14 DAY TRIAL // Konami has announced that March 18, 2010 is now the official release date for Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, the PlayStation Portable videogame set to carry on the legacy of the long running series, which last year saw the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
March 18 is the release date only for the Japanese market and Konami is not saying when the new Metal Gear Solid experience should arrive on Western markets. Considering the need to translate the game and localize a few bits, players might expect it to come two or three months later.
Hideo Kojima, the creator of Metal Gear, has been directly involved in the creation of Peace Walker, the first time he did so for a videogame for the PlayStation Portable. The story of the new title is set to take place at the height of the Cold War, in the 1970’s in Costa Rica.
The country is invaded by an unknown military organization and Naked Snake and his organization, called Militaires Sans Frontieres, have been called in to turn back the threat and to restore the balance of power. The events of the game take place about ten years after those depicted in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and will tell the backstory of the process that led to the creation of Outer Heaven.
One of the unique characteristics of Peace Walker is going to be its implementation of cooperative play. Up to four players can be in the game at the same time, working together to overcome challenges and defeat the various boss characters.
Each of the Naked Snake personas can be customized for a different role, with one ready to provide heavy weapons supports, another tasked with infiltration and another ready to perform quick kills up close. Konami is also working on Metal Gear Solid: Rising, which is set to star Raiden as the main character.