Metal Gear Solid HD Edition Premium Package

Hideo Kojima's magnum opus trilogy got the HD treatment, but only a select few of us got it like this. The Metal Gear Solid HD Edition Premium Package for PlayStation 3 is a Japan-exclusive collector's release that came housed in a large cardboard box featuring artwork hand-drawn by the legendary Yoji Shinkawa himself. If that name doesn't immediately make your pulse quicken, you might be in the wrong hobby.

The centerpiece here is The Art of Metal Gear Solid: The Original Trilogy, a massive 450-plus page art book spanning the first three entries in the series. This isn't some flimsy pack-in pamphlet. It's a genuine tome documenting the visual evolution of one of gaming's most cinematic franchises. Alongside that sits an original soundtrack CD featuring eight tracks from across the trilogy, including "The Best Is Yet To Come," "Snake Eater," and their karaoke versions for those brave enough to attempt them.

What makes this Premium Package genuinely special is its scarcity. It was only available through the Konami Style web store in Japan, meaning you had to know where to look and act fast. No retail shelf browsing, no "maybe next week" hesitation. The Shinkawa artwork on the outer box alone elevates this beyond typical collector fare. That man's ink-and-wash style is practically synonymous with Metal Gear itself, and having an entire package draped in his work gives the whole thing an almost gallery-worthy presence on your shelf. For PS3-era Metal Gear collectors who want the definitive display piece from the HD remaster cycle, this is the one that got away from most of the world.