Metal Gear Solid Delta Review
In 2024, Bloober Team was given the opportunity to not only remake, but reimagine one of Konami’s most prestigious titles: Silent Hill 2. Bloober Team nearly doubled the length of the 2001 classic, but somehow managed to stayed faithful to the original by capturing the horror, atmosphere and oppressive nature perfectly throughout.
As important as Silent Hill is to Konami, it pales in comparison to the hallowed ground the Metal Gear Solid stands upon, especially considering how the relationship with Kojima ended over a decade ago, after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in 2015.
Konami understands this and takes a very restrained approach to remaking Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and breathes new life into a twenty one year old game. This is part of the reason behind naming it Delta, which means variation as that’s what it is: a slight variation of a classic. The more important, second definition will come later.
The end result is a very approachable game for people who have never played a Metal Gear or this particular entry, but for existing fans of the series, that’s a more complex answer.
Metal Gear Solid Delta Review
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is widely considered to the best game in the series, only behind the PS1 classic Metal Gear Solid from 1998, which catapulted the series to another echelon. Konami could have approached Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater the same way they approached Silent Hill 2, but I don’t think the risk would have been worth the reward.
The story remains untouched and is exactly the way that it was in 2004, word for word and cutscene for cutscene. You play as a man named Jack, John Doe or as most know him: Naked Snake in the very early parts of his career. In the middle of an alternate history Cold War, Snake must sneak into Soviet enemy territory and rescue Sokolov, a rocket scientist, defector and super-weapon architect. Every original plot point and story beat happens exactly as you remember it, and if you never played it, the less you know the better.
The voice acting is all from the original PlayStation 2 release, every single cutscene is here, which according to IGN accounts for about a quarter of the play time or a little over 4 hours, as they recently broke down how much of Kojima’s games are cutscenses.
As for what is new, Metal Gear Solid Delta has remade Snake Eater using Unreal Engine 5, which looks stunning at most times and definitely increases the immersion with a more realistic atmosphere. The grass is more natural and not just in clumps for hiding, the environment has a more realistic look as edges are less polygonal and different elements of nature blend together much more seamlessly. At the very least, it proves to Konami that not only can they create a Metal Gear Solid game without the Fox Engine, but they are also able achieve a high level of immersion.
Furthering a heightened level of atmosphere, the battle damage system has also seen a modern upgrade. Snakes body and clothes now show wear and tear based on damage. Scars will appear upon skin and tears on clothes. These are very little details, but things like this all can add up to a more immersive experience. Most importantly, the controls have been modernized to feel more in line with later releases in the series. However, if you still want to experience it as it was, the original controls are still available.
CRITICISMS
As much time and effort as Konami put into modernizing Metal Gear Solid 3 with new controls, and updated visuals, all of which greatly increase atmosphere and immersion, it was shocking that enemy intelligence felt stuck in 2004. With a complete overhaul of the game engine, it would have been a perfect opportunity to fine tune the AI, but instead it’s woefully inconsistent. There are times when two guards are right beside each other, and I shoot one in the face with a tranquilizer dart and the other one barely reacts.
This is extremely juxtaposed to other times when my camouflage level is high, i’m extremely well concealed, but the enemy spots me instantly and sets off an alarm immediately. It also happens when i’m in full scientist disguised and the react immediately to me and ring the alarm. These moments worked counterproductive to the immersion and atmosphere that all of the modern changes made.
IS METAL GEAR SOLID DELTA WORTH IT?
As for the other definition of Delta, it could also mean the point in a river that it diverges before heading into the sea. Metal Gear Solid Delta is clearly the point that marks a new direction for the series. Konami is a very profitable business and they understand how valuable the Metal Gear IP is. What they tried with Metal Gear Survive wasn’t what fans wanted. The fans want the tactical espionage action that the series was built on. Im not sure what the future holds for the Metal Gear Solid franchise, but Konami have stated that there will be more Metal Gear after Delta.
What Metal Gear Solid Delta proves is that transitioning to a new engine is possible as it retains the spirit of the series. It might also prove that fans are still highly interested in the series after the departure of Kojima, but what it fails to prove is if the team with much of the senior leadership gone, can produce original content because there is nothing new about Metal Gear Solid Delta.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater has been released numerous times since its origin back in 2004 on the PlayStation 2. From the expanded Subsistence in 2006, to the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection in 2011, The 3DS in 2012 and most recently, The Master Collection Vol 1 in 2023.
If you’ve played Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater before at any of these possible opportunities, there might not be enough justification for a purchase, but that will depend on how passionate you are about the series. If you’re a casual fan of the series and missed out on Snake Eater, then Delta is the best way to play arguably the best in the series. Finally, if you have never played a game in the series, Delta actually serves as a great entry point with its shorter length, modernized controls, and relatively straightforward story.
Judging Metal Gear Solid Delta on its own merits as a remake, it brings Snake Eater into the modern age, but ultimately plays it very safe.
