Holy fuck, a core memory. My friends spent a lot of time with Portable Ops playing against one another on the bus ride home. Despite having to fight with PSP controls, it was still a pretty solid game. Did anything more ever come of Null as a character? I know Raiden is the official poster boy child-soldier-turned-cyber-ninja of the series, but I didn't play the later entries to know if he played a part.
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Also, Calling to the Night is up there with Snake Eater as far as MGS music goes. I still find myself listening to this from time to time.