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How should I play the Metal Gear Solid series?

I started playing MGS this year. I got the legacy collection and played in this order.

- Metal Gear Solid
- Metal Gear Solid 2
- Metal Gear Solid 3
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker & Metal Gear Solid 4 at the same time! (I had a friend who was currently playing Peace Walker and I wanted to engage in some of the multiplayer elements - which were fantastic)
- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (not in the legacy collection)
- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros (not in the legacy collection)

Even though MGS4 was before Peace Walker they can be played in either order (or simultaneously as I did). Peace Walker is a nice follow up to MGS3. The games not in the legacy collection are largely unnecessary. However, Ground Zeros is a fantastic follow up to Peace Walker and a great set up for The Phantom Pain (the next game to come out). Also, Metal Gear Rising was so much fun - the combat system and battles are fantastic!
 
What You Need:
PS3
MGS (digital)
MGS HD Collection
MGS4

Order:
1. Read the wikipedia pages for the msx games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
2. MGS
3. MGS2
4. MGS3
5. MGS4
6. Peace Walker HD
Optional: MGS VR Missions, Ghost Babel, MGS2 VR MISSIONS, MG2: Solid Snake, MGSV Ground Zeroes, Ac!d 2, Twin Snakes
Skip: Portable Ops, Ac!d, MG
 
Play in release order as has been suggested many times. Also if the the gameplay in Metal Gear Solid 1/2 does not click with you I recommend to try playing the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake games included in the HD collection.

I had trouble the first time playing the series and understanding the stealth mechanics in MGS1 so I started the series with the older MSX games to get a feel for how the gameplay would progress. I felt much more comfortable then to play the rest of the series and the old games hold up surprisingly well too.
 
Order of release, not chronically.

This. You'll appreciate the evolution in gameplay throughout the series. (Because - and don't let anyone tell you otherwise- each game in the MGS saga feels completely fresh and novel compared to any other game series).

You will make sense of the overall story of the saga either way (as long as you play the games relatively close to one another)
 
Looking on Amazon, there's a listing for the second print of the Legacy Collection (is this even a thing?) for $61 shipped and the first print for $75 while the HD Collection and MGS4 separately are just $42.30.

Is there any reason why I should purchase the Legacy Collection when I can save ~$33 if I buy the games separately? (I understand that MGS4 in the Legacy Collection has the Trophy patch on disc but is that the only difference?)

The Legacy Collection has one disc with the HD collection and another disc with MGS4. It also includes a download code for MGS and MGS:VR Missions. Purchasing them all separately would let you play the exact same thing. Hope that helps.
 
I know I'm gonna get tarred and feathered but play MGS1 and TwinSnakes back to back as the first 2 games. They are vastly different but both amazing. Bring on the hate Gaf I can take you ;)
 
Metal Gear Solid 1
Metal Gear Solid 2
Metal Gear Solid 4

Skip 3.

What in the actual fuck?

Anyway, OP, whatever you do, play them in release order and leave Twin Snakes for the end if you want. I wouldn't skip it, but it feels like an oddity if anything else.
 
Metal Gear (MSX, you can find it as an extra in MGS3 HD edition for PS3)
Metal Gear 2 (as above)

[Note: all of the above is optional if you don't feel like starting from the very beginning. I'd like to stress that both of these games are still VERY enjoyable and that it's great to see what has been translated in 3D from those two. For this reason they're also totally playable and enjoyable at any point after playing MGS]

Metal Gear Solid (PSX, get it from the PSN and play it on Vita if you have it)
Metal Gear Solid 2 (from the HD Collection)
Metal Gear Solid 3 (from the HD Collection)
Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (from the HD Collection)
Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes

Get the HD Collection for PS3 or 360, not the Vita version (lower framerate and missing Peace Walker).

Don't even think about playing them in the chronological order.

You're welcome.


This. Absolutely this.
 
SgRMr8I.jpg


/jk
 
Play Ape Escape 3, beat it, unlock Mesal Gear Solid: Snake Escape. Get a feel for Metal Gear Solid...


