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For Nintendo followers, the Steel Gear franchise has lengthy been simply out of attain, with Konami dangling the metaphorical carrot with one-off releases akin to Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes on GameCube, Ghost Babel on Recreation Boy Shade, and Snake Eater 3D on the 3DS. After a long time of neglect, nevertheless, Swap homeowners can now rejoice, as we’re not solely getting one, however 5 video games from Hideo Kojima’s Magnum Opus (plus a few enjoyable non-canon extras thrown in for good measure). The query, nevertheless, is whether or not this compilation – dubbed Master Collection Vol. 1 – is definitely price proudly owning.
The excellent news is that, sure, this is kind of a powerful illustration of Steel Gear’s historical past from 1987 to 2004, encompassing all the things from the unique MSX2 launch of Steel Gear to the critically acclaimed prologue, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. For newcomers particularly, the gathering is a handy option to expertise a big chunk of the Steel Gear saga, however there are admittedly a number of drawbacks that boring the shine on what may (and ought to) have been a simple slam dunk for Konami.
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Wanting on the video games first, what precisely is included right here? Nicely, you’ve bought the MSX2 variations of Steel Gear and Steel Gear 2: Strong Snake, then Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Steel Gear Strong 3: Snake Eater. Moreover, the NES video games Metal Gear and Snake’s Revenge are included within the bonus materials; these are thought of non-canon as collection creator Hideo Kojima wasn’t concerned of their growth, so to see them here’s a nice shock. Konami has been particularly beneficiant with the Steel Gear Strong trilogy, together with a number of regional releases for every recreation together with the VR Missions, Particular Missions, and Japan-only Integral launch for the unique PS1 traditional. Briefly, there’s rather a lot to sink your enamel into.
Are they any good to play, although? Nicely, there are a number of elements at work right here. Crucially, it can rely on simply how tolerant you might be with regards to ageing software program. The Steel Gear franchise, for all its ingenuity, has by no means boasted probably the most elegant management scheme, and that is extra obvious right here than ever earlier than. Easy duties like peeking to the left or proper when hiding in a locker require you to contort your fingers into unnatural positions to press all the mandatory buttons. For veterans, that is all par for the course and sure kinds a part of the franchise’s appeal, however newcomers will probably be perplexed by a number of the mechanics on show.
![Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Review - Screenshot 1 of](https://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/141729/900x.jpg)
The opposite issue is, in fact, efficiency, and this has been a topic of a lot debate and consternation forward of the compilation’s launch. In terms of the MSX2 and NES video games, these run precisely the way you’d anticipate, so there is not any want to fret about these. The unique Steel Gear Strong can also be just about equivalent to its preliminary PS1 launch, warts and all, displaying the picture in a 4:3 facet ratio at 30 frames per second. Might it have been upgraded in any approach? Certain, however that is about as genuine an expertise as you’re prone to get, so we’re not going to concern ourselves an excessive amount of with what may have been.
As for Steel Gear Strong 2 and three, nevertheless, Swap homeowners have undoubtedly been given the brief finish of the stick on this assortment. To make clear, these variations are based mostly on the 2012 HD remasters from developer Bluepoint Video games, which ran at a rock-solid 60FPS on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Whereas this efficiency has been maintained on different platforms for the Grasp Assortment, the body price has taken successful on Swap, with the PS2 video games operating at 30FPS. In precept, that is extremely disappointing given the age of those video games and the truth that the Swap is greater than able to pulling off 60FPS gameplay, however the actuality is that the video games nonetheless really feel fairly good to play regardless. That’s to not trivialise the difficulty for these feeling stung by Konami’s resolution, however we sincerely doubt that many will even discover throughout moment-to-moment stealth gameplay.
![Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Review - Screenshot 1 of](https://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/141727/900x.jpg)
That stated, we’re hopeful that Konami will see some sense and replace the video games within the close to future to convey the body price according to different platforms. The rationale we are saying that is that Steel Gear Strong 2, particularly, does hit 60FPS at particular factors; specifically when management is taken away from the participant, akin to transitioning from one space to the subsequent and opening/closing lockers. It is transient, but it surely’s there, and hopefully, with a little bit of jiggery-pokery, Konami will have the ability to pull it off.
Along with the video games, Konami has additionally included a number of extras to dive into, together with screenplay books, grasp books (that are elaborate manuals that embrace some historical past of the franchise), soundtracks, and graphic novels. The precise content material included right here is genuinely great and it’s a good way for newcomers to dig into the overarching story, however finding all the things can really feel like a little bit of a chore.
Unusually, Konami has seen match to separate the gathering into 5 separate apps on the Swap. You’ve bought one for every of the Steel Gear Strong video games, one for the MSX2 titles, and a fifth particularly for bonus content material. Some further materials, such because the grasp books and screenplays, might be discovered within the recreation apps themselves, however the graphic novels and soundtracks are separated into the bonus app together with the NES titles. It’s not a deal breaker, by any means, however why Konami didn’t simply collate all the things beneath one, handy roof is baffling. Then once more, there’s one thing inherently satisfying about seeing all three Steel Gear Strong video games on the Swap dwelling display screen with Yoji Shinkawa’s unbelievable art work.
![Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 Review - Screenshot 1 of](https://images.nintendolife.com/screenshots/141732/900x.jpg)
What’s additionally disappointing with the presentation is simply what number of further downloads you’ll want to finish if you’d like the entire package deal. Extras like graphic novels and even sure language choices are locked away behind elective downloads, and also you’re going to want various free cupboard space if you’d like completely all the things put in. Bodily fanatics can even have to remember that the cartridge itself only houses the MSX2 and NES games, so if you wish to play any of the Steel Gear Strong titles, you’ll have to obtain them.
Conclusion
In the event you’ve by no means performed any of the Steel Gear Strong titles earlier than, or certainly their MSX2 ancestors, then the Grasp Assortment on Swap is a wonderfully advantageous option to expertise a number of the most iconic video games of all time. That stated, Swap homeowners have undoubtedly been stung by Konami’s resolution to chop MGS 2 and three’s body price all the way down to 30, and though moment-to-moment gameplay nonetheless feels satisfying, it is a irritating strategy that we’re hopeful will probably be patched at a later date. As for the general package deal, there’s so much right here that may hold you entertained, however the best way it has been offered feels lower than very best. Nonetheless, it is a compilation effectively price investigating if you happen to’re itching to play (or replay) the Steel Gear Strong saga.
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