Ask Joystiq: What's essentially in the MGS collection?
A signed MGS Essential Collection from Kojima's London Signing
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I want to get the MGS Essential Collection before I get Metal Gear Solid 4 but what exactly is in it? I mean for example does it have the Subsistence edition of MGS2 or MGS3? What does directors cut mean? Does it mean they cut from the original games? Please help me!
– Manuel G.
The Metal Gear Solid Essential Collection includes the original MGS, MGS2: Substance and MGS3: Subsistence (sans Disc 2). For MGS2, that includes:
- The original MGS2: Sons of Liberty, with new infrared effects and new dog tags.
- Boss Survival and Casting Theater, both found in the original PAL and Japanese version.
- 300 VR missions and 200 "Alternate missions"
- Snake Tales, a series of non-canonical missions featuring Snake
- A demo for Evolution Skateboarding featuring Snake and Raiden shredding the Big Shell
When Substance and Subsistence are referred to as "Director's Cuts," that means it has expanded the game and included more than the original release of the title. For example, the Japanese and PAL editions of the original MGS2 had Boss Survival and Casting Theater (the game was released in North America first, which might pose an explanation for their exclusion).
Some director's cuts also fix up localization and translation errors. Despite the occasional wishful thinking, we couldn't think of a director's cut of a game that excluded content.
Snake? Snaaaake? SNAAAAAAKE! Check out our Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots page for all things Metal Gear.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
OMGOMG @ Jun 9th 2008 7:06PM
Snake in a tux=Epic Win
ApolloIV @ Jun 9th 2008 7:14PM
I finally made my way into MGS3 and it won't save!?!?! Any ideas Joystiq folks?
joe @ Jun 9th 2008 7:19PM
Does your memory card have enough space?
ApolloIV @ Jun 9th 2008 8:56PM
Yes, it is. This is a brand new memory card and even on a new play file it refuses to save. I saved once and that was when it prompted me too.
Mromson @ Jun 10th 2008 5:39AM
Call Para-Medic.
WhatIsThatThing @ Jun 10th 2008 6:13AM
Are you using a Playstation 1 memory card? They won't work in PS2s. I remember finding that out the hard way.
Ghen @ Jun 9th 2008 7:19PM
Okami is too long... I'm currently at the second part of the snow village and I find it hard to put the game disc back in.
The_Punisher @ Jun 9th 2008 7:25PM
No1 cares, MGS4 is only 3 days away
Roto13 @ Jun 9th 2008 7:35PM
Yeah. I'm at Oni Island and I'm having the same problem. xP Awesome game, but... I wish it was over....
Mr Khan @ Jun 9th 2008 7:36PM
How far are you from the first battle against Orochi, then? That's where i am, and i'd like a ballpark estimate of what i've got coming
Jhongerkong @ Jun 9th 2008 7:47PM
Since we're talking about random games, I managed to do FELM on heavy (albeit with a C). Still can't do FAXX though...
Jacksons @ Jun 9th 2008 8:32PM
Okami overstays its welcome, that's for damned sure.
ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 9th 2008 9:08PM
If you're supposed to fight some big owl demons to stop the storms in the North and have heard about an Ark nearby, then you're maybe 4 hours or so from the end (so, you're almost there).
I agree, though, Okami is wayyyy too long. By the time I had found all of the celestial beads and unlocked New Game+ with all of the bonus features unlocked, I didn't have the will to play through it again to enjoy my new content.
jcd @ Jun 9th 2008 9:24PM
Lot's of people playing okami eh? I just went through it too. Took me about 50 hours. Okami is the very definition of easy, I didn't die once and by the end I had enough stuff to revive about 20 times in a row.
Back on topic, the lack of the bonus disk from MGS3 was almost a deal breaker for me, but I am a sucker for everything MGS
Ghen @ Jun 9th 2008 9:44PM
Its not off topic, there's a link about okami being long in the article ;)
ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 10th 2008 1:47AM
also, @ Mr. Khan:
If you just fought Orochi the first time at the Moon Cave, then you've still got a long way to go. You're about 1/3 of the way through the entire game, maybe even a little less.
Arttemis @ Jun 9th 2008 7:24PM
"we couldn't think of a director's cut of a game that excluded content."
Technically, as included in "The Essential Collection," you're missing the Snake vs. Monkey mini-game that unlocks the (purely topical) Monkey Mask and Banana Camo.
It was shifted from the sole disc of MGS3 to the 2nd disc on MGS3:Subsistence.
Also, you lose the ability to obtain the DPM Camo and Green Face Paint that would be awarded for getting the highest score in the Boss Battle scenarios.
As far as MGS1 is concerned, I was very disappointed that they did not include the extra game modes and VR missions found in the Japanese "Metal Gear Solid: Integral."
For people who would just like the play the main games (and aren't completist), then this collection is definitely the best and cheapest option.
Zane @ Jun 9th 2008 7:26PM
Does anyone besides me hate MGS?
http://pixblix.com
Mr Khan @ Jun 9th 2008 7:40PM
The hate train for MGS is long and filled with people who hate it for a great variety of reasons, whether it's just your run-of-the-mill "It's Japanese so it sucks" xenophobe or people who beg for a more cohesive story or cutscene haters or people who just find it boring as piss
Personally, i've never been able to make a call, as, embarrassing as it may sound, i've never played an MGS, mostly because the only available one for me is Twin Snakes on GC, and i was obsessed with PSO at the time
Jonathan @ Jun 9th 2008 7:42PM
Seriously, or are you just trying to start a flame war? I mean if you generally hate it thats all well and good as I am all for everyone having their own opinion. But when I see posts like these that offer no evidence for their hating of something, it just to me to be an attempt to just get people upset and start fights when they are unnecessary.
