Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 Reviews
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is worth it almost entirely for Guns of the Patriots, finally freed from its PS3 exclusivity and looking better than ever — though the missing Online mode and recycled Peace Walker keep this from being a truly complete package.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is a collection that successfully brings together three very different experiences without making any of them feel out of place within the package. Metal Gear Solid 4 is naturally the main highlight, especially because it is finally available on modern platforms, but Peace Walker and Ghost Babel also have enough qualities to justify their inclusion. Beyond Ghost Babel itself, the collection offers an interesting amount of bonus content, ranging from additional camouflage options to a digital soundtrack, concept art, and complete digital books containing information about the story, characters, and other elements of the games. In the end, we have three different ways of telling stories within the same franchise, each with its own level of density and structure, yet all capable of entertaining and engaging players in different ways. It becomes clear that the purpose of the Master Collection Vol. 2 is much closer to preserving and adapting these experiences than rebuilding them according to modern standards. Improvements to resolution, performance, controls, and accessibility make the games more comfortable to play on modern platforms, but many older elements remain. Some of these characteristics are part of the games' identities and help preserve their original experience, while others could have received more careful treatment in this new version. Even considering that we are dealing with a remaster, there were opportunities to improve certain visual, technical, and presentation aspects, making the package even more consistent without necessarily changing the essence of the games. Regardless of which of the three titles you choose, there is a unique experience waiting for the player, and I find it particularly interesting how such different approaches can work so well when placed side by side. Metal Gear Solid 4 remains an extremely solid and dense experience, Peace Walker is particularly surprising thanks to its combination of short missions, management, and multiplayer, while Ghost Babel demonstrates how the essence of Metal Gear could be adapted even to hardware as limited as the Game Boy Color. The core experience of these games remains strong enough to deliver an extremely satisfying result and, above all, preserve three distinct moments from one of the most important franchises in video game history.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection 2 is truly just a vehicle for a remaster for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Konami slotted Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, one of the best PSP games ever to be released, as an added bonus, along with Ghost Babel, but the real meat and potatoes come in the form of Solid Snake’s final adventure. This is a game that hasn’t seen past its PlayStation 3 release eighteen long years ago, so it’s no surprise it’s the highlight of the package. And for the most part, it delivers.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is packed with two of the most important Metal Gear games of all time.
Even so, this Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 seems to us an essential compilation for the most die-hard Snake fans (others may find it much more inconsequential), as well as for those who want to have a piece of Konami's golden age, the one in which the toughest guy on the battlefield could hide under a cardboard box.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is by no means a perfect compilation. It could have benefited from packing in one or two more titles. There’s still no unified front-end, which means that you’ll need to bounce between half a dozen standalone applications instead of launching into a single game with an all-encompassing menu. And just like its predecessor, there’s a noticeable lack of video and behind-the-scenes material. That being said, if you’re looking for a way to play through two of the franchise’s best entries without fiddling with emulators or digging your aging PS3 or PSP out of the closet, it’s hard to take issue with what’s on offer.
This collection might have fewer games than the first volume, but it feels more substantial and respectful. MGS4 is the star, finally accessible to everyone, and the overall polish proves Konami is serious about preserving Kojima's legacy. It's not a flawless celebration, but it is a vital step forward for one of gaming's most influential sagas.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Volume 2 continues the high quality established by the first collection in the series, though slightly slimmer in the content it offers. That being said, you'll be more than treated with a fantastic new version of Metal Gear Solid 4, and the handheld frays of the series to make for a whole tapestry that everyone can now enjoy, alongside the first volume.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 features some of the best games in the series. MGS 4 is without doubt a masterpiece, and this port improves on the original by adding a locked frame rate.
After nearly twenty years chained to the proverbial radiator that is the PlayStation 3, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots finally arrives on PS5. The nanomachines, the fashion model robot monsters, the flamenco dance battle, the fried eggs, the cigarette smoking underpants monkey, and that ridiculous final boss, all running at 60 frames-per-second and looking better than ever. This is good, isn't it?
The second wedge of reheated Metal Gear is upon us. The good news is not just that the games here are more interesting than the last bunch, on accoun...
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 delivers definitive versions of two franchise classics. It looks and runs great, making it an easy recommendation for returning fans and newcomers alike.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Volume 2 from Konami brings back some solid games to add to an already budding Metal Gear Solid collection. Of course, the star of the collection, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, is the real reason why players will want this, and it doesn’t disappoint with its story and perfect PS3 translation.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is here, bringing with it two very different but equally essential experiences that bring Snake's story to a close while wrapping up loose ends left by Snake Eater.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 really stands out thanks to Guns of the Patriots. The rest are really just curiosities. Peace Walker has its moments, but after Phantom Pain it won’t surprise anyone. The rest is just cosmetic tweaks and nostalgia. Boxed editions are becoming a thing of the past, so buy them whilst they’re still affordable.
Review in Polish | Read full review
In short, MGS Master Collection Vol. 2 is a must-have package for anyone who bought and enjoyed Vol. 1. Konami did a phenomenal job porting the titles, even though the games individually have their positive and negative quirks. When to buy it, however, depends much more on your attachment to or curiosity about these titles than on a recommendation to play them immediately. Otherwise, it's best to wait for a sale.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is a good compilation overall. The games vary somewhat in their execution and porting quality, but they remain engaging titles in a series that isn't afraid to get weird or experiment. It is also nice to finally have a way to play the majority of these games on one platform at a time when some franchises still leave their biggest titles scattered across multiple inaccessible systems. Fans won't need much coaxing to pick up this compilation, but it is reassuring to know that some care went into putting it together rather than simply treating it as a quick-and-dirty ROM dump.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is merely adequate as a compilation, but a must-have for Metal Gear Solid fans because of its selection. Both Peace Walker and the long-awaited Guns of the Patriots remain wonderful experiences even today.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Even with less content than its predecessor, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is a dream come true, bringing the climax of Solid Snake’s story to modern platforms. On top of that, it includes Big Boss’s excellent portable chapter and an obscure Game Boy Color classic, so the quality more than makes up for the quantity. Konami did a solid job porting these games, with plenty of customization options on PC while leaving their core intact.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While short on additional content, flawlessly adapts MGS4 and brings back another game from the franchise that had been lost in time (Ghost Babel). Added to this is the inclusion of Peace Walker and other content such as guides and scripts, giving it added value for both new players. However, it's important to note that—with the exception of the Game Boy game—prior knowledge of the franchise is required to fully enjoy the two canonical games included in this collection.
Review in Spanish | Read full review