I'll see myself out.
 
strafer tryn'a start shit lol
 
Release order:
  • Metal Gear (Optional. Included on the HD Collection)
  • Metal Gear 2 (Optional but recommended. Included on the HD Collection)
  • Metal Gear Solid (Required. Get it on PS1/PSN/PC, they're all good)
  • Metal Gear Solid 2 (Required, HD Version is the best. Also on PS2/Xbox/PC)
  • Metal Gear Solid 3 (Required, HD version is the best. Also on PS2/3DS)
  • Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (Optional, PSP Exclusive)
  • Metal Gear Solid 4 (Required, PS3 Exclusive)
  • Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Required, HD Version is the best. Also on PSP)
  • Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (Required, get it on any modern system)

Read a summery of MG1/MG2 if you decide to skip them. MG1 plays like an NES game with a bare-bones plot. MG2 plays like an SNES game with plot elements that lead directly into MGS, also a damn good game in it's own right.

Portable Op's stance in the canon is ambiguous and isn't that good of a game either. Just watch the ending and the post-credits phone call on Youtube since those are the only things that are outright canon.

SgRMr8I.jpg


/jk

god damn it neil.
 
Ok, I've concluded that I'll order the HD Collection once I beat MGS1. (at the part where
the DARPA Chief just dies suddenly
)

Thanks everyone!

EDIT: I've also already played and beaten Revengeance, what a beauty of a game.
 
What.

3 is detrimental to the storyline of the new Metal Gear. MGS3, Peace Walker and Ground Zeroes have to be played/seen before the upcoming Phantom Pain.

inigo.jpg


Real Talk: Twin Snakes is fine and gets too much hate but you should still play the original first.

Yup.
In before someone starts whining about "ruining" Mei Lings V/O when the actress dialled the ching-chong-ching-chong me so solly way the fuck down for it.
 
Play it in order of release because going chronologically will make you want to blow your brains out. The controls and gameplay change for each MGS title. Play in the order of release and you will have the best experience.
 
If you're not one of those weird people who can't stomach old games, you should start with the versions of MG1 and 2 included with MGS3. They're pretty obtuse but still a lot of fun, and you'll get to see how the rest of the series refined and built upon them, as well as being able to catch all the references and callbacks in the later games.

The only one I'd personally recommend skipping is MGS4. It's a decently enjoyable game, but the story is so terrible it managed to retroactively destroy the mystique of the previous games. It just isn't worth it. Metal Gear will never be the same for me, but others can avoid sharing my fate. Friends don't let friends play MGS4! Tell your children!
 
Ok, I've concluded that I'll order the HD Collection once I beat MGS1. (at the part where
the DARPA Chief just dies suddenly
)

Thanks everyone!

EDIT: I've also already played and beaten Revengeance, what a beauty of a game.
ibukkKzHfmCsFL.gif

You're one of the good ones.
 
Play 1 thru 4, the MSX games, and Peace Walker on Ps3 with the Legacy Collection. I have the HD collection for both Ps3 and 360 and the sound of the PS3 version is slightly better. There is some distortion on the sound mix of the 360 version.
 
Yup.
In before someone starts whining about "ruining" Mei Lings V/O when the actress dialled the ching-chong-ching-chong me so solly way the fuck down for it.

Yeah, lets ignore the voice acting being dull/worse across the board, cutscenes being hilariously butchered, and the sneaking sections being even easier than before.

MGS1 is also cheaper and much easier to get.
 
Yeah, lets ignore the voice acting being dull/worse across the board, cutscenes being hilariously butchered, and the sneaking sections being even easier than before.

MGS1 is also cheaper and much easier to get.

