Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – Review

I’d give my life,
Not for honour, but for you!

21 years have passed since the release of one of the most famous games in the history of our hobby. 21 years in which fans and curious newcomers alike have begged Konami to remake Hideo Kojima’s magnum opus. After three separate remasters (the Metal Gear Solid HD collection in 2012, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D for Nintendo 3DS also in 2012, and Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 in 2023) and a superb version released only on Japanese pachislot machines, we finally get what we all wanted: a modern remake!Many people were worried about this project, as it’s the most beloved game in the franchise, and its creator, the illustrious and misunderstood Hideo Kojima, did not contribute to Delta. Last year’s exceptional remake (Silent Hill 2), made in partnership by Bloober Team and Konami, gave us hope that this project would also be approached with the same seriousness, respecting the essence of the creation and adding details meant to improve the experience (or provide answers to community questions). Considering how the aforementioned remake was made and the fact that our favourite uncle wasn't involved, fans' concerns were fully justified. Could Konami remake the game in a way that respects Kojima's legacy? Yes and no. The developers faced a huge challenge, and any major change would have sparked fierce criticism from the community. So, what did they manage to do? You'll find out in the following paragraphs! As usual, we'll start with the story.

The warrior's spirit will be with you forever…

On this front, the renowned developer, along with Virtuous, preferred to play it safe and make no changes. The narrative thread is the same one we've seen throughout the 21 years since MGS 3's release. John (whose codename for this mission is Naked Snake) is sent behind enemy lines to extract a scientist who wishes to defect to the U.S. The mission must be completed before a Russian military project that could change the balance of world powers is finalised.

The mission initially fails due to the intervention of the famous Boss, the legendary soldier and protagonist's mentor, who betrays him and the U.S., choosing to join the U.S.S.R. With her defection, the Boss steals two small nuclear warheads and gifts them to the great antagonist, Colonel Volgin. One of the missiles is used to destroy a Russian research institute, triggering a political and diplomatic crisis of enormous proportions. The incident is perceived as an act of American aggression and an escalation of the Cold War.

Behind the scenes, the leaders of the two superpowers negotiate an agreement to avoid triggering World War III. According to the agreement, the U.S. sends Naked Snake back behind enemy lines to recover the remaining nuclear warhead, extract the scientist, destroy the Russian project, and eliminate the traitor.

The story remains one of uncle Kojima's most complex and acclaimed creations. The game tackles heavy themes, such as the nature of the soldier, the meaning of duty (to oneself, to comrades, and to country), the dynamics of power, and the idea that the oath to defend the homeland is not to the people in the administration, but to the concept of the administrative apparatus itself. With changes in leadership, objectives and values change, transforming yesterday's allies into today's enemies.

With one hand on my heart (and one on the controller) I can tell you that the narrative thread has remained unchanged. Konami has not altered the story in any way. It is the same one we experienced 21 years ago, with all its good, bad, strange, and funny moments. Comparing Delta to Silent Hill 2, I must admit I was slightly disappointed to see that, from a narrative perspective, Konami didn't have the courage to try something new. In the aforementioned game, we received rewritten scenes that were more coherent than in the 2001 version, and additional dialogues that deepened the story.

Temporal Paradox

I'm a little undecided about the gameplay. On the one hand, MGS Delta has some of the most complex interaction systems I've ever seen in a game, and these were conceived and programmed more than two decades ago! A player familiar with the mechanics needs to plan meticulously, execute everything perfectly, and have a bit of luck to get through an area undetected. Want an enemy to slip? No problem! Make Snake dizzy in the character viewer, and he'll "feed the ducks"! If the scene takes place on an enemy's path, it's very possible they'll step on the "surprise" and slip like something out of a Tom and Jerry episode! The game is full of such ingenious interactions, which can turn a mission into a stealth masterpiece or an involuntary comedy.

On the other hand, we have the new perspective changes. Delta can be played in two distinct modes:

• Legacy;
• New Style.

In the first, the camera remains classic, as we've been used to until now. Everything is seen from above, and when Snake uses the weapon's aiming device, the perspective switches to FPS for precise targeting. This fan-favourite mode is not the most friendly for a modern player.New Style offers a third-person, over-the-shoulder view, where we can see everything around us. This modern camera positioning greatly simplifies Delta and shows us how small each level is. Intense and complex fights, such as those with The Fear or The End, become a breeze when we can easily track the enemy's position. To somewhat restore balance, Konami has implemented a bullet drop system to prevent hip-fire abuse.

Although I told you earlier that no major changes were made, that statement isn't entirely correct. The legendary "nightmare" from the original title returns with a different look! Guy Savage now faces a horde of thirsty vampires in the new mini-game created by Platinum Games, accessible from the main menu after completing the title for the first time.

New Camouflage

In terms of graphics, Metal Gear Solid Delta shines literally and figuratively. Everything has been rendered in Unreal Engine 5, and Snake and the other characters look incredible. The models were superb in 2004, but with the help of modern technology, we can see every emotion on their faces. All the modern options in Unreal make the game a true gem. The simple camouflage system in previous iterations worked well, but in this version, Snake often becomes "invisible" if he uses the right combinations of uniforms and face paint, now easily accessible from the D-Pad.

The video sequences are rebuilt from scratch, and the direction and cinematography remain the same. Nothing has been changed: Konami basically used the same angles, lights, shadows, lines, and shots present in the original creation. Well, maybe not exactly the same colours. The game without a filter looks like most Unreal Engine 5 titles, but we have the option to activate different filters, including the classic Legacy filter, which reproduces the colours from 2001. I recommend using it to experience the full remake.

What surprised me in this remake is that the developers used the same recordings from 2004, slightly remastered for clearer sound. In terms of audio, everything lives up to expectations, with the exception of the famous song "Snake Eater," performed by Cynthia Harrell. The singer returned to the studio to record a new version, which, although it sounds good, lacks the magic of the original. Perhaps I'm too attached to the old iteration, or perhaps I was bothered by the fact that the new version doesn't perfectly sync with the famous sequence where we climb a ladder for about two minutes.The last two points I want to address are optimisation and price. In terms of performance, I expected to encounter the classic Unreal Engine 5 problem and see significant drops in FPS or minor graphical glitches. They exist, but what surprised me is that it fails to maintain a stable 60 FPS on a PlayStation 5 Pro, and colleagues who tried it on PC experienced similar issues. As for the price, it's hard for me to recommend an 80-euro title that offers approximately four to five hours of actual gameplay and 16 hours of video sequences. Master Collection Vol. 1 costs 50 euros and comes with five games, two magazines, and many more hours of action. Moreover, the main mode that should have differentiated MGS Delta from other iterations, Fox Hunt (multiplayer), is completely missing from the version released on 28 August and will be added later, at an as-yet unknown date.

In conclusion, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an ambitious project that came with numerous challenges due to the huge expectations of fans. It is a faithful, 1:1 copy of the 2004 title, perhaps even too faithful, lacking new elements to justify its price. Delta remains the perfect entry point for those just discovering the MGS universe and wanting to experience Kojima's legendary story. Ardent fans of the franchise will probably skip this remake and eagerly await a future Metal Gear Solid 6.

Thanks to CD Media S.E. for the review code and the opportunity to play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

Played on: PlayStation 5
Release date: 28 August 2025
Developer: Konami Digital Entertainment, Virtuous
Publisher: Konami