Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 presents five individual applications, each comprising one or two games and additional versions as well as its additional content. Metal Gear Solid and its two sequels each have their own application, while the MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake are contained in one application. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games Metal Gear (1987) and ''Snake's Revenge'' (1990) have their own application, labeled as "Bonus Content", including extra content such as the music player and graphic novels. The additional content for each game consists of digital copies of the respective games' boxes and instruction manuals, associated Master Book dossiers that divulge details on characters, narrative, and their place in Metal Gears in-universe canon, as well as the corresponding screenplays for each game. Metal Gear Solid and its sequels can be purchased individually, with Metal Gear Solid bundling Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Metal Gear Solid (1998) in the Master Collection is primarily based on the game's original PlayStation version, while the standalone Metal Gear Solid VR Missions and Special Missions regional releases are accessible from its hub on the game selection screen, as well as the original Japanese release of Metal Gear Solid: Integral, which has been made available for the first time to North American players through its inclusion on the compilation. Due to the original Metal Gear Solid being presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio, an assortment of wallpapers can be selected both from the main menu and during gameplay, as well as adjustments to the game's display position. The collection includes the ability to create virtual save data for other Konami PlayStation titles and virtually swap controller ports from Player 1 to Player 2, which are both relevant to the boss fight against Psycho Mantis. A digital replica of the game's original retail packaging is included to aid players in obtaining Meryl Silverburgh's Codec frequency number to contact her later in the game, as alluded to in the game itself. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) are both direct conversions of their HD Edition remasters previously developed by Bluepoint Games and distributed as part of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (2011) compilation for PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and Xbox 360. Before release Konami announced that on PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S, all featured games are presented at a resolution of 1080p at a maximum performance of 60 frames-per-second (FPS). The Nintendo Switch version of the collection similarly retains a native 1080p resolution in TV Mode, but has a lower output of 720p in Handheld Mode, while both configurations run at 30 FPS. However, after release it was found that the games were actually locked to 720p on all platforms. The Switch version's 30 FPS cap was noted as "bizarre" since the Shield version, which the Switch version is derived from, manages to run at 60 FPS using the same Tegra X1 chip. The PC version lacks any graphics or audio options. Each game in the collection supports Trophies and Achievements on all platforms excluding Switch, as well as language options. The vibration feedback from the DualShock and DualShock 2 controllers for certain in-game effects such as weapon fire and taking damage in action sequences, has been reimplemented for supported gamepads across each console platform and PC. == Additional content ==

Vol. 1 includes the motion comics Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (originally released in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable) and Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinée (originally released exclusively in Japanese on DVD in 2008), which were previously included as extras with full English voice acting in the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection, released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3. Other extras include strategy guides, screenplay books, and an in-game sound selection of twenty tracks curated from each game in the collection. Remixes of the vocal tracks "The Best is Yet to Come" from Metal Gear Solid, "Can't Say Goodbye To Yesterday" from Sons of Liberty and the titular "Snake Eater" from Metal Gear Solid 3, were made available as pre-order bonuses. The Master Collection remaster of Guns of the Patriots within Vol. 2 will also be bundled with the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database application originally released for PlayStation 3, which featured a full encyclopedia and timeline collecting the entire canon lore of the franchise up to, and including MGS4's events. == Development ==

In November 2021, the digital downloads for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater as well as the original Metal Gear Solid HD Collection were removed from digital storefronts, with Konami citing expired licenses as the reason. In July 2022, Konami announced their intentions to reinstate the games for the series' 35th anniversary. During the development of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami began the development of the Master Collection series to make "the most complete collection that celebrates the 35th anniversary of the series, allowing fans to play the games as they were, as first released on the latest platforms." Close to the launch, M2, known for developing other video game compilations from Konami, confirmed that it worked in the compilation by providing emulation of Metal Gear (NES), ''Snake's Revenge, Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions,'' including their regional variants. In September 2024, Noriaki Okumura confirmed plans to produce Vol. 2 of the Master Collection series, noting that they were aware of Vol. 1 launching in a state that was less desirable for players, and that they were using the time since to ensure a second compilation would not face similar problems. He also explained that the vast majority of subsequent Metal Gear titles released since Snake Eater were either not developed for high-definition consoles or were not eventually ported to capable platforms like Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, implying that the games chosen for Vol. 2 would be more carefully curated around these parameters. Okamura also teased the opportunity for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) to be re-released or included in a future compilation, as it remained the only main entry in the Metal Gear franchise to not be made available on any platform beyond its original hardware, the PlayStation 3. == Marketing and release ==

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 was announced for the PlayStation 5 during a PlayStation Showcase in May 2023, immediately after the reveal of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. In the original announcement, it was revealed to contain the first three Metal Gear Solid games. The game's listing on the PlayStation Store posted later that day confirmed that the collection would also contain content from the Integral version of Metal Gear Solid, alongside the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake from the MSX. In June 2023, a Nintendo Direct revealed that the compilation would be released for Nintendo Switch, that it would include the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Metal Gear and its standalone sequel ''Snake's Revenge, and that it would include digital graphic novels for Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2''. Releases for Windows via Steam and the Xbox Series X/S were confirmed later that day. Vol. 1 released on October 24, 2023, alongside standalone versions of the three Metal Gear Solid games for $19.99 each. The Japanese physical version also includes the original Metal Gear Solid. == Reception ==

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 has received a mixed reception among critics. The Nintendo Switch version of the compilation was scored the highest at 78/100 on review aggregator website Metacritic, while both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions garnered a comparatively lower aggregate score of 74/100. A common point of praise among reviewers was the comprehensive nature and overall presentation of the games and their associated contents. GameSpot writer Richard Wakeling praised the bonus contents included outside the core games, particularly drawing attention towards the inclusion of the Master Book dossiers and screenplays for each respective game. Throughout the first year of release Konami implemented significant updates to the collection, trying to address its "rough launch" according to the company. While some thought the features should have been in the ports from launch, improved reception followed as a result of these additions. == Notes ==