8Bit/Digi

Welcome to the Jungle (Again)

When Konami first announced Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, I was excited but also a bit anxious. I was ready to re-experience one of my favorite games of all time, and the promise of exploring a more detailed and rugged Tselinoyarsk jungle sounded incredible. Yet I also had concerns, specifically whether this remake would follow the path of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, a great game but ultimately a misguided remake that failed to capture what made the original a masterpiece.

To my relief, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is a 1:1 remake of not only one of the defining games of the PlayStation 2 era but also one of the greatest games of all time. It faithfully recreates every iconic moment while reuniting the original cast and introducing smart improvements and extra touches. The end result is a remake that honors the legacy of the original while standing as a masterpiece in its own right. This is coming from someone who has put over 200 hours into the PS2 version and the HD Remaster.

The Cold War of 1964

The year is 1964, and global tensions are high as the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union threatens world peace. At the same time, Nikita Khrushchev’s leadership faces a threat from the Military. The GRU faction led by Colonel Volgin is plotting to replace him with Leonid Brezhnev. Amidst this turmoil, the FOX Unit initiates the Virtuous Mission to bring Dr. Nikolai Sokolov to the West. A young Special Forces operative, code-named Naked Snake, is deployed to find Dr. Sokolov. The mission goes smoothly until it’s revealed that The Boss, Snake’s mentor and the Mother of Special Forces, has defected to the Soviet Union. The situation escalates further when Volgin’s forces steal the Shagohod, a mobile nuclear ballistic missile system, and destroy the research facility with a nuclear strike using the Davy Crockett.

As a result, the world teeters on the brink of war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The only way to prevent nuclear catastrophe is for Naked Snake to embark on a difficult mission: eliminate The Boss. Redeployed to the Soviet Union, he must infiltrate Colonel Volgin’s base, neutralize him, and destroy the Shagohod. Along the way, Snake must also summon the courage to confront his former mentor. From the tragic aftermath of Operation Snake Eater, the legacy of Big Boss will ultimately take shape.

There is Only Room For One Boss

Snake Eater story has been praised as one of the best in video games because of how it uses the backdrop of the Cold War as a way to explore themes regarding the politics of its time, unquestioned patriotism and its consequences, along with the bond of a mother and son. Unquestioned patriotism and the consequences, as seen with McCarthyism and the post-9/11 climate with the build-up to the Iraq War.

These consequences are reflected in the sacrifices The Boss was forced to make, only for her to be discarded by the nation she devoted her life to, which becomes the turning point for Big Boss as he rejects his homeland to create a new one where warriors are not treated as expendable tools. The bond between mother and son emerges as a powerful theme as Snake struggles with his mission to kill The Boss, since their connection runs deep and extends beyond student and mentor, mirroring the bond between mother and child. The Boss nurtured Snake and shaped his character, making their final conflict devastating, and he only defeats her by suppressing his emotions, a decision that costs him his principles and shapes his future.

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater preserves all of this without altering the story or feeling the need to change anything. The remake instead reinforces why Snake Eater has earned such widespread acclaim, as its narrative remains timeless and deeply relevant to today’s geopolitical landscape.

Operation Snake Eater is a Go

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater preserves the foundation of the original gameplay that emphasized a blend of classic stealth action and the challenge of surviving in a hostile jungle environment. As with previous entries up to that point, players are encouraged to avoid combat and rely on non-lethal tactics when necessary. Avoiding detection is made possible by patiently navigating each area, finding alternative routes, and blending seamlessly into the environment. More than in previous installments, the game rewards those who remain undetected and neutralize foes without killing them. This is exemplified by earning special camo when defeating a boss by draining their stamina bar instead of their health.

A new layer of challenge that was introduced is the need to survive in a harsh jungle environment. Snake Eater essentially set the foundation for what would become the survival genre by emphasizing the importance of not only managing your stats but living off the environment while having access to as few resources as possible. Snake must eat and treat his injuries, or continuing becomes significantly more difficult. He also needs to procure resources by learning how to live off the environment. This includes collecting plants, fruits, and vegetables while also contending with the dangers posed by the local wildlife. Not everything collected is safe, as some can harm Snake if players are not careful.

The biggest change the remake introduces is the option to use a modern over-the-shoulder camera. This new perspective significantly alters how the game is played, offering a clearer sense of space and improved environmental awareness. It also makes certain areas, such as the Peschera Cave, far easier to navigate since players can better see what’s around them and determine where they need to go. Players can also navigate close-quarter environments more effectively thanks to a stronger sense of their surroundings. At the same time, old-school fans can still choose the classic camera setup, as it remains available as an option.

I’m Still in a Dream

Right away, the development team deserves a lot of praise for how they approached remaking Snake Eater. They were under immense pressure to recreate one of the greatest PlayStation 2 games while walking a tightrope between modernization and preserving what made it great. Adding to the challenge is the fact that the original still holds up today, so they needed to justify why this version deserved to exist. Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater succeeds by delivering a remake that modernizes the gameplay while still preserving its defining elements.

Everything that made the original a masterpiece is still present in the remake, now accompanied by thoughtful improvements. From its multilayered characters to its complex themes and an experience that encourages you to tackle missions your own way, the spirit of the original remains intact. What has changed is not just the visual presentation powered by Unreal Engine 5, but also a more polished game that benefits from twenty years of lessons learned since Snake Eater first launched.

Snake is Dead

Being a 1:1 remake does come with a drawback, most notably if you played the original extensively; this version will be a cakewalk. As someone who has logged over 100 hours in the PS2 version alone, I started my first run using the new gameplay, but on Hard Mode just to challenge myself. The result is I still finished in under five hours with zero kills and zero alerts. This was largely because I was already familiar with the terrain and knew the most efficient routes to take. Most of the tricks I used to overcome challenges in the original still work just as well in the remake. My one complaint is that it would have been great if some areas were slightly altered or expanded so returning players could experience something different. The old layout combined with the new gameplay can feel too easy for those already familiar with the original.

Despite this one minor issue, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is a better remake than The Twin Snakes because it understood why the original is a masterpiece.

We are Not Tools of the Government

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is a remake that updates the technical aspects of a masterpiece while preserving its defining story and themes. At its core, it’s still the story of a patriot who is forged in a trial by fire and emerges as the legendary Big Boss. This sets the groundwork for the eventual clash of ideas over the interpretation of a mentor’s will, which becomes the cornerstone of the Metal Gear series. As a game, it’s a reminder of why Snake Eater’s narrative is still hailed as one of the best in the medium.

Disclaimer: I bought the game on Steam.

This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt then check it out on OpenCritic.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that highlights the video game community and industry of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (PC)

10

Masterpiece

10.0/10

Pros

• It’s a perfect remake of Snake Eater.
• New gameplay setup allows for a better experience, especially during certain moments.
• Reunites the original cast while preserving its emotional depth and narrative themes.
• Demonstrates that its story and themes are still timeless.

Cons

• New gameplay with the original level layout makes the game too easy.