It’s interesting around here sometimes at Cinelinx because we have not one, not two, but three ridiculously dedicated Metal Gear Solid fans. So any time some MGS news or information comes out we talk about them fairly endlessly, and there’s no shortage of fanboyism to go around. When the newest Metal Gear compilation released (a couple weeks ago) I wasn’t entirely sure what to think about it.
Gameplay
At it’s core, this collection is really no different than what we’ve been offered before. It comes with the same games from the previous HD Collection, but also includes MGS4 and download codes for MGS1 and the VR Missions…so we still don’t even get those on disc. Basically, if you already own all of these, there doesn’t appear to be much reason for you to pick this one up.
This collection is all about the fanservice, and it does a great job for that; but I’ll get into that a little later on. There’s no frills here, or revamping of mechanics, what you get are the games as they were before (with any changes made to the HD Collection of course). That’s not really a bad thing, though, as these games are still amazing to play through even today. They’ve managed to really withstand the test of time and provide engaging stories.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of playing this franchise before, then this collection is well worth your time to pick up. There’s a reason this franchise is so popular and beloved, so don’t miss out on it.
Even for someone like me, who’s played through each of these games at least a couple times, I still enjoy going back through them. Despite knowing all the tricks and things I’m supposed to do, I still have fun crawling around and tackling missions. Hell, I still jump in surprise when I’m found out by an enemy. With 8 games in total, this bundle has a lot of play value behind it and can keep you occupied during even the longest of dry gaming spells.
I only wish it had included some of the other games we haven’t seen repackaged, like the Metal Gear Solid GameBoy Color game. Fortunately, I have this game and been able to play through it, but many fans of the series haven’t. It’s a shame considering, it’s genuinely one of the best games in to bear the MGS brand on it, with a story you actually cared about…all told in little sprites. For something called the “Legacy” collection, it seems like an odd omission, and something that should have been included for the fans.
The Bonuses
Remember, I said this collection was all about fanservice? That’s because the bonuses it comes with, are what really makes this set worthwhile, if you’re a diehard fan of the franchise. On the disc comes two digital graphic novels (presented in motion comic form), and I’d venture to say that those alone make this a must-buy. These have never been released here in the US before, so it’s a great opportunity to own something unique to this collection, as well as a fun way to get involved in the story.
On top of that also comes the 100-page art book. It’s a tad on the small side (being only the same size as the blu-ray case), but it’s chocked full of unique art that will be of interest to long time fans. Those of you who happened to buy the Anniversary Art Book that came out a little bit ago will be happy to hear that the book coming with this collection is entirely different, so it’s not just a repackage.
Bottomline
For most fans, these little extras are the reason to buy the MGS Legacy Collection, and I agree that they’re worth the purchase. The problem is that if you’re not interested in these things and already played through the games, there truly isn’t much reason for you to pick this up. It has enough tidbits in here for fans to gobble up (like me), but for the average gamer it’s tough to recommend.
Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection gets a 7 out of 10. (Though as a fan I give it perfect marks!).
