Video Game Review: Online

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection: Review

Revisit some of the finest moments of Playstations biggest series in this lovingly restored three game collection. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and, previously exclusive to PSP Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker are all rendered in beautiful HD for the first time. The collection will be available on both PS3 and Xbox 360 which is great news for many fans as the Xbox is sorely lacking in Metal Gear titles.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty

The second instalment I the Metal Gear Solid series, originally released in 2001. The game spans across two missions, The Tanker Incident, and The Big Shell Incident both taking place just miles off the coast of New York. The former being the only time in this bundle that you actually play as series protagonist Solid Snake, a one man army intent on ridding the world of the high-tech nuclear behemoth that is Metal Gear. The second chapter places you in the shoes of rookie special forces agent, Raiden, who’s first mission outside of VR training involves recuing the President, destroying nuclear robots and ultimately saving the world from total destruction.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Effectively the first instalment of the series takes us back to 1963 at the high of the Cold War. A Russian scientist has developed a weapon so powerful it threatens the very existence of life on earth. You take control of Naked Snake (genetic father of Solid Snake) as he infiltrates the wilds of the Russian jungle. Encounters with some of the most outrageous, yet original boss battles help this game secure its place in the video gaming hall of fame. From an hour long showdown with a one-hundred year old sniper, to the final showdown with the enormous nuclear war machine the “Shagohod” the game delivers an incredible cinematic gaming experience.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

For the first time available on console this may well close the deal for any returning Metal Gear veterans. Despite its release in 2009, many fans will have been deprived of this title due to its exclusive nature. Not exactly a direct sequel, but a follow on from Snake Eater. Naked Snake, now Codenamed Big Boss, and his band of mercenaries “militaires sans frontiers” are hired by an operative from Costa Rica (A country without a military). A mysterious armed force is shipping nuclear weaponry into the area and it up to you to find out why and drive them out of the country. All the wile recruiting new members for your private army and expanding you mother base through a unique management sim.  The story plays out in bite sized missions originally designed to be played on the go, so it may not always seem appropriate for console, but with a riveting story and countless side missions there is plenty to keep you busy.

This is a set that combines both quality and quantity to create the most impressive collection of video game classics ever compiled into one box. A must buy for returning fans of the franchise and new gamers who may have missed this incredible slice of gaming history the first time round.

Bellow: Mock-up of the article on The Guardian website