Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection
| Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection | |
|---|---|
Logo of the collections | |
| Developer(s) | Virtuos[a] |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | Vol. 1 October 24, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Stealth |
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection is a series of upcoming video game compilations developed by Virtuos and published by Konami. These compilations feature remastered ports of titles in the Metal Gear franchise of stealth-action games, released in commemoration of the series' 35th anniversary.
Split across volumes, Vol. 1 was announced in May 2023. It will comprise 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.
Vol. 1 will release for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on October 24, 2023. More volumes will be announced and detailed in the future.
Games[edit]
Upon startup, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 presents two distinct menus dedicated to the main games included, and the bonus games and extras which are accessed separately, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games Metal Gear (1987) and Snake's Revenge (1990). Every game has the option of directly booting it from the menu or manually downloading the standalone digital version. On each game's hub, every title includes digital copies of the respective games' instruction manuals, associated Master Book dossiers which 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 (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 also 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 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, and the ability to virtually swap controller ports from Player 1 to Player 2, which is later utilised as the gimmick of the boss fight against Psycho Mantis. A digital replica of the game's original retail packaging is also 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.
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.[1] On PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S, all featured games are presented at a resolution of 1080p (1920x1080 pixels) at a maximum performance of 60 frames-per-second. The Nintendo Switch version of the collection meanwhile, similarly retains a native 1080p resolution in TV Mode, but has a lower output of 720p (1280x720 pixels) in Handheld Mode, while both configurations run at 30FPS.[2] 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.[3][4][5][6]
| Title | Original Platform | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Gear | MSX2 | 1987 |
| Metal Gear (NES version) | NES | 1987 |
| Snake's Revenge | NES | 1990 |
| Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake | 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 |
Extras[edit]
Vol. 1 will include the motion comics Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (2006) and Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée,(2009), both originally released for PlayStation Portable. Other extras include strategy guides, screenplay books, and an in-game sound selection of 20 tracks curated from each game in the collection.[8] 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, will be made available exclusively as pre-order bonuses.
Development[edit]
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 the reason as expired licenses. In July 2022, Konami announced their intentions to reinstate the games for the series' 35th anniversary.[9] During the development of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami began the creation of the Master Collection series to "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."[10][11] External studio Virtuos, who was also developing Delta, was brought in to help port these older games to modern platforms. Minimal changes to copyright had to be made during the porting process.[12] Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 would use their versions from the HD Collection.[13]
Marketing and release[edit]
Immediately after the reveal of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater during a PlayStation Showcase in May 2023, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 was announced for the PlayStation 5.[14] It was originally revealed to contain the first three Metal Gear Solid games. The games listing on the PlayStation Store 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.[15] In June 2023, a Nintendo Direct revealed that the compilation was releasing for Nintendo Switch, the inclusion of Nintendo Entertainment System version of Metal Gear and its standalone sequel Snake's Revenge, and the Digital Graphic Novels for Solid and Solid 2. Releases for the Xbox Series X/S and Windows via Steam were confirmed later that day.[16][8] Vol. 1 will release on October 24, 2023 alongside standalone versions of the three Metal Gear Solid games for $19.99 each.[8] In August 2023, a digital release for PlayStation 4 was confirmed to be in development, and was later announced as releasing day and date with other platforms, with PS4 players entitled to a free PS5 upgrade.[17][18] Future volumes have been teased and may be announced in the future.[10][19]
References[edit]
- ^ Original games developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (KCEJ) and Kojima Productions. MGS2 and MGS3 'HD Edition' conversions originally developed by Bluepoint Games
- ^ Square, Push (June 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Is Out for PS5 on 24th October". Push Square. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ "Konami confirms Metal Gear Solid Master Collection resolution on each system". VGC. August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Legarie, Destin (August 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 Preview – First Impressions". IGN. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ "Hands On: Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 Could Be So Much More, But Isn't". Nintendo Life. August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ Wes Fenlon (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.
- ^ "METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION". METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c Yin-Poole, Wesley (June 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol. 1 Confirmed for Nintendo Switch". IGN. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (July 13, 2022). "Konami Reinstating Delisted Metal Gear Games For Series' 35th Anniversary". IGN. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Bailey, Kat (May 24, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Announced Alongside Collection Featuring First Three Games". IGN. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ "Metal Gear Solid Master Collection". Konami. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Croft, Liam (May 25, 2023). "Virtuos Assisting Konami on Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Development". Push Square. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Nightingale, Ed (May 26, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 also includes Metal Gear 1 and 2". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Fanelli, Jason; Bonthuys, Darryn (May 25, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater Remake, Metal Gear Solid Collection Revealed". GameSpot. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ "METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1". PlayStation Store. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ "The classic Metal Gear Solid games are finally coming to Steam". PCGamesN. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Square, Push (August 21, 2023). "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Also Sneaking to PS4". Push Square. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2's games have reportedly leaked". VGC. June 23, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.