Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Review: Better Than Nothing

Playing Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 sometimes felt strange. On the one hand, I loved being able to play titles that I experienced when I was younger. On the other, although it’s not a remaster, it’s not the best port either. We’ve seen other places where these titles, especially MGS1, look better. While it has great features, like a Master Book for each game and a few QoL updates, it is not the port I expected for the current-gen consoles and PCs.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Review: A Blast From the Past

Before digging into this collection, it is important to clarify for the entire community before you pick up the torches that these are not remastered games. They are ports, and that’s it. The fun thing about this collection is the addition of all the extra content and even Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2, which are games we hadn’t been able to play on modern platforms until now. However, the lack of polish in the port leaves much to be desired.

Story: Kept You Waiting, Huh?

By this point, surely everyone is familiar with the legendary exploits of Solid Snake, Big Boss, Raiden, and many more. It has to go down as one of the most intense and gripping video game plots ever. All thanks to the fleshed-out characters, the perfect execution of cinematic elements in a videogame, and the innovation in gameplay systems that translate to the narrative in each installment. Playing the collection again reminded me of my love for this series and let me play it on a modern landscape.

If you are new to this series of games, you are in for a collection of great games. At least talking about Metal Gear Solid 1, 2, and 3. I have nothing against Metal Gear, but those two don’t shine as bright as the first 3D games Hideo Kojima made back in the day.

If you are blind to this series, you must engrave the disclaimer in your mind at the beginning of each product. The themes of these games may feel outdated to many and, to some extent, a bit offensive. But it is something that the company makes clear from the start. Some parts of the game, especially Snake’s dialogue, feel rather sexist. But Konami made it clear that it would not change anything in its narrative to not affect the original experience. Just be aware that if you buy the game, the plot is very much of its era.

However, the epicness of the story is still there for lovers of the saga. While some themes are a bit heavy and occasionally a little odd, it is for the most part a narrative delight. I had actually forgotten just how much emphasis Metal Gear Solid puts on genetics and how it affects the characters so much. The fight between Solid and Liquid makes us wonder if genes dictate our destiny or if we can take the reins of our lives. This is a profound theme that I loved seeing again and that I feel is timeless and very philosophical at the same time.

Although Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has a magnificent story, Snake Eater is the series’ pinnacle for me. In particular, how it evolves the series, and for a story that hides its true meaning until the very end. The evolution of Naked Snake throughout the game and the discovery of why Big Boss is who he is remains one of the best things ever written in a video game. Without a doubt, this title has the most reflective story in the collection.

Gameplay: Tactical Espionage Action

With respect to gameplay, it is important to mention that almost everything remains the same as the original versions. This is great for fans of the saga, but it is also important to know that, perhaps, for first-timers, it is not the friendliest thing. The UI is not as modern. Some controls might feel clunky. Being able to crawl instead of crouch for stealth might be a downer for some. But once you get past that, you’re in for a masterclass in stealth games.

Tactical Espionage Action: these three words have been key to describing almost every game in the franchise in terms of gameplay. It’s all about using stealth to infiltrate different locations. Usually, it is to collect evidence, rescue someone, or stop some catastrophe. To achieve this, the characters in this collection of games have different abilities. From crawling to hiding in boxes, the goal is always to accomplish the objectives as stealthily as possible.

Digging into the changes for Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, I liked a few when I was playing, especially the ability to pause the cinematics. In MGS1, they also included ways to get past the iconic Psycho Mantis fight, which, of course, without spoilers, you had to move some things around on your console during the game’s release. Here, everything is within the reach of a menu.

The most noticeable and what, as such, is not a change but an addition, is the inclusion of Digital Master Books in each game, something that I feel is one of the few reasons why people will buy the collection, and I don’t mean that as a bad thing. These guides have detailed information on the games’ characters, events, and levels. See it as a guide, a small encyclopedia, and something super fans will love. Yes, it’s not something you see in the gameplay, but it’s a welcome addition.

Graphics and Audio: Nothing To Write Home About

The poor visual fidelity and lack of graphical improvements will cause a lot of stir among fans, many of whom are likely to want to wait for a remaster instead. It’s important to keep our expectations in check here; again, it’s not a remaster. Most platforms will run most games at 1080p and 60fps, except the Nintendo Switch, which runs at 720p and 30fps. Still, there aren’t noticeable changes, even for a port.

The truth is that when playing MGS2 and MGS3, I didn’t notice any differences from the HD Collection. The frame drops still happen in the same cutscenes as in the PS3 and Xbox 360 games. The resolution increase isn’t too noticeable.

With the lack of framerate optimization, the collection feels like Konami just wanted to hit us with a dose of nostalgia to sell us a product and call it a day. For something that many are looking at as a way for the company to win back the trust of its audience, it started with the wrong footing.

Conclusion: A Poor Collection of Ports

Playing Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 was fine and works as a good collection in certain situations. First, if you have never experienced this saga and don’t want to wait for a remaster. Second, if you are a super fan who needs everything from the series and wants the new books and visual novels in the package. If you still have access to the HD collection. though, don’t buy this one. Keep playing that version and wait for MGS1 to be sold separately.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 is available on PS4, PS5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Review copy given by Publisher.