Metal Gear hasn’t had a brand new mainline game in years, but that hasn’t stopped Konami from keeping the franchise alive through re-releases, including the recent Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake. Now they’re back with METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.2, a bundle built around one major draw: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is playable outside of PlayStation 3 for the first time since it launched almost 20 years ago.

Alongside MGS4, the collection also includes Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, giving players three very different slices of the series in one package. With MGS4 getting most of the spotlight, the real question is whether the other two games help round out the collection or just come along for the ride. Our review takes a closer look at all three games, what extra content is included, and whether METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.2 as a whole is worth picking up.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

The headline game here is Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which first came out on PlayStation 3 in 2008. As one of the series’ main entries, it wraps up the long running story of Solid Snake, who is now dealing with rapid aging and has earned the nickname Old Snake. The game leans heavily into emotional moments and brings back familiar faces from earlier in the series, giving it the feel of a proper send off for the Metal Gear Solid story.

MGS4 also stands out for its presentation. Even now, the game holds up well visually for something released back in 2008, thanks to its heavy use of cinematic cutscenes that blend smoothly with gameplay. On the gameplay side, it keeps the series’ signature mix of stealth and third person action, while adding the Psyche Meter, a system that tracks Old Snake’s physical and mental state. Certain moments in the game can affect this meter, which then affects things like his aim or even causes issues like back pain. New gadgets are also part of the package, along with big battlefield sequences that make the game feel like a true war experience.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

The second game in the collection is Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, originally released in 2010 for the PlayStation Portable. Set in Costa Rica in 1974, it puts the spotlight on Big Boss, also known as Naked Snake, as he leads his own mercenary group called Militaires Sans Frontières.

What sets Peace Walker apart is its Mother Base system. Instead of being a minor extra, managing your base and soldiers becomes a core part of the experience. Players recruit new members, grow their forces, and build up their army while taking on a series of AI controlled military weapons, including the Peace Walker itself. This base building system adds a good amount of depth, making the game feel like two experiences combined into one, mixing the usual stealth action with a surprisingly deep management layer.

Peace Walker also comes with multiplayer options through Co-Ops and Versus Ops. Co-Op allows two players to team up for infiltration missions, while bigger fights against military vehicles can support up to four players. Versus Ops lets players go head to head across different maps and modes, including deathmatch and base capture. Even though most players will likely stick to solo play today, it’s a nice touch that the multiplayer features are still included in this version.

Metal Gear: Ghost Babel

Rounding out the collection is Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, which first released on the Game Boy Color back in 2000. As the first Metal Gear game made specifically for a handheld system, it naturally comes with some technical limitations. Even with those restrictions, Konami managed to pack in a surprisingly full Metal Gear experience, complete with the retro look and feel typical of games from that time.

Many people assume Ghost Babel is just a portable version of Metal Gear Solid, but that’s not quite accurate. While it was originally designed to be something like a scaled down handheld take on MGS, the story actually takes place in its own alternate timeline, set three years after Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. This changes how the game plays out as well, since its structure follows the classic 2D Metal Gear format, broken into separate stages rather than the more connected flow found in Metal Gear Solid games. It does feel dated by today’s standards, but it still has a certain charm that isn’t found in the other two games included here. For longtime fans who enjoy the series’ lore, it also offers a nice bonus since its story ties more closely to the original Metal Gear timeline instead of the Metal Gear Solid storyline.

What’s New and Improved

Beyond simply bringing these three games to modern platforms, METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.2 also includes the usual round of technical improvements expected from a remaster, such as better graphics and performance. That said, the upgrades aren’t especially dramatic, and the age of these games is still noticeable, particularly with Peace Walker.

The bundled extra content adds a bit more value. Metal Gear Solid 4 comes with a Screenplay and Master Book along with a full database, while Peace Walker includes similar bonus material, though without the database. A second soundtrack collection is also included and can be listened to through the in game sound player. Additionally, players who have save data from the original Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 can unlock Gold Camouflage and Uniform bonuses in MGS4 and Peace Walker, though these bonuses do not extend to Ghost Babel.

Taken together, there’s a solid amount of extra content packed into the collection, and MGS4 alone is likely enough to draw in a large number of fans. Still, the overall lineup feels a bit unusual, since Peace Walker is a strong addition, but Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops is notably missing despite its close connection to Peace Walker’s story.

Verdict

Overall, there isn’t a ton of complexity to unpack with METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.2. The games run well, and the added extras are a welcome bonus. The main thing to consider is whether you’re willing to pay for a set of games that are close to or over two decades old, without expecting major changes to how they look or play.

If that’s not a dealbreaker, the collection is easy to recommend, especially since Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is finally available outside of PlayStation 3 after all this time. That alone makes this a meaningful release for longtime fans of the series. Outside of MGS4, though, the rest of the lineup feels a little less exciting. The absence of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops next to Peace Walker stands out, and Ghost Babel feels more like a surprise extra than a major selling point on its own. Even so, it’s still an enjoyable addition for dedicated fans of the franchise.