SO YOU WANT TO COLLECT…
MSX GAMES
The MSX is a versatile computer system with a wide range of games available on tape, disk, cartridge and even laserdisc. Exploring its selection of arcade gems and obscure Japanese exclusives can be great fun but be warned – they come at a price!
Words by Ashley Day
PLENTY OF BRASS NEEDED
METAL GEAR
DEVELOPER: KONAMI
RELEASE: 1987
■ Among Konami’s incredible streak of 70+ MSX releases, Metal Gear is one of its finest. Famously created with the system’s hardware limitations in mind, it was designed as a slower paced, flickscreen game that rewarded careful planning and slow movement over action.
Hideo Kojima cleverly designed the game this way to sidestep the jerky scrolling of the humble MSX and in doing so he practically invented an entirely new type of game that’s still deeply satisfying to play today.
Yes, Metal Gear is also available on the NES, and at a more affordable price, but the NES port was significantly altered with many changes, including the removal of the actual Metal Gear boss itself. With the MSX version you’re getting the real, undiluted Kojima deal. If you’re looking to save money, you may be tempted to go for the cheaper Japanese release, but be cautious as the Japanese version will only play on MSX computers with a kanji ROM, so if you have a PAL system it likely won’t play at all. Too bad, Snake!
EXPECT TO PAY
£250+
EUROPE
EXPECT TO PAY
£150+
JAPAN
SO SOLID
Why you’re better off leaving the sequel alone
Released in 1990 at the tail end of the MSX’s life, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake was Hideo Kojima and the MSX firing on all cylinders with an adventure that’s so rich and deep, it’s a lot like playing Metal Gear Solid in 2D. Sadly, the MSX cart was only released in Japan and commands such high prices that it’s really only worth it for hardcore collectors. For everyone else, it’s much more sensible to play the version Konami added to the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. Yes, they did change all the character portraits so they no longer look like famous movie stars but it is in English, costs a fraction of the price of the MSX cart, and includes the original Metal Gear too. So we’d call that a fair trade!