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When we attended a hands-on session for Konami's upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, we were undoubtedly disappointed to find that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater were both running at 30fps on Switch. This is depite the fact that both HD versions ran at 60fps back in 2012 when released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
While we were unable to definitively confirm at the time whether the games ran at the same frame rate on other systems, Konami has now provided a statement to us and other outlets to clarify that it is only the Switch release that is targeting 30fps. All other platforms will target the games at 60fps.
Cripes, that's a shame, right? Here's a look at exactly how the games will run:
- All platforms except Switch – 1080p / 60 frames per second target
- Switch (docked mode) – 1080p / 30 frames per second target
- Switch (handheld mode) – 720p / 30 frames per second target
It's hardly the end of the world; after all, the recently released Red Dead Redemption featured the same resolution and frame rate on the Switch and turned out to be pretty great, but it's nevertheless disappointing to see this gap in performance when you consider the age of the games in question.
Not only that, but it doesn't exactly bode well for the inevitable second volume in Konami's Master Collection. Presumably, such a collection would include the highly-requested Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, but if Konami can't get MGS2 and 3 running at 60fps, what possible hope do we have for the fourth mainline entry?
We're not going to sugarcoat it: we're disappointed. But what do you make of this? Is it all a fuss over nothing, or should Konami have strived for platform parity? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.
Comments 91
Why? The Switch can easily do 60fps if 360 and PS3 can play the same HD versions at 60fps?
I'm sure someone will run it on an overclocked Switch and claim they are better than Konami. (If they can hit 60 fps on an unmodified Switch then they would have something to boast!)
Woohoo I can play Metal Gear Solid 2 at half the performance of the original PS2 version. Thank God for Konami
Wow, somehow this is worse than the original with better hardware. Amazing how so many companies goof up on something that should arguably not even be a problem.
As long as the frame pacing is consistent the lower fps doesn't matter in a slow, methodical, stealth / action series like MGS.
I think part of the problem is this constant trickle of "the switch is underpowered" statements across the net. It's definitely given some devs an excuse for poor conversions. The solution is simply to not support these releases.
Doesn't seem like a gigantic deal to me but is rather confusing.
The numbers are disappointing BUT sometimes when I get deeply engrossed in a game I don’t always notice. So here’s hoping it is at least smooth. Even the originals drove me nuts when we’d get horrible slowdown in spots (hello MGS 2 rainy outside boat parts). So if that’s gone, I can probably handle 30fps throughout.
I’m more disappointed that 1 didn’t get some upgrades with control and resolution than anything.
Typical Konami
I'm sorry, but this is inexcusable and down right insulting as a long time Metal Gear fan, every PS2 conversion by Capcom runs at 1080p locked 60fps on Switch. Yet MGS is gonna be "targetting" 30fps, meaning it wont even be locked? When it was 60fps on PS360? When MGS2 was 60 even on PS2? Are they insane?!?
This is a god damn joke, this is on top of them using the smallest possible cartridge with basically nothing on it for a "physical" release. I was so excited for this collection, I gave Konami the benefit of the doubt but i'm not gonna be buying it anymore, Konami is being lazy as it always was.
Arkham Trilogy will be getting my money that month instead.
Every weekend i think about OCing my switch. Maybe its finally time to just do it.
@GrailUK thing is this was already 60fps on the Nvidia Shield which is basically an underclocked Switch with less RAM and generally less performance, so it's already been proved the Switch could do it.
EDIT, I got this the wrong way round, the Switch runs at lower clocks but does have more RAM but it does outperform the Shield in games such as Doom 3 due to it's OS
I think the Switch versions are based on the Vita ports, those run at 30FPS, but, in game like MGS, frame rate doesn't matter, as long as it is stable. Most people won't notice it anyway.
@carlos82 Well, between this and the awful physical release, I can see why Konami don't garner much respect. They are a shadow of their former selves.
There's no excusing this, there really isn't. You don't have to convince yourself that it's ok. Personally I will just stick with my PS3 and Vita versions.
Good old Konami. As hopeless as ever.
I could have sworn that the PS2 versions were 60FPS but I may be misremembering.
