I've played every Metal Gear Solid multiple times, and Master Collection Vol.2 feels like the best way to experience two of the series’ most legendary games

TechRadar Verdict

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2 finally frees Metal Gear Solid 4 from PS3 prison, and being able to re-experience that brilliant-but-flawed game again is worth the price of admission alone. Packaged with the fantastic Peace Walker and overlooked spinoff Ghost Babel, this is a phenomenal collection. This time around, the games are at their absolute best too, with Vol 1’s technical issues nowhere to be seen.

Pros

+Peace Walker is still an unsung masterpiece
+Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally free from PS3 prison
+The underrated Ghost Babel is a great bonus
+Visual and performance improvements across the board

Cons

-Games aren't quite as strong as Vol 1
-Only one bonus title is a shame
-Metal Gear Solid 4 is still flawed

Why you can trust TechRadar

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has become something of a legend over the years, being the one big game in the franchise that never left its original platform – the PlayStation 3.

Platform reviewed: PS5Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2Release date: August 27, 2026

Finally, the port once thought impossible has returned in the new Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2. The first collection packaged the classic stealth trilogy with the MSX and NES games that preceded it, and this time around the package is headlined by the return of Metal Gear Solid 4 and the duo of the PlayStation Portable’s excellent Peace Walker and underrated Game Boy Color spinoff *Ghost Babel. *

Off the bat, it may seem like a bit of a raw deal for the second to only feature one bonus title compared to the first collection, which offers three of the greatest games ever made along with four bonus titles and two graphic novels.

However, the work done on Metal Gear Solid 4 is far more than the bare-bones re-releases of the first game and Bluepoint's 2011 HD Collection versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 found in its predecessor, while Peace Walker is a phenomenal mainline entry and Ghost Babel ranks among the series' greatest spinoffs (and is better than the NES games at least).

It's a fairer trade than the numbers suggest.

War has changed

Metal Gear Solid 4 is the crown jewel of this collection, and unlike the first – which had some major issues at launch – I'm happy to report that this is a phenomenal port. Running at 4K and a solid 60 frames per second (fps) throughout with massively improved loading times between areas, it's hard to see any flaws in this version of the stealth classic… well, aside from those that were already there.

Long thought unportable due to being made specifically for the esoteric PS3 system architecture and a hefty number of licensed products appearing in-game, Metal Gear Solid 4 remains mostly intact.

You still have the iPod; you still see the PS3 console in your plane. However, Konami has gone back and remixed some elements to make sense on modern consoles, with the famous "we're on PS3" scene changed to your platform of choice – even if the almost 20-year difference in Christopher Randolph's voice is pretty obvious.

In fact, the only thing I noticed that was missing was the now-redundant installation menu featuring Snake smoking between chapters.

Despite its notoriety, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a strange game. I'd even argue it's the worst of the six main games in the series, even if it is still a great time.

It gets off to a really strong start with chapters set in the Middle East and South America, featuring some incredible stealth gameplay with a unique battlefield stealth mechanic which allows you to manipulate the ongoing war between rebel militia and PMC groups.

It's a genius bit of game design, and it’s a shame that it's abandoned by the end of the second chapter.

After an Act 3, which boils down to a not-so-great tailing mission, Metal Gear Solid 4 goes off the rails with its plot, lengthy cutscenes, and gameplay segments.

Some of these are highlights of the game, such as the entirety of Act 4 or the final boss fight that ranks among the best in the series. However, some plot decisions and retcons make for the messiest story in the franchise's history – I won't go into detail, but a particular retcon about Metal Gear Solid 3's Para-Medic is a terrible choice that I'm still bugged by years later.

What's there is still a great game I'd recommend to anyone, though it's a shame some of the most interesting gameplay elements are abandoned almost entirely, even if the rollercoaster ride of set-piece and fan-service moments is a joy to play through.

The opening to Act 4 in particular is one of my favorite gaming moments ever and still gives me chills to this day.

We're nomads, and we always will be

Peace Walker, on the other hand, is an unsung part of the saga. Originally released on the PSP, it was somewhat overlooked, but this game is Metal Gear Solid 5 in all but name.

Taking place between Snake Eater and The Phantom Pain, Peace Walker is Metal Gear crossed with Monster Hunter, with a mission-based design that allows for short bursts of play. It introduced base management, weapon development, and nicking soldiers via balloon aspects that The Phantom Pain would later expand upon.

Returning to Shadow Moses in Act 4 of Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the greatest bits of fan service ever deployed in a game, and the needle drop of The Best Is Yet To Come still sends chills down my spine almost 20 years later.

While not quite on the level of the original trilogy, Peace Walker has a great story, which helps show how Big Boss eventually became the person we saw as a villain in the original MSX games – arguably better than The Phantom Pain did. It also features one of the best supporting casts in the series, with Kazuhira Miller returning from Metal Gear Solid and being fleshed out into one of the series' best, while the likes of Amanda, Paz, and Professor Galvez are memorable additions to the series canon.

I say Metal Gear crossed with Monster Hunter, but nowhere is that more felt than in the bossfights, which have you take on massive mecha over a prolonged period. While I like this in theory, these bosses are unfortunately the worst the series has to offer – and aside from the titular Peace Walker and true final boss – are not memorable in the slightest.

Peace Walker also features co-op and versus multiplayer modes, which are present in this new collection, though I wasn’t able to test them over the review period. From my experiences with the HD Collection version, Peace Walker multiplayer is a blast.

This port is a bit rougher than Metal Gear Solid 4, mostly because there isn't too much you can do to make PSP assets shine in 4K. However, the addition of new higher-quality versions of the comic-book-like cutscenes by Ashley Wood is a welcome bonus

It's not over yet

If you played Master Collection Vol 1, you will have a good idea of what to expect this time around. Both main games come with a Screenplay Book and Master Book, which features rundowns of the story, background info on characters, and strategy-guide-esque details to let you find secrets in-game.

There are also soundtrack selections and the ability to download other language versions of the games if you please. The Metal Gear Solid 4 edition also features the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database app, which was released on PS3 around the launch of the original game, although sadly its version of Metal Gear Online is not present.

And while the bonus titles included the original MSX2 version of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 – which I wrote about how good they are a few years back – and the less-good NES versions of them, this time around the only additional title is Metal Gear: Ghost Babel for the Game Boy Color.

Ghost Babel takes gameplay akin to Metal Gear 2, but fuses it with some elements of the PS1 classic while adapting it to a stage-based formula for handheld. While it doesn't quite match the main series, Ghost Babel should not be slept on, as it's one of the best spinoff titles the franchise has to offer.

Sadly, that's it though. It's a shame, as the likes of Metal Gear Acid or Metal Gear Rising would've been much appreciated additions.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2 is another package of two fantastic games, with some great bonuses included. While it's mostly a vehicle to get Metal Gear Solid 4 out of PS3 jail, Peace Walker and Ghost Babel are two brilliant additions that you might have missed the first time around.

Should you play Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2?

Play it if...

You didn't have a PS3Metal Gear Solid 4 is out of PS3 jail after almost 20 years. For those who have been waiting, this is one of the biggest dream ports to finally get, and being able to play it in a version that sticks to a solid 4K resolution and 60fps is worth a return trip even if you did play it on PS3.

You never played Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Yes, Metal Gear Solid 4 is the main event of this collection, but Peace Walker is one of the best games the series has to offer. Not to mention an essential part of the storyline heading into Metal Gear Solid 5.

Don't play it if...

You haven't played Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1.Metal Gear Solid 4 was made with the idea that you'll have the knowledge of the original trilogy of Metal Gear Solid games at a bare minimum, leading to a plot that will be extremely hard to follow for anyone not caught up. Not to mention that all of the emotional impact will be nullified without prior knowledge

Accessibility features

Both Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker have subtitles and controller remapping features, but otherwise the accessibility features included in this collection are the same as they were back in the original releases.

This means no color blind support, audio description, or gameplay tweaks are available – which could cause issues during moments in both games when tons of button mashing is required.

How I reviewed Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2

I played 12 hours of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2 on PS5 Pro using a DualSense Wireless Controller, on an LG C5 OLED TV with an LG-US70TY soundbar.

During this time, I played a full run of Metal Gear Solid 4 while skipping most cutscenes (as I had replayed the game very recently for comparison) through to the end of Act 4. I played through to the end of Chapter 1 of Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, and roughly half of Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. I have played all of these games multiple times before this review, and was able to compare to other versions where applicable.

First reviewed August 2026

Scott has been freelancing for over two years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on TechRadar in 2022. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, Push Square, The Daily Mirror, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that never get sequels.