Metal Gear Solid Delta Is Faithful to the Original to the Minute Details. It Is the Same as Snake Eater, Just Nicer and More Comfortable to Play

If Silent Hill 2 Remake represents a bit risky approach, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater stands on the opposite side. If the whole game is as good as the fragment I played, the new version will be similar Diablo 2 Resurrected. This remake is very safe, essentially the same game as the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater by Kojima, only with new, beautiful graphics and with minor improvements that make the gameplay smoother.

Long-term fans should be excited for the most part, and some newcomers might find the Metal Gear Solid series enjoyable if they don’t mind its retro, arcade-style gameplay. It makes sense that Konami selected this third installment because it is the earliest in the storyline and serves as a catalyst for the events in this unique collection of stealth films that occasionally include gameplay (particularly in Snake Eater). This could be an ideal starting point to familiarize oneself with the tales of the Snakes, The Boss, Major Zero, or Ocelot.

Tactical briefing

“Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater” stands as a crucial chapter for series enthusiasts. It’s much like “Episode I: The Phantom Menace“, but executed flawlessly. Designed with care to win over gamers who were uncertain following the groundbreaking (and, indeed, prophetic) “Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty“. It delves into the origins of Big Boss, initially known as Naked Snake, a complex character who remains significant even in games where he is not present, taking on the role of both an antihero and a villain.”

We get to know “Papa Snake” in the 60s, when the Cold War was in full swing, and any wrong move by the USA and the USSR could cause atomic bombs to fall from the sky all over the world. Naked Snake is tasked with rescuing a certain scientist, but, as is typical in Metal Gears, things get a bit complicated.

The character known as Snake Eater transitioned from covert, advanced facilities or vessels, leading us into the heart of a dense jungle. It was speculated that the third installment had poetic and musical connections to Bond films, but fans of Rambo and Commando could also discover elements they enjoyed in Kojima’s game. This is particularly true given that the gameplay now includes survival mechanics, which are straightforward yet fulfilling (the inclusion of a stamina bar that can be replenished by finding and consuming food).

Snake Eater is an important to me as well. This is the first Metal Gear I played, and it was on PlayStation 2. I liked the bosses, the atmosphere, this dose of weirdness and magical realism, I also liked the main character and his companions as well as enemies. It all started with one game offering cool stealth and cinematic experiences with an animate-like twist. Now I think I know all the variants of theories about what happened at the end of The Phantom Pain and Guns of the Patriots. And all of this is because I approached the series from the side of the most understandable story seasoned with very good gameplay.

Operation Snake Eater Delta

During the event I was able to not only play Delta, but also talk for a while with the game’s producer – Noriaki Okamura. When I asked about various details or being faithful to Kojima’s vision, the Konami representative assured that they are creating a game very consistent with the original. And after playing the demo, I believe that. MGS Delta is faithful to a fault – providing that the small fragment of gameplay we got is representative of the whole.

During the performance, we got to preview the prologue titled “Virtuous Mission,” which set the stage for the game “Snake Eater“. This initial segment, lasting approximately an hour if you’re familiar with the maps, is where we attempt to save the scientist Sokolov and are introduced to characters such as The Boss, Major Zero, Ocelot, and others. Notably, the locations in this stage remain identical over time, featuring the same corridors, the same jungle, and even the same shootable frog. Additionally, we recover the same backpack from the same tree after landing.

Currently, everything is powered by Unreal Engine 5, delivering an impressive, modern, and cinematic visual experience that resembles a blockbuster movie. Previously constrained by technical limitations, the cut-scenes are now more dynamic and expressive, allowing for greater spectacle and impactful shots compared to before.

They got rid of this greenish-yellow filter, which gave the original a somewhat animated atmosphere. This is a problem because with the anime-like aura it was easier to ignore all the weirdness, arcadeness, and the fourth wall breaking that we know from MGS3. Now the identity of the game resonates more with Quentin Tarantino or the over-the-top action movies from the ’90s. Such as Con Air, in which Nicolas Cage seemed to be the most subdued element. Playing Snake Eater this way is also an interesting experience.

Nonetheless, the level of graphic detail can impress – for example, if you look closely at Snake’s camouflage, you can see the texture of the paint on his face. Plants and shrubs also create the atmosphere (they grow in the same spots as in Snake Eater – so we have the same tactical options).

Typically, this narrative is a highly authentic reimagining of Kojima’s tale featuring oversized, larger-than-life fictional soldiers. The characters, settings, camera angles, music, and dialogues are directly borrowed from the game titled “Snake Eater”. Due to the engine’s advanced capabilities, the characters exhibit more nuanced facial expressions and gestures, making their performances more dynamic. This alignment is fitting, as Kojima has a deep affection for cinema. If he had the technology 20 years ago, he likely would have directed in a similar manner. This was clearly demonstrated during his work directing actors in “The Phantom Pain”.

By the way, I have to say it’s good to hear David Hayter as Snake again. I really missed him. The sound design, including all the jingles, ambiances, and signals – and of course the “Bond-like” music remained almost exactly the same. Did you miss me? Welcome home.

