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Metal Gear Solid : Essential Collection! (On shelves now!)
Chance
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I was surprised to see no one on these forums discussing this new collection. In leu of this I decided to make a thread myself. May it climb to the heights of threaddom or get washed away in the frothy wake of more popular subject matter. Lady and gentlemen, we give you Metal Gear Solid: Special Edition (also known as Essential Collection).
Due out: Mar 18 Price: $29.99
Resident Evil has one, the Hitman series, Devil May Cry, Need for Speed and Grand Theft Auto. Heck, even the Prince of Persia got his three-pack (available in the UK only, from what I can tell) - why not one of the most celebrated series in gaming?
Imaginary Naysayer: I've not heard of this "Metal Gear" thing of which you speak, for I am imaginary and am merely a device to move this discussion forward. What the hell is it, and why should I care about it?
The short answer is Metal Gear is essentially a stealth game where a lone soldier is sent in against insurmountable odds with the expectation that he destroy a bipedal nuclear battle tank.
The long answer is long long ago, when games were played on things called "cartridges" and video games were still mostly considered a "fad", there came a game from across the oceans made by a dude named Hideo Kojima, called Metal Gear. It gained most of its popularity by popping up on something called a "Nintendo Entertainment System" allll the way back in 1987. It was followed by two sequels (one good one, one not so much), and then went into hibernation for about ten years.
In 1998 this Kojima guy, with a flair for the dramatic and an penchant for production values blew in the proverbial cartridge and cleaned it up real good. He released what became an instant classic, Metal Gear Solid : Tactical Espionage Action. It was so badass it didn't even need cover art. Just a title.
Screenshots!
Y'know how games let you push up against walls and peek around them? Yeah, thank MGS for that.
Sweet sweet Meryl.
"What can we have him fight to show that he's tough?" "Um... a tank?" "I like tank, let's go with tank."
Old-school gamers loved the references to the gameplay they remembered (like getting shipped around in boxes and the use of a radio-controlled missile), and the younger crowd were simply awed by some of the most exceptional production values seen in video games and the craziest boss fights this side of Devil May Cry (which is, I should point out, a completely and entirely different experience). Never before had there been a game that seemed so much like the movies we want to see. Excellent plot, wonderful voice work, state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay that convinced a generation that Solid Snake is, in fact, The Man.
Who?
This dude - Solid Snake.
You want me to care about a game released ten years ago? What's wrong with you?
I am an enthusiast, and as such am enthusiastic! And you should be too - besides, I'm not just talking about the first Metal Gear Solid (which is, I assure you, awesome). Three years later, in 2001 Kojima and company released what was pretty much hailed as the Game of the Year - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
Screenshots!
That's right, freeze! Sweet shadow!
If it's got Phil LaMarr in it, it's good.
Fortune walks softly and carries a big-as-fuck gun.
Speaking as an American, I like the title.
As a Canadian, I do too. Let me build on this common ground by noting that this was pretty much the first 'killer app' for the Playstation 2, a system which went on to become the most popular console in history. Metal Gear Solid 2 featured vastly improved graphics, a much deeper storyline, multiple gameplay tweaks and lots of little secrets and collectibles for the more 'hardcore' gamer crowd. When I first got my hands on Sons of Liberty I remember spending like half an hour in a kitchen, marvelling at the fact that I could shoot those pans hanging over there! And they would move!
You're easily impressed.
Not too easily. Like many gamers I was disappointed with one aspect of MGS2. Do we have a picture...? Ah, here's one.
This is Raiden. And if you don't know what a Raiden is and have never played MGS 2, please skip this spoiler.
I don't know what a Raiden is, but I know what I like. She's hot.
In 2004, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was released for the Playstation 2.
Screenshots!
Yes, this is on the PS2.
WHERE ARE YOUR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION?!
So pretty.
So pretty.
It's still one of the best-looking games ever to grace the console, and in addition to everything we expect from a Metal Gear Solid title (Solid Snake, the highest production values possible, an insane story, the best boss fights anywhere and that 'ol stealth-or-mayhem approach to gameplay) it threw in some awesome new curve balls. A new environment - the jungle, where well-chosen camouflage is the key to remaining undetected. In addition, you are now expected to hunt for sustenance in said jungle. Trap yourself a rat or kill a few crocodiles - it's all up to you, but you'll have to eat to survive. Also, a rudimentary system for repairing cuts, scrapes, broken bones and bullet wounds was introduced, with the effect of heightening the player's understanding of just what kind of hell Solid Snake has been through. And trust me, it's a doozy.
