Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

If it weren’t for the omission of the original Metal Gear Solid, this would probably be the prototype HD collection that all publishers should aspire to emulate. These games have withstood the test of time, and all of the enhancements and extras ensure these are the definitive versions. If you passed on these games before, there’s no excuse this time.

Bluepoint Games has done an admirable job collating one of gaming's most unique, important and frustrating franchises. Metal Gear Solid has always been a complicated beast; a series with a pressing anti-war sentiment that seems to simultaneously revel in bombastic action flicks, set in a world where the cheeky upskirt camera shot is the only thing more important than an elaborate interrogation of the human condition.

The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection brings five MGS games to this generation of consoles, with three of them bringing full trophy support and three Platinum trophies. Remastered audio and video makes the games not only easy on the eyes, but quite a bit of old school fun in a new package. The transition into HD isn’t as good as it could have been, but you’re still getting three of the best games in the series — of all-time even — on one disc for one low price. If that doesn’t make an exclamation point appear above your head, I don’t know what will.