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Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection

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Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection
Logo of the collections
Developer(s)Konami[a]
Rocket Studio[b]
M2[c]
Publisher(s)Konami
Producer(s)Noriaki Okamura
SeriesMetal Gear
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
ReleaseVol. 1
October 24, 2023
Genre(s)Action-adventure, stealth

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection is a video game compilation published by Konami. The compilation features ports of titles in the Metal Gear franchise of stealth games, released in commemoration of the series' 35th anniversary.

Split across volumes, Vol. 1 was announced in May 2023. It comprises the first five main entries in the franchise: Metal Gear (1987), Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990), Metal Gear Solid (1998), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), as well as the VR Missions for Metal Gear Solid, the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Metal Gear and its standalone sequel Snake's Revenge (1990), games guides, a sound selection of music from the series, and the motion comics Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel and Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée as bonuses. The Master Collection series marks the first time the NES entries have been available on non-Nintendo systems, the first release of Metal Gear Solid on Xbox, the original version of the game and Sons of Liberty on a Nintendo console, Snake Eater on PC, and the first worldwide release of Metal Gear Solid: Integral outside Japan.

Vol. 1 was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 24, 2023. A second volume is currently in development.

Games

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See also: Metal Gear § Gameplay

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 presents five individual applications, each comprising one or two games and additional versions as well as its additional content. Metal Gear Solid and its two sequels each have their own application, while the MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake are contained in one application. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games Metal Gear (1987) and Snake's Revenge (1990) have their own application, labeled as "Bonus Content", including extra content such as the music player and graphic novels. The additional content for each game consists of digital copies of the respective games' boxes and instruction manuals, associated Master Book dossiers that divulge details on characters, narrative, and their place in Metal Gear's in-universe canon, as well as the corresponding screenplays for each game. Metal Gear Solid and its sequels can be purchased individually, with Metal Gear Solid bundling Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

Metal Gear Solid (1998) in the Master Collection is primarily based on the game's original PlayStation version, while the standalone Metal Gear Solid VR Missions and Special Missions regional releases are accessible from its hub on the game selection screen, as well as the original Japanese release of Metal Gear Solid: Integral, which has been made available for the first time to North American players through its inclusion on the compilation. Due to the original Metal Gear Solid being presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio, an assortment of wallpapers can be selected both from the main menu and during gameplay, as well as adjustments to the game's display position. The collection includes the ability to create virtual save data for other Konami PlayStation titles and virtually swap controller ports from Player 1 to Player 2, which are both relevant to the boss fight against Psycho Mantis.[1] A digital replica of the game's original retail packaging is included to aid players in obtaining Meryl Silverburgh's Codec frequency number to contact her later in the game, as alluded to in the game itself.[2]

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) are both direct conversions of their HD Edition remasters previously developed by Bluepoint Games and distributed as part of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (2011) compilation for PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and Xbox 360.[3][4] Before release Konami announced that on PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S, all featured games are presented at a resolution of 1080p at a maximum performance of 60 frames-per-second (FPS). The Nintendo Switch version of the collection similarly retains a native 1080p resolution in TV Mode, but has a lower output of 720p in Handheld Mode, while both configurations run at 30 FPS.[5] However, after release it was found that the games were actually locked to 720p on all platforms. The Switch version's 30 FPS cap was noted as "bizarre" since the Shield version, which the Switch version is derived from, manages to run at 60 FPS using the same Tegra X1 chip.[6] The PC version lacks any graphics or audio options.[7][8]

Each game in the collection supports Trophies and Achievements on all platforms excluding Switch, as well as language options. The vibration feedback from the DualShock and DualShock 2 controllers for certain in-game effects such as weapon fire and taking damage in action sequences, has been reimplemented for supported gamepads across each console platform and PC.[9][10][11][12]

Games included in Vol. 1[13]
Title Original platform Release year
Metal Gear[d] MSX2 1987
Metal Gear (NES version) NES 1987
Snake's Revenge NES 1990
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake[d] MSX2 1990
Metal Gear Solid PlayStation 1998
Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions PlayStation 1999
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty PlayStation 2 2001
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater PlayStation 2 2004

