Metal Gear Solid 4 is set to arrive on current generation consoles this August as part of the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 2. New gameplay footage has surfaced, revealing not only upgraded visual fidelity but also suggesting that many of the original 2008 title’s brand tie-ins and inside jokes will remain intact within the game’s war-torn setting.
During the weekend, Japanese freelance writer Mafia Kajita and voice actor Yuichi Nakamura
the first act of the upcoming Master Collection Vol. 2 version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on their YouTube channel, Washagana TV. Nakamura is well known to fans for his role as Kevin in the Japanese version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
The footage features a famous tongue-in-cheek joke during a cutscene where Gecko soldiers hunt for Snake. Fans will be glad to see that the meme-worthy scene still includes the “No place for Hideo” quip on the watermelon-filled cardboard box before it is stomped on by the Geckos. However, the URL for Hideo Kojima’s blog, which was previously hidden on the box in the original game, has been omitted from this version, likely because the webpage is no longer active.
In the original MGS4, players could carry an iPod in Snake’s pack, which allowed them to listen to various tracks and podcasts found throughout the game world. Based on the demo playthrough, it appears Apple has permitted the inclusion of the iPod in the Master Collection, though it is currently unclear if all the original tracks will be available to find.
Other items spotted during the livestream include a Playboy magazine, used for distracting enemy soldiers, and bottles of Regain 24, a Japanese energy drink that featured a promotional tie-in with the original game. The fictional brand Hide-chan Ramen also seems to be making an appearance. It should be noted, however, that Kajita and Nakamura were playing a demo version, and the content remains subject to change.
The visual quality of this enhanced release is significantly sharper than the original PlayStation 3 version, allowing for much clearer detail on character models and in the environment. Small text and logos, such as the “Snake Eye” branding on Old Snake’s bionic eyepatch, are now consistently legible rather than appearing blurry. Additionally, the gritty, yellow-tinted look often referred to as the “piss filter” in the original has been replaced with a more natural and realistic aesthetic.
When it launched, Master Collection Vol. 1 disappointed some fans due to missing content from the source games. For instance, the Metal Gear Solid 3 collection lacked the Ape Escape tie-in minigame, Snake vs. Monkey, and the Subsistence Secret Theater, though these were eventually restored in the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater remake. It is yet to be confirmed if this MGS4 remaster will include every secret from the PS3 release, or if Master Collection Vol 2 will provide a smooth, stable experience across all platforms. Konami has stated that they are taking more care with Vol. 2 to avoid the problematic launch experienced by the first volume.
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Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
