Hello again, readers. Another review of a game, and it's actually three reviews in one! This time, I'm talking about the PS2 set -- Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection. And Konami's not lying on this one, it REALLY is the essential collection. This was an easy purchase for me. I saw a chance to get all three Metal Gear games in one package for less than forty bucks, and it was like magic. I was at home playing Metal Gear Solid for the PSOne.

Metal Gear Solid -- (This is not the Twin Snakes version the Gamecube got)

So, it's the actual Hideo Kojima title released back in the 90s, and it shows. Man, PS1 games were not easy on the eyes. However, as you'll recall, most people overlooked that stuff when the game was engaging. MGS1 entered into the game right away, showing the opening cutscene--with full dialogue, explaining just what the mission was. Also, they include about 30 minutes of audio of the preparation for the mission, as well as the two prior missions in files you can read in case you want to catch up.

Oh man, the gameplay is hard. Not one of the easy games we have nowadays, where your hiding can just be in a shadow and the enemies will pass you by. The enemies in MGS have always been on their game, and in the first game, the AI is unrelenting. Hard, hard game, with very old school controls. The version you get in this package is the original PSOne. Without the case, and materials that come with it. Oh, and to save you some time, the Meryl codec is in the manual--not on the back of the case.

This brings me to a point about people who work in the mall.

The people who work at the store in the mall, the glitter soaked pawn shop, are sometimes the most craven sales folk on the planet. The guy who was working behind the counter was soooo trying to get the sale here. I asked 'Is the first game on DVD? Or is it CD like the first release?' 'Oh! It's on DVD.' And this turned out to be false. So, be prepared, if you buy this title, it may or may not work on your PS3.

On to Metal Gear Solid 2: The Sons of the Patriots or 'WHO THE HELL IS THIS GUY?!'

Yeah, I'm one of the non-Raiden fans out there. I don't like his prissy girl-boy looks, or his whiny attitude. So, I'm not going to call him Raiden anymore. There's already a guy named Raiden, and he shocks people with lightning until their heads explode into a shower of what looks like Ragu Thick-n-Chunky. So, from now on, this guy's name is Jennifer. Or Peaches. Nah, I like Jennifer.

And when you watch the Metal Gear Saga DVD, you find out that Hideo decided to make the hero of MGS2 a girly boy because he wanted more girls to play his games. Sometimes, I just want to smack geniuses in their smart mouths for saying stupid things like that. But then, I guess MY brain is full of bugs, so what do I know?

So, let's avoid the talk about the highly convoluted plot, or the wicked awesome ending of this game, which is one of the NO WAY moments of gaming for me. Let's talk about what you get when you buy this set of games -- You get Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance. That's right, kiddies, you get all the cool stuff from the XBOX version on your PS2. That's all the virtual missions, the Snake side missions and even the bizarrely added skateboarding crap. It's the best possible version of MGS2 and is worth a play through if you never got the Substance version or the short run of the remake for the PS2. Great value here. And then we're on to our last title.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater...

I don't know how much you know about the Metal Gear Universe. Let's just go forth and say most of the time, the Metal Gear game is going to be about a guy named Snake (or Jennifer) who has to destroy a Metal Gear, a big ass walking nuclear tank. Along the way there will be femme fatales, guns, and more plot twists than you can handle. Also, you'll be facing bosses with weird ass names and a penchant for killing people in a certain way. This particular Metal Gear has a 60s vibe to it (and with good reason), and is my favorite Metal Gear game. The bosses are spectacularly awesome, each fight is really cool, and you feel like a badass when you play as Snake in this one.

Also, it provides an insight into the other two games that gives you something to go on, and ends up being a fantastic bit of fan service from the creator of the game. Intended to be the last one, Hideo decided to come back and tell just one more tale with the Snakes, and for that I'm well pleased. This is a great, and fun game...

And guess what!? It's actually Metal Gear Solid: Subsistence! Yes, that's right. Without the extra disc, however, that had Metal Gear 2 and the online portion of the game. Sadly, they left that out, but brought out the perfected control, and the extras from the Subsistence release. So, this is chock full of the stuff you expect from the guys at Konami. You get all of the camera control, and the wonderful story, and for a fraction of the orignial price.

For thirty bucks, I can't see why you wouldn't want this set. Well, if you don't like Metal Gear, you should probably pass. But if you're interested in completing your MGS collection in a hurry, and don't like hunting for eBay stuff...this is a purchase for you! Play it!

Go out and buy it, already!