The last (and IMO best) addition to Snake Eater is a massive update to Snake's melee abilities. Thanks to the inclusion of Close Quarters Combat, Snake can now interrogate enemy soldiers for information. He can simply grab one and slam his ass into the ground judo-style, silently cut the enemy's throat and gently lower the body down, or take them hostage and pick off others while behind the safety of a human shield. It's satisfyin'.
These actually sounds... not too bad.
They aren't too bad at all. I'd go so far as to call them 'excellent' and in the particular case of MGS 1, a 'precursor to entire genres of gaming'.
Earlier you mentioned something about a... what, a collection?
Coming to a capitalist distribution outlet near you on March 22 (the purchase of which will only be playing directly into the hands of the Patriots and supporting their agenda of mitarilistic domination), the collection contains the original Metal Gear Solid for PS1 on two PS1 discs, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance on a single disc, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence on a single disc.
For those of you not in the know, Substance and Subsistence were the 'directors cuts' of MGS2 and 3. They featured additional content and an extra disc.
Do we get those extra discs?
Short answer? No. For the long answer, let's turn to GameFAQs forums which have an excellent collection of information on what's in and what's out.
I've never made a post like this before, so if I've made a serious mistake somewhere or unintentionally broken a rule of these forums, please don't hesitate to bring it to my attention. It's my intention to inform those fans out there who may not know about this collection, and perhaps even let someone who's never fallen for Snake's shadow-obscured eyes the opportunity to get to know him better.
Chance, signing off.
Are you still there?
Yeah, what's up?
I like reviews, not fanboys. What'd Gamerankings have to say on these titles?
Um, 93%, 94.8% and 91.5%. And I'm not a fanboy.
You sound like a-
Due out: Mar 18 Price: $29.99
Resident Evil has one, the Hitman series, Devil May Cry, Need for Speed and Grand Theft Auto. Heck, even the Prince of Persia got his three-pack (available in the UK only, from what I can tell) - why not one of the most celebrated series in gaming?
Imaginary Naysayer: I've not heard of this "Metal Gear" thing of which you speak, for I am imaginary and am merely a device to move this discussion forward. What the hell is it, and why should I care about it?
The short answer is Metal Gear is essentially a stealth game where a lone soldier is sent in against insurmountable odds with the expectation that he destroy a bipedal nuclear battle tank.
The long answer is long long ago, when games were played on things called "cartridges" and video games were still mostly considered a "fad", there came a game from across the oceans made by a dude named Hideo Kojima, called Metal Gear. It gained most of its popularity by popping up on something called a "Nintendo Entertainment System" allll the way back in 1987. It was followed by two sequels (one good one, one not so much), and then went into hibernation for about ten years.
In 1998 this Kojima guy, with a flair for the dramatic and an penchant for production values blew in the proverbial cartridge and cleaned it up real good. He released what became an instant classic, Metal Gear Solid : Tactical Espionage Action. It was so badass it didn't even need cover art. Just a title.
Screenshots!
Y'know how games let you push up against walls and peek around them? Yeah, thank MGS for that.
Sweet sweet Meryl.
"What can we have him fight to show that he's tough?" "Um... a tank?" "I like tank, let's go with tank."
Old-school gamers loved the references to the gameplay they remembered (like getting shipped around in boxes and the use of a radio-controlled missile), and the younger crowd were simply awed by some of the most exceptional production values seen in video games and the craziest boss fights this side of Devil May Cry (which is, I should point out, a completely and entirely different experience). Never before had there been a game that seemed so much like the movies we want to see. Excellent plot, wonderful voice work, state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay that convinced a generation that Solid Snake is, in fact, The Man.
Who?
This dude - Solid Snake.
You want me to care about a game released ten years ago? What's wrong with you?
I am an enthusiast, and as such am enthusiastic! And you should be too - besides, I'm not just talking about the first Metal Gear Solid (which is, I assure you, awesome). Three years later, in 2001 Kojima and company released what was pretty much hailed as the Game of the Year - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
Screenshots!
That's right, freeze! Sweet shadow!
If it's got Phil LaMarr in it, it's good.
Fortune walks softly and carries a big-as-fuck gun.
Speaking as an American, I like the title.
As a Canadian, I do too. Let me build on this common ground by noting that this was pretty much the first 'killer app' for the Playstation 2, a system which went on to become the most popular console in history. Metal Gear Solid 2 featured vastly improved graphics, a much deeper storyline, multiple gameplay tweaks and lots of little secrets and collectibles for the more 'hardcore' gamer crowd. When I first got my hands on Sons of Liberty I remember spending like half an hour in a kitchen, marvelling at the fact that I could shoot those pans hanging over there! And they would move!
