Remaking a classic video game for modern audiences is always a sketchy ordeal. Bringing forward decades-old gameplay and storytelling must be handled with care, but you also have to offer something different to set it apart from the original.
As a very dedicated, long-time fan of the series, I’m pleased to say Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is everything a remake should be. It remains true to the original in basically every single way, while offering enhanced visuals and a better take on gameplay than what was offered 21 years ago, making it feel like a new and complete package.
What a thrill
Screenshot by Destructoid
MGS Delta is, by and large, 2004’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 with the same exact voice acting, cutscenes, and music that helped make it an all-time great single-player stealth action game. That’s a good thing.
Some may be turned off by the fact that the cutscenes are one-to-one recreations with a gorgeous coat of modern-day paint, but I love it. Over the course of two decades, I have played or watched playthroughs of MGS3 several dozen times. I know these songs and scenes by heart, and this is the same game, but way, way prettier.
The innovation in MGS Delta comes in the gameplay, which is remade through a new control scheme and over-the-shoulder camera angle for Snake in his 1960s spy-thriller adventure. It makes the game more accessible than, say, the HD Collection version of MGS3, which was re-released recently, featuring some dated controls from the PS2 game.
Other than that, MGS Delta is a dream for fans of the franchise. After creator Hideo Kojima’s departure from Konami 10 years ago, we’ve been left to wonder where the MGS franchise was headed. This remake was handled with care from the ground up, and it’s present in every facet of the title. Konami didn’t try to reinvent anything from Kojima’s original vision other than gameplay systems that have become unwieldy over time.
Outside of a few framerate hiccups on the base PS5 (I played on both PS5 and PS5 Pro, the latter of which is a spectacle to look at on a large 4K screen), the game runs smoothly. It plays well, too, apart from Snake’s movement sometimes feeling clunky or sluggish. For example, Snake contextually sticks to nearby walls, rather than when holding a direction on the analog stick like in the original. This is one of the game’s few misses.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Make no mistake, though, MGS Delta is stunningly gorgeous. I damn near broke the Share button on my PS5 controller, screenshotting everything from mid-gameplay vistas to iconic cutscene shots recreated in UE5. It’s an absolute joy to watch and witness, with special attention given to the game’s lighting effects, which are some of the best I’ve seen.
With the new engine, Snake and the various memorable characters are all brought to new life with more details in their expressions and models than ever before, down to every single hair on Snake’s beard or weird wound on Colonel Volgin’s face.
Some days, you feed on a tree frog
Screenshot by Destructoid
I’m really excited for a new generation of gamers to re-live MGS3 and all of its fun boss battles, intense action sequences, silly quirks, and heartbreaking ending. So many gamers have no idea what’s in store for them, and I can’t wait to see the reactions. And just like the original, MGS3 remains a good entry point for the franchise.
I generally recommend playing the series in release order, but you can easily play this game without any prior knowledge and experience it as a standalone title that could hook you on the rest, and I think that’s what Konami may have in mind with this release.
Every Easter egg from the original is here, including mid-cutscene button presses that allow you to see through Snake’s POV, looking at everything from ghoulish spectres in the background to EVA’s cleavage up close. Yeah, this is the same exact game I grew up with, and it’s still just plain wonderful.
Plus, with this new and powerful graphics engine, the Russian jungle of MGS3 is more detailed than ever. Leaves and dirt kick up when Snake rolls through, mud cakes on his sneaking suit and stays there through cutscenes, and the forest is absolutely teeming with wildlife.
There’s a solid amount of replayability here, too. The game logs everything you collect, including every weapon, item, camouflage, facepaint, and animal you eat, so completionists may feast. There’s also special mini-game modes Snake vs. Monkey or Snake vs. Bomberman (depending on the platform you play on), and a prop hunt-like multiplayer mode coming after launch.
There’s also inevitable replay value in playing and re-playing the game in either the new, over-the-shoulder perspective or with the classic legacy camera, although I think the latter does not feel quite right with the new control scheme.
Screenshot by Destructoid
One other minor difference I must mention is the classic “Snake Eater” theme song by Cynthia Harrell has been re-recorded for this version of the game. The opening title sequence has been re-done, too. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it just stands out from the rest of the remake that’s so dutifully recreated.
Regardless, I will be diving back into MGS Delta for several playthroughs and live streams to re-experience these classic scenes, battles, and moments all over again for a long time to come, while also hunting down every Kerotan frog and GA-KO duck in the wilderness. Welcome back, MGS.
9.5
Superb
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won’t cause massive damage.
MGS Delta is a must-play for series veterans and newcomers alike. With it, Konami has taken one of gaming’s greatest achievements and respectfully recreated it with little interference other than gorgeous new visuals and a modern-day control scheme to make it more accessible to everyone.
Pros
- An all-time classic respectfully reborn
- Stunning visuals of a Kojima masterpiece reimagined beautifully with modern tech
- Refined, modernized control scheme
- Same exact epic voice acting and music as the original
- Extra modes and multiple kinds of playthroughs add fun and longevity
Cons
- Snake’s movement feels clunky and slow
- Legacy camera takes some getting used to with new control scheme
- Minor performance issues on base PS5
- Over-the-shoulder perspective feels claustrophobic at times
A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review. Reviewed on PS5 and PS5 Pro.
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