Remaking one of the greatest games of all time was never going to be an easy task. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is taking the bull by the horns by remastering one of the most beloved games in the franchise, Metal Gear Solid 3.
First released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, Metal Gear Solid was a smash hit and has only been cemented in the minds of fans more as the years have gone by. Aging more like a fine wine than a cheese, Metal Gear Solid 3 has had the most re-releases of any game in the series.
Besides the original version (and Subsistence), the game has been re-released as an HD Edition as well as a 3D version for the Nintendo 3DS. Not to forget the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection that also included the HD Edition. Yes, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is yet another release of a game held in high regard by the fans, a risky move to tamper with a classic like this. So, has Konami got Metal Gear back on the right track, or is this another Metal Gear Survive? Let’s find out.
When I first bought Metal Gear Solid 3 on PS2, it was the original version pre-Subsistence and was quite a difficult experience for me at the time. I have never considered myself an “elite” player of any franchise, just an enjoyer of many different games. Metal Gear Solid was, and still is, one of my favorite franchises, so to be unable to complete the latest version was quite a downer. My original impressions were not very high (yes, now I see this as a skill issue, but then I blamed the game).
Picking up Subsistence helped a little when it released, as it allowed you to freely control the camera, whereas in the original, it was a fixed camera. So I gave up on MGS 3 altogether for many years, and I even finished 4 by the time I got the version I first fully completed! The 3DS version - Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D was the one that I finally connected with and beat. And I loved it entirely.
Metal Gear Solid 3 is a masterpiece by a genius at the top of his game. Hideo Kojima, who has since parted ways with Konami and created his own studio and IP, found his magnum opus, in my humble opinion, when he gave Snake Eater to the world. The right amount of crazy supernatural villains blended with an unashamedly James Bond vibe gave us a prequel to the entire series that, in my mind, has never been topped by any other entry that followed.
To have Konami announce Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater as a full remaster/remake of the original had me worried after their first attempt at a Metal Gear game without Kojima (Survive), as it just didn’t work. This isn’t a franchise you can just slap over any old game and have the fans lap it up over brand recognition, or churn out yearly iterations. Making Metal Gear special takes time, and up till now, I would have said it takes Kojima.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a 1:1 remake/remaster of the original game. It follows every story beat and even retains the 2004 voice acting. David Hayter (voice of Snake) did his best work in 3, so the fact that they never recast the voice was the only choice for them to avoid an online lynch mob up in arms. Does anyone remember when he was left out of Metal Gear Solid 5? Yeah, this would have gone down worse than that. The voice acting from the whole cast is absolutely superb, and the lines are delivered with the right amount of punch and zest.
Keeping the soundtrack the same was also a must. An infamously memed section in the game sees Snake ascend a ladder for around 3 full minutes while the theme song plays, a historical gaming moment that also had to remain untouched. And that's the thing with Delta, it works because they have largely left the full package untouched. Sure, there are new additions to beef up the package, like the side games on the main menu, but even those were from the original game, just presented slightly differently here.
The whole thing looks spectacular. I played on PS5 before hopping onto a PS5 Pro, and it is stunning on both consoles. Remade in the Unreal 5 engine, everything just feels modern while keeping the aesthetics of the original. In my first run of the story for this review, I only found one glitch/issue in the whole game during the boss fight with Volkin in Shahagohod near the end. First cropping up in the motorbike chase sequence were some definite laggy moments where the animation seemed to drag. After the rail bridge, where you fight him while he is in the tank, there were some glitches as I aimed to fire the RPG.
Outside of those two hiccups, the experience was better than I had imagined. Boss fights remain challenging and varied as ever. The final fight with The Boss was particularly challenging, and I still lost a couple of times as the place got bombed before I had finished the job. The quirks from the beginning shine and are the right amount of camp, all now seen through a shiny Unreal 5 tune-up.
For newcomers to the franchise, this is the best starting point, as it is the best way to play the game now. The original has aged well, but the new controls and the easier difficulty options make this way more accessible for those who aren’t great at stealth games. Collecting all the titles and costumes will be the reason I go back time and time again, and I need to hunt down all those rubber frogs and ducks hidden throughout the levels.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is so well done that you would think Hideo Kojima himself was involved. In fact, I reckon he may have reimagined way more and changed things up if he had revisited, so actually, Delta may be the ideal remake. Like Silent Hill 2’s remake/remaster, Konami has knocked it out of he park with this. I am glad they recognised the original team in the credits and thoroughly loved every minute I had in the game so far.
There is an upcoming online mode for the game that was delayed from launch, but the ongoing support for the title is already in the works. Hopefully, this sells enough for them to finally remaster the first game in the series in the same style, and no, Twin Snakes does not count. Metal Gear Solid 3 is an iconic title, and Konami has navigated tricky waters to nail this remake with Delta.
A flawless upgrade to a timeless classic that is worth a look for both old fans and new.
