During its heyday, the Metal Gear franchise was one of the pinnacles of the gaming medium known for its stealth action gameplay and engaging narratives. However, since the acrimonious split between Konami and franchise creator Hideo Kojima following the release of Metal Gear Solid V a decade ago, the series has basically been on ice for that entire time. Now, Konami has brought the franchise back, much like they did recently with Silent Hill, with a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in Unreal Engine 5 and is now known as Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater. The original is considered one of the best games of all time, thus lets dive into see how the game fits in the modern gaming landscape.
I’m someone who came to the Metal Gear franchise late, and never played the original Metal Gear Solid 3. My memories of the game are seeing clips of it on G4 back in the day and watching a playthrough of it during the early days of YouTube. Thus, I knew the twists and turns the story takes, but this is was my first time going through the game myself. With that said, I was still entrenched in the story being told and had a blast going through the game.
For those unaware, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, while being a remake of the third Metal Gear Solid game, is the first game that happens in the franchise canonically. Set in the 1960s, the story follows Naked Snake (the future Big Boss) as he must travel to the USSR and complete Operation Snake Eater following a nuclear attack and the defection of his mentor The Boss. Kojima has always had a knack of zany, yet engaging stories and this story is no different. If you are a fan of Kojima’s brand of storytelling from the Death Stranding games, you will love the political action story this game tells, and I can see why so many people considered this one of gaming’s best stories when it released over two decades ago.
With this being a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater still plays like the original, but with a new perspective now giving an over-the-shoulder camera instead of the aerial view of the original. Thus, don’t go into the game with the mindset of how the Silent Hill 2 remake was last year. This isn’t a full ground up remake like that where it feels like a brand new and modern game. This is more in line with remakes like Shadow of the Colossus or Dead Space as a more one to one remake. This makes a lot of sense with how protective fans are of the franchise especially since this lacks any involvement from Kojima himself.
If you got to experience the early 200os stealth action genre, then you’ll know what to expect from Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater. However, if you never played an old stealth game from that era, it may take some time to adjust to how the game feels overall. With that said though, the gameplay is still solid. I totally forgot this game is basically a survival game as Naked Snake is dropped into enemy territory with absolutely nothing and basically has to scavenge the land and figure out ways to get around the plethora of guards patrolling the Soviet wilderness. You even have to search for food and med kits to survive throughout the game, and have to make sure you don’t run out. The game also features a camouflage system that helps Naked Snake blend into his environment and is essential to making it past some enemies. Also, shout out the Crocodile hat because it rules!
Then, aside from story, the franchise is known for its wild boss fights and Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater keeps the original’s boss fights the same. Some of these boss fights are some of the most unique fights I’ve had in a game. Specifically The Sorrow and The End both of which have incredible ways to engage with the fights (which I won’t spoil here for those unaware), and it is crazy to think Kojima was coming up with these types of fights over twenty years ago.
Overall, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is a great remake of what many consider one of the greatest games ever. Dropping the 3 and going with the Δ, was a great call as new players won’t think of it as a sequel and can jump right into a modern update of where the story of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises began. Returning players will love to get to reexperience the game they loved all those years ago. With another successful remake in a beloved franchise, it will be interesting to see where Konami goes next with their back catalogue and if they decide to move forward with the Metal Gear franchise again. Hopefully though, it won’t be another decade before then.
Score: 8 out of 10
Reviewed on Xbox Series X