Are you a dedicated Metal Gear fan currently immersed in the *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater* remake? While that adventure keeps you busy, there’s an amazing find for your Mother Base collection: the official *Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain* strategy guide. Incredibly, it’s still available on Amazon almost a decade after its original release, and it’s even discounted to just $19.70 from its original price of $25!
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – Complete Official Guide
Current Price: $19.70 (was $25)
This comprehensive paperback guide boasts 368 pages, providing an unparalleled look into every facet of *The Phantom Pain*. It’s packed with detailed mission walkthroughs, insightful diagrams, and thorough analysis of the game’s intricate systems – leaving no stone unturned. Plus, it includes a story recap, ensuring you can jump into *MGS V* without getting lost in the series’ famously convoluted universe.
As an added bonus, it comes with a detailed world map poster!
Published by Piggyback, renowned for guides like *Zelda: Breath of the Wild*, *Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*, and *Cyberpunk 2077*, this guide maintains their high standard. It’s also crafted by the same team behind previous Metal Gear Solid guides, guaranteeing accuracy and depth for *MGS V* fans.
A Collector’s Edition of the guide, featuring exclusive goodies like a lithograph by Yoji Shinkawa and an art gallery, was also released but is now out of print. Occasionally, new and used copies appear from third-party resellers.
This guide is a fantastic piece of official memorabilia for the final game in the Metal Gear series. If you haven’t played the game yet, you can also grab *The Phantom Pain* along with its standalone prequel, *Ground Zeroes*, for just $23 on PlayStation or PC as part of *The Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience*.
Currently, all eyes are on *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*. Our review praised it with a superb 9/10, highlighting its excellent remastering of one of the best PS2 games for modern platforms. If you’re looking to dive in, the Tactical Edition is available for $68 (originally $70) at various retailers, offering the standard physical game with extra DLC. PC players can also find the Steam version for $52.38 (down from $70). Die-hard fans can also grab the $200 physical Collector’s Edition, which is still in stock.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Deals
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Collector’s Edition
Current Price: $200 (In stock September 23)
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – Tactical Edition
Current Price: $68 (was $70) | Includes $15 DLC Pack
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater for Steam
Standard: $52.38 (was $70) | Deluxe: $59.87 (was $80)
For those who started their journey with *The Phantom Pain* or *Delta* and wish to explore earlier entries, the *Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1* is a must-have.
This collection features *Metal Gear Solid*, *Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty HD*, and the original *Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD*, alongside the classic MSX versions of *Metal Gear* and *Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake*, plus animated graphic novels. The physical edition is available for $30 (was $60) on Switch, Xbox, and PS5, or you can grab it digitally on consoles and PC. The Steam version is available for $45 (was $60).
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1
- Switch: $30 (
$60) - Xbox: $30 (
$60) - PS5: $30 (
$60) - Steam: $45 (
$60)
It’s worth noting that while the Master Collection provides most of the core series in one package, it omits several other mainline titles like *Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots*, *Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker*, and *Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain* (including *Ground Zeroes*). Many spin-offs such as *Metal Gear: Survive* and *Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance* are also not included. Future Master Collection volumes or additional remakes akin to *Delta* are anticipated, but Konami has yet to announce specific plans.
Currently, some of these titles are hard to access on modern platforms. The PS3-exclusive *Metal Gear Solid 4* and PSP-exclusive *Peace Walker* are not available on contemporary consoles or PC. However, as mentioned, *Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience* lets you enjoy the latest mainline game, *The Phantom Pain*, complete with *Ground Zeroes* and a suite of DLC. Available for $23 on PS4 and PC, it’s a great pick even if you’re new to the series. While you’ll miss some story context, *MGSV* is widely acclaimed for its superior gameplay, making it an excellent choice for tactical espionage action after finishing *Delta* or the Master Collection.
Beyond the mainline saga of Big Boss, Solid Snake, and the enigmatic Patriots, the Metal Gear universe is rich with spinoffs. Most are non-canon, like *Metal Gear: Survive*, or semi-canon, such as *Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops*. However, some are firmly within the official timeline, including Platinum Games’ 2013 title, *Metal Gear Rising Revengeance*. Set at the end of the series’ timeline, players reprise the role of *Metal Gear Solid 2’s* protagonist, Raiden, now in his formidable cyborg ninja form from *Metal Gear Solid 4*. Unlike the stealth-focused mainline games, *Rising* is a character action game, highly regarded by fans and readily available on PC for $23 (originally $30).
More Metal Gear Games
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience
- PC: $23 (
$30) - PS4: $23 (
$30)
- PC: $23 (
- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PC): $23 (
$30) - Metal Gear Survive (PC): $23 (
$30)
For a unique dive into the Metal Gear Solid narrative, explore the official novelizations of *Metal Gear Solid* and *Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty*. Penned by Raymond Benson, known for his work on James Bond novels, these books retell the iconic events of the first two games.
It’s also worth noting that Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear’s creator, saw his latest project, *Death Stranding*, receive a two-part official novelization. While sharing visual design, world-building, and some gameplay elements with Metal Gear, *Death Stranding* delves deeper into overt sci-fi. Fans of Kojima’s style will find these novelizations compelling, available in paperback and Kindle editions.
In 2021, Kojima also released the non-fiction book *The Creative Gene*, a collection of his memoirs and essays on creativity, game design, and art. While it won’t resolve Metal Gear lore mysteries, it offers invaluable insights into his creative process and personal journey. The paperback edition is currently available for $17.87 (down from $23).
More Metal Gear Solid & Hideo Kojima Books
- The Creative Gene by Hideo Kojima (paperback): $17.87 (was
$23) - Death Stranding, Vol. 1: The Official Novelization (paperback): $19 | Kindle: $11
- Death Stranding, Vol. 2: The Official Novelization (paperback): $15.84 | Kindle: $11
- Metal Gear Solid (paperback): $16.68
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (paperback): $16.68
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – The Complete Official Guide: $19.70 (was
$25)