Game News Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater: A mixed return for an action video game legend
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is not a video game like any other. Hideo Kojima’s creation left a lasting impression and remains an essential classic two decades after its release. Konami, eager to return to the top, has started work on a remake of MGS3, but without the Japanese creator to oversee this revision. A successful return for Naked Snake and Big Boss? Nothing is less certain.
A legendary video game
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, the prequel to Hideo Kojima’s flagship saga, was released in 2004 and immediately became a cult favorite in the hearts of fans. This highly cinematic stealth action game sets a precedent throughout the video game industry, which has no choice but to follow suit. MGS3 is a clever mix of action, infiltration, survival and staging worthy of the 7th art.
Two years later, The Japanese publisher launches the “Subsistence” edition, which enriches the experience with the first two games in the franchise (Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake), an online multiplayer mode and a new user-controlled 3D camera. Snake Eater then received a first graphical overhaul before coming to the Nintendo 3DS in 2012 with Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. Since then, there has been radio silence about Naked Snake until the remake, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, was announced.
A mixed return
Konami finds itself in a complicated situation with this remake project, to say the least. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater must achieve a level of division worthy of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s prowess or risk incurring the wrath of Hideo Kojima fans. If the publisher dares (and rightly so) to retouch the graphics of MGS3, the same cannot be said for the gameplay, which has been modernized a little, but not enough. Delta: Snake Eater benefits from modern graphics, made possible by a perfectly mastered Unreal Engine 5. The cutscenes, 3D models and environments are larger than life, giving a breath of fresh air to an adventure released in 2004.
Of course, the visual added value is undeniable, but what about the rest? Konami has integrated a new third-person camera that makes aiming easier (without switching to the subjective view). Some other minor changes were made by the developers, but always on the sidelines. In particular, the studios don’t want to change anything about the experience designed by Hideo Kojima two decades ago, as they respect the Japanese designer, and it shows. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is torn between the past and the present. It is visually impressive and features “old school” gameplay that might delight nostalgic fans, but doesn’t compare to contemporary productions competing in the same category.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will be released on an unknown date for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
