Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 Brings Back Peace Walker, Leaving Other PSP Titles Behind: “This Game is Essential to the Series”

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The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 was unveiled during a recent presentation, confirming that Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally breaking free from its long-standing PS3 confinement. This collection also features the 2000 Game Boy Color title Ghost Babel and the 2010 PSP game Peace Walker, though several other Metal Gear titles, including Portable Ops, are notably absent.

Released in 2006 for the PSP, Portable Ops is often seen as an outlier in the series. Set after Metal Gear Solid 3, it explores how Big Boss established the military unit he would later command in Peace Walker and MGS5. Its inclusion in Volume 2 would make sense, as it connects MGS3 from the previous collection to Peace Walker.

However, series creator Hideo Kojima had limited involvement in Portable Ops, and its events are only loosely referenced in later games. This semi-canon status might explain its absence, especially since Ghost Babel, which is entirely non-canon, is still included.

“Such an underrated game,” one fan expressed on a forum. “I genuinely believe the story is the best sequel to 3 we’ve ever received, and the gameplay is unfairly criticized. In my opinion, this game should be considered a crucial part of the saga. Its story has more impact than V’s, somehow.”

It’s not out of the question for Portable Ops to eventually make its way into the collection. After all, the NES titles included in Volume 1 were revealed after the initial announcement. “It’ll either be a bonus game, Vol 3, or it’s never happening,” another commenter noted, which seems to cover all possibilities.

The primary reason for Portable Ops’ absence is likely that it has never been ported before. The version of Peace Walker in Volume 2 is based on the one from the previous HD Collection, which likely simplified development. Portable Ops would require a new port, and considering the resources being allocated to finally bring Metal Gear Solid 4 off the PS3, it makes sense that a larger port project might be reserved for a potential Volume 3.

There’s still a wealth of Metal Gear content to explore in future collections. The Acid games, PSP deckbuilders with dedicated fanbases, and Platinum’s over-the-top action title Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance are all possibilities. Plus, there’s Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and its premium-priced prologue, Ground Zeroes. Even Metal Gear Survive could make an appearance if you’re looking to dig deep. While it may seem early to speculate about future volumes with Volume 2 just announced, there’s more than enough material to fill Volumes 3 and 4.

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Metal Gear has given us some of the best PSP games ever released.