Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, & PC)

Some franchises are simply impossible to say goodbye to. Maybe I never will. Few ‘90s and 2000s series have left a mark quite like Metal Gear Solid. Even with modern games borrowing its blend of stealth, action, and political drama, nothing quite captures the magic of those original entries. And Konami knows this. Hence, they’ve been treating us to remakes and re-releases, more than I can count. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, however, began an interesting trajectory for the franchise. It was a wholesome way for fans and newcomers to experience the original games in a single package. 

The original Metal Gear 1987 MSX version. Followed by the Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake 1990 MSX version. And then, the Metal Gear Solid 1998 entry. The Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 2001 and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 2004 HD collections, all under one roof. But Volume One also adds bonus content. These include the NES versions of Metal Gear and Snake’s Revenge. You have Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2 digital graphic novel videos. Plus, the digital soundtrack for the games that are included in the one-package deal. For the most part, Konami retains the original games as they are. You may even call them ports, except they have technical polish and quality-of-life updates that make them the best entry point to the series.

And now, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 has arrived. What can you expect from the new one-package deal? Is it worth buying?

What to Expect

Volume One has five main games, plus three bonus games. So, eight playable games, total. And that’s a pretty deal, considering the additional graphic novels and soundtrack. I had hoped Volume Two would be just as packed. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it only has three games. These include the Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots 2004 PS3 version. You have the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker 2010 PSP HD Collection. Plus, the Metal Gear: Ghost Babel 2000 Game Boy Color title. 

It’s unfortunate that the package deal only has three games, including a few bonus content pieces like the soundtracks and digital screenplay. However, fans of the series will know the excruciatingly long wait for a modern port of Guns of the Patriots. Until now, this spectacular stealth espionage game had been confined to the outdated PS3 consoles. Perhaps now, some of you may be able to put your PS3 to rest, and finally enjoy Guns of the Patriots on PS5 or other.

Yup, Guns of the Patriots is that strong enough of an inclusion in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 that if it were the only game the package had, plus bonus content, it still would be a deal worth taking. And yes, that also means that Peace Walker and Ghost Babel might as well have been excluded without feeling like you’re missing out on much. 

Guns of the Patriots

Two parts are the most alluring factors in Guns of the Patriots. The story and gameplay, as in any respectable game, will strive to put across perfectly. While Konami retains the structure and mechanics of the original game, they also streamline and polish any technical mishaps. More accessible button mapping. Remastering the performance and visuals to treat you to a consistent 4K/60 fps. Even with the dusting and fresh coat of paint, this is still the original game in name and content. It’s still impressive in the depiction of military warfare. The blast radius of grenades still looks explosive, all around Snake as he carves a sneaky route through the chaos. Environments are detailed and immerse you in a tense war zone of screaming and shooting. 

Even though stealth is simple enough, crouching and sneaking up on enemies, it still has its thrills. There are times, however, when it’s more appropriate to fire away. Beyond the structural flow of combat, you have meters to manage. Your health is paramount, but so is your psyche. You never want to run these bars out, or Old Snake will become less efficient in battle, and even succumb to the stress of it all. 

Stranger Things

It’s a pleasurable run, unraveling the story. Though I must warn newcomers that Guns of the Patriots is like diving into the deep-end of the Metal Gear Solid lore. So many dramatic events have happened up till this point. Some have been realistic takes on warfare. Others have crossed over to AI ideologies and sci-fi possibilities. Konami hasn’t been afraid to mix in practical ideas with fantasy imaginations. And at times, it may even be confusing, perhaps hilarious, and strange. This is the kind of franchise that features nanomachines, vampires, and the undead. It has powerful AI with extensive control over soldiers and their personal data. Experiments are commonplace, including on the main character, Solid Snake, who’s a clone of the Big Boss. Ideas like arm transplants aren’t too far gone in Metal Gear Solid, and how they can result in the mixed personalities of the donor and the recipient. 

War Economy

It doesn’t always make sense, though. Starting your journey from Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 should certainly help fill in the gaps. At least before you get to Volume Two, and jump right into another dense plot of a digitized war. It’s a story that will take up plenty of your screentime, given the lengthy cinematic expositions. And I suppose some gamers may find the cutscenes too long. But then, anyone who’s played the original Metal Gear Solid IV will know that there’s no escaping the lengthy cutscenes. Heck, reliving the stories might be a motivating factor in itself to buy the game. 

Even while complex, the story has its peak moments. It’s engaging, especially with the interactive prompts. You don’t get to decide where the story goes, but you can at least revisit old scenes through flashbacks to better understand the context or switch the perspectives to Snake’s view.

Peace Walker

You can say, to hell with the armies that private military companies and the government control in one way or another. You can just leave it all behind to start your own private army, one where you’re in complete control over recruiting. That part will become a core gameplay element of your time in Peace Walker. You’ll take up bite-sized missions that you can easily beat in under a few minutes. That’s the original game’s goal for the PSP handheld device that it launched on. I suppose when playing on the big screen, it can become a tad repetitive after a while. 

Anyway, the enemies you defeat become your new recruits. They join your private army, taking them up to the Mother Base, and assigning them to different roles and teams. And thus, the base management part of the game takes off, as you level up the Mother Base and send teams on missions. It’s a different gameplay experience than Guns of the Patriots, more hands-on. Yet, easily skipped over.

Ghost Babel

The same goes for Ghost Babel. This one’s a top-down stealth game, having you scale up walls and sneak through heavily guarded places. It’s more tactical than combat-focused. Because it’s non-canon, you can easily skip it as well. The retro charm Konami retains can put you off as well. And the fact that Konami removed the Versus Battle multiplayer mode. 

Verdict 

In any case, Guns of the Patriots does enough heavy lifting to make Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 an overall worthwhile trip down memory lane. It’s a one-package deal for three games that maintains the integrity and style of the originals. While not all of the games offer a strong story and gameplay experience, it’s appreciated enough that Guns of the Patriots finally makes its way out of the confines of the PS3. 

Could Konami have added more games to this collection? Certainly. Metal Gear Solid Online could have been a nice addition to the multiplayer experience. And Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. Fans have also been up in arms about the exclusion of Snake’s cigarette-smoking load screens. But what would you rather pick? Snake’s smoking habits or faster load times? The latter works just fine for me.

Above all, the performance is spot-on, as are the visuals, looking cleaner and sharper than before. Yet, even with the modern flair, they still retain their original charm. Ghost Babel, especially, is a treat for retro enthusiasts. And now, we look forward to Volume Three, which would ideally remaster Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and hopefully offer a more elaborate package deal.