For over 15 years, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots remained trapped on the Playstation 3, a console notorious for how difficult it is to emulate and port from. That long imprisonment is finally over. With the release of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 on PS5, Konami has unlocked one of the most requested re-releases in PlayStation history – and according to Push Square’s glowing review, the wait was worth it.
What’s Inside Master Collection Vol. 2?
On paper, Vol. 2 might look a little lighter than its predecessor. The first Master Collection bundled together three all-time classics – Metal Gear Solid, Sons of Liberty, and Snake Eater – alongside the original MSX-era Metal Gear titles. Volume 2, by comparison, offers the entry famous for its marathon cutscenes, a portable spin-off, and some non-canonical bonus content.
But that description undersells what’s actually here. The headline attraction is obviously MGS4, joined by the beloved handheld entry Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, plus extra goodies like the non-canonical NES-era titles for series historians to dig into.
MGS4: The Crown Jewel of the Collection
Old Snake’s Swan Song, Rescued at Last
The real story of this collection is Guns of the Patriots. Since 2008, Hideo Kojima’s sprawling farewell to Solid Snake has been chained to aging PS3 hardware, and for years fans wondered if it would ever leave. Push Square’s review is unambiguous in its praise, declaring this the best the game has ever been. Playing it on modern hardware, free from the PS3’s constraints, is being hailed as a genuinely liberating experience for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
A Fitting Homecoming for a PS3 Classic
For a game so deeply tied to PlayStation history – it was once Sony’s biggest exclusive weapon – seeing MGS4 running natively on PS5 carries real symbolic weight. It closes a chapter that fans assumed might never be closed.
Peace Walker Deserves a Second Look
Don’t sleep on Peace Walker, though. Originally designed for PSP and later charting the path toward The Phantom Pain, this mission-based adventure plays better than ever outside of handheld hardware. For anyone who missed it the first time around, this is the ideal way to experience the bridge between Snake Eater and Big Boss’s later descent.
Verdict: La-Li-Lu-Le-Love It
Push Square’s final judgment is unmistakably enthusiastic – a verdict summed up with the phrase “La-Li-Lu-Le-Love it.” While the package may initially seem undercooked next to the first volume, the sheer significance of MGS4’s liberation, combined with a strong supporting lineup, makes Vol. 2 an essential purchase for stealth fans. If you’ve been waiting years to replay Old Snake’s final mission – or to finally understand what all the fuss is about – there’s never been a better moment.
Looking to pick up the collection for yourself? You can grab PlayStation Store gift cards and game codes at great prices at TURGAME.com, making it easier than ever to jump back into the world of tactical espionage action.
Source: Push Square – Review: Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 (PS5)