Orginally posted on November 30, 2006

On Dec. 5, PSP owners will finally get their first real Metal Gear game in the form of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. Instead of card-based strategy, this direct sequel to MGS3: Snake Eater offers up the pure, stealth-based action that fans have been clamoring for ever since they loaded up Metal Gear Acid for the first time.

Thing is, Portable Ops changes the old formula significantly, adding a mission-based structure, squad tactics and the ability to recruit any enemy to Snake's newly formed FOXHOUND unit. To better explain what to expect when the game hits stores on Tuesday, we recently sat down with Ryan Payton (pictured above), assistant producer at developer Kojima Productions, for an informal question-and-answer session, podcast style. To hear him hold forth on new gameplay elements, returning characters and getting around the limitations of the PSP, just hit the link below.

GamesRadar audio podcast - the Ryan Payton interview (MP3, 13 minutes)