@nessisonett MGS2 apparently is 60fps on PS2 from everywhere I've looked. Even the vita version of MGS2 runs at 60fps in the smaller indoor areas while 30fps outdoors and in bigger sections.
On every platform except Nintendo Switch, the game will run at 1080p and 60FPS - those figures apply to both Xbox Series X and Series S. Switch users are looking at 1080p/30FPS in docked mode and 720p/30FPS for handheld play.
While these Xbox resolution figures aren't quite the full 1440p or 4K that they perhaps could have been, this news does at least alleviate those fears that we might have been looking at a 720p presentation on Xbox. Thankfully, all current-gen consoles are at least hitting full HD; 1080p
can the switch 2 get here soon enough?
Bring it up this topic again ! ? seriously
@carlos82 The Shield clocks are higher, not lower. But the Switch subsystem is much better optimized, so 60 fps baded on the Shield code should be no issue at all.
This is weird in so many ways. They could have easily port the same versions to switch. Yes the switch is alot weaker, but this is just bullying switch owners at this point. There's just no excuse, not even saving space on the card, cause most of it needs to be downloaded. I'll buy the PS5 version on discount at some point.
@johnedwin I thought every edition of it was 720p (as the original HD collection was in 720p). The main issue is that the Switch is more than capable of hitting 60fps for MGS2 and MGS3 as the PS3 and 360 both hit 60fps back in 2012 when the HD collection came out...
But for whatever dumb reason Konami has, they didn't bother to have it be 60fps on Switch. The Switch is more than capable for this
@johnedwin Honestly this just because of the lack of proper optimization. So, a 'Switch 2' or Switch 200 isn't going to change that. Not unless these developers change.
@carlos82 I think you have that backwards. The Switch is underclocked compared to the Shield. GPU clock speed in portable mode is only about 40% of the 1Ghz maximum. And I think CPU is about 60% of the 2Ghz potential (so about 1.2Ghz) regardless of whether it's portable or docked mode.
The Switch does have more RAM.
If you are not happy, just don't buy it. I certainly won't be. I may pick up on PS5 when they eventually go on sale. Plenty of amazing Switch ports out there so it makes it easy to avoid the bad ones.
Kind of amazed at the (seemingly) recent obsession with 60 FPS regarding recent ports on Switch. I guess it's because they are ports since most of the Switch's best games run at 30 FPS as well. ¯(ツ)/¯
Anyway, my first experience with these
MGS games were the Vita versions so no spilled milk for me, lol.
Vol. 2 (4 and 5 etc.) will probably release on the Switch successor anyway, problem solved (but also probably 30 fps).
@theexile285 The main issue is that MGS2 and MGS3 ran at 60fps on Xbox 360 and PS3 11 years ago. The Switch is more than capable of hitting that.
Heck the Vita version ran at 60fps for indoor areas. There's literally no reason why the Switch can't run the games at 60fps
And the physical having so much to download to play it?
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Jog On Konami
These are circa 20 year old plus games, running at the same FPS as Tears if the Kingdom. I really don't know why everyone is wetting the bed.
Low effort over priced games = Konami since 2018.
I'm actually genuinely surprised nobody has tried to purchase Konami yet, they have so many great IPs that are wasted because their house is in shambles.
Everybody should send a message to Konami and cancel their Switch pre-orders. It's apparently going to perform as expected on all the other platforms--so why broadcast that we'll pay full price for 20-year-old games that are ported so sloppily they perform worse than ever before?
If the PS3 AND Xbox 360 Versions of MGS 3 can run at 60 fps than why not the Switch version?
@Qwiff @Max_the_German yeah I seemed to have clicked on the one site that had the information the wrong way round, silly me.
Though I do recall it having slightly less performance in games such as Doom 3 and Mario Galaxy compared with Switch, largely because of it's OS
Don't get it on Switch, just to spite them.
I might just get MGS. It is the one I put most time into and it will be better portable than the PSP PSx version.
Love that game.
And here I thought this was a better way to experience MGS3 portable.
I wonder if the resolution is the problem. One of the switch’s weaknesses with ports is memory bandwidth and this is a game series that used ps2’s fast bandwidth (compared to the resolution) back in the day to push a lot of particle effects. 360 had a faster memory pool for the same thing and the switch’s is a bit slower than that edram. I doubt the developers were given the time to optimize for that though.
