The wait is over for fans of the original Metal Gear Solid 4. A remastered version of the 2008 game is coming to current-generation consoles this August as part of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. A recent gameplay reveal highlighted the improved visuals and confirmed that many of the original’s in-jokes and brand tie-ins will still appear in the war-torn future of MGS4. This release aligns with reports that Sony reportedly informs developers it is bringing back single-player console exclusives.
Over the weekend, Japanese freelance writer Mafia Kajita and voice actor Yuichi Nakamura played through the first act of the upcoming Master Collection Vol. 2 version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on their popular YouTube channel. Nakamura, who voiced Kevin in the Japanese version of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, joined Kajita for the session. The pair documented their experience for their audience to see the new visuals in action.
Right away, players can spot a well-known joke in the opening cutscene where the Geckos search for Snake. Fans will be relieved to see that the meme-worthy scene still includes the “No place for Hideo” line on the watermelon-filled cardboard box, which the Geckos stomp on. However, the URL for Hideo Kojima’s old blog, which was hidden on the same box in the original release, has been removed from the Master Collection version, likely because the page no longer exists.
One standout feature from the original MGS4 allowed Snake to carry an iPod in his inventory, letting players listen to music and podcasts scattered throughout the game. The recent demo suggests Apple has approved the inclusion of the iPod in the Master Collection, though it remains unclear at this time whether all the original tracks will be available to collect in the remaster.
Other familiar items appeared in the livestream playthrough, including Playboy magazines for distracting enemies and bottles of Regain 24, a Japanese energy drink that had a promotional tie-in with MGS4. The parody brand Hide-chan Ramen also looks set to return. Keep in mind that Kajita and Nakamura played through a demo, and the final game may still see changes.
The enhanced graphics in this remaster are noticeably sharper than the PS3 original, making it easier to pick out small details in the environment and character models. Text that was once blurry, like the “Snake Eye” label on Old Snake’s bionic eyepatch, now appears clear and legible. The original game’s distinctive yellow tint, often called “the piss filter,” has been replaced with a more natural, realistic look.
Master Collection Vol. 1 faced criticism from fans for missing content from the original releases. For example, the MGS3 collection did not include the Subsistence Secret Theater or the Ape Escape tie-in minigame, Snake vs. Monkey. Those extras were later added back in the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater remake. Whether this remastered MGS4 will include all the original PS3 content remains to be seen. It also remains to be seen whether Master Collection Vol. 2 will launch smoothly across all platforms without performance issues. Konami has said it is taking extra care with Vol. 2 to avoid the rocky launch that Vol. 1 experienced. This focus on quality comes as Sony makes narrative single-player games PlayStation exclusive, and PC gamers react to the platform’s strategy.
