For Nintendo followers, the Steel Gear franchise has lengthy been simply out of attain, with Konami dangling the metaphorical carrot with one-off releases reminiscent of Steel Gear Stable: The Twin Snakes on GameCube, Ghost Babel on Sport Boy Shade, and Snake Eater 3D on the 3DS. After many years of neglect, nevertheless, Swap house owners can now rejoice, as we’re not solely getting one, however 5 video games from Hideo Kojima’s Magnum Opus (plus a few enjoyable non-canon extras thrown in for good measure). The query, nevertheless, is whether or not this compilation – dubbed Grasp Assortment Vol. 1 – is definitely value proudly owning.
The excellent news is that, sure, this is kind of a robust illustration of Steel Gear’s historical past from 1987 to 2004, encompassing the whole lot from the unique MSX2 launch of Steel Gear to the critically acclaimed prologue, Steel Gear Stable 3: Snake Eater. For newcomers particularly, the gathering is a handy solution to expertise a big chunk of the Steel Gear saga, however there are admittedly a number of drawbacks that uninteresting the shine on what might (and ought to) have been a simple slam dunk for Konami.
Wanting on the video games first, what precisely is included right here? Nicely, you’ve received the MSX2 variations of Steel Gear and Steel Gear 2: Stable Snake, then Steel Gear Stable, Steel Gear Stable 2: Sons of Liberty, and Steel Gear Stable 3: Snake Eater. Moreover, the NES video games Steel Gear and Snake’s Revenge are included within the bonus materials; these are thought of non-canon as collection creator Hideo Kojima wasn’t concerned of their improvement, so to see them here’s a nice shock. Konami has been particularly beneficiant with the Steel Gear Stable trilogy, together with a number of regional releases for every sport together with the VR Missions, Particular Missions, and Japan-only Integral launch for the unique PS1 traditional. In brief, there’s rather a lot to sink your tooth into.
Are they any good to play, although? Nicely, there are a number of elements at work right here. Crucially, it can rely on simply how tolerant you might be with regards to ageing software program. The Steel Gear franchise, for all its ingenuity, has by no means boasted essentially the most elegant management scheme, and that is extra obvious right here than ever earlier than. Easy duties like peeking to the left or proper when hiding in a locker require you to contort your fingers into unnatural positions to press all the required buttons. For veterans, that is all par for the course and sure types a part of the franchise’s appeal, however newcomers might be perplexed by among the mechanics on show.
The opposite issue is, in fact, efficiency, and this has been a topic of a lot debate and consternation forward of the compilation’s launch. In terms of the MSX2 and NES video games, these run precisely the way you’d count on, so there isn’t any want to fret about these. The unique Steel Gear Stable can also be just about equivalent to its preliminary PS1 launch, warts and all, displaying the picture in a 4:3 facet ratio at 30 frames per second. Might it have been upgraded in any manner? Positive, however that is about as genuine an expertise as you’re prone to get, so we’re not going to concern ourselves an excessive amount of with what might have been.
As for Steel Gear Stable 2 and three, nevertheless, Swap house owners have undoubtedly been given the brief finish of the stick on this assortment. To make clear, these variations are based mostly on the 2012 HD remasters from developer Bluepoint Video games, which ran at a rock-solid 60FPS on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Whereas this efficiency has been maintained on different platforms for the Grasp Assortment, the body fee has taken a success on Swap, with the PS2 video games operating at 30FPS. In precept, that is extremely disappointing given the age of those video games and the truth that the Swap is greater than able to pulling off 60FPS gameplay, however the actuality is that the video games nonetheless really feel fairly good to play regardless. That’s to not trivialise the problem for these feeling stung by Konami’s determination, however we sincerely doubt that many will even discover throughout moment-to-moment stealth gameplay.
That stated, we’re hopeful that Konami will see some sense and replace the video games within the close to future to carry the body fee in step with different platforms. The rationale we are saying that is that Steel Gear Stable 2, particularly, does hit 60FPS at particular factors; specifically when management is taken away from the participant, reminiscent of transitioning from one space to the following and opening/closing lockers. It is transient, nevertheless it’s there, and hopefully, with a little bit of jiggery-pokery, Konami will have the ability to pull it off.
Along with the video games, Konami has additionally included a number of extras to dive into, together with screenplay books, grasp books (that are elaborate manuals that embrace some historical past of the franchise), soundtracks, and graphic novels. The precise content material included right here is genuinely great and it’s an effective way for newcomers to dig into the overarching story, however finding the whole lot can really feel like a little bit of a chore.
Unusually, Konami has seen match to separate the gathering into 5 separate apps on the Swap. You’ve received one for every of the Steel Gear Stable video games, one for the MSX2 titles, and a fifth particularly for bonus content material. Some further materials, such because the grasp books and screenplays, may be discovered within the sport apps themselves, however the graphic novels and soundtracks are separated into the bonus app together with the NES titles. It’s not a deal breaker, by any means, however why Konami didn’t simply collate the whole lot below one, handy roof is baffling. Then once more, there’s one thing inherently satisfying about seeing all three Steel Gear Stable video games on the Swap dwelling display with Yoji Shinkawa’s unbelievable art work.
What’s additionally disappointing with the presentation is simply what number of further downloads you’ll want to finish if you need the entire package deal. Extras like graphic novels and even sure language choices are locked away behind elective downloads, and also you’re going to want various free space for storing if you need completely the whole lot put in. Bodily fanatics can even must understand that the cartridge itself solely homes the MSX2 and NES video games, so if you wish to play any of the Steel Gear Stable titles, you’ll must obtain them.
Conclusion
When you’ve by no means performed any of the Steel Gear Stable titles earlier than, or certainly their MSX2 ancestors, then the Grasp Assortment on Swap is a superbly effective solution to expertise among the most iconic video games of all time. That stated, Swap house owners have undoubtedly been stung by Konami’s determination to chop MGS 2 and three’s body fee all the way down to 30, and though moment-to-moment gameplay nonetheless feels satisfying, it is a irritating method that we’re hopeful might be patched at a later date. As for the general package deal, there’s loads right here that can hold you entertained, however the way in which it has been introduced feels lower than superb. Nonetheless, it is a compilation properly value investigating in case you’re itching to play (or replay) the Steel Gear Stable saga.