is this worth buying?

[Doknesss]

I've never played the Metal Gear Solid series before, but now I want to try it out since it's on Steam and Snake Eater is the first to play in order I think. But do I really need a controller for this? I only have a mouse and a keyboard.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Doknesss:

I've never played the Metal Gear Solid series before, but now I want to try it out since it's on Steam and Snake Eater is the first to play in order I think. But do I really need a controller for this? I only have a mouse and a keyboard.

At full price? Definitely not.

You don't need a controller but it's highly recommended.

[BIO FOREST]

I reccomend playing in release order if you can, even though 3 is chronologically at the beginning of the timeline. Maybe even play Metal Gear 2 from the MSX which is part of the collection, I think it holds up well still, despite the occasional use of a manual as an anti piracy measure (it was a 1990 PC game). MG1 is too outdated, imo and any important story beats are recapped in MG2, you can try it if you're curious.

You can play Solid 1 if you want something more "modern" and it retcons some story elements of MG2, anyway. I think progressing with the devs gives you more appreciation to improvements they make during the series development.

The ports' quality is mediocre, and 3 is the best port, despite still having issues. So I'd wait for a sale, especially with its modding potential. The crouch walk mechanic from MGS3 3ds/Peace Walker got modded in and working mostly as intended within a month of the PC version's launch. Which is impressively fast. It took 6/7 years for Marvel Vs Capcom 3 modders to figure out how to add animations in that game's PC port. So there's potential of a Silent Hill 2 Enhanced Edition esque mod pack to make this the best way to play 3 (and 2 if the same level of work can be put into that game).

[Deathraven13]

The first advice I can give you OP is to listen to people who own the game (they have a mouse icon next to their names).

Yes you should use a controller, the games was made with controller controls in mind back in the days.

The order to play for the whole series it's: MGS3 ---> MGS:PW ----> MGS5:definitive edition (GZ ------> TPP) ------> Metal gear 1 & 2 (MSX) -------> MGS 1 -----> MGS 2 ----> MGS 4

So you we are missing some things here but honestly it's doesn't matter in what order you play because back then we mostly went MGS 1 ----> MGS 2 ------> MGS 3. You'll lose some infos that you'll gain later and pieces the story later, do note that MGS story was never planned in advance.

Gameplaywise you should play 1 > 2 > 3 because you may find it hard to return to 1 after play 2 & 3 but honestly it depends of people, some prefer starting with 3 because if they get used to the radar they feel it may be harder.

Here you'll find MGS5, buy the definitive experience it got everything:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/287700/METAL_GEAR_SOLID_V_THE_PHANTOM_PAIN/

Then there are spin-off if you want some new gameplay .

Metal gear survive got some spoilers for MGS5 so you should play MGS5 before, the gameplay is also improved in that one which is something considering that MGS5 is considered to have the best controls in the canon series.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/543900/METAL_GEAR_SURVIVE/

Then finaly this one, it got a character from MGS 2 and it's kinda tied to MGS4 I think, but it's a Spin-off so it should be ok, I say you should play MGS2 before playing this one.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/235460/METAL_GEAR_RISING_REVENGEANCE/

MGS5 -------> "Open world" stealth/action game.
MGV --------> Survival game with co-op mode (endgame only)
MG rising ---------> Beat them all/action

Games on PC are the best version to be played because you can always use mods to improve the experience and most of the time extend the playtime, for exemple you have mods for MGS5 that allow to do some crazy stuff, like making the game difficult.

This collection should keep you busy and aside some QOL improvement it like back in the day (one QOL being aiming with L3 in MGS 2 & 3, back in the days it was pressure sensitive), there is a crouching mod for MGS3, it was a feature in MGS3 3DS edition, since more mods (and probably a randomizer, there was 1 for MGS1 before) the PC versions are the must play.

Hope that help, feel free to ask questions if you wish to know more.

EDIT: I forgot, if you want the bonus for this collection you can't just buy the games separatly, you'll need to buy the whole collection, some hum...... rather strange people did buy each games separatly and believed that once they got the 3 games that it will unlock the bonus, but the store says that the bonus is included in a pack, said pack being when you purchase VOL1 (this entire collection), so someone paid 20$ + 20$ + 20$ and was hoping to get the VOL1 bonus, when actualy they could just have bought VOL1 for 60$.

Maybe they bought keys for each games as it was cheaper or something, I don't know about key sellers but apparently you can buy this collection for cheaper, I have no advice to offer on that subject aside being careful.