Additional content

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Vol. 1 includes the motion comics Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (originally released in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable) and Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée (originally released exclusively in Japanese on DVD in 2008), which were previously included as extras with full English voice acting in the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection, released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3. Other extras include strategy guides, screenplay books, and an in-game sound selection of twenty tracks curated from each game in the collection.[14] Remixes of the vocal tracks "The Best is Yet to Come" from Metal Gear Solid, "Can't Say Goodbye To Yesterday" from Sons of Liberty and the titular "Snake Eater" from Metal Gear Solid 3, was made available as pre-order bonuses.[citation needed]

Development

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In November 2021, the digital downloads for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater as well as the original Metal Gear Solid HD Collection were removed from digital storefronts, with Konami citing expired licenses as the reason. In July 2022, Konami announced their intentions to reinstate the games for the series' 35th anniversary.[15]

During the development of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami began the development of the Master Collection series to make "the most complete collection that celebrates the 35th anniversary of the series, allowing fans to play the games as they were, as first released on the latest platforms."[16][13]

During the porting process, some minor changes had to be made for copyright reasons.[citation needed]

Close to the launch, M2, known for developing other video game compilations from Konami, confirmed that it worked in the compilation by providing emulation of Metal Gear (NES), Snake's Revenge, Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, including their regional variants.[17][18]

In September 2024, Noriaki Okumura confirmed plans to produce Vol. 2 of the Master Collection series, noting that they were aware of Vol. 1 launching in a state that was less desirable for players, and that they were using the time since to ensure a second compilation would not face similar problems.[19] He also explained that the vast majority of subsequent Metal Gear titles released since Snake Eater were either not developed for high-definition consoles or were not eventually ported to capable platforms like Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, implying that the games chosen for Vol. 2 would be more carefully curated around these parameters.[20] Okamura also teased the opportunity for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) to be re-released or included in a future compilation, as it remains the only main entry in the Metal Gear franchise to not be made available on any platform beyond its original hardware, the PlayStation 3.[21]

Marketing and release

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Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 was announced for the PlayStation 5 during a PlayStation Showcase in May 2023, immediately after the reveal of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.[22]

In the original announcement, it was revealed to contain the first three Metal Gear Solid games. The game's listing on the PlayStation Store posted later that day confirmed that the collection would also contain content from the Integral version of Metal Gear Solid, alongside the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake from the MSX.[23] In June 2023, a Nintendo Direct revealed that the compilation would be released for Nintendo Switch, that it would include the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Metal Gear and its standalone sequel Snake's Revenge, and that it would include digital graphic novels for Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2. Releases for Windows via Steam and the Xbox Series X/S were confirmed later that day.[24][14] In August 2023, a digital release for PlayStation 4 was confirmed to be in development, and was later announced as releasing the same day as on other platforms, with PS4 players entitled to a free PS5 upgrade.[25][26]

Vol. 1 released on October 24, 2023, alongside standalone versions of the three Metal Gear Solid games for $19.99 each.[14] Buying the standalone version of Metal Gear Solid grants access to Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. However, the NES version of Metal Gear, as well as Snake's Revenge, are exclusive to those who purchase the entire Collection. The Nintendo Switch physical release in North America and Europe only includes Metal Gear for MSX2, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear for NES and Snake's Revenge on the Game Card, while the rest of the contents have to be separately downloaded and installed to the console.[27] The Japanese physical version also includes the original Metal Gear Solid.[28]

Reception

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Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 has received a mixed-to-positive reception among critics. The Nintendo Switch version of the compilation was scored the highest at 78/100 on review aggregator website Metacritic, while both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions garnered a comparatively lower aggregate score of 74/100.[29] A common point of praise among reviewers was the comprehensive nature and overall presentation of the games and their associated contents. GameSpot writer Richard Wakeling praised the bonus contents included outside the core games, particularly drawing attention towards the inclusion of the Master Book dossiers and screenplays for each respective game.[30][31][32]

Notes

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  1. ^ Original games developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (KCEJ) and Kojima Productions
  2. ^ Porting of MGS2 and MGS3 'HD Edition' conversions originally developed by Bluepoint Games
  3. ^ Emulation of Metal Gear (NES), Snake's Revenge, Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions only
  4. ^ a b Directly ported from Metal Gear Solid HD Collection as opposed to actual MSX2 emulation.

