod. Many recent Metal Gear products and even timelines tend to cover only the numbered MGS entries and ''Peace Walker'', leaving out ''MPO'' completely.

* AlasPoorVillain:
** Cunningham laments Naked Snake's decision to disobey the Department of Defense's mission when defeated. In addition, Cunningham is later pitied by Gene upon learning of his attempted betrayal and death.
** Python, if the player chooses to let him die.

* FridgeLogic: One of the better ideas in this game is also one of the most flawed. Specifically, the player can capture enemy soldiers and bring them over to their side, and they even retain their old uniforms, letting them pass by soldiers dressed in the same uniform (there's more than one military faction in San Hieronymo). Seems fair, right? Except that this also means there's no allowance for variation ''at all''. A female officer can't fool a male officer, but can fool other females. For that matter, an officer will stick out like a sore thumb to regular balaclava-wearing grunts, and vice-versa. This unpolished idea was removed entirely in the game's sequel, ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker PeaceWalker]]''.

*** Actually, [[spoiler:Cunningham]] wasn't responsible for the easy escape. The game explains that the cell in question formerly contained Roy Campbell, who unscrewed the vent in question, but was unable to actually use the escape method in question due to being relocated to a different cell before he could even get the chance to use it. [[spoiler:Cunningham was probably responsible for unscrewing the other vent and leaving the MK22 and CQC Enhancer suit with Snake's size, however.]]

* ParanoiaFuel: Gene's powers [[NothingIsScarier ''create this out of nothing''!]]

* FridgeLogic: One of the better ideas in this game is also one of the most flawed. Specifically, the player can capture enemy soldiers and bring them over to their side, and they even retain their old uniforms, letting them pass by soldiers dressed in the same uniform (there's more than one military faction in San Hieronymo). Seems fair, right? Except that this also means there's no allowance for variation ''at all''. A female officer can't fool a male officer, but can fool other females. For that matter, an officer will stick out like a sore thumb to regular balaclava-wearing grunts, and vice-versa. This unpolished idea was removed entirely in the game's sequel, ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalkerPeaceWalker''.

* AlasPoorVillain: Cunningham laments Naked Snake's decision to disobey the Department of Defense's mission when defeated. In addition, Cunningham is later pitied by Gene upon learning of his attempted betrayal and death.

* AndTheFandomRejoiced: As soon as fans saw that they could play as [[TheMedic Para-Medic]], [[MsFanservice EVA]], [[TheSmartGuy Sigint]], and [[MagnificentBastard Ocelot]] (amongst others), [[AndThereWasMuchRejoicing the fandom exulted in glee]].

* FridgeLogic: One of the better ideas in this game is also one of the most flawed. Specifically, the player can capture enemy soldiers and bring them over to their side, and they even retain their old uniforms, letting them pass by soldiers dressed in the same uniform (there's more than one military faction in San Hieronymo). Seems fair, right? Except that this also means there's no allowance for variation ''at all''. A female officer can't fool a male officer, but can fool other females. For that matter, an officer will stick out like a sore thumb to regular balaclava-wearing grunts, and vice-versa. This unpolished idea was removed entirely in the game's sequel, ''[[{{MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Peace Walker}} Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker]]''.

** In the manual for ''[[{{MetalGear2}} Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'', Campbell's bio mentioned that he was, during this time, the only officer to remember the FOXHOUND of the Big Boss days, which made absolutely no sense when the FOXHOUND biography explained that it was formed in the early nineties, which meant that FOXHOUND was around for, at the absolute earliest, nine years. This game explains what exactly the bio meant by that.

* RecycledPremise: A retired war hero is called back into action in order to stop his former unit, who are now rogue. This is exactly the same plot as the original ''MetalGearSolid'', only with Solid Snake and FOXHOUND replaced by Naked Snake and the original FOX unit.

* FridgeBrilliance: [[spoiler: Sokolov's survival was explained in the [=''Metal Gear Solid 4 Database''=] by claiming that he took a False Death Pill during his interrogation, which was given to him by The Boss.]]

--> '''Snake''': "I'm doing this out of loyalty to myself - I'm NOT going to live my life the way the Boss did."

* FridgeLogic: One of the better ideas in this game is also one of the most flawed. Specifically, the player can capture enemy soldiers and bring them over to their side, and they even retain their old uniforms, letting them pass by soldiers dressed in the same uniform (there's more than one military faction in San Hieronymo). Seems fair, right? Except that this also means there's no allowance for variation ''at all''. A female officer can't fool a male officer, but can fool other females. For that matter, an officer will stick out like a sore thumb to regular balaclava-wearing grunts, and vice-versa. This unpolished idea was removed entirely in the game's sequel, ''[[{{MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Peace Walker}} Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker''.]]

* AlasPoorVillain: Cunningham laments Snake's decision to disobey the Department of Defense's mission when defeated. In addition, Cunningham is later pitied by Gene upon learning of his attempted betrayal and death.
** Python, if you choose to let him die.
* AndTheFandomRejoiced: As soon as people saw you could play as [[TheMedic Paramedic]], [[MsFanservice EVA]], [[TheSmartGuy Sigint]], and [[MagnificentBastard Ocelot]] (amongst others), [[AndThereWasMuchRejoicing the fandom exulted in glee]]!
* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Cunningham, a FOX operative condemned to a desk by the CIA, has just told Snake that he's been manipulated the whole time, and that through his machinations, Snake will go home a hero when Cunningham launches a davy crockett and destroys the entire base, thus killing all the soldiers and friends Snake has made during the game. Considering the ideas of loyalty and responsibility that have been brewing since he killed the Boss, Snake turns down Cunningham's treacherous offer, pulls a gun on him, and tells the man he's going to stop him.

* FridgeLogic: One of the better ideas in this game is also one of the most flawed. Specifically, you capture enemy soldiers and bring them over to your side, and they even retain their old uniforms, letting them pass by soldiers dressed in the same uniform (there's more than one military faction in San Hieronymo). Seems fair, right? Except that this also means there's no allowance for variation ''at all.'' A female officer can't fool a male officer, but can fool other females. For that matter, an officer will stick out like a sore thumb to regular balaclava-wearing grunts, and vice-versa. This unpolished idea was removed entirely in the game's sequel, ''[[MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Peace Walker.]]''
* FridgeBrilliance: [[spoiler: Sokolov's survival was explained in the [=MGS4 Database=] by claiming that he took a False Death Pill during his interrogation, which was given to him by The Boss.]]

** In the manual for MetalGear2, Roy Campbell's bio mentioned that he was during this time the only officer to remember the FOXHOUND of the Big Boss days, which made absolutely no sense when the FOXHOUND biography explained that it was formed in the early nineties, which meant that FOXHOUND was around for, at the absolute earliest, nine years. This game explains what exactly the bio meant by that.

* RecycledPremise: A retired war hero is called back into action in order to stop his former unit, who are now rogue. This is exactly the same plot as the original ''MetalGearSolid'', only with Solid Snake and FOX-HOUND replaced by Naked Snake and the original FOX unit.
* SoOkayItsAverage: At worst, the game is regarded as enjoyable or at least accepted as part of the series for MGS fans, except it delivered far less than was promised.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The whole soundtrack is very good, especially ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXkgn3QUA2w Calling To The Night]]''.

* AlasPoorVillain: Cunningham laments Snake's decision to disobey the Department of Defense's mission when defeated. In addition, Cunningham is later pitied by Gene upon learning of his attempted betrayal and death.

* AlasPoorVillain: Cunningham laments Snake's decision to disobey the Department of Defense's mission when defeated.