Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection (Metal Gear Solid: HD Edition in Japan) is a HD re-release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and (in overseas versions) Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was released on November 8, 2011 in North America, November 23, 2011 in Japan and February 3, 2012 in Europe. The PlayStation Vita version will be released in Japan on June 28, 2012.

Features
The version of Metal Gear Solid 2 in HD Collection contains Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, while the version of Metal Gear Solid 3 contains Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence along with Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. However, the original version of Metal Gear Online, Secret Theatre and the minigame Snake vs. Monkey is not included. The Existence disc is also not included.

In Japan, the PS3 version of the game also includes a product code for downloading the Game Archives version of the original Metal Gear Solid instead of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. All three games have trophy support for the PS3 version 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 PS3 version of the games 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 PS3 and PlayStation Portable while Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 is transferable to the PlayStation Vita.

The Xbox 360 version comes with four avatar items, one each for Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 and two for Peace Walker. Metal Gear RAY and Shagohod represent Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 respectively. The Tank Box and Peace Walker represent Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Development
Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection was announced on June 3, 2011 as part of Konami's pre-E3 press conference. The collection was revealed alongside the Transfarring system, Zone of the Enders: HD Collection and the Fox Engine.

The games have been remastered in 720p by Bluepoint Games, the same company that produced the God of War Collection and The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection. Regarding Peace Walker HD, Jiroo Tsubuyaki said, "It's not just emulation. There are many areas that are being remade, and the play feel is completely new." New features include: right analog stick compatibility, rumble support, high quality sound, and trophy/achievement support. Visually, the menus and other areas have been completely remade.

Initially, it was announced that Metal Gear Solid 2 and Peace Walker would run at 60fps while Metal Gear Solid 3 would run at 30fps. It was later revealed that the entire collection would run at 60fps.

Ultimate HD Collection
Metal Gear Solid: Ultimate HD Collection is a PS3 exclusive special edition of HD Collection. It includes all the content and features of the regular version, plus Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, a product code for downloading the Game Archives version of the original Metal Gear Solid and five art cards.

The game comes in steelbook packaging and is exclusive to UK retailer, Zavvi. It is priced at £69.85 and was strictly limited to 4,000 copies worldwide. According to Zavvi's website, Ultimate HD Collection is set to be released February 25, 2012.

Later in the year, The offer disappeared from the Zavvi website. The retailer then emailed all customers that according to an email that Konami sent, the contents have changed, as well as the name. Now known as Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection Limited Edition, in addition to the game itself the included items are an now a storage box, a steelbook case, a exclusive t-shirt, and The Artbook of Yoji Shinkawa, as well as a free platinum copy of Metal Gear Solid 4 to the first 4,000 customers who pre-order it. The promised Metal Gear Solid download code and art cards were ditched from the addition. Zavvi also announced that there will be a Xbox 360 version of the collection avalible as well. It contains the same contents. The release date was changed to February 3, 2012 and is priced at £69.99. 

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection Premium Package
Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection Premium Package is a special edition available in Japan. Premium Package will include a copy of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3, 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 will receive Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 mugs, headphones and bags.

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection Limited Edition
Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection Limited Edition was announced by Konami on September 30, 2011. It has been confirmed for release in the U.S. In addition to the content of the standard edition, the Limited Edition includes specialized packaging created by Yoji Shinkawa, and an exclusive, 248-page art book titled The Art of Metal Gear Solid.

Tokyo Game Show fans
During the 2011 Tokyo Game Show, four uchiwa fans were issued representing Metal Gear Solid HD. The fans each had characters from the collection, with two being from Metal Gear Solid 2 and two from Metal Gear Solid 3. Two of the fans had Solid Snake and Raiden, one of which used the Metal Gear Solid 2 cover art from Metal Gear Solid HD. One had the image of Naked Snake saluting from the Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence cover, and one had the artwork used on the Japanese and European covers of Metal Gear Solid 3, showing Naked Snake and The Boss. There were also four uchiwa fans for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition.

Reception
Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection received very positive reviews. GameRankings gave the PlayStation 3 version a 90.31% based on 32 reviews, while the Xbox 360 version got a 90.13% based on 15 reviews. Metacritic gave the PS3 version a metascore of 89, while the Xbox 360 version got a metascore of 90. Game Informer gave HD Collection a 9 saying, "While this collection doesn't give you the complete picture, it highlights many of the reasons this series has such a devoted following." IGN gave it a 9.0 saying, "If having to make a choice feels like picking a favorite kid, then the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is a cowardly -- and awesome -- way out." GamePro gave it a 4.5/5 saying, "if you loved these three gruff, gravel-voiced games on their original releases, or missed them the first time around, they're certainly worth adding (or re-adding, or, if you're like me, re-re-adding) to your library."

Trivia

 * The words on the wheel-locked doors now read "Metal Gear 2 Guns of Patriots."
 * The words "Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater" can be seen on Naked Snake's helmet during the opening cutscene of Metal Gear Solid 3.
 * Since Snake vs. Monkey wasn't included, the player can't unlock the Banana camo.
 * Metal Gear Solid 3 also comes with previously downloadable camo patterns.
 * Selecting "I like MGS3!" when starting a new game unlocks the following: the Green and Brown facepaint and the AUSCAM, Desert Tiger, DPM and Flecktarn camo.
 * In one of the rooms on the second floor of the Graniny Gorki Lab in Metal Gear Solid 3, a magazine can be found on a desk advertising the HD remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 in Dutch. The magazine hints that Metal Gear Solid 3 may be ported to the Wii and PC; however, this is merely speculation due to the content on the cover.
 * In fact, in the east basement, there are several more magazines in a variety of languages that feature images from Metal Gear Solid 3, Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid 4.