The shadows cannot be erased

We now have a brand new collection of Metal Gear Solid games and this one's packed with rich stories and stealth gameplay so let's sneak.

Just like in nearly all our reviews, you can watch A.J. play METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 below so you can judge accordingly. ▶️

Nothing like blasting ceaselessly spawning enemies with a mortar for extra Drebin points

The main game featured in METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 is Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots which is the last game chronologically in the mainline series. If you played all of the games in METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.1 then you'll be in for a real treat as it ties up everything beautifully while offering oodles of mind-bending twists, unexpected returns of iconic characters, and some of the most memorable cutscenes you'll ever watch. The story takes place with each of the 5 acts set in its own distinct location from the Middle East, South America, Europe, Shadow Moses, and a massive battleship. With so many awesome characters, moments of 4th-wall-breaking humour, references to past games, top-notch actors, and impeccable music pieces, it's a series fan's dream game that will stay with you forever. 📦 v1d30chumz cyzttywqtybt

When it comes to gameplay, there's so much variety in Metal Gear Solid 4 that it's ridiculous. Now, the much more focused first 3 games in the series provide consistent stealth-based formulas throughout with moments of variety sprinkled in so this offers a huge contrast with one act only consisting of tailing someone, a boss fight, and a car chase. There is great core gameplay, though, that feels like an expansion of what was offered in Snake Eater except with automatic camo and other niceties like the Solid Eye which has a thermal view; it is 50 years in the future, after all! Another element that shines is the collection of bosses with The Beauty and the Beast Unit offering unique challenges inspired by classic boss fights with their own distinct twists. Figuring some of them out can be tricky but it's clear that the amount of variety, excellent core gameplay, and stand-out bosses do a lot to provide a constantly exciting campaign that never ceases to surprise and challenge. 🎖️

Shadow Moses has definitely changed

The other big mainline game in METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 is Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker which many (including myself) consider the 5th game in the series. In fact, Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes, and The Phantom Pain could collectively be considered the 5th part of the Metal Gear Solid story as all 3 of these games are closely tied together as a trilogy; essentially featuring the same cast of characters, gameplay mechanics, and plot that you'll get the most of if you play all 3 games. With that being said, a lot of the story in Peace Walker is told through cassettes so unlike most games in the series, you won't be spoon-fed so you really have to pay attention and seek things out. 📻

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker's gameplay is mission-based where you complete bite-sized missions while using Fulton balloons to recruit incapacitated guards. The goal of the gameplay is to expand your home Mother Base where you unlock new weapons and items and assign soldiers to various facilities in order to optimise your capabilities. You'll also play as more characters besides Snake and the gameplay is very focused on CQC where throwing guards into walls and each other is a key component of gameplay. There are also some truly challenging boss fights against hulking machines that makes firing your range of unlocked and enhanced weaponry a super-satisfying endeavour. 🤖

Considering the gameplay is quite streamlined, playing Peace Walker definitely takes some getting used to, especially when it comes to controlling the camera. Specifically, I wanted to reverse the horizontal camera controls as they don't feel natural but when you do then aiming becomes reversed as well which definitely doesn't feel right and this odd implementation made me struggle a lot as I adapted to it. Overall, though, this is a superb game and perhaps the most underrated entry in the entire Metal Gear universe so you're sure to love it. ❤️

Time to play some cool tunes! Oh, it's not that kind of radio...

Finally, METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 has some extras with the bonus Game Boy Color title Metal Gear: Ghost Babel being included. This portable gem was released as simply Metal Gear Solid in the west and it's very much in-line with Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake which is included in Master Collection Vol.1 although this has much less stiff controls. This overhead stealth game is very retro-feeling and quite tough but it's surprisingly enjoyable despite it not being a mainline entry. It's great to be able to play oddities like this for sure. 🤓

The next coolest extra in METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 is the restored Metal Gear Solid 4 Database which is an interactive archive of everything you'll ever need to know about the entire series up to that point. With handy links to other encyclopedic entries, it's a super-cool addition for sure. You also get a 16-track soundtrack sampler with new versions of Love Theme and Heavens Divide and both main games include a master book and screenplay book just like in the first collection which are great inclusions for fans. 📚

With all of that in mind, METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 is definitely a step down from the previous compilation as it features fewer games and extras. The fact that it includes 2 must-play titles is awesome for sure but I would've loved to see a bit more such as the goofy Metal Gear Acid SRPGs and Portable Ops with its squad-based gameplay. I just hope Vol.3 will include Ground Zeroes, The Phantom Pain, and Revengeance which are superb follow-ups to the 2 main games featured here with the latter being absolutely bananas. 🍌

Pixel Snake is always ready for action

METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 offers 2 must-play titles in the series with one being a brilliant conclusive story while the other is an exciting prequel to the couple of games that are bound to be featured in Vol.3.

Watch A.J. play METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.2 14:10

You may also be interested in these: METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol.1 Review, METAL GEAR SOLID DELTA: SNAKE EATER Review, Metal Gear Solid 2: All Dog Tags Checklist, Metal Gear Solid 4 vs. Metal Gear Solid V, Metal Gear Survive Review, Top 10 Creepiest Moments: Metal Gear Solid Series, Metal Gear Solid 2: Classic Stealth Action at Its Prime, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Review, FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster Review, and Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 1+2 Dual Collection Review.

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Filed under: Reviews › PlayStation 5.