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.
Easily one of the most sought-after ports that fans have wanted is, without a doubt, Metal Gear Solid 4, a game long stuck on the Cell-processor-powered PlayStation 3. Of course, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is, after all, a collection, and it also includes the PS3 remaster of Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker HD, one of the PSP’s killer apps, enhanced with online multiplayer and dual analogue support.
Starting with Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2’s inclusion of Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker HD, this underappreciated entry into the Big Boss saga brought with it a much more refined take on Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, with a richer story and more varied missions, with a focus on multiplayer that felt fresh for the series at the time. Peace Walker’s latest re-release in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 seems to be a 1:1 port of the PS3 HD Collection version, with the added benefit of a higher 4 K bump to its rendering resolution.
“Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is here, bringing with it two very different but equally essential experiences.”
It can be tempting to jump right into Metal Gear Solid 4, as it is the marquee title within Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, but if you’re playing the series for the first time via the ports and have enjoyed either Metal Gear Solid 3 or the more recent Metal Gear Solid Δ remake, playing Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker HD is a must. Tight controls, comic-inspired story sequences, and a killer soundtrack all set the stage for the game’s 33 main ops, on top of a staggering 128 extra ops that give players a wide range of both bite-sized and more structured levels to enjoy.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker refines the Fulton recovery system, an addictive capture mechanic that allows players to snag gear and loot, recruit downed soldiers and rescue POWs straight from the battlefield. It transforms the otherwise familiar gameplay loop into something almost reminiscent of games like Pokémon. Online co-op and unique boss encounters reminiscent of Monster Hunter add even more variety, ultimately making it one of the most unique entries in the Metal Gear Solid series.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a game that, for its time, took full advantage of the technology available to deliver one of the most technically impressive experiences in gaming. Sadly, that innovation came at a price: Metal Gear Solid 4 was destined to remain locked to PlayStation 3 hardware for 18 long years.
With the release of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally accessible to a wider audience, bringing with it a fantastic port that runs at a locked 60 fps and benefits immensely from the SSD speeds offered by PlayStation 5.
Despite Metal Gear Solid 4 being a fairly standard port, with no new texture work outside of UI elements rendered in native 4K, simply having the game run at a stable 60 fps with near-instantaneous loading screens (RIP Snake’s smoke breaks) feels transformative for the fan-favourite game. In other words, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a joy to play on PlayStation 5. Furthermore, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 does not skimp on or cut any PlayStation-centric content, at least on PS5. Metal Gear Solid 4 still features several nods to Sony’s Blu-ray-powered console, with that content remaining intact.
“…Metal Gear Solid 4 is a joy to play on PlayStation 5.”
Another benefit of Metal Gear Solid 4 gracing the PlayStation 5 and other modern platforms is the ability to put the console into a sleep or rest state. This might not sound like a big deal, but even if you’re a little bit familiar with Guns of the Patriots on PlayStation 3, you’ll know just how long some of the game’s cutscenes can be, with the game featuring roughly 8 hours of cinematics in total, having the ability to put the console on rest feels invaluable in 2026.
For console players, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is a near-perfect release, bringing with it two iconic games that were long overdue for modern audiences to enjoy. A lack of crossplay support in Peacewalker and increased fidelity options in Metal Gear Solid 4 may disappoint some. In truth, however, the game’s PC release should give players who want more what they want given time. For now, just having a modern port of Metal Gear Solid 4 readily available on all major platforms makes Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 a must-own.
