Unboxing [US]: Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection - Standard Edition (PS3)

Another item I received for the holidays!

Metal Gear Solid is a popular franchise from Hideo Kojima and has spun many relevant sequels and prequels that cover the story of both Solid Snake and Big Boss. I have never played most of the Metal Gear games in the series, I downloaded Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation 3 and really enjoyed it while I tried a bit of some of the Metal Gear Solid games included in the HD Collection on Xbox 360. Now years have past, The Phantom Pain is out so I decided to go ahead and pickup (and double dip in certain aspects for) the Legacy Collection.

The Legacy Collection is the biggest Metal Gear compilation set currently released and includes every major Metal Gear game before Metal Gear Solid V. The release also celebrates 25 years of the franchise.

Here's the contents of what the set has to offer:

 - Metal Gear, released in 1987 for MSX

 - Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, released in 1990 for MSX

 - Metal Gear Solid, released in 1998 for PlayStation (Legacy collection is a PS1 Classic digital download)

 - Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, released in 1999 for PlayStation (Legacy collection is a PS1 Classic digital download)

 - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, released in 2001 for PlayStation 2 (Legacy collection is the HD version)

 - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, released in 2004 for PlayStation 2 (Legacy collection is the HD version)

 - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, released in 2008 for PlayStation 3 (Legacy collection is the 25th Anniversary Trophy version)

 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, released in 2010 for PlayStation Portable (Legacy collection is the HD version)

 - Metal Gear Solid: Bande Dessinee (Graphic Novel)

 - Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinee (Graphic Novel)

Pretty much the only major title that's not included is the PSP title Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops which is technically canon in the storyline.

Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions are not on the disc but instead are download codes (they're essentially just PS1 games). Not to worry the download code doesn't seem to have an expiration date so feel free to use it when you have a brand new copy.

This is the standard edition version of the collection. Those who picked up the set at launch received a really impressive artbook but sadly that's no longer in print or is ridiculously pricey.

The main difference between the HD Collection and the Legacy Collection is due to the addition of a couple titles. Guns of the Patriots is a PlayStation 3 exclusive (as Kojima has apparently stated that the game is simply too big for Xbox 360, requiring tons of discs for the console) and the original Metal Gear Solid is just the PS1 version emulated, and is presumably still exclusive to Sony. Other than that the HD Collection includes the rest, minus the graphic novels included.

In fact the set has two discs; Disc 1 covers Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots while Disc 2 is essentially the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection.

Format: PlayStation 3

Version: USA

Exclusive: Yes

Local Players: 1 (2-6 online for some of the games included)

Resolution: NTSC 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p [This is based on the video output, resolution in-game may be different]

HDD Space: 4.6GB (Install Data)

Trophies: Yes (for MGS2, MGS3, MGS4 & MGS:PW)

Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection is no longer in print over here in the UK but the North America version is, as well as the individual copies for Metal Gear Solid 4 and the HD Collections. All of the games (minus Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2) are available to download individually on the PlayStation Network.