Reddit mentions of Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection

I love Metal Gear... and I already have two collections:

Metal Gear: The Essential Collection released in 2008 (this one was criticized by some for not including the Gamecube remake, but rather including a PS1 disk)

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection released 2011 (again avoids any remake of MGS1 or GCN port, also leaves out Portable Ops: is basically MSG2, 3, and Peace Walker)

Is this a new thing? Release a random collection of MG games every 3 years? If there's an HD remake of the original Metal Gear (a la, the project they shut down) and MG2.. along with a port/remake of the GCN version - that would be worthwhile I guess.

If it's HD-collection redux with slightly "more HD" versions of the previous games....? I can't see them having done proper remakes in this time frame. Previous HD collection + Ground Zeroes? Same issue.

The MGS Essentials Collection. MGS 1-3 with cool box art like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Gear-Solid-Collection-Playstation-2/dp/B001383L36

It's disc 1 of Subsistence. it came in a box set http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Gear-Solid-Collection-Playstation-2/dp/B001383L36

You can either play them chronologically in the order in which the games were released (I recommend this), or play them chronologically in the order in which the story occurs. Either is fine but definitely do not skip the original Metal Gear Solid.

My recommendation is to buy either:

• Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection for PS2, which contains MGS1, MGS2, and MGS3, then buy MGS4 for the PS3, or
  
  
• The original PS1 Metal Gear Solid + Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection for PS3 which contains MGS2, MGS3, and MGS:PW, then buy MGS4 for the PS3.
  
  I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to start from newer games going into older games because you get "spoiled" by the updated combat mechanics of the newer games, which could make playing the older games more tedious. If you play the older ones first, you'll appreciate the better combat mechanics of the newer games. Having said that, I think that Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes for Gamecube isn't as clunky as the original since it's a remake. TBQH with you, though, it's probably not as bad as you might think.

Yeah, it's part of the Metal Gear Solid: Essential Collection. If you feel compelled to use the cover art yourself, you can download it here!

As an alternative to getting the PSN digital copy if you have a PS3, you can get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Gear-Solid-Collection-Playstation-2/dp/B001383L36/ref=sr_1_4?m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&s=merchant&ie=UTF8&qid=1383105548&sr=1-4&keywords=metal+gear+solid

I bought this several years ago, before the HD Collection came out. It comes with the MGS1 (PS1 disc), MGS2 Substance (for PS2, of course), and MGS3 Subsistence (also PS2, of course). It's 3 normal PS2-style boxes (with different box art, you can see them in the photos) and they are bundled in a cardboard sleeve as a sort of "box set", which you can also see in the photos.

And, as others have said, there's always ebay.

I was going to push Shadow of the Colossus and Ico, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw you already knew what you were doing. Also I highly recommend Katamari and God of War. Things that aren't on your list:

MGS Essential Collection. Three of the best games in one package.

Beyond Good & Evil is a really fun game

Okami is a great Zelda clone although a bit easy (and reaaaally long)

Odin Sphere. This game has a difficulty curve like a damn roller coaster but it's absolutely gorgeous, for the eyes and ears, and has a good plot and likable characters.

Sly Cooper is fantastic

Pyschonauts is one of the best games ever made, but I believe its better on other systems. Don't know for sure though because I played it on PS2

Yep. Here's a link to what it looks like: http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Gear-Solid-Collection-Playstation-2/dp/B001383L36/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342742559&sr=8-1&keywords=metal+gear+essential
It's got a nasty mark up at Amazon, but most walmarts I go to have a copy stashed in some random corner of the video game section. It's a really great set. The PSone game comes in a PS2 box, but it's really a repressing of the original PSone discs.

If your PS3 can play PS2 games I highly suggest you buy the Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection. It used to be cheaper, but it's still worth the money.

http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Gear-Solid-Collection-Playstation-2/dp/B001383L36

I would get that if I were you, lots of stores like Kmart and Walmart could have them lying around in their clearance sections depending on your area. It has the PS1 copy of MGS1, as well as Substance and Subsistence, which are the "complete" versions of 2 and 3 respectively.

Obviously not exactly the same, but Metal Gear Solid is pretty good about this (especially in re-releases, such as...).

I HIGHLY recommend playing the first 3 first if you can. You can score the Essential Collection for $20 on Amazon, which is the first 3 games in one package. (You need a way to play PS1 and PS2 games.) You can also buy MGS 1 on the PSN Store and download it.

MGS4 is largely a fan service to running fans. Ut's great, but there are tons of references to the first games


NOTE: MGS3 is a prequel to the entire series.


>>MAJOR SPOILERS


-Metal Gear Solid 3-

You play as Naked Snake (aka Big Boss) who is the original Snake in the series. During a rescue mission that fails, your mentor 'The Boss' defects to the Russians and turns and you. The scientist you were trying to save is being forced to work on a new mobile weapon that can launch nukes. "The Boss" takes him back and throws you over a bridge, and delivers a nuke to the games protagonist, who sets it off in Russia. America is blamed and threatened with war if they can't prove it wasn't them. You are sent back in.


Your next mission is to attempt the rescue again, stop the nuke launching tank, and kill 'The Boss.' You get help from Eva, a over sexy woman who acts as a spy, and gain a rival named Ocelot. At the end of the game, it's revealed that 'The Boss' never defected, but was under orders from America the entire time. She was sent on a suicide mission by the President, to be killed by your hand, so America would look good. She was a true Patriot to the end. Learning this causes Naked Snake to leave America and form his own Army.


-Metal Gear 1 & 2- (Old 8bit)

All you need to know is Big Boss tried to create Outer Haven, a private army with no country. Solid Snake is sent in to stop him both times.

-Metal Gear Solid-

Solid Snake is brought back into action. Terrorists have taken over a base, and demand money, and the remains of Big Boss. The leader of the group is Liquid Snake, a clone of Big Boss, and your "Brother". Solid Snake learns he is a clone with the goal to make the ultimate soldier.

(I'll type the rest tomorrow if you want me to keep going... You're WAY better off playing the others first though. )

What you need to know is that you can purchase the Metal Gear Solid Essentials Collection on Amazon for $20.

Don't even try to play this series out of order. There are so many impactful moments in the game you simply aren't going to care about. Read up on the Metal Gear backstory, and the MGS: Portable Ops game backstory, but play the MGS console games. That's the damned minimum you need to really enjoy MGS4.

You should get the MGS bundle for ps2 if your ps3 allows backwards compatibility. used for 23 bucks

I dunno how I missed that, or MGS 2 for that matter. I think you're right.

Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection

I was aware of the trilogy being released on ps3, didn't know about this.

It was part of the Essentials Collection. I found that lone copy of MGS in the wild for $1. It is actually the PSX game but packaged in a PS2 box.