Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

 PSP
  • Publisher: Bandai
  • Release Date: Oct 26, 2005
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
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  1. IanW.
    Nov 19, 2005
    1
    Given that Coded arms is perhaps the worst game on the PSP, saying Ghost is better is damning with faint praise. Avoid. Go buy Star Wars battlefront, Liberty City or Burnout legends instead. Or indeed Untold Legends Brotherhood of the blade
  2. ZemZega
    Jun 21, 2007
    9
    GitS is a step up from Coaded Arms & a fun game, cut scense are a little bland but the campain is loads of fun & the mulityplayer is the best i've played on the PSP. the load times are a tad long but still within aceptable lines. My biggest qualm with this game was that you need two copes to play multiplay without ergecting the disk
  3. LyleB.
    Nov 9, 2005
    8
    It's a fun game, definitely feels a little rushed and unpolished though. It is better than Coded Arms. Gamespy's "lame story" comment is ridiculous. The game's story is VERY similar to watching an episode of the anime, of which I am a pretty big fan. The lock-on feature makes the PSP's controls workout alright, but they are still a bit clunky. I'm not sure a It's a fun game, definitely feels a little rushed and unpolished though. It is better than Coded Arms. Gamespy's "lame story" comment is ridiculous. The game's story is VERY similar to watching an episode of the anime, of which I am a pretty big fan. The lock-on feature makes the PSP's controls workout alright, but they are still a bit clunky. I'm not sure a non-anime fan would care for it - you probably won't mind the gameplay, but the cutscenes will just seem wierd to you if you're not into the genre. Bottom line - If you are an anime fan, you'll probably like it, but wish it spent a little more time getting cleaned up before shipping. Oh - and the load times (and frequent amount of loading in general) stink. But that seems to be a PSP thing, hopefully someone will start figuring out how to fix that in future games.… Expand
  4. EdmondD.
    Jul 25, 2008
    9
    It was a good game. The plot for this game is reminiscent of the anime, which is a plus for fans of the anime. I don't mind the load times at all, although they could be a hassle if you are in a hurry. The controls take a little while to get used to, but I found it easy to learn.
  5. PaulC
    Nov 5, 2005
    9
    Wow! They finally made a good fps on the psp. This game is light years ahead of Coded Arms. The environments are large and wide open. The level design is what really sets this game apart. Great variety in all the levels and the lock on feature for aiming really works well. If you are looking for an fps on the psp,you can't go wrong with Ghost in the Shell.
  6. Mattiator
    May 21, 2015
    6
    A shooter with plenty of unique ideas, but it stumbles in the execution and due to platform limitations. There are multiple playable characters with unique stats and dialog, a huge bevy of weapons from twin pistols and SMGs up to machineguns and anti-material rifles. The real star of the show here, though, are the Tachikoma robots that accompany you into almost all levels. Effectively aA shooter with plenty of unique ideas, but it stumbles in the execution and due to platform limitations. There are multiple playable characters with unique stats and dialog, a huge bevy of weapons from twin pistols and SMGs up to machineguns and anti-material rifles. The real star of the show here, though, are the Tachikoma robots that accompany you into almost all levels. Effectively a customizable, heavily-armored and armed guard dog with the personality of a curious puppy, the Tachikoma will follow you through levels taking on enemies, and can be given commands (order it to traverse an area hunting enemies, hold fire, guard an area, or just have it stick to you like glue and obliterate everything that tries to attack you). Or, if you're finding an enemy gauntlet tricky, just hop inside with the touch of a button and mow down everything from safety inside the cockpit. You can also go invisible once per level and sneak past enemies for a brief time, even in the robot! Useful for sneak attacks and hostage rescues. With all this potential depth, it's a shame that most of the levels are small, simple run-and-guns with little room for actual strategizing, probably due to the limited power of the handheld. This also probably explains the load times after every few minutes of gameplay. Controls are also a potential problem, with the analog stick being unavailable for aiming which would have made precise gunplay much more viable. Even with a quick lock-on button to make targetting easier, you'll find that the rapid-fire weapons are far more useful than pretty much everything else. By the end of the game I was just taking three of the biggest machinegun into every mission and gunning down everything with little trouble. The story's not up to the TV show's levels, but it does the job. Music also is a good blend of techno, heck, there's even a vocal song in there. Tracks tend to get re-used between levels, but they're good enough and the game's short, so it isn't much of an issue. Graphically, the game isn't a stunner, but everything's clear and looks the part of the show it's based on. Overall, while it isn't the criminally overlooked masterpiece the user reviews might have you believe, for cheap it's definitely worth a shot, especially for fans of the show.… Expand
  7. Tuivel
    Apr 7, 2011
    9
    A fun first person shooter, varying missions, lots of weapons, an interesting story told with lots of cutscenes and good voice acting. The Tachikoma Robot that can be comanded and even piloted by the player is a nice addition not commonly found in other games of this genre. Use of cover, caution, stealth and the right choice of weapons will get the job done. Charging in with guns blazingA fun first person shooter, varying missions, lots of weapons, an interesting story told with lots of cutscenes and good voice acting. The Tachikoma Robot that can be comanded and even piloted by the player is a nice addition not commonly found in other games of this genre. Use of cover, caution, stealth and the right choice of weapons will get the job done. Charging in with guns blazing will usually get you killed quickly unless you are piloting your heavily armed & armored Tachikoma buddy. Graphics are nice, (gun) sounds could have been done a bit better. Controls are ok (game is playable even without auto-aim) I liked it, and i'm not a fan of the anime :-)… Expand
  8. Bustergundam4
    Jan 11, 2012
    10
    This game was fun.For fans of the anime,this game is portable and versatile and will provide players with the same voice acting and quality like the anime and can compliment it's PS2 counterpart.Overall,this game will hook you and keep you playing till the end. Bandai keep up the good work!! 10/10
  9. VLG
    Aug 23, 2023
    7
    Due to the lack of a second analog stick, the original PSP just could not handle FPS. I played this out of curiosity, because i really like the show and... its fine. Its more interesting than most games i played for the console.

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Best PSP Game of 2005
45
#45 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2005
22
#22 Most Shared PSP Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. Play Magazine
    85
    Precise aiming on the run is a little dicey on the PSP, and the loading times can be extraneous, but it's a small price to pay to get Motoko and company into your mobile unit. [Oct 2005]
  2. IGN
    62
    The gameplay isn't smart, the customizing RPG elements aren't very complex, and the story isn't presented with the kind of flair that Shirow Masamune's manga has inspired in film, on TV, or even in previous videogames.
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  3. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    70
    Holy Crap! Someone actually made an FPS game on teh PSP work. [Dec 2005, p.139]
    Read full review
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