Coming out of a demonstration of Metal Gear Solid 4, playing its online variant was an easy transition. Aptly named, Metal Gear Online essentially takes Snake and re-skins him as an average Joe, retaining his moves and controls while stripping the character of his individuality. Up to 16 of these bland soldiers can do battle at once, but I was put on a Blue team of just six, taking on a clueless Red team full of Korean journalists. By the end of the match, my inflated ego may have lead to some inflated feelings toward Metal Gear Online, but I have to say, it was a fun time.

At its core, MGO is a fairly standard multiplayer shooter. You begin the round by spawning in one location along with the rest of your team. When you die, you respawn back at this "base" after a few seconds. You choose a weapon loadout. At the end of the round, whatever team has the most kills wins.

In this way, it is slightly reminiscent of Gears of War's online component. In both games, popping off shots from behind cover is rewarded, flanking procedures are a must, and close-combat melee leads to quick take-downs for stealthy players. However, MGO possesses an undeniable flavor that sets it apart from the crowd--and not just due to the cardboard box-sneaking and other goofiness.

Because Metal Gear has always been based on stealth, that remains the name of the game here. Due to this focus, you can end up with a lot of hilarious encounters in Metal Gear Online, as previously unseen enemies might jump out from behind cover at all the wrong times. It can also lead to some very exhilarating moments as you sneak up behind an enemy and off him before he even knows you're there.

One of the refreshing innovations to come with MGO is the scanning signature of your friendly teammates. Like a pinging radar, you will occasionally see your teammates illuminated in the corresponding team color--sometimes from all the way across the map, no matter what they're hiding behind. This greatly diminishes annoying friend-or-foe situations that plague other team-based online shooters, while also providing tactical awareness. A minimap is also provided for more precise strategic information.

The color-based signature can potentially be hacked by the enemy, revealing nearby targets. This hacking ability can also be increased through character upgrades, which are applied before the round begins in the lobby. Players can chat, look at the level map, and mess around with other options in this loading segment.

I began my first round by selecting an assault rifle loadout and sneaking around to the backside of the enemy's base. Here I proceeded to find a nice spot to pick off respawning teammates--perhaps the cheapest and most effective way to kill confused first-timers. The game allows for a brief period of invulnerability for respawners, but that didn't stop me from racking up a dozen kills in this manner. Content with my unearned supremacy, I climbed a tall building in the center of the map, set up a sniper rifle, and began picking off distant players in god-like fashion.

After a while the Koreans caught on, and sure enough an enemy began to climb the ladder, attempting to flush me out. I simply threw myself over the ledge and hung there, hoping he wouldn't notice my simple maneuver. The trick worked--he moved on, I swung back up, and dropped the sucker. It seemed to take at least 4-5 bullets to bring a player down, although shot placement was definitely a factor. Wildly spraying ammunition in full-auto mode doesn't get you very far in Metal Gear Online, thankfully.

Just like in the single-player games, you can choose to go all-out action, but you'll pay the price of drawing attention to yourself. Those players who can combine stealth with marksmanship will triumph. And with multi-tiered maps, those who study the combat terrain ahead of time will undoubtedly have an edge. Many times I found myself shot dead in a flash because I had failed to look above me as I rounded a corner. Run-and-gun fans should look elsewhere for their shooting entertainment.

Ultimately, this game is, quite literally, Metal Gear online. It doesn't break a lot of new ground, but it's a fun set of mechanics to mess around with in an online setting. If it's priced competitively, this could be a no-brainer for PlayStation 3 owners.

A "starter pack" for Metal Gear Online will release alongside Metal Gear Solid 4 in early 2008.