Some classic jokes from Metal Gear Solid 4 are not only present in the latest re-release, but have been updated for modern systems. The game’s part of Master Collection Vol. 2, which also includes Peace Walker and the Game Boy Color title Ghost Babel, and Konami has included a few nice flourishes.
The amount of meta-humor always made porting Metal Gear Solid 4 a difficult prospect. You’ve got references to the iPod and fourth wall breaks that really place the release at a certain time. Well, for the purposes of this version, Konami actually went back and amended a couple of spoken lines to make sure one joke lands accordingly.
In Sons of the Patriots, when you get to Shadow Moses Island, the original version made reference to changing the discs of the first Metal Gear Solid when you reach this same location. “Hold it, Snake. Time to change the disc,” Otacon starts. “I know, I know, it’s a pain. But you need to swap Disc 1 for Disc 2. You see the disc labelled ‘2’?”
Snake would then point out there isn’t a second disc, and Otacon would realize we’re in the future. “Oh, wait! We’re on PlayStation 3,” he exclaims, much to the chagrin of our man Solid.
Now, as has been highlighted by reviewers (thanks, TechRadar Gaming), whether you’re playing on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, or any other platform, the Master Collection Vol. 2 now references that system. Voice actor Christopher Randolph even came back to do the line for each instance.
Sure, you can apparently hear the contrast in his voice, since he’s aged almost two decades and the recording environment would’ve been completely different. But, the joke still works, and now has an added layer to it. Even Solid Snake would see the fun in that.