Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Review

Metal Gear Solid and its subsequent installments stand as pivotal entries in the annals of video game history, serving as trailblazers for the 3D stealth-action genre while pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. Rediscovering these titles after a span of over 15 years evoked a constant sense of astonishment, as the games revealed their enduring influence on my memory. Whether recollecting forgotten lines of dialogue from the early days of the PlayStation 2 or effortlessly navigating the familiar terrain of Shadow Moses and Big Shell, it became evident how deeply the series had woven into the fabric of my youth, a sentiment likely shared by many others. The significance of the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is twofold, serving as both a repository of gaming history and a nostalgic time capsule, transporting enthusiasts back to the era of one of the most impactful gaming franchises.

Konami has curated an impressive array of games for this compilation, tracing the origins of creator Hideo Kojima’s vision. The inclusion of the original 8-bit Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, alongside the standalone NES iteration of Metal Gear and the non-canonical sequel, Snake’s Revenge, marks a comprehensive journey through the series. While Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2, released in 1987 and 1990 for the MSX2 computer platform, exhibit signs of aging, their archaic design doesn’t render them unplayable. Presented from an overhead 2D perspective, the inherent clunkiness of ranged combat due to restrictive four-way movement and the unforgiving checkpoint system may pose challenges. Nevertheless, these flaws do not overshadow the positive aspects of the gameplay experience. Notably, the controls have undergone an update and unification for this collection, employing both triggers to seamlessly access items or weapons in your inventory, mirroring the mechanics of the Metal Gear Solid games. Beyond this refinement, Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 remain true to their original forms.

Above all, delving into the series’ modest origins serves as a virtual museum, offering a captivating glimpse into the genesis and subsequent evolution of familiar elements as Metal Gear underwent the transformative leap to 3D. Both games, particularly Metal Gear 2, unfold as prototypes for what would follow, laying the groundwork for the emergence of Metal Gear Solid and the broader genre of stealth-action video games. Codec conversations, alert statuses, enemy-identifying radar, and fundamental gameplay concepts like navigating through vents and using sound to divert the enemy’s attention all trace back to the series’ roots over 33 years ago. Even if completing either game isn’t your goal, the experience is worthwhile, providing insight into the origins of Metal Gear.

As far as introductory offerings go, Metal Gear serves as a commendable starting point. However, the pièce de résistance of the Master Collection unquestionably lies in the first three Metal Gear Solid games. The inaugural entry, released in 1998, holds particular significance, notably because, aside from a GOG release and its inclusion on the PlayStation Classic, it has been relatively inaccessible since its digital sale for the PS3. The Master Collection faithfully preserves the original release, maintaining its 4:3 aspect ratio and retaining the distinctive blocky PS1 textures, leaving Snake’s visage barely distinguishable. Display customization options allow you to align the display area to the left, right, or center, with a selection of wallpapers, including simple black borders, offering flexibility to adapt the smaller aspect ratio to your preferences.

The vintage visuals, while a product of their time, contribute to the overall experience. Whether fueled by nostalgia or not, Metal Gear Solid has retained its atmospheric charm over the 25 years since its debut. From the evocative opening vocals of “The Best is Yet to Come” to the visceral aftermath of Gray Fox’s actions, MGS brims with memorable moments that transcend the constraints of its original hardware. Remarkably, the game remains enjoyable to play, partially owing to its use of fixed camera angles. This choice not only enhances the cinematic flair of the game, allowing scenes to be framed with a keen eye for cinematography, but also sidesteps the awkward camera controls that plagued many early 3D titles. In 1998, developers were still grappling with manual camera control due to the absence of dual thumbsticks on every controller. While many games from that era now feel cumbersome, MGS avoids this pitfall. Though combat may be a bit intricate without manual aim, and the combination of holding down two buttons for running and gunning isn’t the most intuitive, overall, the gameplay remains manageable.

The Master Collection provides a unique opportunity to trace the series’ evolution. Transitioning from MGS on the PS1 to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty on the PS2 reveals a marked improvement across various aspects. The introduction of first-person aiming addresses a limitation in the first game, offering precision in weapon use. The enhancement in visual fidelity is striking, though it’s worth noting that the version included here is not the original PS2 release but rather Bluepoint’s exceptional remaster from the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. On the PS5, both MGS2 and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater run at 1080p and 60 frames per second, incorporating additional features from the Substance and Subsistence editions of each game. This allows players to choose between the original fixed camera or the significantly improved third-person camera, providing full control via the right analog stick in Snake Eater.

