Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - Video Game Soundtrack Vinyl GBAtemp review
Merch
Product Information:
- Publisher: Mondo
- Official Store: https://mondoshop.com/products/metal-gear-2-solid-snake-original-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp
Mondo has been restocking its video game soundtrack vinyls and is bringing back its ‘Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - Original Video Game Soundtrack’ LP. It comes in two 180 Gram vinyls, with the exclusive version (as pictured in this review) bearing a translucent body with black splatter and a red bar somewhat evocative of part of the iconic Metal Gear ‘!’ sign.
As soon as I laid my eyes on the sleeve’s artwork designed by artist Oliver Barrett, I was enamoured by it. The background is all red, also reminiscent of the series’ iconic exclamation sign and the front art features Solid Snake’s silhouette facing the titular Metal Gear, with the exclamation sign again appearing less covertly on top of the protagonist’s head. The design bears the minimalist appeal and I am known to have a soft spot for such aesthetics. We come across Solid Snake again on the back artwork, striking a pose similar to some official artwork from Metal Gear Solid. Both the front and back covers have a matte finish that add a rather classy feeling to the product.
We’re also treated with an inner artwork that feels less minimalist and somewhat more aggressive with a shattered Outer Heaven logo. Overall, I much prefer the artwork accompanying this record over that of the Metal Gear one from Mondo.
In addition to the unique colour scheme, the records themselves bear a few subtle nods to the game. For instance, there’s the Mondo logo in the Codec signal aesthetic which shows some attention to details paid in the design.
As for the audio, they have been faithfully recreated and feature all 37 tracks of the game spread across the two LPs at 33rpm. You can have a listen below to know what to expect and this collection surely delivers on the retro appeal. They might not be as iconic as what we’ve been used to with more recent MGS title but they do bear a distinctive Metal Gear-esque touch to them. Some soundtracks like ‘Level 1 Warning’ even provide a glimpse of what might have been the inspiration for those iconic Metal Gear Solid soundtracks. This vinyl collection offers a great way to (re)discover such tracks in a unique way.
Affordably priced at $35, Mondo’s 'Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - Original Video Game Soundtrack 2XLP' is worth a buy if you’re collecting video game soundtracks. At that price, it is also an appropriate unit to start such a collection given the quality of the product and the original artwork that it bears, making it fit for a music or collector’s piece.
My only gripe is that the colour variant is in limited quantity and is already sold out at the time of writing. This should be the standard version in my opinion as it adds some distinct flair to anyone’s record collection.
Verdict
- Stunning artwork
- Exclusive colour vinyl design
- Affordable price
- Retro appeal of audio
- Exclusive colour vinyl variant not always available
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