MGS2 and 3 have experienced notably “enhanced” performance
Last November, the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Volume 1 for the Switch was updated to Version 2.0.0 and now Digital Foundry has provided another look at the current state of the game on Nintendo’s system.
Focusing on MGS2 and 3, the Switch edition has considerably “enhanced” its performance since the initial release. In its current state, it still operates at a native 720p resolution but suffers from “almost no anti-aliasing” and lacks texture filtering, resulting in an “overall noisier, flicker-prone image” when docked. Several features available on other systems are also absent, such as upscaling.
The primary improvement is in framerate performance – with Konami addressing the “stutters in Switch’s frame-rate, particularly in MGS2” in the 2.0 patch. Although some framerate drops persist, it represents a step in the right direction:
“Compared to the initial release, in-engine cut-scenes showcasing an overview of the Big Shell see an increase of 2-5fps in the new update. Unfortunately, sub-30fps drops still occur, even with the latest patch, but it shows progress – plus we’re witnessing a decrease in the frame-time inconsistencies from the original build. It’s essential to mention that some cut-scenes intentionally cap at 15fps for artistic reasons, which is consistent across all platforms, and these remain unchanged in the new patch on Switch.”
While this is all “positive news” for Nintendo’s console, the series still has difficulty achieving a steady 30 frames per second in MGS2, with occasional spikes up to 60 when opening and closing doors. In comparison, the PS2 original ran at 60fps. Regarding Switch’s MGS3 performance, it maintains a steady 30fps (consistent with the PS2 original) and reportedly has “fewer drops than MGS2”.
Overall, the Master Collection is in a “significantly better position with patch 2.0 installed, though the major drawbacks remain frustrating”.