You're easily impressed.
Not too easily. Like many gamers I was disappointed with one aspect of MGS2. Do we have a picture...? Ah, here's one.
This is Raiden. And if you don't know what a Raiden is and have never played MGS 2, please skip this spoiler.
I don't know what a Raiden is, but I know what I like. She's hot.
Which was precisely the problem. In promotional material for Metal Gear Solid 2, Kojima was very crafty to only let images of Snake out. Snake taking cover, Snake shooting guys, Snake and the new Metal Gear. And indeed, when you start up Sons of Liberty you'll do all those things. However, after the beginning of the game (or, if you will, inciting incident), players are then put in control of a guy who is one part beautiful girl (see: pic above) and one part phenomenal badass (see: what remains of a Harrier jet that fucks with him).
While no one could argue with the incredible graphics, mind-bending story, top-of-the-line production values and perfectly tweaked gameplay, there are still discussions today that involve the words "Raiden", "pussy" and "refund". Fortunately, Kojima did not turn a deaf ear to these complaints, and...
While no one could argue with the incredible graphics, mind-bending story, top-of-the-line production values and perfectly tweaked gameplay, there are still discussions today that involve the words "Raiden", "pussy" and "refund". Fortunately, Kojima did not turn a deaf ear to these complaints, and...
In 2004, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was released for the Playstation 2.
Screenshots!
Yes, this is on the PS2.
WHERE ARE YOUR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION?!
So pretty.
So pretty.
It's still one of the best-looking games ever to grace the console, and in addition to everything we expect from a Metal Gear Solid title (Solid Snake, the highest production values possible, an insane story, the best boss fights anywhere and that 'ol stealth-or-mayhem approach to gameplay) it threw in some awesome new curve balls. A new environment - the jungle, where well-chosen camouflage is the key to remaining undetected. In addition, you are now expected to hunt for sustenance in said jungle. Trap yourself a rat or kill a few crocodiles - it's all up to you, but you'll have to eat to survive. Also, a rudimentary system for repairing cuts, scrapes, broken bones and bullet wounds was introduced, with the effect of heightening the player's understanding of just what kind of hell Solid Snake has been through. And trust me, it's a doozy.
The last (and IMO best) addition to Snake Eater is a massive update to Snake's melee abilities. Thanks to the inclusion of Close Quarters Combat, Snake can now interrogate enemy soldiers for information. He can simply grab one and slam his ass into the ground judo-style, silently cut the enemy's throat and gently lower the body down, or take them hostage and pick off others while behind the safety of a human shield. It's satisfyin'.
These actually sounds... not too bad.
They aren't too bad at all. I'd go so far as to call them 'excellent' and in the particular case of MGS 1, a 'precursor to entire genres of gaming'.
Earlier you mentioned something about a... what, a collection?
Coming to a capitalist distribution outlet near you on March 22 (the purchase of which will only be playing directly into the hands of the Patriots and supporting their agenda of mitarilistic domination), the collection contains the original Metal Gear Solid for PS1 on two PS1 discs, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance on a single disc, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence on a single disc.
For those of you not in the know, Substance and Subsistence were the 'directors cuts' of MGS2 and 3. They featured additional content and an extra disc.
Do we get those extra discs?
Short answer? No. For the long answer, let's turn to GameFAQs forums which have an excellent collection of information on what's in and what's out.
FinalFantasyCQ at GameFAQs wrote:
Metal Gear Solid
What version is this? This is the original PlayStation version. Twin Snakes will not be included in this collection.
Was it ported to PS2? No. This is still a 2-disc PlayStation game.
Were there any updates? We have no reason to believe this will be updated in any way besides the packaging art.
How can I play this on PS2 or PS3? You will need a PlayStation memory card if you want to play this on PS2. On PS3, you can save internally. Also, it is possible to beat Psycho Mantis on PS3 since you can change controller ports when playing PlayStation games.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
Will this contain the extras from Substance? Yes. I don't know why some people are asking if features are being taken out for this. This will be the same Substance that was released previously.
Will the second disc be included? There was no second disc. The second disc PAL gamers got in their Substance was The Document of MGS2 which was separate in Japan and North America. That will not be included in this collection.
Will this contain the deleted scenes? No. It was confirmed that the scenes removed because of 9/11 will not be added in.