Kept you waiting, huh?

Delta seems incredibly faithful to the intricate details of the game Snake Eater, right down to the familiar banter between Snake and the Medic during codec conversations. For instance, just like in the original, we save the game by choosing the correct frequency on our device for communicating with the support team. This is accompanied by the same trivia discussions about movies, such as their conversation about Godzilla.

The gameplay, however, has become much more convenient thanks to small but enjoyable improvements that bring Snake Eater closer to The Phantom Pain in terms of gameplay. To the extent that sometimes I wondered why I couldn’t send incapacitated soldiers back to their base using the Fulton Recovery System. This is generally a good direction, because while the plot in Metal Gear Solid V polarized the audience, the gameplay was addictive (until it became painfully repetitive).

First of all – the camera is now different. In the first edition of Metal Gear Solid 3 we watched the action from above, and in the Subsistence edition the camera followed Snake who was placed in the center of the screen. Delta is a fully-fledged modern over the shoulder TPP.

In these new versions, aiming with firearms resembles how it’s done in contemporary video games. It’s significantly easier, even operating within the Third-Person Perspective (TPP), though I’ve seen references suggesting a first-person perspective as well, which might be an option for traditional control schemes. Essentially, this brings us closer to improve our aiming accuracy. This isn’t groundbreaking, but there’s no need to redesign the wheel here – it’s a substantial improvement. Now, handling and shooting with a tranquilizer gun or rifle you find becomes smoother. It also simplifies Close Quarters Combat (CQC) techniques. All it takes now is a single button press to immobilize an enemy, similar to modern stealth games.

All this now gives us a huge advantage over opponents who are controlled by an AI very faithful to Snake Eater – as if this AI is from a previous era. I should complain about the fact that the enemy soldiers behave like fools and are helpless in the face of the advancing Snake (I’ve mixed my gameplay with stealth and action). Nonetheless, I’m buying it. The original AI and enemy behavior are part of the experience.

The guards also show a similar sensitivity to our stealth as they used to. They make a noise with a characteristic exclamation mark as often and from similar distances as in the original – while we have the advantage of a free camera. So it’s easier to slip between patrols, control the space around, and quickly stun the enemy if necessary. This ease, “cheating” even, didn’t bother me. The essence of MGS was never realism (although the series fetishizes the military down to the smallest detail, despite the anti-war message), but looking spectacular. And the fact that we play the god of raids with such ease fits into the narrative that Metal Gear creates.

“Infinite ammo”

These cases show one thing. The graphics have become more realistic and cinematic, even the animals look more real (by “animals” I mean mainly snakes and alligators), but the gameplay hasn’t. If ludonarrative dissonance throws you out of the game more effectively than a bluescreen, and MGS Delta is your first contact with the series, then you may have a problem.

It’s still an arcade stealth game in nature, even if it does require some tactical thinking and scheming. The game emphasizes its surreal, grotesque character whenever it can. Ammunition dropped by enemies or food rations are still boxes levitating above the ground, just like in arena shooters. They are also accompanied by all those retro echoes and clicks from Snake Eater. An exclamation mark above the heads of enemies who noticed us? As I already mentioned – present. So probably the mighty cardboard box will also return as the most OP tactical camouflage in military history.

If you’re familiar with the ruleset in Metal Gear Solid, you probably won’t find the new advantage over patrols bothersome. In fact, it might enhance your experience, enabling more efficient and possibly crazier fun as you explore the various tools at your disposal following the prologue. The main issue I had with the series was that we were limited to the Virtuous Mission during the initial stages. However, once the prologue ended, MGS 3 offered a wider array of tactical choices and gadget usage opportunities.

The interview with the producer revealed a strong likelihood that the original game’s key features, including unique ways to defeat bosses, will be replicated in the remake as he hinted at their aim to faithfully reproduce the entire gaming experience.

Snake’s new groove

In addition to technological changes, Konami also took care of small, pleasant facilitators. Now we have a compass that points us to the main point of interest. Not that I mind wandering in the original, but it’s good to have such a gadget. In Delta, it is also much easier to navigate the inventory or initiate conversations via codec. One of the buttons of d-pad opens a quick selection menu. If you need a “full Metal Gear Solid 3 experience”, you will be able to play with the classic control model, but I can’t tell you anything about it, because during the game we only played with the new scheme.

If Virtuous Mission is a worthy representative of the rest of the work, then we’re getting a game full of QOL changes, with new, spruced up graphics, but essentially the same story and content. It’s the same Snake with David Hayter’s raspy voice. They simply dressed him up in more comfortable, Unreal-style clothes and provided a bit more freedom of maneuver. So much and so little at the same time.

Is the game worth spending your saved money on? That depends on whether you’re drawn by nostalgia or eager to explore Snake’s adventures, something you’ve been curious about but hesitant to delve into. If it’s the latter that appeals to you, then it might be a worthy investment. To put it simply, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, despite being an older game, remains exceptional and is definitely worth revisiting.

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2024-08-26 12:33