Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2 Review: MGS4 Finally Leaves PS3
The collection resolves a long-standing platform gap, making MGS4, a key narrative milestone, accessible on modern hardware for the first time in 18 years.
Key Facts
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2 releases on August 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, priced at 6,600 yen.
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is included, marking its first port since its 2008 PS3 release, now playable on other platforms.
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition is included, originally released on PSP in 2010.
- Metal Gear Ghost Babel, a Game Boy Color title from 2000, is included as a bonus for bundle buyers.
- The collection includes Master Book, Scenario Book, and Metal Gear Solid 4 Database, with some systems supporting up to 4K resolution and 60fps.
Reporting from 3 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), 4Gamer.net, Game Spark.
Konami Digital Entertainment releases Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2 on August 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, priced at 6,600 yen. The collection includes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, originally released on PS3 in 2008, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition, originally on PSP. Metal Gear Ghost Babel, a Game Boy Color title from 2000, is included as a bonus for bundle buyers. Reviews highlight that MGS4 is its first port since its original release, marking the first time it is playable on platforms other than PS3. The port supports up to 4K resolution and 60fps on some systems. Both main titles include a Master Book and Scenario Book, with MGS4 also featuring the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database. Reviewers note the collection's value in preserving the series' history, with the scenario books digitized from the 25th anniversary collection. The bundle also includes Metal Gear Solid Digital Soundtrack Vol.2.
- MGS4's cutscenes are longer than in any prior series entry; one reviewer notes actual playtime is roughly half the cutscene length, but found replaying it did not make that feel like a flaw.
- The port adds a "Psyche Gauge" and stress value tied to Snake's aging: psyche drops when he is scolded for smoking, and he visibly hurts his back when landing from heights.
- New equipment includes the "Solid Eye" eyepatch with mini-map, telescope, and night vision, plus "OctoCamo" that auto-camouflages Snake against surfaces without opening a menu.
- One reviewer confirmed a gag where performing "a certain action" during a radio call with Rosemary moves "a certain place," and noted Snake's movement speed is slower than in other titles.
- Peace Walker offers three control types at start: "Shooter Type," "Action Type" similar to Portable Ops, and "Hunter Type." Its comic-book style cutscenes get a high-resolution mode on all platforms except Switch.
- Mother Base management lets players assign Fulton-recovered soldiers to departments like R&D and Intel; online CO-OPS and VERSUS OPS are available on the same platform.
- Ghost Babel, the Game Boy Color bonus from 2000, was never ported before and is not part of the main canon; its subtitle initials "GB" match Game Boy, and it fuses 2D stealth with MGS wall-sticking and codec screens.
- Reviewers recommend playing Vol.1 first, since MGS4 assumes knowledge of prior titles and Peace Walker is set ten years after MGS3.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.