References

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  1. ^ Hahn, Simon (October 30, 2023). "How to Beat Psycho Mantis in MGS: Master Collection (Second Controller)". ScreenRant. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  2. ^ Harby, Joe (October 25, 2023). "MGS Master Collection: How to get Meryl's codec frequency". Downtime Bros. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Croft, Liam (June 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Is Out for PS5 on 24th October". Push Square. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  4. ^ Nightingale, Ed (May 26, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 also includes Metal Gear 1 and 2". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  5. ^ Scullion, Chris (August 22, 2023). "Konami confirms Metal Gear Solid Master Collection resolution on each system". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Morgan, Thomas (November 3, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is anything but masterful". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Wolens, Joshua (October 24, 2023). "Players blast Metal Gear Solid Master Collection for missing options, vanished Steam pages, and muddy textures: 'absolutely poor and not worth its asking price'". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (October 24, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Is Packed With Problems on PC". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  9. ^ McAllister, Gillen (August 21, 2023). "Hands-on report: Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1, Super Crazy Rhythm Castle, and more". PlayStation.Blog. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Legarie, Destin (August 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 Preview – First Impressions". IGN. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  11. ^ Olney, Alex (August 21, 2023). "Hands On: Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 Could Be So Much More, But Isn't". Nintendo Life. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Fenlon, Wes (August 21, 2023). "The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection is packed with bonuses, but the barebones ports offer little that PC emulators don't already do better". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Metal Gear Solid Master Collection". Konami. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Yin-Poole, Wesley (June 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol. 1 Confirmed for Nintendo Switch". IGN. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  15. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (July 13, 2022). "Konami Reinstating Delisted Metal Gear Games For Series' 35th Anniversary". IGN. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  16. ^ Bailey, Kat (May 24, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Announced Alongside Collection Featuring First Three Games". IGN. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  17. ^ 有限会社エムツー/M2 Ltd. [@M2_game] (October 23, 2023). "コナミ様より発売『METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1』に収録の 『METAL GEAR SOLID(MASTER COLLECTION版)』および『ボーナスコンテンツ』に、エムツーが開発協力しております🙏" [Included in "METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1" released by Konami. M2 is collaborating with the development of 'METAL GEAR SOLID (MASTER COLLECTION version)' and 'bonus content'🙏] (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ 有限会社エムツー/M2 Ltd. [@M2_game] (October 23, 2023). "『METAL GEAR SOLID(MASTER COLLECTION版)』は、オリジナルPS版をできる限り再現することにこだわりました。 また、METAL GEAR SOLID 初代シリーズ各言語版すべてを収録！お楽しみください🐍" ['METAL GEAR SOLID (MASTER COLLECTION version)' is particular about reproducing the original PS version as much as possible. Also includes all language versions of the first METAL GEAR SOLID series! Enjoy🐍] (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Cripe, Michael (September 10, 2024). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Had a 'Pretty Rough Launch' So Konami Says It's Being More Careful With Vol. 2". IGN. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Konami confirms MGS Master Collection Volume 2, is considering how to handle the 'really big titles'". VGC. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Wolens, Joshua (August 29, 2024). "I would bet money that Metal Gear Solid 4 is PC-bound after Konami tells fans they can 'probably connect the dots' about its inclusion on Master Collection volume 2". PC Gamer. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Fanelli, Jason; Bonthuys, Darryn (May 25, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater Remake, Metal Gear Solid Collection Revealed". GameSpot. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  23. ^ "METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1". PlayStation Store. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  24. ^ Smith, Ed (June 21, 2023). "The classic Metal Gear Solid games are finally coming to Steam". PCGamesN. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  25. ^ Barker, Sammy (August 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Also Sneaking to PS4". Push Square. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  26. ^ Khan, Zarmena (September 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 PS4 Release Date and Pre-Orders Announced". PlayStation LifeStyle. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  27. ^ Norman, Jim (October 25, 2023). "PSA: Don't Forget The Meaty Downloads Required For Metal Gear Solid's Physical Edition". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Barder, Ollie (October 24, 2023). "The Japanese Version Of 'Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1' Has A Lot Of Extra Downloads". Forbes. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  29. ^ "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1". Metacritic. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  30. ^ Porter, Jon (October 23, 2023). "The Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1. is an exhaustive bundle of stealth classics". The Verge. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  31. ^ Hashimoto, Kazuma (October 31, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection belongs in a museum". Polygon. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  32. ^ Wakeling, Richard (October 24, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Review - Kept You Waiting, Huh?". GameSpot. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
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