From the critically acclaimed director, Hideo Kojima, comes Metal Gear Solid HD Collection in portable fashion for the Sony Vita. This collection includes two beloved classics, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Both amazing ports feature stunning, upgraded graphics and include Transfarring, where players can transfer save data from their PlayStation 3 Metal Gear Solid HD Collection to their PlayStation Vita system and start the action from where they left off.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for the PlayStation Vita allows fans to experience the series on the go like never before. These new features include optimized controls that take full advantage of the Vita’s unique touch-screens. Vita’s touchpad allows gamers to zoom in on captivating cut-scenes, peek around corners, interrogate enemies, cycle through weapons/items, as well as perform quick attacks with their knife. Tomoyuki Tsuboi, President of Konami Digital Entertainment, states “It’s an exciting new way to experience the games Metal Gear Solid fans have known and loved for years.”

The PlayStation Vita version of Metal Gear Solid HD Collection contains remastered ports of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. For unknown reasons, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker was omitted for the Vita release. This is probably the biggest disappointment of the game to many fans like myself but there are still two amazing remastered games to thoroughly enjoy in this HD collection.

Overview

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty:  After the Shadow Moses incident, technological data on the nuclear-armed walking tank Metal Gear leaks onto the black market. Solid Snake and his allies form the anti-Metal Gear NGO “Philanthropy” and set out in pursuit of a tanker carrying a new Metal Gear prototype. But Snake falls into a trap set by former FOXHOUND member Ocelot, and is believed lost along with the tanker at the bottom of the Hudson River. Two years later, the Big Shell, an oil spill cleanup facility constructed on the bay, is taken over by terrorists led by a man claiming to be the long-lost Solid Snake. The government sends Raiden, a new recruit in the new FOXHOUND, to infiltrate the Big Shell and rescue the US President, who is held hostage inside…

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater: The story shifts back in time to 1964, the height of the Cold War. Naked Snake-the man who would later become the legendary mercenary known as Big Boss-heads into Soviet territory to help the scientist Sokolov defect to the West. But the mission ends in failure due to the betrayal of Snake’s mentor and mission advisor The Boss, a female soldier known as “the Mother of Special Forces.” The Boss defects to the Soviet Union, taking a miniature nuclear warhead with her as a gift, which her new hosts promptly launch at a Russian research facility. Naked Snake heads once more into the Soviet Union on a mission to kill The Boss… The third MGS game tells the story of men and women who struggle to remain loyal even while their fates are at the mercy of the ever changing political “scene.”

Graphics and Controls

The updated graphics look fantastic on the Vita’s 5″ OLED screen. Snake Eater’s visuals especially shine and could be one of Vita’s best looking games yet.  Some of the new touchscreen related controls might take a while to get accustomed to, especially if you have played through the original titles at some point. I found myself fumbling at times with the new Vita touchscreen mechanics but in time it was second nature and became very fluid. In short, expect a minor learning curve but note the controls overall are very solid and responsive.

Gameplay

Both games will take you into solo stealth missions through enemy installations and vast jungles. You’ll have to carefully move through enemy territory to make it out alive. This is the secret behind the series’ popularity. The challenge of figuring out how to avoid combat if possible and the thrill of sneaking through enemy territory while silently exterminating any and all threats.  You’ll find plenty of this thrilling gameplay throughout both MGS2 and MGS3.  The best part of this collection is the fact it is now available in a portable format.

Features

• Two Epic Games in One – Featuring hours of endless fun, play through two of the treasured classics in the Metal Gear Solid universe with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
• Optimized Controls – Utilize the PS Vita’s unique touch-screen controls to battle enemies while traversing the landscapes
• Finely Tuned Interface – Tweaked, rebalanced user interface helps maximize the users efficiency
• An Inimitable Universe – Experience some of the greatest gaming design, storytelling and presentation of all-time with the heroic Metal Gear Solid universe
• Transfarring – Continue your saved game no matter where you are by transferring your trophies and save-game data back and forth from your PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita

Final Thoughts

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for the Vita is a must have for all system owners.  It’s without a doubt one of the best packages released for the handheld yet and will entertain fans and newcomers alike.  While the absence of Peace Walker is a definite let down, MGS2 and MGS3 are absolute classics that shine brilliantly on the Sony Vita.  Practice your stealth tactics on the go now and add this one to your gaming library today.

Review Rating: 9/10