Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is a compilation of remastered ports of Metal Gear video games released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Vita. The PS3 and Xbox 360 version contains Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, while the Vita version omits Peace Walker and only includes the former two titles. The PS3 and Xbox 360 version of the collection was developed by Bluepoint Games (with Peace Walker being ported by Genki), while Armature Studio handled the Vita version. The MSX2 versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake are also included on all three versions. The Japanese version of the compilation does not include Peace Walker, which was instead given a stand-alone retail release for its HD Edition. However, the Japanese release of the PS3 compilation includes a voucher code to download the original Metal Gear Solid from the PlayStation Network.

The core play mechanics 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 on consoles, and sub-HD resolution on PlayStation Vita. As well as 720p HD visuals, the console editions of these new versions run at 60 frames per second. All three games have Trophy support for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions 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. The game was released in digital format on Xbox Live (without Peace Walker) on August 21, 2012 while MGS2 and MGS3 were released separately on PlayStation Network. On August 28, 2012, Peace Walker was released on Xbox Live and PSN with a full game bundle of all three games exclusively on PSN.

Games: 

• Metal Gear.
• Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
• Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
• Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Features: 

The console editions of the games received a high-definition overhaul. The Vita editions of the games have various control changes to take advantage of its touchscreen. The console editions of Peace Walker added dual analog stick control. The gameplay otherwise has not changed.

The HD Edition of Metal Gear Solid 2 features all the bonus content from the Substance edition (lacking only the Skateboarding minigame), while the version of Metal Gear Solid 3 only features some of the added content from Subsistence edition, namely the inclusion of the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake and the addition of the third-person camera, Demo Theater and European Extreme mode. The "Metal Gear Online" multiplayer mode, Secret Theatre, Boss Survival Mode and the "Snake vs. Monkey" minigame are not included. It also removes the nightmare sequence when the player resumes the game after Snake is captured.

The American and European console versions of the collection include HD versions of Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3 and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker in one package, as well with the MSX2 versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. The Japanese package does not include Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Instead, the retail release of the PS3 version includes a product code to download the original Metal Gear Solid. The PlayStation Vita versions also do not include Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The HD conversion of Peace Walker for PS3 and Xbox 360 was given a separate stand-alone release on November 10.

The PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions of the collection 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 the PlayStation Portable, while Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 are transferable to both the PlayStation Vita version and cloud storage.

Marketing: 

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. However, on November 25, it disappeared from Zavvi without explanation. 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, an exclusive Metal Gear Solid T-shirt and an exclusive 250 page premium art book showcasing the artwork of Yoji Shinkawa. All those who pre-ordered the previous edition before it was cancelled 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 no longer exclusive for the PlayStation 3. 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.

A North American Limited Edition for the HD Collection became 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.

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 of The Art of Metal Gear Solid The Original Trilogy, and the soundtrack. Paying extra, players receive 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 and a Kazuhira Miller Play Arts Kai figure.

On April 22, 2013, Konami announced a new collection, Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection, exclusive to PlayStation 3. The collection will include Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, Metal Gear Solid 2: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid 3: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker: HD Edition and Metal Gear Solid 4: Trophy Edition. The collection was released in North America on July 9, 2013, and in Japan on July 11, 2013. The European version is scheduled to be released on September 13, 2013.




Reception: 

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection received critical acclaim upon release. Review aggregators GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 90% and 89/100, the Xbox 360 version 88% and 90/100 and the PlayStation Vita version 83% and 81/100.

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. In a feature article regarding games collections, 1UP listed Metal Gear Solid HD Collection as "The Closest We've Come to Perfection" owing to the improved quality its games were given.

In 2014, the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition listed Metal Gear Solid HD Collection as the highest rated HD video game compilation.

 

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