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 the overseas console versions) Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation Vita. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released on November 8, 2011 in North America, November 23, 2011 in Japan and February 3, 2012 in Europe. The PlayStation Vita version was released in North America on June 12, 2012. It was released in Japan on June 28, 2012 and in Europe on June 29, 2012. A digital download was also announced on August 7 on the Metal Gear Solid Facebook page at 5:49 PM, with release dates ranging from August 21 (PS Vita and PS3 releases of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty HD and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD, as well as the Xbox 360 Game-On-Demand version of the HD Collection minus Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker) and August 28 (Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and the Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection Bundle including all three games).

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 minigames Snake vs. Monkey and Guy Savage are 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 Peace Walker. All included games have trophy support for the PS3 and PS 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 control scheme for the PS Vita version has been overhauled to support the PS Vita's touchscreen capabilities, and to account for the lack of the R2, L2, R3, L3, and pressure sensitive buttons. The game features some minor alterations to tutorial dialog to take account of this.

The PS3 and PS Vita versions of the games have a new system called "Transfarring" which allows the player to switch the game between home consoles, handheld editions, and cloud storage, thus allowing continuous gameplay of the same file between systems. Peace Walker is able to transfer saves between the PS3 and PlayStation Portable while save data for Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 are transferable to the PS Vita and cloud storage.

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 represents Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 respectively. The Tank Box and Peace Walker represents 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 for home consoles 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.

The PS Vita version has been remastered by Armature Studio, based on the remastering work done for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Features specific to the PS Vita version include many control changes due to the new features of the PS Vita, as well as the presence of fewer buttons and the lack of pressure sensitive buttons. Peace Walker is not included with the PS Vita version, due to the availability of the PSP version on the PlayStation Network.

Initially, it was announced that on the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, 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 Metal Gear Solid: The Original Trilogy ~Vocal Tracks~. Paying extra, players will receive Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 mugs and a set of headphones.

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."

The PlayStation Vita version also received positive reviews. GameRankings gave it a 82.25% based on 10 reviews while Metacritic gave it a metascore of 83 based on 22 reviews. IGN gave it a 9 saying, "It's OK to be disappointed that Peace Walker didn't make it into the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection on Vita, but it would be wrong to punish the game for Konami's move. The Metal Gear Sold HD Collection is packed with content, and it's a joy to play. Whether you're returning to Snake's adventures or experiencing them for the first time, these two games feel at home on the Vita, look great and will keep you busy for quite some time." GameSpot gave it a 8.5 saying, "All told, this collection is worth every penny, and these iconic games will satiate the cravings of game-starved Vita owners in need of quality software." Game Informer gave it a 7.75 saying, "If you already own the title on PS3 and want to transfer your saves between devices to play Metal Gear on the go (and maybe earn some extra trophies), then maybe this trimmed-down version is worth considering. If you're not that kind of Metal Gear fan, then you don't need to waste another thought on this release." EGM gave it a 7.0 saying, "Konami definitely has a checkered history with HD releases over the past year, and MGS: HD Collection continues that trend. It's not an complete disaster like Silent Hill: HD Collection, but while it certainly succeeds from a technical standpoint, one can't help but focus on what missing—instead of what's actually there."

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.
 * 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.
 * At the moment, Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection is the PS3 Classic HD with the highest number of games included.