Metal Gear Solid Master Collection: Volume 1

Snake's back in a big way because there's a new compilation of epic METAL GEAR SOLID games so put on your sneaking suit and let's go.

While this bundle lacks a thoughtful touch, the Metal Gear Solid Masters Collection Vol. 1 proves that these classic games still hold up; age hasn't slowed them down one bit. Menu management needs help, buttons cannot be adjusted on MGS1, and most of the additional content needs additional downloads outside of the games themselves. This collection could have been better, but any opportunity to make these beloved games available is still an opportunity well spent - even if a technical makeover would still be very much welcomed for each title.

For the first time in many years, the Metal Gear Solid trilogy is available on modern systems. The Master Collection gives us the experiences we remember with three of the greatest games ever made and includes the majority of the content ever released for those games - including some new content for dedicated fans.

The history between Konami and Metal Gear Solid is long and complex. Although for years the franchise was Konami’s flagship title, it quickly got relegated due to the public falling-out with its creator, Hideo Kojima. Pushing aside the pachinko machines and strange survival-focused spin-offs, the Japanese giant looks to celebrate the history of the series in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1. With a ton of extras and the first few releases, will this bundle be the ultimate homage to the iconic series that has defined the stealth-action genre for decades?

Metal Gear has resurrected all sorts of previously dead characters — Colonel Volgin, Liquid Snake, Big Boss — and now it is attempting the most ridiculous resurrection yet: Konami. The company is now trying to claw back some of the goodwill it had before divorcing with Hideo Kojima through nostalgia-fueled rereleases and remakes. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is the first example of this initiative meant to pander to players burned by Konami’s sinking standards. And while lacking in a few key areas, the bundle surprisingly rises above these rock-bottom expectations with its compil...

If there are indeed plans to continue, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is a hell of a first volley. From tweaks and fixes of previous re-releases to an abundance of supplemental material across a whopping seven (arguably more) games, Konami really rolled up its sleeves. Even with some problems and weird choices here and there, this collection exceeded my expectations for sure. Whatever follows this will really put the format to the test, as there’s less precedent and/or existing ports for games like Metal Gear Solid 4 or Metal Gear Acid. The foundation laid is awesome though, and sh...

Nostalgia is a powerful tool, and Konami is banking on it with the Master Collection. This collection houses some of the best games from the franchise’s history stuffed in one package, but the Japanese publisher has done a poor job in convincing players they need to replay these once more. The problem isn’t with the quality of content in the games themselves, as all six are iconic and near masterpieces; it’s the quality in how they have handled transitioning the series into the modern age, giving us far from 4K or even “HD” as in the titles of many of the games. If someone has the ability to p...

MGS: Master Collection Vol. 1 feels like a rushed collection of ports with no notable improvements.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 presents Kojima's genius in a package that could, and should, have been so much more. There's a bunch of stellar games to dig into here, you're guaranteed a great time once you're actually playing this iconic series, but this is a franchise that deserved more. Where's the TLC? Where's the resolution bumps, refined controls, visual upgrades and so on? Konami has managed to add a few nice extras, and there's a good showing in terms of how many titles are packed in here, but the overall performance and presentation, given the power and potential at the d...

A serviceable, if incomplete, collection that's still the best legitimate modern way to play these classic Metal Gear Solid games

Metal Gear Solid is a series known for its long cut scenes and sometimes confusing plot. MGS: MCV1 includes Masterbooks that are informative and well-organized summaries of the franchises' intricate narrative and iconic characters. Each compendium provides crucial plot points, character profiles, and many secrets for each MGS game that even veteran players might not have picked up on. Players can also enjoy the screenplays of each title, digital comics, and each game in different languages. While the most recent MGS release is a good collection of previously released content, it is missing a f...

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 could have been up there with the best retro collections published in the last few years, however, Konami has shown that all they care about by releasing a quick cash grab with no decent extras or even the best versions of the games included in the collection. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is an example of how NOT to treat beloved franchises that could still draw money by the name value alone… I hope Silent Hill isn’t next.