Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD version shows off its E3 gameplay footage

If you are a fan of the Metal Gear series, then you know how important the story is. What began on the NES back in 1987 has gone on to become one of—possibly the—most story-intensive series in video game history. If you need proof of that just go play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and clock how much time you spend in cutscenes versus how much you spend in actual gameplay—it will be about even your first time through.

Needless to say, the story is important to fans who have been with Snake for years now, which makes it a shame that so many people skipped the PSP game, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, which was originally to be called Metal Gear Solid 5. The game did not sell well, and paired with the relatively low number of people that own PSPs, a huge section of fans were not able to experience the story that was a prelude to the original NES game. That will change later this year, when Konami releases the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection in November, featuring Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

All three games will receive a graphical overhaul for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. Of the three, Peace Walker was the least played, which made it among the most interesting to see at E3 this year. Below is a clip from Konami showing off a bit of the game as it will appear in the collection. It isn’t up to the same standards of MGS4, but with Solid Snake’s story apparently having concluded, this game acts as the final piece to the story that spans 50 years.

For those that know the mythology of the series, Peace Walker takes place in 1974, ten years after the events of MGS3: Snake Eater, and four years after the events of MGS: Portable Ops. A new group called the Peace Sentinels have arrived in Costa Rica and threaten peace in the world. The events then lead to what will become the formation of Outer Haven.

The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is due out in November on Xbox 360 and PS3.