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Few games have achieved the legendary status that has been awarded to Metal Gear Solid (1998) for the PS1. Unlike the rest of the world, Japanese players actually got a second updated edition of the PlayStation classic called Metal Gear Solid: Integral. That is about to change, though, as the game is being included in the upcoming release of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1. Its inclusion in the compilation project will be many Western players’ first experience with the Japanese edition. So what exactly is Metal Gear Solid: Integral?
To unravel this question, let’s start with the international version of the stealth title. When localizing Metal Gear Solid into English for the first time, Konami introduced a series of tweaks alongside translating the game’s text and voiceovers. Among these changes, the most prominent was the addition of new selectable difficulty modes. But amidst these adaptations was a fun surprise – unlocking Snake’s Bond-esque tuxedo by successfully completing the game twice. Metal Gear Solid: Integral would build on this edition of the game and would include some interesting features not included in the Western release.
Unpacking the differences in Metal Gear Solid: Integral
Japanese players initially received Metal Gear Solid: Integral in 1999. This iteration not only incorporated the majority of the enhancements featured in the international release but also introduced several additions of its own. Its main feature was the inclusion of extra difficulty levels. But the edition actually went a step further by introducing a “very easy” mode that armed Snake with a silenced MP5 weapon, complete with an endless supply of infinite ammunition. Metal Gear Solid: Integral even added a sleek sneaking suit for Meryl to pair with Snake’s tuxedo.
Metal Gear Solid: Integral also featured two new modes players could unlock after beating the game once. First among these was the “alternate round” mode, which reshuffled enemy placements and patrol patterns on the map. This gave the game a fresh new challenge to veteran fans. The second one was the “1P View Mode,” which enabled players to experience most of the entire game from a first-person perspective. Interestingly, the Japanese edition retained the English voice cast from the international version, offering subtitles in both Japanese and English. Although menus and item descriptions are in their native Japanese text.
The biggest addition to Metal Gear Solid: Integral was the 300 VR missions that were included on a 3rd bonus disc. In North America, these missions were eventually released as a standalone game titled Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions. In PAL regions, they were offered as an add-on disc known as Metal Gear Solid: Special Missions. Collectors will no longer have to own multiple copies, as Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 will include both VR Missions and Special Missions in one package.
A first-time experience for fans in the West … sort of
Konami’s decision to release Metal Gear Solid Integral exclusively in Japan was primarily due to the fact that players in other regions received the extra missions on separate discs or had experienced most of the game’s additional content in the international version. This made a broad release of Metal Gear Solid: Integral unnecessary, with one intriguing exception—the English PC port. The developers modeled the Windows edition after the release of Metal Gear Solid: Integral, and it includes almost everything except, strangely, Meryl’s additional costume.
The inclusion of Metal Gear Solid: Integral in Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is a fun bonus that perfectly aligns with Konami’s commitment to creating a definitive edition of the PlayStation classic. The collection will give many players the opportunity to experience the Japanese exclusive for the first time, including its first-person and alternate-round modes.
The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 will launch on October 24, 2023, across various platforms, including the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
