Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 will receive a score of 86, releasing on August 27
- The collection will be released on August 27 on all modern platforms.
- Average rating: 86 Metacritic, 84 OpenCritic, 88% recommendations
- The main plus is the quality port of MGS4, bonuses from Peace Walker and Ghost Babel
- Cons: no online multiplayer in MGS4 and persistent bugs
Next week, Konami plans to release the second volume of its Metal Gear game archive — Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. The collection includes four titles, among which the key one is Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which will be released for the first time outside the PlayStation 3 platform.
Date and platforms
The collection will be available on August 27 on PC (via Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as on Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The absence of Russian localization has been officially stated, which may limit part of the audience.
Critics' ratings
After receiving preliminary copies, journalists from various publications shared their impressions. According to aggregators, the average score on Metacritic for the PlayStation 5 version was 86, while on OpenCritic it was 84, with 88% of reviewers recommending the game. These figures indicate a positive reception, although opinions remain mixed.
Most reviews highlight the quality port MGS4 as the main advantage of the collection. Reviewers note that the graphics, sound, and controls have been adapted for modern consoles without noticeable losses. The games Peace Walker и Ghost Babel are seen as pleasant additions, but not as deciding factors in evaluating the collection.
Drawbacks and technical issues
Critics have repeatedly pointed out the lack of online multiplayer in MGS4, which limits the possibility of cooperative battles, especially considering the popularity of cooperative modes in previous installments of the series. Additionally, the collection retains some known bugs that have not been fixed since the original release.
Some journalists faced issues accessing the servers: their reviews noted that the game servers had not yet been launched, making full testing impossible. Questions about the cooperative's operation in Peace Walker and the potential creation of private servers for MGO also arose in the comments, but there are no official statements on these topics yet.
Context and significance of the release
The appearance of Metal Gear Solid 4 on new platforms removes more than a decade-long exclusivity of PlayStation 3, making one of the most significant episodes of the series available to a wider audience. This is especially relevant as many players are looking for ways to get acquainted with the franchise's story without the need to seek out old hardware.
For fans who have long awaited an official re-release, the collection represents an opportunity to complete their acquaintance with the main storyline, as well as discover lesser-known projects such as Ghost Babel. Despite some technical limitations, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is already perceived as an important step in preserving gaming heritage.
Source: StopGame
