| Metal Gear Solid HD Collection | |
|---|---|
North American box art |
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| Developer(s) | Kojima Productions Bluepoint Games (Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3 port) Genki(Peace Walker port) Aspect Co.(Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake port) |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Director(s) | Hideo Kojima |
| Producer(s) | Hideo Kojima |
| Artist(s) | Yoji Shinkawa (character designer) |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 PlayStation Vita |
| Release date(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2012 |
| Genre(s) | Stealth action, third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Media/distribution | Blu-ray Disc DVD |
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is remastered port of Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A PlayStation Vita version is also set to be released. The games were originally developed by Kojima Productions, while the port was handled by Bluepoint Games and published by Konami. The MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake are also included on the disc. However, the Japanese package replaces Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker with a product code to download the original Metal Gear Solid. The HD conversion of Peace Walker was released separately in Japan, releasing a little earlier on November 10.
The core game and story for all games remains unchanged with the remastered versions. For the remastering, all three games have had a graphics overhaul to allow them to support modern 720p resolution. As well as 720p HD visuals, this new versions also run at 60 frames per second. All three games have trophy support for the PlayStation 3 version and achievement support for the Xbox 360 version. The control scheme of Peace Walker has been overhauled to make use of the dual analog stick and rumble feature of the controls.[1]
Contents |
The story revolves around the "Big Shell", a massive offshore clean-up facility that has been seized by a group of terrorists that call themselves "Sons of Liberty". They demand a massive ransom in exchange for the life of the President of the United States, and threaten to destroy the facility and create a cataclysmic environmental disaster if their demands are not met. The motives and identities of many of the antagonists and allies change rapidly, as the protagonists discover a world-shaking conspiracy constructed by a powerful organization known as the Patriots.
Set in the Cold War-era Soviet Union, the story centers on FOX operative Naked Snake as he attempts to rescue a weapons designer and sabotage an experimental superweapon. While previous games were set in a primarily urban environment, Snake Eater adopts a 1960's Soviet jungle setting, with the high tech, near-future trappings of previous Metal Gear Solid games being replaced with the wilderness. While the setting has changed, the game's focus remains on stealth and infiltration, while retaining the series' self-referential, fourth wall-breaking sense of humor. The story of Snake Eater is told through numerous cut scenes and radio conversations.
Set in 1974 in Central America, the game follows the exploits of returning protagonist Naked Snake, now known as Big Boss, as he runs a mercenary unit using the resources he acquired from Gene at the end of Portable Ops, four years before. The game also adds more information behind the founding of the military state Outer Heaven.
The game revolves around a special forces operative codenamed Solid Snake who goes into a solo infiltration mission into the fortified state of Outer Heaven to destroy Metal Gear, a bipedal walking tank capable of launching nuclear missiles from anywhere in the world.
In the game, Solid Snake must infiltrate Zanzibar Land, a heavily defended territory located in Central Asia, to rescue a kidnapped scientist and destroy the revised Metal Gear D. The game significantly evolved the stealth-based game system of its predecessor "in almost every way," introduced a complex storyline dealing with themes such as the nature of warfare and nuclear proliferation, and is considered "one of the best 8 bit games ever made."
The Games are even though Made for HD are still overall simple ports of the originals with the exception of Peace Walker having dual analogue stick control. The gameplay otherwise has not changed. [[[[1]]]]
The version of Metal Gear Solid 2 in HD Collection contains Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, while the version of Metal Gear Solid 3 contains Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence along with Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.[2] However, the original version of Metal Gear Online, Secret Theatre, Boss Survival Mode and the minigame Snake vs. Monkey is not included, as well as the Existence disc.
The overseas (i.e. Western version) of the collection includes HD remakes of Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker in one package, as well as the MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 are also included on the disc. The Japanese package does not include Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Instead, the package includes a product code to download the original Metal Gear Solid. The MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 are also included in the Japanese package.[2] The HD conversion of Peace Walker was released separately in Japan, releasing a little earlier on November 10.[3]
The PlayStation 3 version of the games has a new system called "Transfarring", which allows the player to switch the game between home and portable consoles, thus allowing continuous gameplay of the same file between systems. Peace Walker is able to transfer saves between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, while Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 will be transferable to the PlayStation Vita once the Vita is released.[4]
The Xbox 360 version comes with four avatar items, one each for Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 and two for Peace Walker. Metal Gear RAY and Shagohod represent Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 respectively. The Tank Box and Peace Walker represent Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.