Were there any updates? We have no reason to believe this will be updated in any way besides the packaging art.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Will the second disc be included? No. Only the first disc will be included in this collection.
Will the third disc be included? No. And if you didn't know, the third disc was only in the Limited Edition of Subsistence.
What was on the first disc? (the one that we do get) New difficulty settings, demo theater, new camouflages and face paints, third-person camera angle.
What was on the second disc? Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (the old NES games), online mode, duel mode, secret theater, Snake vs. Monkey.
What was on the third disc? The games cut scenes edited into a movie.
Will the removed features appear in the collection? No.
Will the first disc have any updates? We have no reason to believe so.
I've never made a post like this before, so if I've made a serious mistake somewhere or unintentionally broken a rule of these forums, please don't hesitate to bring it to my attention. It's my intention to inform those fans out there who may not know about this collection, and perhaps even let someone who's never fallen for Snake's shadow-obscured eyes the opportunity to get to know him better.
Chance, signing off.
Are you still there?
Yeah, what's up?
I like reviews, not fanboys. What'd Gamerankings have to say on these titles?
Um, 93%, 94.8% and 91.5%. And I'm not a fanboy.
You sound like a-
'Chance, you are the best kind of whore.' -Henroid
Chance on
0
Posts
That said, even though I own MGS1, both versions of MGS2 (Substance on Xbox) and both of MGS3, I'm getting this anyways because I am a whore for Kojima and I can only fellate him with my money.
What genres were those?
Pancake: Stealth Action. I'll admit, I don't know what month in 1998 MGS came out compared to Tenchu: Birth of the Stealth Assassins, but I have to think Metal Gear has more influence on games like Splinter Cell and even perhaps Hitman than Tenchu. I'm not knocking Tenchu, though. I
Also, any game that plays like a movie. The Getaway, for example.
Stealth, duh. Wouldn't really call it a genre, but it's a basic rule that if you make an action game nowadays, at one point you're going to have to sneak somewhere without being seen.
Other games may have done it before, but MGS popularized it and will always be seen as the innovator.
Kind of like how RE is the first survival-horror game, and people are like "nuh uh!" because of Alone in the Dark. But the thing is, no one gave two shits about AitD.
I'm not saying it's bad, but 3 is sooo much better.
I've already beaten 2, but Jesus God, who the fuck is going to remember, let alone understand, the twisted, fucked up story that it lays before us.
I said it.
You know...
It might be worth spending 30 bucks on a used Cube and like, what, 10 for this game? 40 bucks to experience the original MGS with new visuals could be worth it.
I've never played Twin Snakes, btw...
I'd kill for MGS1 with MGS2 graphics and gameplay. I haven't seen Twin Snakes but I heard they added cutscenes - if it was Kojima's doing I guess that's fine, but I think I'd prefer the game and cutscenes I fell in love with as a wee one.
It's pretty much MGS1 with MGS2 graphics and gameplay. Also new music and more over the top cutscenes.
Personally, I liked the more toned down action sequences in the original better than the one's in Twin Snakes. I found the original music to be better too.
As far as I could tell, they didn't really add cutscenes, they just changed the existing ones. Some are exactly the same, but the ones that involve action tend to be way more over the top, such as the oft cited Snake backflipping off a missile scene. Based on my tastes, some of them were an improvement over the originals while others ruined the style that made the original cutscenes so cool by replacing the existing action with over the top bullet-time dodging.
Except in the case of MGS, it was more than just one or two games that no one really remembers anymore, but nevermind, that will be a stupid argument.
Anyway, I'll most likely get this seeing as how I never played Subsistence.
By 'kill' I don't mean 'get a Gamecube' though. Besides I've seen screenshots from Twin Snakes and they don't look anything close to MGS2. Unless they were original screenshots, lemmie look into this...
Edit:
And is this only for PS2? I never got one, and was hoping such a collection might hit other systems for the Snake-deprived.
Some of the wall and window textures are actually original PS1 stuff.
Yeah
Also the new sequences were directed by the guy who did Versus so no suprise there. I thought Versus was awesome, I thought the sequences were awesome.
but it was definitely a big improvement over the original mgs, graphics wise. it was very pretty in motion
Some people prefer the more down-to-earth approach in the original MGS to that of TTS. I know, "down-to-earth in a game with a psychic lol" but it's really just a stupid argument. MGS is the way MGS was intended. There was nothing about the PS1 that would have made TTS cutscenes impossible if that's the way it should have been. TTS cutscenes are pretty much how MGS would have been if the guys behind the DMC series got a hold of it.