In any case, to answer your question, I do not hate it, but you are not alone in your thoughts I suspect...
Ghen @ Jun 9th 2008 9:45PM
he's only saying he hates it so you click the link to his stupid blog. Ad whores like this should be banned.
s256 @ Jun 10th 2008 10:39AM
Aww PSO!
Such great times on and offline (with 3 others)!
Korova *Pyro aspect* @ Jun 9th 2008 7:45PM
I think ign is not going to give MGS4 a 10.
They wouldnt be holding back the review otherwise.
Mr Khan @ Jun 9th 2008 7:48PM
That and the fact that they may be more hesitant to release a preliminary, stellar review since their exclusive GTAIV review was put under such public scrutiny
Korova *Pyro aspect* @ Jun 9th 2008 8:38PM
I bet it wont be more than 9.8
Kodros @ Jun 9th 2008 8:51PM
Keep in mind that the game is being released on a Thursday so most of the reviews would probably be 2 days later also.
Korova *Pyro aspect* @ Jun 9th 2008 9:44PM
pre-release reviewed were conditioned - they could not talk about certain things that may seem critical, so IGN decided not to release their review early. Plus they wanted to see the multiplayer with real people playing. Theirs should be out a few hours after release.
AvelaTT @ Jun 11th 2008 12:33AM
they gave it a 9.9
Joe Chapot @ Jun 9th 2008 7:49PM
This collection is essential, but it could have been Metal Gear: The Compelte Saga is they included a disc with at least the first two Metal Gears like Subsistence has on its own.
BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ Jun 9th 2008 7:51PM
The biggest thing that stopped me from getting this is the lack of MGS3 Subsistence's second disc. That had the MSX Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, which I'm really interested in playing. :(
Mr Khan @ Jun 9th 2008 7:56PM
Perhaps they'll bring the MSX versions to Virtual Console, once they introduce the platform in North America
Pinwiz @ Jun 9th 2008 7:59PM
So can I use a PS2 memory card with Metal Gear Solid 1? If I can't save my game then there's no reason to upgrade.
BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ Jun 9th 2008 8:02PM
It's still a PS1 game, so you'll need a PS1 memory card. Which you can get for... what, $1 used?
ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 9th 2008 9:14PM
Yeah, they're pretty cheap. I picked one up at Gamestop a couple years ago for $2.99.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 9th 2008 8:35PM
LOL yeah, when we got the Essential Collection, we forgot we needed those old fashioned PS1 memory cards to save MGS1, had to look everywhere in my house to find it. : D
I wish we got Twin Snakes on the PS2. : (
BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ Jun 9th 2008 9:36PM
See, that would require EFFORT. Collections are (generally) not about effort. They're (generally) about making a quick buck.
Just buy a GameCube or Wii.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 9th 2008 8:40PM
I wish someone would remake MG and MG2, sorry but the graphics are too dated for me now, I need my 3D and voiceovers and bloom. : (
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 9th 2008 9:13PM
I could see the need for a remake of MGS1 if you don't have a wii/gamecube, but MGS2 holds up just fine in my opinion, MGS1 not so much.
Ghen @ Jun 9th 2008 9:47PM
mmmmmm bloom ;)
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 9th 2008 10:11PM
I said "MG" and "MG2", which are Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2, released in 1987 and 1990 I think.
BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ Jun 9th 2008 10:31PM
2D > 3D
FOREVER
FOXHOUND @ Jun 10th 2008 7:16AM
BPM ---
Honestly, I'd agree... but when I realized any ol'slapnut could make a 2D game a success compared to the challenges of making a *good* 3D game success... well...
mj @ Jun 9th 2008 9:33PM
They really shouldn't release these in the ps3 age unless they bother to update for new memory cards and the hard drive. Or, even better, make it a ps3 compatible download.
Gewurztraminer says: R.O.B. is the last Cylon! @ Jun 9th 2008 10:11PM
You're right, why bother re-releasing games for people that might have missed out on it unless they hold your hand.
John @ Jun 9th 2008 11:17PM
Just play it on PS3 like me. No searching for old memory cards.
CubeGuy @ Jun 10th 2008 6:11PM
Oh I would... if my PS3 PLAYED PS2 games...
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 9th 2008 9:57PM
I'm really thinking about picking this game up one day. I haven't played through the MGS series in awhile and maybe playing again will give me a better opinion on the series.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 9th 2008 10:12PM
The sucky thing is I hear the 80gb has issues with MGS3, having problems with hanging and slowdown in certain parts.
I had a 60gb PS3 and the Collection ran perfectly on them but GTA4 broke it. Sob sob. : (
Feoremar @ Jun 9th 2008 10:16PM
I bought this the other week, beat the first game, but when I got to MGS2, the CD was a little warped and my PS2 wouldn't read it properly; it would take forver just to load a codec call, nevermind another scene in a cinematic. I eventually got frustrated enough to return it, got it replaced, but the second one had the EXACT SAME problem! I just gave up and asked for my money back.
As much as I'd love to play these games, I really did like them they were great, I don't think I'll be able to play MGS2 and 3 any time soon, especially before MGS 4. ):
PiemanPieman @ Jun 9th 2008 10:47PM
Are you sure the disc had a problem, because MGS2 in that collection is the only dual-layer disc, and sometimes PS2s have trouble with those. If that was the one game you had trouble with I'd ponder if you are having some of the age-old fun PS2 disc drive problems.