Look, let’s be real. Hideo Kojima’s departure from Konami was the gaming equivalent of a messy divorce where the kids—in this case, the fans—got stuck with a rotating schedule of weekend visits and awkward holiday dinners. The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is essentially that awkward dinner. It’s a bundle that brings some of the most influential stealth-action games ever made to modern hardware, but it arrives with enough baggage to fill a cardboard box.
Most people looking for the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 aren't just looking for a nostalgia trip. They’re looking for a definitive way to play Metal Gear Solid, MGS2: Sons of Liberty, and MGS3: Snake Eater without digging a PS3 out of the attic or wrestling with emulators that require a degree in computer science to configure. But is this actually the "Master" version?
Honestly, it’s complicated.
The Technical Reality of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1
When Konami announced this, the hype was massive. Then the specs dropped. People saw "720p" and "30fps" on certain platforms and, frankly, lost their minds. It’s weird. We are talking about games that originally ran on a console with 32MB of RAM, yet here we are in the era of 4K displays and ray-tracing, seeing ports that occasionally struggle to hit a stable frame rate on the Nintendo Switch.
The collection is basically the Bluepoint Games HD Collection from 2011, but repackaged.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing because Bluepoint did incredible work, but it means we aren't getting a ground-up remake here. You’re getting the 2011 versions of Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater. For the original Metal Gear Solid, you’re essentially getting the PlayStation 1 ROM running in an internal emulator. It’s raw. It’s jagged. It still has those glorious, vibrating "wobble" textures that define the 32-bit era.
Why Resolution Matters (And Why It Doesn't)
On a PS5 or Xbox Series X, the games look fine. They’re clean. But if you’re playing on a 65-inch OLED, the lack of 4K native output is noticeable. Is it a dealbreaker? Probably not for most. The art direction in Snake Eater is so strong that the lush jungles of Tselinoyarsk still feel immersive, even if you can count the pixels on Big Boss’s bandana.
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The real issue is the PC port. At launch, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 on Steam was a bit of a disaster. No windowed mode? No resolution scaling? It felt like a mobile port that accidentally wandered onto a gaming rig. Modders, as usual, fixed it within 48 hours. They added "MGSHDFix" on GitHub, which allows for ultrawide support and 4K internal rendering. If you're playing on PC, that mod is basically mandatory.
What’s Actually Inside the Box?
Konami didn't skimp on the sheer volume of content. You aren't just getting the "Big Three." You get the MSX2 versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. These are the actual roots of the series. If you haven't played Metal Gear 2, you’re missing out. It’s basically MGS1 but in 2D, featuring the same plot beats, the same sneaking mechanics, and a surprisingly deep story for an 8-bit game.
Then there’s the NES versions. Metal Gear and Snake’s Revenge. Kojima famously dislikes these. Snake’s Revenge wasn't even made by him—it was a sequel developed specifically for the Western market. It’s weird, it’s difficult, and it feels like an alternate-universe fever dream. Including them is a nice touch for the sake of historical preservation, even if you only play them for ten minutes before realizing why Kojima was so annoyed.
The Digital Extras
You also get the Digital Graphic Novels. These are voiced, animated versions of the IDW comic books. They are genuinely cool. The art by Ashley Wood is scratchy, noir-infused, and fits the vibe of the series perfectly. If you’ve played the games a thousand times, watching the story unfold through these motion comics is a great way to kill an afternoon.
The Problem with Modern Controls
The biggest hurdle for new players in the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is the control scheme. Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 were designed for the PS2’s DualShock 2, which had pressure-sensitive buttons. You could press 'Square' lightly to aim your rifle and press it hard to fire.
Modern controllers don't have pressure-sensitive face buttons.
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Konami had to map these actions to different button combinations. To aim without firing in MGS2, you now have to click the Left Stick (L3). It’s clunky. It takes a few hours to rewire your brain, especially if you grew up playing the originals. You will accidentally shoot a guard in the face when you meant to just hold him up. It’s going to happen. Just accept the "Game Over" screen and move on.
