Modder Afevis has introduced a major update to MGSHDFix for Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which significantly improves the graphics of the classic games in the series. According to the author, version 4.0.0, and subsequently the patched 4.0.1, almost completely restore the visual presentation of Metal Gear Solid 2 to how it appeared on the original PlayStation 2.
MGSHDFix emerged shortly after the release of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, when users criticized the quality of the ports of the early games in the series. Since then, Konami has released several official updates that noticeably improved the collection, but the community continued to refine the games independently.
The main innovation of version 4.0.x was the restoration of a large number of graphical effects that were missing from the 2011 HD remaster by Bluepoint Games, on which the Master Collection versions are based. According to Afevis, the project's source code still contains "BLUEPOINT TO-DO" notes indicating unimplemented features. Now, many of them have been restored either using the game's original rendering system or through modern Direct3D 11 implementations.
The update focuses most heavily on Metal Gear Solid 2. The mod brings back many PS2-era visual effects, including:
- improved water effects
- cinematic filters in cutscenes
- motion blur
- smooth camera transitions
- bloodstains on guard bodies
Additionally, the Depth of Field effect in Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 now works correctly and scales properly at modern screen resolutions.
The author notes that most of these changes may not be noticeable during a first playthrough, but they help restore the original artistic vision of the developers and the visual style of the classic versions of the games.