Metal Gear Solid - Ultimate Collection: 7 Key Gameplay Enhancements and Additions in the Original Games

Highlights

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 takes a "conservation" approach, preserving many features from the original titles.

The collection offers a range of hidden features for fans to enjoy. For example, players have the opportunity to add virtual saved data from classic Konami titles to Metal Gear Solid. Additionally, in Metal Gear Solid: Integral, there is the option to switch dialogue audio between English and Japanese. Although certain content, such as the hidden game "Guy Savage" and the Ape Escape crossover, has been removed from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater due to copyright concerns, the collection still provides an exceptional experience for fans.

When remastering classic games from the past, the team must decide whether to modernize certain features or mechanics for a contemporary audience. The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 took a more "conservative" approach by preserving many features from the original titles.

However, it is worth noting that there are subtle yet significant differences between the games in the Master Collection and their original versions. Despite some concerns raised by fans regarding the PC version, such as performance issues, the Master Collection does justice to the series. While it includes numerous additions to satisfy fans, there are also a few omissions that only the most devoted fans would notice.

7. A Trip Down Memory Card Lane

Metal Gear Solid

Among the multitude of mind-bending moments in the series, one that truly stands out is the encounter between Snake and Psycho Mantis in MGS1. Prior to their epic battle, Mantis astounds by showcasing his power to manipulate the player's controller vibration and delve into their past through a clever exploit of their memory cards. Although some of the games he references may not be playable on current consoles, an elusive option lurks within the game menu, enabling players to inject these saved files and recreate this iconic moment of breaking the fourth wall.

6. Integral English Integration

Before starting the game, go to the main menu and select "Edit Saved Data" to access the options. From there, players can choose an available space on the virtual memory card to add saved data from classic Konami titles. If you're a dedicated fan of Metal Gear Solid, you might remember that changing controllers while battling Mantis prevents him from reading Snake's mind, making the boss fight much easier. Luckily, the Master Collection provides a convenient way to switch virtual controllers through the Stance Menu's controller options (R1 & L1).

Metal Gear Solid: Integral

Packaged as the "complete experience," the Master Collection Vol. 1 comprises various editions of the original PSX game, with Metal Gear Solid: Integral being the standout inclusion. This edition, which was only available in Japan and had a stripped-down version for PC, offered unique features that non-Japanese players may have struggled to access. Given Konami's reputation for producing high-quality collections, it is no surprise that they have chosen to incorporate Integral into Volume 1.

The notable difference in the Integral edition included in the Master Collection Vol. 1 is that players now have the option to switch between English and Japanese dialogue audio. However, it is important to note that all item descriptions are still exclusively in Japanese. While there are numerous advantages to playing this version instead of the original MGS, such as alternate music, guard routes, behind-the-scenes commentary codec calls, "very easy mode," first-person mode, unlockable "VR" missions, and alternate outfits, the lack of English text may not make it the ideal choice for newcomers to the game.

5. Naked Snake's Missing Monkey & The Savage Nightmare

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

According to Konami, the Master Collection aims to encompass the entire set, with each volume bound together. Prior to each game, there is a disclaimer cautioning players about the presence of "expressions and themes that may be considered outdated," alerting them to certain outdated aspects that may have lost favor in the public eye. However, it should be noted that certain content from the original Metal Gear Solid games has been omitted, possibly due to copyright concerns.

In Snake Eater, there is a hidden game concealed midway through the mission, revealed when Snake dozes off after a particularly gruesome encounter with the main antagonist. As "Guy Savage," the player assumes the role of a heroic figure armed with dual crowbars, battling hordes of the undead. Moreover, the Ape Escape crossover game, "Snake VS Money," which involved capturing rogue monkeys with a butterfly net, was also removed due to Sony's exclusive ownership rights.

4. Pausing For Thought

Metal Gear Solid

The Metal Gear Solid franchise is notorious for its excessively long cutscenes that interrupt gameplay. In the original trilogy, players had no choice but to skip important story moments if they had distractions or needed to take a break. However, the Master Collection Vol. 1's edition of MGS offers a solution - players can now pause the game (L + R for Switch, LB + RB on Xbox, and L1 + L2 on PlayStation). A reported bug causing a 10-second delay was luckily fixed before release.

Sadly, this pause feature is only available in the original Metal Gear Solid, as it runs on an emulator. Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater, both known for their lengthy cutscenes, do not have this option. However, Switch users will be pleased to know that pausing can still be achieved by hitting the home menu in the sequels.

3. A Loss Of Substance

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty & Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The Master Collection, like the HD edition and Legacy Collection, utilizes Substance (MGS2) and Subsistence (MGS3) as the foundation for its ports. These updated versions are widely regarded as superior to the originals, with Snake Eater benefiting from a much-desired addition of third-person camera controls. However, similar to the HD and Legacy bundles, not all features from these updates were included. Unfortunately, Snake Eater does not feature the "secret theater" (a blooper reel of sorts) or the boss rush mode.

Sons of Liberty eliminated the "Snake Tales" missions and a peculiar "skateboarding" game mode that allowed Snake and Raiden to perform tricks like grinding, kickflipping, and ollieing across the Big Shell. The Skateboard mode arose from a collaboration between MGS and Evolution Skateboarding, though the legal implications of copyright infringement would likely nullify its existence, given Evolution's limited recognition in the gaming industry. Despite its strangeness, this mode holds significant value in the hearts of numerous fans.

2. Checking The Back Of The Box

Metal Gear Solid

Many PSX gamers were left puzzled by this unique puzzle in the first release of MGS, which breaks the fourth wall. Even those who had played the game on PC via the GOG port would have been equally baffled. In the Shadow Moses mission, Snake receives instructions to find a crucial Codec number by "checking the back of the CD case" in order to proceed with the story.

Unfortunately, some gamers may not realize that they need to literally examine the back of Metal Gear Solid's case art, where they will find the frequency displayed as a screenshot. The Master Collection addresses this issue for players who do not have a physical copy of the game by conveniently including the game's case in the pause menu. This immersive feature allows players to discover the solution without having to search for it online.

1. Gracefully Aging Icons

Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty, & Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The editions of each game in the Master Collection Vol. 1, including the original PSX classic, feature an impressive attention to detail. One particularly noteworthy aspect is the seamless integration of in-game button prompts and icons. This significant improvement greatly enhances gameplay for both players unfamiliar with the original PlayStation controls and those who are already familiar with them.

The attention to detail in seamlessly blending the new control icons with the old-school, low-resolution graphics of the first PSX game is delightful to see. However, the Master Collection couldn't fix the issue of the vocal button prompts as delivered by the cast. Snake will still be directed to "crouch with the X button" despite the controller's actual button setup in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1.

Franchise Metal GearPlatform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series SReleased October 24, 2023Developer(s) KonamiGenre(s) Action, Stealth