Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Review

Hideo Kojima has always stood out in the industry for the Metal Gear Solid series. Gamers have been given another chance to play through some of the earlier games of the unique stealth saga by the mad developer. With roots that go back before the original NES, the complex and interesting history of the Metal Gear franchise has been given a retrospective with an HD port of Metal Gear Solid 2, 3 and Peace Walker.

However, has Kojima’s opus stood the test of time? Or have these classics finally succumbed to premature aging? Let’s take a look at what’s HOT and what’s NOT in our review of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection.

HOT

Remastered Visuals
While the three Metal Gear Solid games that are included in this collection show their age, Konami and Blupoint Games still managed to enhanced the visuals, making them a feast for everyone’s eyes. From the improved character models to the crisp environments, playing these three games again will feel like playing an entirely new series of Metal Gear games. Out of the three games included, Peace Walker is the game that offers the most impressive visuals, as it was only released on the PSP. As for the past two titles on the PlayStation 2, the character models are more detailed compared to the PS2 version.

As for the voice-overs, nothing has changed. In all three games, you’ll be able to get the same phenomenal voice work that was originally on the three games. Expect the exceptional soundtrack to sooth the emotions while playing the game.

Improved Controls
Another improvement to look forward to in the HD Collection is the improved controls. For those who are annoyed by the “circle” button to confirm a selection, it’s now mapped to the “X” button. Also, since Peace Walker has been remastered for the console version, playing it now is much easier than when it was on the PSP. Thanks to the analog stick on the PS3 or Xbox 360 controller, you can now adjust the camera with ease, and having the extra analog stick and the shoulder button helps a lot with switching weapons. For fans that played Peace Walker, they’ll get used to the new controls right away while the past two games have the same pretty basic control layout.

Multiplayer Much Better for Peace Walker
Back on Peace Walker on the PSP, one of the problems I was annoyed about was the multiplayer portion. Since it’s hard to find someone to play with, I didn’t really get to enjoy the online portion of the game. Now, since Peace Walker is on the consoles and supports online multiplayer across the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, it has become a much better experience, allowing everyone to find a co-op partner and exchange items with ease. To date, what makes the HD collection stand out is Peace Walker’s online multiplayer support.

Great Story that Everyone Needs to Experience
If you haven’t played any of the Metal Gear Solid games, now is the time to try them out at this amazing price. For $49.99, you will finally be able to find out why the Metal Gear Solid games are one of the most highly regarded series in today’s industry. With Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, you will be able to find out the origins of Solid Snake and the story of “Big Boss”. As for Peace Walker, the saga of Big Boss continued, and Sons of Liberty will be the game that leads up to the events of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of Patriots that is currently a PS3 exclusive.

The story that these three games have to offer is extraordinary and it’s something that you will remember for years to come. In addition to the phenomenal story, another aspect that makes the Metal Gear Solid series stand out is the stealth gameplay. Currently, the Metal Gear Solid series are the only games that are able to show what stealth gameplay should be like. If you played the Splinter Cell series but not Metal Gear Solid, then you’re missing out on the best stealth-action gameplay available.

Another great addition to the HD Collection is the added two classic Metal Gear games that were originally on the NES. If you would like to find out how the series really started, then hopping on the two classic games will take you back to the series’ roots. Expect to see familiar characters in these two classic games such as Solid Snake and Roy Campbell.

Added Trophies and Achievements
Trophy and Achievement hunters will be pleased to know that each of the three games in the HD collection has trophies and achievements. For those who call themselves a true fan, it’s quite a challenge to get a platinum trophy in each of these games. Expect to get at least 46 to 50 trophies or achievements per game and the difficulty for getting all of them is medium.

NOT

Rough Textures still Exists
While everything on the three games is remastered, there are parts of the game that show rough textures. An example of this how a lot of rough textures can be seen in Sons of Liberty. Despite the fact that this is an HD collection, it’s hard to forget that a game like Sons of Liberty is ten years old. However, players will still be able to enjoy the improved version of Peace Walker.

VERDICT

In the end, the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is something Metal Gear fans definitely need to experience, and it offers the perfect opportunity for newcomers to get into the series. The remastered editions of the games have a lot to offer, including high replay value, trophy support, and improved visuals. Everything we loved from the three Metal Gear Solid games remains intact, and the HD upgrade and improvements is enough to bring us back to replay these games again.

[Editor’s Note: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection was reviewed on the PlayStation 3 hardware. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]