The only cutscene in DMC3 where I rolled my eyes and was like 'okay... is there a button to skip this shit?' was when he rides Lady's rocket around Cerberus's chamber. Other than that they totally fit with the tone of the rest of the game.
In MGS though? Ummmno, I think I prefer the ones we've got. I gotta' say, the scene in Snake Eater when he disarms the Ocelot Unit is my all-time favorite game cutscene.
Not sure you understood what you quoted...what I meant was this: Take the original MGS's cutscenes. Give them to the DMC directors and say "go nuts."
Voila, TTS. I understand some people prefer these cutscenes, and I'm not saying they're bad. I simply prefer the old-school flavor of original MGS.
But in the world of MGS, which I've always liked (my little brother goes nuts when I say this) because it's kind of grounded in reality, DMC-style would not work. I know people are going to tear me apart for saying 'grounded in reality', so lemmie explain.
Snake uses weapons that can be found in the real world. So do his enemies, apart from the insane bosses and Psycho-Mantises of the world. Most of the technology suggested in the series is grounded in fact - take for example the UAVs in Sons of Liberty. No, those things don't exist yet - but they could. UAVs exist - little hovering platforms like that exist - it's no huge stretch of the imagination to see them put to some dastardly purpose like in MGS2.
Even in 3, they thought about the physics of launching a nuke and pitted it against the technological constraints of the time and figured 'it would work if the Shagohod could go at such-and-such a speed'.
So yeah. In MGS reality(ish) = good. In DMC juggling enemies with bullets and riding the bodies of your foes like skateboards = sweet.
That said, my favorite MGS game is 2. The story is just so fucking awesome. With the exception of Rose and the "nerd" line, the dialogue is amazing. I play it at least twice a year, every year since release. Not to stick to some sort of schedule, but because I'll find myself saturated in new games and still feel like wasting time with an established modern classic. It's also the only game I can say that I feel I've "mastered." Every dog tag, every difficulty level (including EE on Substance), and highest ranking. I'm almost at this level on MGS3, but EE on Subsistence is just such a bitch.
EDIT: Similar to the "I can't believe Toy Story is over ten years old" thread in SE++, I can't believe MGS2 is over six years old already, and approaching seven.
In 2 its like the plot is so fucking batshit Kojima couldn't even keep it straight and had to use the entire plot of MGS3 to make some sense out of it.
I never asked for this!
I'm going to buy it.
PSN ID : Xander51 Steam ID : Xander51
Of course, that won't be a problem for me unless this comes out in the UK.
You go to hell
no snake of mine does backflips off missles
On my PSP.
Judging by wikipedia about 120 million people..
The ps2 plays ps1 games just fine fyi..
I never asked for this!
It's not like anything big or innovative happened to MGS's game mechanics over the past 8 or so years. I think it's grown stagnant actually.
Of the levels I did play of Hitman, I was playing it run and gun style, killing every god damn thing.
Stealth is an option in MGS (same for Hitman), really.
This collection is said to include the Directors Cut of MGS3, will it include the MGS3 Exsistance disc? (The special cut-scene combination movie disc)? I'm rather bummed I missed out getting this disc from the first run and I'd probably get this collection for the sake of getting it (and probably give my old discs to my brother)
Brawl: 3265 4738 2973
You cant argue with these prices though.
Steam | Live
I'd only say that it's optional on easy and normal difficulties. On hard and harder, I always find that you take way too much damage to reasonably play through it in an actiony sort of way. MGS2 and 3 are easier to shoot everything in your path because it has first-person and you can actually aim, but it's still pretty difficult.
But yeah, optional.
In MGS3, you might find it a lot easier to be stealthy too since it's mostly based around camoflaging yourself rather than just staying out of an enemy's sight cone. It's easily the easiest game in the series to approach with stealth as memorizing patterns or dodging sight cones is mostly gone. The only thing that kind of sucks is how clunky the camo changing was implemented. In some parts, it requires you to change your camo pretty frequently to stay hidden, which always requires hitting start, then going to select camo, then going to the uniform option and then selecting from a list and then exiting the menus back into the game, which all takes too long and is inconvenient.
Says $29.99 right there in the OP, duder. ;-)
Ah musta overlooked. I didn't read the thing at all. Thanks
Steam | Live
Hehe
To be honest, I just ctrl-f'd the dollar sign to find it.
I should play them in order, right? 1-2-3? (I know 3 is a prequel, which is why I'm asking.)