The best way to play the original games?

[MadMinstrel]

I have played some of the MGS games before, but I've left many uncompleted and the story is still a disjointed mess in my head. So, with the launch in two weeks, I'm going on a MGS marathon to complete most if not all the games in the series. However, with some of the games appearing on different hardware and with multiple editions I'm not sure what the best way to play them today is. Here are the games and the options available to me for playing each:

Metal Gear Solid
1. The original PSX edition, on a PSP
2. The original PSX edition, on a PS Vita
3. The original PSX edition, emulated on PC
4. The twin snakes edition, emulated on PC
5. The original PSX edition, on PS3

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
1. The PS2 edition, played on PS2 (if I can find a copy, shouldn't be too hard)
2. The PS2 edition, emulated on PC (if I can find a copy, shouldn't be too hard)
3. The HD Collection edition, played on a PS Vita
4. The HD Collection edition, played on a PS3

Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
1. The PS2 edition, played on PS2 (if I can find a copy, shouldn't be too hard)
2. The PS2 edition, emulated on PC(if I can find a copy, shouldn't be too hard)
3. The HD Collection edition, played on a PS Vita
4. The HD Collection edition, played on a PS3

Metal Gear Solid 4
1. The original edition played on PS3

Metal Gear Solid PeaceWalker
1. The PSP edition played on a PSP
2. The PSP edition emulated on PC
3. The PSP edition played on PS Vita
4. The HD Collection edition played on a PS3

Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops
1. The PSP edition played on a PSP
2. The PSP edition emulated on PC
3. The PSP edition played on PS Vita


What do you think? Which ones should I pick?

[Coldflame]

MGS1: PSX edition through method of your chosing.
MGS2: Either PS2 or PS3, Probably PS3
MGS3: Either PS2 or PS3, Probably PS3
MGSPW: PS3
MGSPO: Don't bother, though if you really want to play it on PSP

I also advise that you play the games in the order 1>2>4>3>PW>5. You'll miss some minor references to 3 in 4, but the story's more intact and some of the plot reveals of 4 are more surprising.

[平和ThePhantomPainウォーカ]

MGS: Original, any platform

MGS2: HD preferably PS3

MGS3: HD preferably PS3:

Yep

MGS PW: HD for PS3

Any platform

[SyberWolf™]

just play metal gear solid 1 on PS3.....its digitally on the PSN store

[MadMinstrel]

Heh, yeah, that's an option too, I forgot the PS3 emulates PS1 as well.

[SyberWolf™]

Originally posted by MadMinstrel:

Heh, yeah, that's an option too, I forgot the PS3 emulates PS1 as well.

yup there is even an option to upscale it a bit

[Law]

The HD collection will give you access to Metal Gear 1 and 2 through MGS3, so it's really 5 games in one. I beat MG1 the other day and played a little MG2, and honestly they still stand out and are worth playing.

[Tumas Altaawus]

Check out the MGS Legacy collection. It's for the PS3 and contains MG 1&2, an MGS download code, 2, 3 and Peace Walker from the HD collection, and 4.

[MadMinstrel]

I already have access to all the games and editions listed, either I own them personally or I can borrow them from a friend, so the Legacy collection, while nice, is not something I'm going to buy.

[Tumas Altaawus]

Originally posted by MadMinstrel:

I already have access to all the games and editions listed, either I own them personally or I can borrow them from a friend, so the Legacy collection, while nice, is not something I'm going to buy.

Ah, okay. I recommend the original MGS on PS3, MGS 2, 3, and Peace Walker HD on PS3, and Portable Ops on whatever platform you prefer.

[MadMinstrel]

Interesting, everybody recommends the origunal MGS rather than Twin Snakes. Any particular reason for this? I know it's not produced by Kojima, but it's a remake of his game. Isn't it superior?

[平和ThePhantomPainウォーカ]

Originally posted by MadMinstrel:

Interesting, everybody recommends the origunal MGS rather than Twin Snakes. Any particular reason for this? I know it's not produced by Kojima, but it's a remake of his game. Isn't it superior?

Graphically, yes. But the cutscenes are ridiculous.

[Ze]

Originally posted by MadMinstrel:

Interesting, everybody recommends the origunal MGS rather than Twin Snakes. Any particular reason for this? I know it's not produced by Kojima, but it's a remake of his game. Isn't it superior?

It's a remake but they took some "liberties"(not really, they did have permission to do it) and had some fun with it as well.

Twin Snakes is a fun experience but the original is the best.
And by original I mean either the one with the horribly racist Mei Ling or the not horribly racist Mei Ling.... anyway.

There are PC versions of both MGS1 and 2 as well that could maybe run if people wanna fumble around with a few settings here and there.

[MadMinstrel]

Alrighty then, I'll play the original MGS. I think I'll go with the Vita over the PS3 though since I probably couldn't bear the PSX graphics blown up to a big screen.

I'll play 2, 3, 4 and PeaceWalker on the PS3 and Portable Ops, if I make it before MGS V launch, on the Vita again, due to the second stick. Thanks everyone!

[Solidus]

Play the following:
MGS 1
MGS 2
MGS 3
MGS 4

Those are the main MGS titles and all you'll need to play MGS V.

You can skip Portable Ops and the original "Metal Gear" 1 and 2 completely. Kojima has confirmed that Portable Ops is mostly non-canon at this point. The game wasn't developed by him, and he has practically written it off from the timeline.

Furthermore, I WOULD NOT recommend playing Peace Walker. Watch some YouTube playthroughs, instead. You won't be missing much from the storyline, and more importantly, you won't be able to finish the game in time for MGS V, as it will take a few weeks to complete.

[Captain Murphy The Villian]

The only games you should play to line up with Phantom Pain is this:

Snake Eater
Portable Ops
Peace Walker
Ground Zero

The rest are ahead of the time line that is in Phantom Pain such as Metal Gear Solid, Sons of Liberty, Guns of Patriots, and Rising.

You can play all of the MGS games but if you want to play in the time line like I will be doing it goes the following:

Snake Eater
Portable Ops
Peace Walker
Ground Zero
The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear
Solid Snake
Metal Gear Solid
Sons of Liberty
Guns of Patriots
Rising: Revengeance