Best way to experience the Metal Gear Saga?

[SHMUPGurus]

I suggest you play Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes. It's everything Kojima wanted for the PSX version. He couldn't do everything he wanted on the original version due to hardware limitations at the time. Some people complain about the over the top scenes plus Snake being way too badass for no reason, but I've read somewhere that this is how Kojima wanted to portray Snake in the first place. Silicon Knights did a good job at porting the game (plus adding some new features from MGS2), and it's a must buy if you want my opinion.

Still, I always think it's better to play the original version first, but I'm not sure if you have much time to play lots of games this summer or something? I mean, Metal Gear Solid on the PSX is still worth playing, but don't complain if you feel like the characters look like weird-shaped polygons and stuff (oh, and the outdated sound... oh my!)! xD

Also, the content of the second disc of MGS3: Subsistence is somewhat important. It contains both MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (the best versions). You could always start with those two games before Metal Gear Solid. Oh, and there's also a little Ape Escape kind of game on the disc (it's fun, hehe).

I can't say about the firmware update, but I guess, like you said, it only happened to a few people. I would take the chance. You could be lucky and it won't lock up on you.

Have fun enjoying one of the best franchises ever. ;)

 

Oh, and yeah, the order of the games go like this:

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots