A great throwback to the NES/MSX games, plus some new elements...
The story is sort of like Metal Gear Solid for the PS1, but it has some major tweaks. Sure, you get the same Metal Gear to fight at the end, but the settings, characters, and some of the weapons are completely different. In this version, you've just landed in Babel via parachute and guess what, you have to infiltrate an enemy complex so you can take down a powerful nuclear equipped walking battle tank called Metal Gear, you know, the usual. You also have to stop a group of former secret US government operatives called the Black Chamber, headed by Black Art Viper.
The graphics are great for a GBC game. The characters are recognizable, even if the enemies are all alike. The environments have a subtle 3-D feel to them even though they look more 2-D than anything. The special effects in the game, such as huge waves of water and explosions, compliment every detail of the game with great results. The bosses are all uniquely designed and they all have their own personalities, even if they're on the tiny GBC screen.
The sound quality in the game is great for the GBC. You have the usual gun firing noises and explosions, but the music in the game is also as good. You have a wide range of songs and background music in the game and it gives each area it's own distinct feel.
The gameplay goes back to the early Metal Gear games with some slight improvements. You still have the overhead camera, the usual crawling through ducts, and of course, the good old box trick. There's also a few improvements such as being able to go flat on the wall and tap the wall to gain attention, which wasn't present in the NES/MSX games. You also have a much better aiming system, even if its a little frustrating at first. You also have the radar to work with this time, but it has 1 major element missing, the enemie's field of vision is not displayed on the radar. This is only a minor problem, but it can be a pain at times when enemies are off screen.
You have a decent amount of weapons and items to get you through your mission, You have the ever-present cigarrettes, cardboard boxes, and rations. You also have the thermal goggles and night vision goggles. The thermal goggles makes the whole screen red, but it makes enemies red enough to stand out, as well as beams. The night vision goggles don't make the screen green, instead it makes the screen the same as if you didn't have them on in the first place. Anyway, you have the gasmasks, card keys, the usual. The range of weapons that Snake can get his grubby little hands on is good enough. You have pistols, machiene guns, grenades, mines, stun and chaffs, and the Nikita missile launcher. The Nikita missile launcher still has the remote-control missile mechanic, and there are certain areas of the game where you have to guide one through an area to shut off an electric floor, which is a nice touch.
After you beat the main game, there's pelnty of other things to do. You can play over all the missions in the game with different objectives. These range from beating a boss with a specific weapon, not getting caught, and time limit modes. You also have some VR missions to play if you don't quite get the hang of the controls and weapons. Completing these will unlock some new content, but the reward is not that great. You have a multiplayer mode that you can play via link cable, and it's fun to play against a friend in a stealth game, but the novelty somehow wears out quick.
Overall, this game translates the gameplay from the original games with pinpoint precision and it has plenty of content to keep you going for some time. If you want a little Snake on the go without any card battling, this is your best choice. Give it a try.