The Ultimate Metal Gear Solid Collection: A Gamer's Dream Come True
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection brings the beloved series to modern hardware, but Konami's handling of the franchise raises valid concerns about their stewardship
The recent resurgence of Metal Gear Solid is fantastic news for fans who were disappointed by the series' treatment after Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami. Since its initial announcement at the PlayStation Showcase, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 has been gradually releasing more details about its contents and availability on different platforms. During the June Nintendo Direct, the release date of October 24 was revealed, along with an official website that provided a list of what would be included in the collection. Unfortunately, keen Metal Gear fans would have noticed that the games and bonuses included are exactly the same as a previous Metal Gear anthology release.
In 2013, Konami released the Metal Gear Solid: Legacy Collection for PlayStation 3, which was considered the ultimate Metal Gear collection at that time, although Metal Gear Solid 4 was not included. Besides the first three games in the Metal Gear Solid series, the Legacy Collection featured the MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, as well as the NES/Famicom versions of Metal Gear and Snakes Revenge. These games were not enhanced or remastered in any way, and the decision to simply copy and paste the contents of the Legacy Collection into the Master Collection is a missed opportunity on Konami's part.
The Missed Opportunity Presented by the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection
The Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection's arrival on modern platforms is a welcome development after its exclusive run on the PS3 for a decade. However, it's hard not to feel that Konami could have put more effort into curating the Master Collection. One notable omission is the absence of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. It would have also been nice to see the games remastered with 4K support and other quality-of-life enhancements. To understand how Konami could have improved the curation and presentation of the Master Collection, one only needs to look at Capcom and their handling of the Mega Man Legacy Collection series.
Capcom divided the two Mega Man Legacy Collections in a more coherent and thematic manner compared to Konami's approach with the Metal Gear Master Collections. The first Mega Man Legacy Collection includes the core first eight Mega Man games, while the second collection features side games and bonus material. Instead of including Metal Gear Solid 4 in Master Collection, Vol. 2, it would have made more sense to create a Master Collection, Vol. 1 with the first four Metal Gear Solid games, and a Vol. 2 collection with the 8-bit original games and bonus material for fans of the series.
The Master Collection Continues Cynicism Concerning Konami's Treatment of IP
The curation of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection's contents in its two volumes reflects Konami's continued neglect of the Metal Gear franchise and its other legacy IP. Once a prominent Japanese publisher responsible for acclaimed franchises like Castlevania, Contra, Silent Hill, and Metal Gear, Konami has largely ignored these games and shifted focus towards Pachinko machines and mobile gaming. This neglect reinforces the perception that Konami disregards its legacy as a publisher and guardian of beloved gaming franchises, a sentiment further compounded by the specifics of the Master Collection's contents.
The absence of MGS creator Hideo Kojima looms over the recent Metal Gear news and game announcements. Kojima's unique vision birthed a subgenre of action games and yielded some of the most revered releases in gaming history. The fact that Konami is repackaging an older Metal Gear anthology and remaking Metal Gear Solid 3 without involving the series' mastermind diminishes the excitement surrounding these announcements. The success of the Master Collection's release later this year, along with the reception of Metal Gear Solid: Delta, could significantly impact the future of the franchise.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 will be released on October 24 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