[Anyaira]

Strictly speaking, this "Master Collection" brings you the first 5 (or rather, some of the first) Metal Gear games (missing Ghost Babel and I think some other), so it's a pretty good option. However, keep in mind this collection of games is a barebones port and lacks many of the basic PC QoL options most PC users have come to expect.

The games work fine (for the most part, safe for a few things such as the occasional crash, low quality sound relative to the PS2/PS3 versions, and silly other things that are more annoying than anything else).

That said, the PC community has fixed and braught in many features and QOL improvements that Konami thought were unimportant for release, they might add them later, or maybe not, but they are at least available through mods. This is also much better than grabbing the aging PS3/XBOX360 discs for equally aging consoles.

As for getting the games individually, it is not recommended, just get the Master Collection Vol.01, since Konami, in all their wisdom, did not make this collection a dynamic one, so you will never get the extras unless you pay for the entire Vol.01 collection.

Also, forget about KB+M, they are supported, yes, but the implementation is, allegedly, incredibly poor. However, you can always emulate a controller with your KB+M using some third part software (plus keybinds, since they are currently broken in the game, as they get reset every time you launch the games).

Definitely wait for a discount (currently 38% off in some store, forgot which), but the collection is worth having, only for the fact we can play all these games, finally, on PC, all gathered into a single place, without having to go through too many hoops.

[dprog1995]

In my opinion, No.

The game's aiming mechanics is too outdated imo. It also forces you to pause the game too much to change the outfit of the main character.

I think starting from the 5th game might be a better choice.(Or you can wait and start from 3 remake if that turns out great.)

Or you can start from the 2D Metal Gear games which have better controls than MGS 1-3 imo.

[Deathraven13]

Originally posted by dprog1995:

In my opinion, No.

The game's aiming mechanics is too outdated imo. It also forces you to pause the game too much to change the outfit of the main character.

I think starting from the 5th game might be a better choice.(Or you can wait and start from 3 remake if that turns out great.)

Or you can start from the 2D Metal Gear games which have better controls than MGS 1-3 imo.

You don't need to change camo every second, some people can beat the game without changing camo, some do it naked.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Deathraven13:

The first advice I can give you OP is to listen to people who own the game (they have a mouse icon next to their names).

You know that the Master Collection was released for consoles too, right?

[Deathraven13]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

You know that the Master Collection was released for consoles too, right?

This is steam meaning it's on PC, so unless you can prove that you own the game on console you'll have a hard time being credible, to even be fully credible you'll need to own the game on PC because, you may not know, but a PC is different from a Switch and other consoles.

That's why we use this method of the mouse icon on steam to differentiate the trolls from the people who own the game on steam, if you own it on Switch or other console you could talk about it on their respective platforms dedicated for it. Until then nothing proves that you own the collection and the PC version is different than the Switch version, I doubt that on the Switch you may need to change an NVIDIA option......

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Deathraven13:

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

You know that the Master Collection was released for consoles too, right?

This is steam meaning it's on PC, so unless you can prove that you own the game on console you'll have a hard time being credible, to even be fully credible you'll need to own the game on PC because, you may not know, but a PC is different from a Switch and other consoles.

That's why we use this method of the mouse icon on steam to differentiate the trolls from the people who own the game on steam, if you own it on Switch or other console you could talk about it on their respective platforms dedicated for it. Until then nothing proves that you own the collection and the PC version is different than the Switch version, I doubt that on the Switch you may need to change an NVIDIA option......

Well, as everyone can see you were talking about people that own the game, you did not specify on which platform. And except for the Switch versions, the games are pretty much identical. Anyway, you are correct, the op should listen to the opinion of those that own the game on Steam:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/2131650/reviews/?browsefilter=toprated&snr=1_5_100010_&filterLanguage=english

Who else are you referring to when you say "we use this method"?

[J4MESOX4D]

The series is absolutely incredible but Konami have done a miserable disservice with some really shoddy ports. A controller for games of this nature is pretty much essential and there are also some key community fixes that need to be applied for the best possible experience. As said above, I'd also play them in release order if you do intend on picking up the package.

[neon.wir]

The games have m/kb controls, but by pretty much every account I've seen they are quite awful. So if that's you're only option... maybe not worth buying? You can get the collection, pick one of the games, skip the cutscenes so you can stay within the 2-hour return window, and play around with the controls for a bit and see if they are something you can get used to.

