Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 review – Old Snake, new platforms

Will we ever get a brand new Metal Gear Solid game? Would we even want one that’s not got Hideo Kojima involved? Revisiting Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots via Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 has me conflicted. On the one hand, I’d love more of the franchise’s unique blend of cinematic storytelling, stealth and action-packed setpieces. But on the other, it just wouldn’t be quite the same without Hideo Kojima’s penchant for thinking outside the box.

But even if we don’t get a new Metal Gear Solid game any time soon, finally being able to play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on modern formats is reason for celebration. For nearly two decades it’s only been available on PlayStation 3, putting it out of reach of many. And while it’s not the only game in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, it truly is the highlight.

Taking place a number of years after Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots puts you firmly in control of Solid Snake and Solid Snake only, after Sons of Liberty alienated some with its early game switcheroo. Though due to accelerated aging, Solid Snake now goes by a new moniker: Old Snake. With his time limited, he’s been given a new mission: assassinate Liquid Ocelot, who’s been located in the Middle East.

As ever, the story here – which includes nanomachine-controlled soldiers, governing AIs and an elite squad composed of female soldiers haunted by war – is a strongpoint, even if it’s a little convoluted at times. And while it somewhat holds up as a standalone experience, you’ll certainly get more out of it if you’ve played the other games in the series leading up to it.

It’s actually surprising how well Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots stands up in the year 2026. It may be nearly 20 years old, but the visuals clean up rather nicely indeed, and it’s still a hoot to play for the most part. The controls can feel a little awkward at times, and you’ll definitely want to have a mess around in the game’s settings to increase your over-the-shoulder aiming speed and perhaps more, but there remains a very enjoyable game at its core.

There are some things that might drive you up the wall a little, though. The audio balance can be a bit weird at times, for example, and there are one or two sections where your slow aiming speed can’t currently be changed unless Konami graces us with an update in the future. Some may also find just how much time you spend watching Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots’ cutscenes versus actually playing quite imbalanced. You could argue that the elite squad you have to take down here is the weakest of the series, too.

Overall, though, as someone who played Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots the moment it launched all those years ago, it’s been an absolute treat revisiting it. And of course, here you get lots of extras as well. You can peruse what’s called the Master Book, for example, giving you a wealth of information not only about Metal Gear Solid 4, but also other games in the series. A Screenplay Book is included as well, letting you enjoy the game’s story in a different form.

Aside from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 also includes Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Adopting the mechanics of Metal Gear Solid 4, it’s an engaging game in its own right, letting you develop your own Mother Base while completing missions and recruiting new soldiers. The version included here is the same as that found in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, which means that it’s already had some upgrades, and now you can further increase the resolution if you wish.

Rounding out the package is Game Boy Color title Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, released across America and Europe as simply Metal Gear Solid. This title takes you back to the series’ roots, with its action presented in a 2D top-down format. Needless to say, it’s quite antiquated by today’s standards, but if you’re a fan of the series it’s worth a play if you haven’t had the pleasure before.

If you’re a fan of the series, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is a bit of a no-brainer really. It might not feel quite as expansive and value-packed as the first, which included three substantial games, but I’d argue that a current-gen port of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots makes it worthwhile alone.