The games are the same in all versions, with the exception of MGS3: Subsistence which has a new camera. Still the same otherwise.

MGS1 has only one version. If you want to save it on a memory card, you'll need a PS1 memory card however (PS2 memory cards don't work with PS1 games). Naturally you can also save it on the PS3 if you have one (I assume you do).

MGS2 has two versions: standard and Substance. Substance is the better one but very rare on the PS2 and thus hard to find. The game itself is same but it has a new document, VR Missions and Snake Tales (they aren't related to anything).

MGS3 has two versions as well: standard and Subsistence. Subsistence has a new camera mode, an online mode (servers have been shut down, however) and the first two Metal Gears, Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

If you live in North America, you can get all three in a single pack. MGS2 is Substance and MGS3 is Subsistence. They both lost their second discs in the pack. MGS2 has lost its document and MGS3 has lost boss fight, online and the first two Metal Gears. It's still worth getting though (well, I'd imagine so but I don't live in North America).

==> to say the truth, the only cutscene from the TS version that I would accept is the one including (no spoiler)
"the "orange wild dog" fighting the final boss : he is the only character that deserved to get "matrix cutscene" since he is not a "simple" human  ...

I also assume the first MGS u play is the best ... like FF games.

If you want to play them in order

Metal Gear Solid 3 -------------Playstation 2

Metal Gear Solid: Po-----------PSP

Metal Gear 1--------------------NES/ Or Packed With MGS 3 Substience

Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake-----NES/ Or Packed With MGS 3 Substience

Metal Gear Solid 1--------------PSONE/GAMECUBE----i'd say go with gamecube

Metal Gear Solid 2-------------PS2

Metal Gear Solid 4-------------PS3

If you are just asking which is better between Metal Gear Solid 3 and 2. Well then MGS 3 blows 2 out of the water in every aspect

If your talking about the two versions of each game Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance and Metal Gear Solid 3: Substanice (spelling) are the better versions

Then your metal gear solid fans dont know what they are talking about. IMO they are the second best cutscenes in all the games behind MGS3. The only people that dont like the twin snakes are ones that dont like nintendo or dont own a gamecube....

Alright...its 2 on 2 now...now its fair.

I personally like to be entertained when I watch cutscense is videogames and the gamecube port had amazing fight sequences(ala matrix style). As far as emotion in the delivery of the actors, i did not notice it but you may be right. In any case, not like MGS is godfather like materiel that needs top notch acting performances. I think Twin Snakes does the job with voice acting and blows the PS1 version away with the fight sequences.

Not to mention that it looks better than PS1 game as its on gamecube. IT looks better that MGS2 to me as well...which I think is the weakest one.  MGS3 is the best one in my opinion...

Get Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence. It has a new controllable camera angle which is way better than Snake Eater's one. It also has the two Metal Gear games (Metal Gear 1 and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake), parody cutscenes, snake vs. monkey games, extra camouflages and European Extreme difficulty. The Metal Gear collection doesn't include the second disc of Subsistence, so you'll be missing out on the two games and parody cutscenes.

Just to clarify, Metal Gear 1 and 2 are NOT included in the Essential Collection.  Only way to get them is to buy Subsistence, or get them for the MSX/2.

Couldnt agree more with you

Skip MGS3 it was dumbed down because of simple minded fools complaining they couldnt understand 2. If you play MGS for the story like every fan does and consider yourself intelligent get 1 and then 2. 3 is better left untouched.

The deal for me is, I have a Wii and PS2, so I can play Twin Snakes and the original PS2 ones. I just noticed there wer two versions of MGS2 and MGS3.

I never got to beat MGS2 (got stuck at the part where I had to diffuse the bombs, lost the game), so I want to finish that one. I played MGS1 on the PS, but it was VR Missions. I played Metal Gear Solid on the PS as well, but never got to finish it. I heard MGS3 was tough and it's relatively cheap on Amazon.

I just want to beat the PS/2 era (obviously not NES) of the series. My and my bro just finished beating the Resident Evils (except for 3, too much $$) and I finished beating Megaman X-X7 a while back. Too keep this "series beating" thing going.