The difference with RDR is that Red Dead was always a 30 fps game. MGS2 ran at 60 even on PS2. Poor Konami, how far the mighty have fallen!
Konami is a garbage company. I'll never give them another cent of mine.
30fps isn't that bad as that's the correct framerates that's accurate to the original games meaning all original frames should be there and should work accurately. The games running at 60fps for other consoles means Konami either had added extra frames for those platforms meaning more frames to make gameplay less cinematic or those versions will either be performing at twice the rates which cause reaction time to be run at a slight few second earlier so certain inputs would had to be increase in able to enjoy it. They also probably see no effort to do the same for the Switch versions due to platform differences. It's likely they could still patch a 60fps update in the future.
Ah, crap... Was MGS2 and 3 running at 60fps back on PS2? My memory is foggy and I can't remember if that was the remaster or the original that was at 60. Well if that's the case, and this Switch version is actually a downgrade, I might not be so willing to buy this on Switch after all. I don't want an upgrade necessarily but I certainly don't want a downgrade for my favorite games of all time. That's horrible news.
this is just a cash grab konami could have made the effort for these game.. they are making the effort to remaster and remake suikoden 1& 2..
What was the frame rate of Snake Eater on the 3DS?
I think I'll give 2 & 3 a miss.
Anyone who says RDR is a good game (or that the port was acceptable to begin with) is someone you simply shouldn't listen to.
As for this port, it's upsetting all the way around on every platform. I already own the anthology on PS3, might just plug that back in and play this there. The Vol. 1 gives me hope though, as I've not yet seen it confirmed if MGS4 is going to be saved from PS3 hell and finally put onto a current gen system.
At least all 3 current gen consoles are hitting 1080p, right? I wasn't expecting MGS3Delta quality remakes, but I was at least hoping they'd remaster these titles before this collection.
How do they botch the port so badly? I mean at least Red Dead Redemption was 30 everywhere so there was very little to miss.
This implies they went out of their way to take away 30 on Switch when there was literally no reason to for these ancient games.
@RobynAlecksys
And we should listen to you just because you think Red Dead is a bad game? Lol the sense of self importance from some people here is comical.
@johnedwin
Curious to see how the Suikoden collection ends up on switch, iirc they had M2 working on their previous 2d game collections and they have a very good track record but unsure if they are handling suikoden.
Will Tales of Symphonia Remastered finally meet its match?
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@GraniteFraggle
While the power gap is definitely very wide and the system is definitely showing its age it does feel like there's definitely a lot of hyperbole on social media, just look at how many times that distorted SpongeBob gif is posted any time an ambitious port is announced for the system.
it also feels like there are those who look at "60fps" as some kind of newer thing when its something thats been around for a while, it just took a while for it to become more common in HD development.
but yeah i definitely can understand your statement despite how much i tend to ramble when replying.
@Serpenterror That's not even true, though.
The original PS2 version of MGS2 was 60fps, though MGS3 was 30fps.
Both of these games were 60fps on Xbox 360 and PS3, however.
That means the issues (if any) introduced by running MGS3 at a higher framerate have already been dealt with.
A bare-bones port like RDR on PS4 is one thing, but this collection is literally downgraded from previous releases, just like Tales of Symphonia was. That's what makes this sit especially badly with many people.
konami continues to halfcrap their games/collections just like a few certain devs we know along with putting 1 game on cartridge while others downloadable which is horrible.
Fun fact, while mgs3 was 30 fps on vita, mgs2 was mixed 30/60 fps, depending on how busy the screen was. Yet Konami can't give us even that on Switch.
This is fine for me. I have a PS5 and end up playing everything on the switch anyway because of the mobility and ways to play.
Damn what a kick in the boots
@ChromaticDracula All PS2 MGS games are 30fps, Metal Gear Solid titles had DVD cinematic style cutscenes in them and running those in 60fps will ruin the cinematic scenes. Because DVD videos only run in 30fps on PS2 instead of 60fps on some actual more expensive DVD players back then, all games that incorporate DVD quality cinematic videos will had to be cap at 30fps. That's means the Switch versions are just the better looking ports of the PS2 games. Most people back then don't know how Sony was able to sell a PS2 with DVD features for that cheap of a price, well now you know cause DVD for PS2 ran only at 30fps. Some of the more expensive DVD player could run their own videos at 60fps and even support widescreens whereas PS2 only support 30fps and 4:3 but back then people don't care about performance cause it's just films.
A new low, we know Konami is a disappointment but holy crab
@Serpenterror what are you yapping about the DVDs for? MGS2 ran at 60fps during gameplay on PS2 and that's a fact, this port is a lazy cashgrab.
@Serpenterror The 60 vs 30fps argument is definitely interesting because I definitely would much rather 30 (or even 24fps) cutscenes for that cinematic look. I also don't mind 30fps for gameplay, unless it's a racing game. I honestly think I do remember 60fps being the normal for the PS2 versions so it's going to be jarring if it looks different than the originals and is downgraded to 30fps. That being said, I am willing to give it a chance and see how it actually looks because as I said, I do prefer a more cinematic feel for games overall, especially ones that are cinematic by nature like these.
What I don't want is extreme slowdown akin to the MGS3 port on 3DS. That wasn't even cinematic, that was sluggish. ...Playable by definition, but sluggish.
Guess i'll have to find my mini-usb cable to charge my dualshock 3's to play the ps3 hd collection then.
@Dimjimmer More like: “Find out over the next 20 episodes of Dragon Ball Z”
I am not really sensitive to frame rates and probably wouldn't have noticed without the coverage. The sound issue Alex mentioned though..... no. Going 20 odd years here but I am pretty sure all of the Codec lines were voiced so this must be to mask the voiced Playstation buttons. But just to cut the sound? Rather than put a radio distortion sound or even a Kojima-style comedy sound effect? That is really lazy. Atmosphere is a big thing in these games and the voice acting is both famous and infamous. Surely this must of occurred to somebody there?
Good to know that it won't be locked at 30 fps on all consoles, but why lock it to 30 on the Switch? These games are decades old, it shouldn't be hard to run them 60.
i care about ~3 franchises anymore in gaming and here they are f**king one of them 😔
Once already Konami did the impossible and duplicated the Framerate of Super Bomberman R at the cost of halving the resolution. I would prefer such option with this game. Going by the fact that they can only reach 1080p in current gen consoles, such goal is surely very taxing for the poor old Switch.
@Razzy
People actually preferring the janky option of having the frame rato changing between 60 to 30 all the time surprises me, and make me think they just dislike seeing "lesser numbers"(like the good old console wars and how people were mad a Sega game had xx megabits while the Nintendo version had less megabits)...even though those same lower numbers will make for a more stable overall experience.
How well do the 2D games run? Those are the ones that I am most interested in.
Konami is so damn lazy!!!! These games ran 60fps 20 years ago already on ancient hardware. Switch could wipe ass with it. And we want at least 1 game on the cartridge- MGS3!!!!! How dare Konami release a cartridge with no games on it?!!!!
@Bunkerneath Well with that info, I will probably not get these games on the Switch then.
(I really regret selling my 3DS copy of Snake Eater for $20 CAD way back then... but then again it makes no sense why the price just jumped so high all of a sudden for the game, when it was still going for around $20 in 2021...)
It's no fair. PS360 ran at 60fps. This is worse than Symphonia. At least that has the excuse of that PS2 port being the basis, but MGS2 on PS2 runs at 60fps! What the heck Konami!
@Serpenterror MGS2 ran at 60fps on PS2 during gameplay. The cut scenes were 30fps. Same for MGS3 by the way.
@ChromaticDracula yes they did. Cut scenes were capped at 30 but gameplay was a pretty smooth 60fps.
Yeaaah this + the cartridge containing only few gigs of data means NOPE from me. Getting PS5 version physically and for handheld experience I'll just buy it on Steam and play it on the Deck.
They went out of their way to downgrade these games on Switch. I removed it from my wishlist. Konami won't get a single cent from me.
So many disappointing ports lately. I guess nobody calls Panic Button anymore...
@Serpenterror you don’t know what you’re talking about mate. Sorry, inform yourself better because you’re just putting misinformation and nonsense out here.
