Atti Abderrahim
The departure of Hideo Kojima might have marked the end of Metal Gear Solid, but Konami had other plans. Determined to make a comeback in the gaming world, the Japanese publisher is reviving one of its most iconic titles. Two decades after its original release, the third installment of the saga is making a return in the form of a remake. But can Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, powered by Unreal Engine 5, surpass its legendary predecessor? And more importantly, does this modernized version retain the essence of the original? Here are my impressions after 1.5 hours of gameplay on PlayStation 5.
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A (Too) Timid Remake
Konami isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel with its remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The project’s main (and sole) ambition is to showcase cutting-edge, photorealistic graphics. And in this regard, it’s a success. Unreal Engine 5 works wonders, providing Naked Snake with environments that feel incredibly lifelike. The vegetation and wildlife add a level of realism that greatly enhances immersion. But… there’s a catch.
The animations, unfortunately, haven’t reached the same level of improvement as the graphics. Everything still feels too rigid, too constrained by dated gameplay, resulting in an experience that strongly reminds players of the original—both its strengths and its flaws. Some may appreciate this nostalgic nod, but it’s not for everyone. Metal Gear Solid 3 deserves the best, which means a complete overhaul, both visually and gameplay-wise. While the Japanese publisher is cautious in this area, they have made some concessions to ensure a better gaming experience.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater refreshes the gameplay of Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence by allowing players to aim without switching to first-person view and to crouch-walk. These improvements greatly facilitate stealth and combat phases while preserving as much of the original gameplay as possible. Purists can even revert to a classic style more akin to the PlayStation 2 version. Additionally, switching between different camouflages is now much easier. Beyond these tweaks, however, it’s essentially the same game. And that’s where the problem lies.
The primary strength of this remake, as highlighted since its announcement, lies in its polished visuals, both in gameplay and during cutscenes, and its immersive sound design. Konami hasn’t held back in these areas, particularly with the characters, who gain even more charisma. It’s simply incredible to (re)experience scenes that have gone down in history with graphics and voices that meet today’s standards. Snake Eater becomes more cinematic than ever, despite a presentation that might feel “old school” in 2024. Hideo Kojima had a unique talent for creating “over the top” moments, and MGS3 was and still is the epitome of that style.
An “Untouchable” Work
As much as I love Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, I can no longer ignore the reality. No matter how legendary this game is, born from the imagination of Hideo Kojima, it shows its age two decades after its initial release. Even its most forward-thinking ideas struggle to compete with modern productions. The same goes for the semi-open areas, which are too small to fully exploit the survival and stealth mechanics. The Japanese creator dreamed of an open world for MGS3… but it wasn’t until Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain that this dream became a reality.
Even the stealth mechanics, which are the cornerstone of the experience, fail to impress today. The AI that drives the enemies poses little threat to Snake, even on the highest difficulty levels, and often defies logic. This is just one example of the many issues faced by this remake, which pales in comparison to MGS4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) and especially Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). Konami could have taken the structure and gameplay of the fifth installment and incorporated the story and presentation of MGS3. Instead, they chose a more conservative approach, born out of deep respect for Hideo Kojima, and the consequences of this decision are even more apparent in 2024.
OUR IMPRESSIONS
Konami is attempting the impossible with this remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: to modernize a cult classic of the 10th Art while altering it as little as possible. The result is a Delta version that struggles to find its place in 2024. Beyond its visual prowess, this remake offers little (if anything) new and never dares to disrupt Hideo Kojima’s creation for fear of alienating fans. For those who hoped for a complete remake and not just a “simple” graphical overhaul, the frustration is palpable.
