Original Metal Gear Solid coming to PSN in Japan

45 Comments by Scott Jon Siegel Mar 18th 2008 4:30PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Retro, Action

Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection might gather Solid Snake's escapades all in one place, but it's still a pain for players to get the PS1 original Metal Gear Solid to play nice on the Playstation 3. Luckily, Konami's making it a tad easier to experience Snake's classic adventure, with the game coming out on the Playstation Network in Japan March 21.

For 600 yen, Japanese gamers will be able to play the original Metal Gear Solid on both their PS3 and PSP, no doubt in preparation for Metal Gear Solid 4. No word yet if MGS1 will make its way to the other territories, but we'll certainly keep our fingers crossed.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Tags: konami, metal-gear-solid, metalgearsolid, mgs, psn

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Ken Seang: Mar 18th 2008; 4:35PM

Twin snakes for gamecube/wii is recommended... I like the controls and the improved graphics is a plus.

Hyams: Mar 18th 2008; 4:54PM

PS1 origional >>> The Twin Snakes.

Alex: Mar 18th 2008; 5:09PM

MGS1 on the PS1 is far, far better than the GC version. Sucks to your hi-tech graphics!
Also, even though the console battle wears on, we find ourselves turning to downloaded Pacman, MGS1 and black and white puzzle games like Echochrome. All of which could be played on a PS1 or possibly Sega Megadrive. Is it ust me or are we going backwards again?

finnith: Mar 18th 2008; 5:18PM

Your point is lost on Echochrome. It is the great gameplay that make the game great. Much like Portal, it is simple yet complex.

religiousjedi: Mar 18th 2008; 6:16PM

Wait, wait...I thought we all liked our high-end graphics?!?!?

*shocked*

Vidikron (FU): Mar 19th 2008; 2:50AM

@Alex

I'm not so sure your point works. These are $5-10 dollar games we are talking about here. And no one said that people still don't appreciate the classics. That's the best thing about services like PSN, XBLA, and VC... we can still pick up some classics and cheap new original titles while still getting our new full retail games at the same time.

David: Mar 18th 2008; 4:36PM

Snake? Snake?! SNAAAAAAKKKEEEE!!

Oh wait, you're everywhere now...

Sam406: Mar 19th 2008; 1:03AM

OHMYGOD! HE's ON YOUR AVATAR GETITOFF!

Mr Intel: Mar 18th 2008; 4:37PM

ive had the home brew version for months sony needs to step dey game

Mr Intel: Mar 18th 2008; 4:38PM

Kodros: Mar 18th 2008; 5:00PM

Or you could just stop downloading games for your illegally cracked PSP.

DangerMouse: Mar 18th 2008; 5:12PM

My copies of MGS are legal, as I still have the CD's. If my PSP didn't have the custom firmware, i would've given up on it a long time ago.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 18th 2008; 5:17PM

Take a hike, Kodros. There's nothing illegal about a hacked PSP or the homebrew running on it.

Kodros: Mar 18th 2008; 5:45PM

Hmm, I guess I thought that using software that was created by reverse engineering system code and then downloading unauthorized software to a device where the EULA says specifically not to do this would be illegal.

Kodros: Mar 18th 2008; 5:53PM

Yeah, nevermind. I guess it wouldn't be illegal.

I'll be back later...taking a hike.

V1L3: Mar 18th 2008; 7:25PM

Hacking your console firmware is like putting a duck on your head. Just because it isn't illegal doesn't mean it isn't a retarded thing to do.

Deviation: Mar 18th 2008; 4:47PM

"Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection might gather Solid Snake's escapades all in one place, but it's still a pain for players to get the PS1 original Metal Gear Solid to play nice on the Playstation 3."

WTF? Every Playstation 3, even the 40gb units with no PS2 BC, will play PSX games just fine. So... it's no pain AT ALL to get the PS1 original Metal Gear Solid to play nice on the Playstation 3.

aaron_k7: Mar 18th 2008; 5:20PM

I agree, what an odd thing to say in a blog. Besides the fact that you have to get off your ass and stick a disc in the machine, what's the hassle???

knowthyself: Mar 18th 2008; 4:48PM

Still got my original PSX greatest hits copy and it plays fine on my PS3 not to mention its upscaled and looks great.

Psaakyrn: Mar 18th 2008; 4:55PM

so... how will the Psycho Mantis battle work? c.c

Jhongerkong: Mar 18th 2008; 5:10PM

"This is Snake. Colonel, can you hear me?"

Jhongerkong: Mar 18th 2008; 5:10PM

Whoops, i meant to comment but I replied.