The media (DVD) dictating the framerate of games and what a console can reproduce it’s some crazy theory haha
Btw, all consoles from Pong till PS5 can output games at 60fps (XSX/PS5 can output at up to 120 fps, and it’s the first time a console is able to do that, bar some that were castrated in their PAL version and thus could only output at 50 fps maximum (and 50Hz) unless modded or using an accessory to play JPN/USA ntsc imports.
The MGS games’ framerate is as such:
MGS on PS1: 30 fps
MGS on Switch: 30 fps
(Bonus) MGS Twin Snakes on Gamecube: 60 fps
MGS 2 on PS2: 60 fps
MGS 2 on Switch: 30 fps
MGS 2 on PS Vita: 60 fps indoor / 30 fps outdoor
MGS 2 on X360/PS3: 60 fps
MGS 3 on PS2: 30 fps
MGS 3 on PS Vita: 30 fps
MGS 3 on X360/PS3: 60 fps
MGS 3 on Switch: 30 fps
MGS 1/2/3 on PS4/PS5/XB1/XS: 60fps
It’s frankly unacceptable and I delisted the Switch releases from my wishlist, sadly. But I won’t reward Konami for this sh**show and will stick to the HD Collection I own on PS3 for now.
@TheExile285 it’s because these games ran 60fps on PS3/360 so it looks like Konami are going out of their way to screw over Switch owners for a crappier version but charging the same
@magoo because TOTK didn’t run 60fps 12 years ago on the Wii
@Serpenterror better dont arguing with 60fps player, MGS vol 1 i didnt feel any cash grab or feel bad on 30fps NS as long stable and playble also HD widescreen Cutscrene. Even FF12 didnt run 60fps
@SearchingS 30fps isn’t bad, but these games run 60fps on the PS3/360. So Konami are selling you a crappier version because money.
What is the definition to you crappier version ?
no 60fps or unplayble ?
I guess they might think the NS ver1 battery leaking fast on 60fps, for longer time they stand on 30fps
Have to say it’s disappointing but if you look a videos the difference will be negligible. I own a ps5 and switch but favour carts over disc. It’s personal preference, just buy for a different console if you’re not happy. At the end of the day switch owners complaining about the known performance issues of the switch…. 30fps imo which may be very unpopular isn’t all that bad. I’m sure the games will be a hoot regardless. One thing I will say to those that constantly moan about the switch which I’m sure we are all a little disheartened but nevertheless it proves worthy.
@SearchingS Well then they would offer both options - battery conservative and performance focused.
@DashKappei Thanks for the truth. I laughed/cringed so hard at that individuals post.
1080p30 is gonna be just fine with me, as long as it's stable
Lol Switch is definitely not getting the second collection then
This is *****. The ps2 originals ran at 60 fps. The switch is more than capable of Running ps2 games at 1080p 60fps.
Devs keep giving ***** ports to the switch and instead of being honest about them being lazy they just say "welp the hardware is just limited"
@Yomerodes Eh, not really, having played it like that, it didn't feel janky at all. The base 30 fps felt perfectly stable and the parts where it switched to 60 fps felt amazingly smooth. Best of both worlds, so to say, if the hardware can't keep up with the higher framerate 100% of the time.
It made for a much better overall experience than a locked 30 fps, Mgs2 was made for 60 fps and hobbling it to a locked 30 fps makes for a dreadful experience.
Still buying on switch. Would rather have it on a platform I will actually play it on than one that I won't. If I want the higher frame version I will double dip in a few years when it is super cheap.
Alright, hear me out. I played mgs 2 on the vita. It was 30 fps outside and 60 fps indoors. If the same sh*t will happen on the switch, it means that this is just a lazy fkn port from the ps vita (What a surprise, how could they). If it's 30 all the way, it means that they gave no f*cks about the switch (what a surprise, how could they).
The vita had some improved graphics, just minor details. But it had some downgrades too. I swear to god, if this comes out and it'll be just a ps vita version that close to nobody saw and played, and ppl will praise konami for those "minor improvements" they were talking about - I'll F*CKING explode. Check it.
didn't the 3DS run MGS at 30fps....?
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