While the visuals may fall short of contemporary standards, I advocate for preserving the essence of the original games as much as possible. However, this doesn’t imply that Konami couldn’t have made some adjustments. Other collections with a similar premise have incorporated optional visual enhancements, allowing players to seamlessly switch between the original game and an updated version with enhanced graphical fidelity. While a comprehensive remake is already in progress for Snake Eater, the Master Collection could have benefited from including optional advancements to modernize Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2.

My engagement with the MGS2 Tanker demo in 2001 left an indelible mark, and revisiting that iconic opening sequence in the Master Collection brought back familiar habits: shooting bottles of alcohol behind the bar, kicking locker doors off their hinges until they crushed me, holding up guards with a tranquilizer gun to force them to shake and drop their dog tags, hiding in a cardboard box in the pantry to evade vigilant guards, and shooting an enemy’s radio to prevent reinforcements. The attention to detail remains impressive, and many of these actions still feel fresh today, such as alerting an enemy because Snake couldn’t stifle a sneeze after enduring freezing rain. The unexpected switch from Snake to Raiden upon transitioning to the Big Shell remains a point of contention for me, as the white-haired protagonist remains as irksome today as he was back then. Nevertheless, this narrative twist, coupled with its prescient sociopolitical commentary, foreshadowed the thematic complexity that would define the rest of the series.

MGS3, Snake Eater, transported the action back to the ’60s and discarded the radar, opting instead for an ambitious camouflage system. This system allowed players to seamlessly switch outfits, blending into the forested environments. The series embraced a heightened level of absurdity, starting with MGS2, introducing characters like a seemingly immortal vampire named Vamp (who earned the moniker despite his bisexuality), a villain possessed by an arm, and a ghost whose boss fight involved walking down an otherworldly river haunted by the people you’ve killed. As the series embraced this absurdity, it delved into verbose storytelling, navigating through lengthy expositional tangents that often over-explained simple concepts. The narrative oscillated wildly between political intrigue, science-fiction, melodrama, and tongue-in-cheek humor. While Kojima’s eclectic style is part of the series’ charm, there are instances where it can feel overwhelming. Snake Eater’s opening, for instance, extends for too long, creating an uneven cutscene-to-playtime ratio that leans heavily towards the former. However, once the setup is complete, Snake Eater offers a more hands-on experience with minimal interruptions, although the series is known for its lengthy cutscenes.

Konami has introduced a workaround for pausing cutscenes, but it only applies to Metal Gear Solid. In the original 1998 release, pausing provided no options. Konami has implemented what’s called a Stance Menu, allowing players to view an online manual, adjust controller settings, and manipulate the display area. While accessing this menu inadvertently pauses the game, even during cutscenes, this feature does not extend to MGS2 or MGS3.

No significant alterations are evident in the original games, except for one crucial aspect. Each game commences with a content warning, acknowledging that certain “expressions and themes may be considered outdated” but insisting that they “have been included without alteration to preserve the historical context in which the game was made and the creator’s original vision.” While specific examples aren’t pointed out, it doesn’t take long before instances like Snake’s advances on the first two female characters in the original Metal Gear Solid become apparent. There are also plot points centered around the shape of Meryl’s posterior, lingering shots of Eva’s cleavage in Snake Eater, discussions of incest themes, and a scene where the president inappropriately grabs Raiden’s crotch to confirm his sex, among other controversial and outdated moments. These occurrences may induce discomfort, but Konami’s approach, preserving the games without significant alterations, appears to be the appropriate one.

Beyond the core games, the bundle includes various bonus features. Metal Gear Solid is bundled with VR Missions, Special Missions, and Integral. Although the latter was never released outside of Japan due to most changes already being implemented in the Western release of MGS, it remains a noteworthy piece of digital memorabilia. The absence of behind-the-scenes material in this collection is a disappointment. While YouTube hosts several “Making Of” videos, featuring these videos, even at a higher quality, would have been appreciated. Each game is accompanied by a comprehensive Master Book containing extensive information on every game in the series, character biographies, story synopses, and details on various gameplay mechanics. Screenplay Books delve into all the dialogue in each game, while digital graphic novels for MGS and MGS2 incorporate animations, sound effects, and music for a complete experience.