On August 15, 2011 UK retailer Zavvi secured the exclusive right to sell the Metal Gear Solid: Ultimate HD Collection, exclusively available for the PlayStation 3, which was set to see only 4,000 copies manufactured worldwide and would be released on November 25. It would include the HD Collection, and the Ultimate version would add to the package with PS3 edition Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, a download code for Metal Gear Solid and five exclusive art cards. The contents would come in a single steel book packaging.[5] However, on November 25, it disappeared from Zavvi without explanation.[6] On November 30, Zavvi changed the name from Ultimate HD Collection to Ultimate HD Edition, and announced that its altered the contents of its advertised Metal Gear Solid: HD Ultimate Edition set. Zavvi sent out an email to all customers holding an order for the edition, explaining that Konami has "advised of a change to the contents" of the set. The edition will include variant Metal Gear Solid steel book, a exclusive Metal Gear Solid T-shirt and a exclusive 250 page premium art book showcasing the artwork of Yoshi Shinkawa. All those who pre-ordered the edition before it was disappeared also receive a Platinum copy of Metal Gear Solid 4. Zavvi's site also has a listing for an Xbox 360 version of the revised Ultimate Edition, making it not longer exclusively available for the PlayStation 3.[7] On December 7, Zavvi renamed the edition to Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Limited Edition, and revealed that 6000 copies of the PS3 version and 4000 copies of the Xbox 360 version are available for pre-order. In total 8000 (PS3) and 5000 (360) units are being made worldwide, and that the Limited Edition is a Zavvi exclusive for the UK and Europe.[8]
A North American Limited Edition for the HD Collection become available alongside the games release. The Limited Edition includes specialized packaging created by Yoji Shinkawa, the series' lead artist, and an exclusive, 248-page art book titled The Art of Metal Gear Solid.[9]
A Japanese Premium Package for both the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection and the separate (Japan-only) HD conversion of Peace Walker is also released. The Peace Walker package includes the game, a Snake figure and CD featuring vocal tracks. The Limited Edition of Metal Gear Solid HD Edition will include a copy of the game, an illustration from series artist Yoji Shinkawa, a copy The Art of Metal Gear Solid The Original Trilogy, and the soundtrack. Paying extra, players receives Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 mugs, headphones and bags. Paying extra for the Peace Walker package includes a Peace Walker mug cup and a Kazuhira Miller Play Arts Kai figure on top.[3]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | PS3: 90.4%[10] X360: 91.2%[11] |
| Metacritic | PS3/X360: 91/100[12][13] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | A[14] |
| Eurogamer | 9/10[15] |
| Game Informer | 9/10[16] |
| GamesRadar | 9/10[17] |
| GameTrailers | 9/10[18] |
| IGN | 9/10[19] |
| Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) | 9/10[20] |
| Official Xbox Magazine | 9/10[21] |
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection received critical acclaim from critics, with a score of 91 on Metacritic for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.[12][13] Fellow aggregator GameRankings provides an average score of 90.4% for the PS3 version, and 91.2% for the Xbox 360 version.[10][11]
1UP stated "The sheer immensity of this collection continues to astound me, and while price should by no means be the ultimate deciding factor in a review, with the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, it's impossible to ignore. Simply put, this single disc will keep you highly entertained for several staycations to come."[14]
IGN stated "The controls, stories and content so many fell in love with years ago are here, but time shows up as Solid Snake's greatest enemy."[19] GameInformer stated "The fight against The Boss, Colonel Campbell going nuts, the haunting tune as Chrysalis flies by – these are the kind of memorable events that define Metal Gear, and they are just as awesome as you remember."[16]
Eurogamer stated "Metal Gear Solid is a potpourri of ideas that insists you take the good with the bad. Certainly indulgent, it's also melancholy, exhilarating, clever, and ludicrous. It's never entirely clear what, if anything, Kojima and company are taking seriously - and the end result, in this collection, is a fascinating chronicle of one of video games' strangest successes."[15]
GameTrailers stated "If it weren't for the omission of the original Metal Gear Solid, this would probably be the prototype HD collection that all publishers should aspire to emulate. These games have withstood the test of time, and all of the enhancements and extras ensure these are the definitive versions. If you passed on these games before, there's no excuse this time."[18]
GamesRadar stated "A great value, even if you only plan to play one of the three games. That it has three you might want to play, plus a bunch of fun extras, just cements this as the best multi-game compilation since 2007's Orange Box."[17]
Official Xbox Magazine stated "It's easy to pick nits about the weird Achievement appropriation, the fact that the games lack HD detail such as animated hair and high-quality lip-synching, and that two of the franchise's best games are absent. But the fact that three of the best stealth games ever made look even better in a $50 Xbox 360 package should put this collection on your radar."[21]
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) stated "As an overall package, the quality and quantity on offer here is irresistible. Slightly smudgy textures and some framerate issues mean these HD upgrades don't match the lofty restoration work seen in the Ico/Shadow Of The Colossus HD combo – yet when it comes to supreme stealthy fun, Snake's collection remains Solid gold."[20]
In December 2011, the game received the award for "Best HD Remake of 2011" from TeamXbox, with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary as the runner-up.[22]
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