David: Mar 18th 2008; 5:28PM

"So...I see you like to listen to Rick Astley."

OMGWTF HE CAN READ MY MIND?!

Psaakyrn: Mar 18th 2008; 5:45PM

It may not be illegal, but a significant number of such users use it for such unfortunately. Go ahead and blame the vocal (minority? majority?) for said stigma.

FOXHOUND: Mar 18th 2008; 6:13PM

RickRoll'd by Psycho Mantis...? Now that's something. As for the fight itself, I figure they'll recode it where the face buttons become a D-pad and the D-pad acts as those buttons.

Hyams: Mar 18th 2008; 4:57PM

I still have the origional game on disc somewhere. If I can find it I'll play through it again before MGS4 drops.

Shame MGS3: Snake Eater struggles to play on my PS3 though. Still, I'm amazed it plays at all - it's not listed as one of the games the PS3 can play (only the Subsistence version is - and even that is meant to have major issues).

aaron_k7: Mar 18th 2008; 5:21PM

Which PS3 do you have?

ssuk: Mar 18th 2008; 5:31PM

EUR 60GB/40GB PS3 consoles have difficulty playing any MGS3 game which isn't in the English language. I was expecting Sony to fix this by now, however they haven't.

Hyams: Mar 18th 2008; 6:09PM

I have the EU 60gb version (same software BC as the 80gb in the US).

Jhongerkong: Mar 18th 2008; 5:12PM

Twin snakes >>>>>> The original

Shimrra: Mar 18th 2008; 5:20PM

Not bad for people who havent played the original but I'll pass I still own both the American and Japanese Import of MGS as well as Twin Snakes. So this isn't really all that important to me.

topher: Mar 18th 2008; 5:23PM

MGS: Essential Collection for those who have BC on their PS3's w00t w00t!

ssuk: Mar 18th 2008; 5:34PM

I know this may be an odd concept to you, but... Some people may not HAVE MGS. I support this re-release for everyone should play the MGS series and this just makes it easier to do. Plus, you get a PSP friendly version to boot. Sweet deal for $6.

topher: Mar 18th 2008; 6:05PM

yea for those who haven't played mgs, get the mgs: essential collection... tard XP

Mr.ESC: Mar 18th 2008; 6:46PM

Or have a Ps2.

I also wanted to buy Hitman essentials but um well I don't feel like it.

Ken Seang: Mar 18th 2008; 5:41PM

Yea yea the original is better but I still prefer to play twin snakes over the original any day. Plus, what annoyed me was the long loading times of the original ps1.

Pointz: Mar 18th 2008; 6:01PM

And the lack of 1st person mode. Shootihg Psycho Mantis or Ocelot in top-down third person is ridiculous, I prefer Twin Snakes.

Sam406: Mar 19th 2008; 1:10AM

Maybe, but that's how it was meant to be done.

The battle with Ocelot is easy enough as it is, but add the fact that in TTS you start with a full HEALTH bar and that you can headshot him (which makes unnecesary to chase him around and does ridiculous damage.)

So yeah, six shots are more than enough to kill anything that moves, only 4 in this case.

JRM: Mar 18th 2008; 6:45PM

I remember playing MGS1 again, after a few years, and the graphics were just...un-watchable. I could barely make out Snake with all the blocky background in the way. The cinematics looked all blurry, grainy; it all looked terrible. As awesome as the game was in '98--the first time around--the graphics are horribly dated now to the point where my eyes were getting strained looking at it. I would totally go for "twin Snakes" if I hadn't played the game already.

Also, it makes sense that the game is being sold for only 600 yen (about $6)

Carl: Mar 19th 2008; 2:19AM

I'm sorry.

I would rather play the original blocky, blurry and grainy version then have over dramatic cinematic version where it has Snake does a backflip off flying concrete slabs.

PSX version > GC version

Curmeo: Mar 19th 2008; 1:58AM

the title that changed 3D stealth gameplay forever :)

when is it coming to other PSN regions Sony?

Pointz: Mar 19th 2008; 4:09AM

Splinter Cell? The stealth mechanics are much better than just putting your back to the wall or hidingbin a useless cardboard box. That's my opinion anyway.

kbomb1upc: Mar 19th 2008; 9:39AM

@Pointz
There would be no Splinter Cell if it wasn't for Metal Gear Solid. That game pretty much revolutionized the stealth genre.

ulovemikeroch: Mar 20th 2008; 12:23AM

Plus, Splinter Cell sucks and Snake would kick Sam Fisher's ass like no other.

hvnlysoldr: Apr 9th 2008; 12:29AM

I'm not searching for the Metal Gear Awesome video.

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