If industry rumours are to be believed, “select PlayStation 3 backward compatibility” is on its way for the PS5. According to Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb and XboxEra’s Nick Baker, PS3 emulation is in the works – and has been for sometime. While it is yet to surface, it got me thinking about which PS3 games I’d love to play on PS5 and one stuck out above all the rest: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
MGS4 is regarded as one of the PlayStation 3’s best games. Not only did it garner universal acclaim from critics, it also caused a boost in sales for the PS3 which had struggled since launch.
Personally, MGS4 was the reason I opted for Sony’s seventh-generation console over the more popular Xbox 360. Other kids at school were baffled, why would I go for the PS3 instead of the 360? To me, it was all about Solid Snake’s final outing.
What was originally intended to be the conclusion to Hideo Kojima’s legendary series (before Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid V), wrapped up pretty much all of the series’ plot threads in incredible fashion. Up until that point, me and my brother had spent years speculating on how the series would end, what would become of Snake, and who the Patriots were. Thankfully, MGS4 delivered all that and more.
Looking back on it now, it was the perfect bridge between the older Metal Gear Solid games and MGSV, which, despite its narrative faults, features arguably the best stealth gameplay of any game ever. MGS4 laid the foundation for MGSV with a noticeable amount of freedom in its gameplay, extensive arsenal of weapons, and impressive level variety. Crucially, though, MGS4 retained the essence of earlier games in the series and brought it forward into the HD-era.
Of course, MGS4 wasn’t without fault. Its infamously long cutscenes are enough to put even the most ardent of Metal Gear fans to sleep – myself included. However, while a few are unnecessarily long, they don’t take away from the game itself. It remains one of the most cinematic video game experiences ever put to disc.
I’d be remiss to mention that there has been no specific mention of MGS4 being re-released on PS5 thanks to the rumoured PS3 emulation. But, to me, as the PlayStation 3’s best game, it makes all the sense in the world.
Let’s not forget, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which included every game in the series up to and including Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was released last year. While there’s been no news on Volume 2, one presumes that it will include MGS4, Peace Walker, and MGSV.
If that’s the case, then bringing Metal Gear Solid 4 to PS5 as a standalone release via PS3 emulation is a no-brainer. And I for one will relish in the opportunity to once again embark on Solid Snake’s final adventure.
Would you like to see MGS4 on PS5? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
