MGS3 was the best game period on the PS2. MGS3 is on the list of my favorite games of all time. I try to convince people that aren't fans of the series (ahem..ajacks) to play this game. They don't know what their missing out on. Enough fandom. I know I'll get the collection one day I just don't have time for it right now.
I was surprised how well MGS2 aged. I think I enjoyed it more this time than when I first played it. Raiden didn't seem quite a whiney as I remembered, and the plot was much easier to follow this go around. The themes are even more relevant now than when the game was made.
I'm starting peacewalker (again) tonight. I might just turn the difficulty way down so I can get the story.