Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is the definitive way to play one of the greatest games of all time. Everything that was incredible about the original game is still intact, while the more poorly aged aspects have been polished supremely. This is a master stroke of a remake, and I sincerely hope we see more of the Metal Gear Solid games remade with such care.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Developer: Konami
Price: $70
Platforms: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review.
I first played Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater when I was an impressionable teenager, and, put simply, it blew my mind. It became one of my favorite games ever and hasn’t lost that spot in the many years since. From Hideo Kojima’s signature penchant for merging gameplay and narrative in brilliant ways to the unforgettable cast of characters, there’s a reason Snake Eater has been held in such high regard for over two decades. Thus, it was with both excitement and trepidation that I approached this remake. Thankfully, the excitement was the feeling that ended up being rewarded.
Konami smartly avoided changing too much about the game in this remake, with only a few additions, albeit important ones, being brought to the table. The new control scheme is a major boon, bringing incredibly smooth third-person shooting to the remake, as well as crouch walking – both of which appeared in some way in previous rereleases. They’ve been perfected this time around, making for a thoroughly modern-feeling third-person shooter in the best way. Additionally, smart QoL changes like the ability to change camo without going to the pause menu make a lot of sense and help bring some of the game’s more dated aspects up to code.
Speaking of which, the camouflage system in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is as unique here as it was so long ago. Blending into environments by switching between face paints and camo patterns makes sneaking feel so much more involved and rewarding than in other stealth games, while also suiting the Cold War-era spy vibe perfectly. There’s a real tension to some sections because of it, as an enemy soldier wanders dangerously close to you while you pray that your 85% camo loadout will keep you concealed. There’s really nothing like this system, and I was glad to return to it after all this time. The same goes for the stamina system that has you hunting and eating flora and fauna throughout Russia, as it’s fun to see Snake react to eating every kind of animal and plant you can imagine.
As you might expect, there are plenty of revolutionary gameplay moments to discuss in a Kojima joint. To this day, things like The Sorrow’s “battle,” the sniper duel with The End, and even the surprisingly haunting ladder sequence stand out as unforgettable moments in gaming history that are simply unlike anything else out there. So much charm is stuffed into this game that I don’t even want to reveal any of it for people who may have never played the original, but rest assured, you never go very long in Snake Eater without getting surprised by an interesting mechanic or moment.
The new controls go a long way in making Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater into a much smoother experience. Of course, you can use the Legacy Controls if that’s your preference, so I’m glad that option was included; I’ll likely do a playthrough with them for nostalgia’s sake in the future. Still, aiming and maneuvering around jungles and compounds is more satisfying than ever here, and I commend Konami on how it went about making a more modern control scheme for this remake.
“Battling through the ridiculous and badass COBRAs remains a series highlight, and the ending – it almost goes without saying at this point that Snake Eater has one of the most moving endings of any game.“
Of course, it’s impossible to discuss Snake Eater in any form without praising its heart wrenching story. Seeing Naked Snake embark on his journey to become Big Boss is as thrilling, tense, and brutal as it was the first time around, with Kojima’s exploration of the Cold War remaining equally unique and fascinating. Battling through the ridiculous and badass COBRAs remains a series highlight, and the ending – well, it almost goes without saying at this point that Snake Eater has one of the most moving endings of any game. Perhaps this has been enhanced a tad now that we’ve seen Big Boss’ complete journey through Portable Ops (despite its debatable canon status), Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes, and The Phantom Pain, but regardless of the reason, it still hits hard.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a beautiful game to look at. Every character and environment is immensely detailed and vividly colored, and I especially love how Snake now shows the damage he takes on his person. Little scars and bloodstains certainly present Snake as particularly rugged and durable this time around, so the extra detail is appreciated. On the other side of the presentation coin, the voice performances are still top-notch even over 20 years later, with David Hayter, Lori Alan, Josh Keaton, Jodi Benson, and so many others making their characters stand out as some of the best (or best versions of existing characters) in the series.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater has some neat bonuses.
Finally, there are some great bonuses included with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. I loved seeing the return of the Snake vs. Monkey mode and was impressed to see some little Astro Bot references added in. The inclusion of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection manual for Snake Eater is neat as well. The best inclusion has to be the return of the enigmatic Guy Savage minigame, however. This time around, it’s been souped-up in a rather surprising way – one that I certainly won’t spoil. Still, I can’t wait to see people’s thoughts on it upon release, as this mysterious little section has managed to once again surprise me just as the original did.
The Final Word
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an outstanding remake of one of the medium’s finest works. The story is timeless and gripping, the gameplay has been improved upon without losing any of the original’s charm, and the visuals are extraordinary. I’m so glad that one of my very favorite games of all time has been brought to modern consoles in such a loving and wonderful way, and I hope to see the rest of the mainline Metal Gear Solid series get this very same treatment in the future.
MonsterVine Rating: 5 out of 5 – Excellent
