The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 1 presents faithful versions of the first several entries in the series with some new features for fans. Developed and published by Konami, the upcoming group of titles is a comprehensive rerelease of the beginning of the iconic stealth franchise meant for old and new players alike. Screen Rant recently attended a hands-on look at the collection that showed off what fans have to look forward to.
Master Collection Volume 1 is meant to contain the entire beginning of the Metal Gear series in a single complete package for a new generation of players. The entire group of games consists of Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Snake’s Revenge, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Though no part of the collection is a remake like the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta, Solid 2 and 3 are the HD Collection versions of the titles, receiving an upgrade from the aesthetic of the originals.
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While they may not be remakes, there are still new things about the Metal Gear games featured in Master Collection Volume 1 that will be of interest to fans. One of the key features showcased during the preview is that all mainline entries have both a Master Book and Screenplay Book. The Master Books each include art and information about each game’s characters and storyline, which serve as a reminder for returning fans and introduction for new players, and the Screenplay Books contain the full script to each title’s dialogue.
There’s also an interesting overview included that pairs canon MGS events on a timeline with real-world historical occurrences, providing context and delving into the inspiration behind the things that happen within the franchise, and there are original digital graphic novels for MGS 1 and 2 which are fully voiced. Additionally, the first Metal Gear Solid contains all the additional content that was released for it post-release. This includes the missions that were released with Integral, Special Missions, and the VR training disc.
In playing through small parts of each Metal Gear game in the time allotted, it became clear that the Master Collection‘s wide range of titles does an excellent job of showcasing the evolution of the series. When played back-to-back, it’s easy to see the many ways in which the franchise has changed over time, from small things like smoother controls and the ability to climb to the way Snake’s stealth abilities slowly become more complex with the addition of things like weapon durability and face paint.
The Master Collection is definite labor of love from Konami, with the aim of introducing a whole new generation of players to the incredibly influential stealth franchise. The extra features do a great job of helping those fresh on the scene to get acclimated with the series’ fairly expansive lore, while also providing a fun way for long-time fans to dive further into the beloved games. The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 1 will bring Solid Snake back to consoles this fall.
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 1 will release October 24 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Screen Rant attended a special hands-on event for the purpose of this preview.