It's a very different game no doubt. But silly cutscenes are far more in touch with modern MGS than the original which is one of the reason it stands on it's own. The original is a better game taken by itself. However Twin Snakes is more in tune with where the franchise went and the gameplay is more like what we got to expect later. It is a bit easier, but that is mostly just due to using the MGS2 engine w/ extra moves and first person perspective. Nothing earth shattering and game breaking. I enjoyed the hell out of both. The original for the the innovation, and the remake for making it feel less disconnected stylistically and gameplay-wise from it's PS2/PS3 sequels.


Play them both. Just noting the changes and contrasting them is worth it IMHO. And if you get a chance to Gear it up on Dolphin I imagine it would look quite good.
 
Like everyone else in this thread, play by release order.

Get a PS3, MGS HD Collection, MGS4, and MGSV. (Legacy Collection is a rare find but I think you can find it on Konami shop for $50 plus $10 shipping).

Play the original MGS first off PSN, then play 2, 3, 4, Peace Walker, then Ground Zeroes. If you really want to get deep in the series, play the MSX version of MG and MG2 that can be found in the MGS3 HD menu. Its canon but most people tend to not play it since it's story is referenced pretty heavily in MGS.

Remember:

No alerts
No kills
Snake only
Final destination
 
It is a bit easier, but that is mostly just due to using the MGS2 engine w/ extra moves and first person perspective. Nothing earth shattering and game breaking.

Ocelot fight is arguably broken with FPS aiming, but lets not kid ourselves, the MGS series isn't exactly Dark Souls.

Whatever you do, do not play twin snakes.

Be like the other folks who just spout out its shit without ever having played it.
 
I first got into the MGS series back in 2011 and I played all the games aside from from the most recent releases in chronologcial order. I think I'm rather qualified to give you some reasons as to why you should at least consider playing the series in such an order:

1. If you start the series in chronological order you'll be playing not only the best MGS game first, but you'll be playing one of the best games ever made. To give you an example of just how good MGS3 is, take note above of how many people got upset at Strafer's post for excluding MGS3 from his list a few posts back. We all know he/she's just trolling, but that's what makes that troll post so good - MGS3 is so good even the tiniest exclusion of it from any list will get folks mad. If you're new to the series, you don't wanna play that 32-bit looking MGS1 game first. You'll just get discouraged. You wanna start things off with a BANG! Start the series off with the best story, best characters, and the most unique gameplay.

2. Some people will tell you that if you play in chronological order, you'll get put off by the dated graphics and gameplay of the older games as you go along the timeline. That, I tell you, is a lie. They might have been right EXCEPT MGS3's story was so good that when you move along to play the other dated games in the series, you'll think "man this gameplay is sorta outdated and it's getting me depressed but I gotta push through it no matter what I gotta find out what happens to Big Boss I JUST GOTTA DO IT NO MATTER WHAT ARRGHHH". I mean with that kind of motivation, you'll be able to play the other games within the timeline no problem. Trust me.

3. <--- look at this number right here. You see that? If you ask an MGS fan what the first thing they think about when they see the number three, they'll 120% of the time say "MGS3 WOOOOO" I promise you they will say this. That's how good that game is.

OP I could list 100 other reasons why you should play the game in chronological order (like to experience the story in a unique way, or to piss off the people who demand you play it in release order) but I mean honestly, the three reasons above are the key ones. Please at least consider playing it in chronological order.
 
So bad that those takes were the ones used in MGS4

I think MGS4 is doo-doo in a lot of aspects.

Ocelot fight is arguably broken with FPS aiming, but lets not kid ourselves, the MGS series isn't exactly Dark Souls.

I'm going to assume you never played the series on Extreme/European Extreme.

There is more complexity with MGS boss fights than boss fights in Souls games. In Dark Souls 1&2 you circle strafe with a shield, dodge attacks, hit the boss, and repeat.
 
Don't waste your time or money trying to obtain Twin Snakes. It's an unnecessary and totally lackluster remake developed by a B studio.
 
Metal Gear Solid
Sons of Liberty
Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Rising

---take a break to think about what you just experienced and reevaluate your life---

Snake Eater
Peace Walker
Ground Zeroes
Phantom Pain

... then play Rising again.
 
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