Controversy and Censorship
There was a lot of chatter about Konami adding "disclaimers" to the start of the games. These warnings state that the games contain content that may be considered outdated. Some fans took this as a sign of impending censorship.
However, the reality is much tamer.
The games are almost entirely intact. The "outdated" warning is likely a legal shield for some of the more... let's say "eccentric" character interactions and the heavy smoking themes. The only major changes involve historical footage. Certain archival clips used in the original games had licensing issues—specifically some of the nuclear testing footage and nature documentaries. Konami swapped these out for similar, non-copyrighted footage. Unless you have the original game and the new version running side-by-side, you won't notice.
Comparing the Versions: Where Should You Play?
- Nintendo Switch: The portability is king. Playing MGS3 on a flight is the dream. However, it’s locked at 30fps. For a game that relies on precise movement, the 30fps cap feels a bit sluggish compared to the 60fps found on other platforms.
- PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X: The safest bet. It’s stable. It’s fast. The haptic feedback on the PS5 controller is... okay, but nothing revolutionary. It's the "set it and forget it" option.
- PC (Steam): The best version only if you use mods. Without mods, it’s arguably the worst version due to the lack of basic settings. With the "MGSHDFix," it becomes the definitive way to experience the games in 4K.
The "Volume 1" Tease
The name itself implies a "Volume 2." This is the elephant in the room. We know Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has been trapped on the PS3 since 2008. It’s the white whale of the series. Data miners have already found references to MGS4, MGS5, and Peace Walker in the files of the Master Collection.
If Volume 1 is the foundation, Volume 2 is where things get interesting. Bringing MGS4 to modern consoles would be a massive technical feat, considering how deeply that game’s code is tied to the PS3’s bizarre Cell Processor architecture.
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Is It Worth It?
If you already own the HD Collection on PS3 or Xbox 360, there isn't much here to justify a $60 purchase immediately. You’re paying for convenience. You’re paying to have these games on a console that is currently plugged into your TV.
But for a new generation? It's essential.
Despite the technical gripes, the games themselves are masterpieces. The writing in Metal Gear Solid 2 predicted the era of "fake news" and algorithmic echo chambers twenty years before they happened. Metal Gear Solid 3 is arguably the greatest "Bond movie" ever made, featuring a final boss fight that still brings people to tears.
The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is a flawed vessel for a perfect series. It’s a bit lazy, a bit messy, but it’s still Metal Gear.
Actionable Steps for New Players
If you're jumping in for the first time, don't just mash through the dialogue. Metal Gear is 70% talking and 30% sneaking. To get the most out of your purchase, follow these steps:
- Call your contacts on the Codec. Often. Not just when you’re stuck. The Codec is where the character development lives. There are thousands of lines of hidden dialogue about movies, philosophy, and silly jokes.
- Play in release order. Do not start with MGS3 just because it's a prequel. Start with MGS1. The mechanical evolution of the series is part of the experience.
- Use the Manuals. Konami included digital manuals for a reason. These games don't have modern "hand-holding" tutorials. If you don't know how to drag a body or interrogate a guard, the manual will tell you.
- PC Users: Install the Fix. If you bought it on Steam, go to the Metal Gear Solid subreddit or GitHub and search for "MGSHDFix." It takes two minutes to install and makes the game look significantly better.
- Be Patient with the Controls. Give yourself at least two hours with MGS2 before giving up on the controls. It will feel like you're fighting the controller at first. That’s normal. You’ll get the hang of it.
The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 isn't perfect, but it's the only way we have to keep these stories alive on modern machines. Sometimes, "good enough" has to be enough when the alternative is letting these games vanish into the digital void.
Expert Insight: The "Master" in the title is more of a branding choice than a technical descriptor. While the inclusion of the Master Books and Screenplay Books offers incredible value for lore hunters, the technical performance remains a point of contention among the "purist" community who still prefer the original hardware on a CRT television. If you aren't a purist, you'll find plenty to love here.