If you do decide you want to play the series rather than just one game, just play them in release order and ignore anyone who tells you otherwise. You're going to get whiplash from playing the series in any other way.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Deathraven13:

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Well, as everyone can see you were talking about people that own the game, you did not specify on which platform. And except for the Switch versions, the games are pretty much identical. Anyway, you are correct, the op should listen to the opinion of those that own the game on Steam:

Who else are you referring to when you say "we use this method"?

We can see that you don't own the game, if you did you would have a mouse icon next to your nickname, hence why listening to you is pointless since you're just trolling, it's not hard to understand that the Switch version won't have the same issues a PC version have, same when it comes to modding, so don't feel like I put a target on you when I've said"The first advice I can give you OP is to listen to people who own the game (they have a mouse icon next to their names)." I was just stating a fact.

It's like asking someone who have never played an MGS game if they should play it, in the end you'll want to listen to people who have played it and it's even better than if they have played it on the platformes you intend to play on, when there is trolls usualy you spot them easily because they don't own the game, if this topic was locked to people who own the game we would have seen far less trolls at release day and it would have erased trolls completly.

In the end OP can buy the game and play, they won't how good/bad the game is since they have played no versions and they can get mods if they want to for whatever reasons, the other option is pretty bad: Buying a console to get another version, imagine buying a PS3 + the bundle for only that + no mods......... that's not a good option, so for OP case this collection is the best option.

I don't get it, why are you saying that I don't own the game? When did I claim owning it (on Steam)? I think you're confusing me with someone else.

As I already mentioned a couple of times, as a longtime MGS fan I have the Legacy Collection for PS3, which contains more games and less issues than the Master Collection, so obviously I'll not purchase the Master Collection unless it is 50% off at least.

Did you read the reviews I linked? Even the positive ones are criticizing Konami's work, because while the games are great the ports are lazy asf. Are they trolling? I don't think so.

[BIO FOREST]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

I don't get it, why are you saying that I don't own the game? When did I claim owning it (on Steam)? I think you're confusing me with someone else.

As I already mentioned a couple of times, as a longtime MGS fan I have the Legacy Collection for PS3, which contains more games and less issues than the Master Collection, so obviously I'll not purchase the Master Collection unless it is 50% off at least.

Did you read the reviews I linked? Even the positive ones are criticizing Konami's work. Are they trolling? I don't think so.

They did the same mindgames when I tried to explain this. I think they're the one trolling. The port is mediocre, not terrible, but it's worth criticizing because it's $60 and is worse than the 2011 version for 2 and 3. And worse than the PS3 PSN version of Solid 1. Besides something obvious like loading times, no duh the loading would be faster than a DVD/bluray or an Xbox360/PS3 internal HDD. This version is worse, no doubt. Modders didn't fix the sound mixing, yet. Although they shouldn't do Konami's work they need to work on fun stuff like crouch walking. Maybe re-implement the SOS mod for MGS2. Not basic things.

[Jay Jonah]

Originally posted by BIO FOREST:

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

I don't get it, why are you saying that I don't own the game? When did I claim owning it (on Steam)? I think you're confusing me with someone else.

As I already mentioned a couple of times, as a longtime MGS fan I have the Legacy Collection for PS3, which contains more games and less issues than the Master Collection, so obviously I'll not purchase the Master Collection unless it is 50% off at least.

Did you read the reviews I linked? Even the positive ones are criticizing Konami's work. Are they trolling? I don't think so.

They did the same mindgames when I tried to explain this. I think they're the one trolling. The port is mediocre, not terrible, but it's worth criticizing because it's $60 and is worse than the 2011 version for 2 and 3. And worse than the PS3 PSN version of Solid 1. Besides something obvious like loading times, no duh the loading would be faster than a DVD/bluray or an Xbox360/PS3 internal HDD. This version is worse, no doubt. Modders didn't fix the sound mixing, yet. Although they shouldn't do Konami's work they need to work on fun stuff like crouch walking. Maybe re-implement the SOS mod for MGS2. Not basic things.

The issue with the sound has nothing to do with the actual audio it'self. The audio is fine.

The problem is that Konami broke the codec that plays the audio ingame.

[Deathraven13]

Well we got an update for the games today, some trolls who don't own the game went "They did an SH collection they won't patch the game !" but they got proved wrong once again today so we can add on the list that Konami do update the collection.

That's usualy a good sign but I'm sure some trolls won't be happy about it lol.