Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 has plenty of technical frustrations, but at least it remains true to the classics.

Cult video game saga, Metal Gear Solid remains equal to itself and this compilation reminds us of all the qualities of the works of Japanese creator Hideo Kojima. Let it be said, it's a real pleasure to do each episode in chronological order (or not) and to relive some of the most epic moments in video game history (yes, yes, we can say...). But on the other hand, with such a series available, we cannot help but rail against the absence of certain elements (Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes to name but one) and a technique which would have deserved a best treatment. Konami's initiative is not bad in itself, but we keep the bitter feeling that they recovered the HD Collection by dusting it off slightly to create this compilation. After all, these video games will forever remain pure masterpieces and it can be a wonderful opportunity to (re)discover them.

The Metal Gear Master Collection Vol.1 is nothing less than the ultimate compilation for all fans of the license. As its name suggests, it is only the first part of a collection, and therefore does not include all the games in the franchise. Nevertheless, it allows fans and the curious to play the first 5 games, notably MGS 1, 2 and 3, the triplet released on PS1 and PS2. Legendary episodes that, in essence, haven't aged a day, but which in form still show their age. If nostalgia speaks to you, if you're a hyper-fan or if you've had the audacity to miss out on the Metal Gear license, now's the time. On the other hand, don't expect anything more than simple ports and a ton of digital goodies that will only speak to lovers of the franchise. If you were hoping for remasters worthy of the PS5 or remakes, you'll have to wait for MGS Delta (3 remake), which will arrive much later.

Extras aside (which are fantastic), it’s a compilation that feels a bit lazy, but, at least, we can finally play some of the best games ever made on any current platform.

It's hard to separate the two souls of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, because it's glaringly obvious how the one put together by Konami is a mere commercial operation, but at the same time it represents the only way to play a series of great classics of undeniable value.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is well-stocked but incomplete, containing great games that could have been updated.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is divided into two souls, which both have a fundamental weight: the first is the indisputable value of the works it includes, which in many aspects are still unmatched and unmissable for understanding the communicative power of the video game. On the other side of the coin, and absolutely not up to par, we find the work of re-proposal carried out for this box set, which is limited to the homework, almost as if having to start these games was a nuisance to be done as soon as possible and with minimal effort. The result is a collection that winks at those who already loved Metal Gear Solid, which is unlikely to be able to make new fans discover the saga because it makes no effort in that direction, partially embellished with bonuses that are however forgettable. If this is the modus operandi envisaged for future box sets, including prices, things could get thornier, because - perhaps beyond Metal Gear Solid 4, still confined to PS3 - neither the excellent Peace Walker nor MGSV enjoy the driving force of the extraordinary original trilogy. And if it is true that you can never say goodbye to yesterday , and Konami knows this very well, in this case it would be difficult to think that the best is yet to come.

MGS Master Collection gives Metal Gear fans the chance to play the original 80s games on modern consoles. With a few neat inclusions, like story books. The collection scratches some itches, whilst bringing subpar quality ports to the modern day.

This game is a compilation that every true computer addict should have in his home. Actually play it... he probably doesn't need to. [Issue#332]

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 isn't necessarily an atrocious bundle of Metal Gear ports. The games that have been included here generally still hold up well in 2023 and have been fun to revisit. Still, it's disappointing to see that Konami has done virtually nothing to touch up these titles in the slightest of ways. As such, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 feels like something Konami is simply releasing to make a quick buck. Rather than improving these games to ensure that the the legacy of Metal Gear is something that remains intact for newer generations of fans, this Master Collection fails to put its best foot forward given what modern hardware is now capable of. And for longtime fans like myself, there's very little reason to buy this bundle outside of the convenience of having the series on current platforms.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Volume 1 is a poorly handled emulation of some truly fantastic games. Its baffling that they got handled this poorly, and I hope we see some fixes soon.

The biggest advantage of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is that it lets you play the early installments of the series on modern platforms. As a fan of the franchise, I enjoyed additional content such as Master Books, screenplays, visual novels, and the soundtrack, but unfortunately this is not enough to rave about this bundle. Konami could have done much, much more for these classics but didn’t and missed the opportunity to reach younger players with them.

The Master Books are bursting with interesting tidbits that helped me to contextualise each game and the storyline as a whole better than ever before, but there’s relatively little within the games themselves to make this a real must-have if you still have access to previous collections and releases.

Who is Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for? In general, the truth is that I have little desire to recommend spending on this package, but I think that considering that we are looking at seven games in the series that are definitely in a playable state, I think you could consider giving it a try if not you have access to them in no other way. If, on the other hand, you already have the original versions or the HD Collection, my advice is that you completely stay away from this new option, as it basically provides nothing in terms of technical or playability, while on the side of extras, I wouldn't say either. that there is a lot. We are undoubtedly facing one of the great disappointments of this 2023 that has been giving us so many good moments. Let's hope that at least this serves as a lesson for Konami to understand that it is in an industry with high quality standards in which it cannot disrespect its own legacy like this.

There is no reason to buy the compilation, except for a lot of extras. Instead, you can only buy games you'd like to play on modern platforms, such as MGS 3.

The Master Collection stays afloat solely because the first five Metal Gear games remain superbly playable and timeless even after two decades. However, the minimal effort put into archiving and bringing these legendary espionage thrillers to modern platforms resulted in an incoherent collection riddled with technical glitches and perplexing unfinished elements.