Game remakes are one of the diciest things you can announce. The idea of “Let’s re-do one of the most beloved titles” is like saying you want to “update” Dante’s Inferno. I mean, for the people making it it can be a good, transformative experience- but for the fans you risk seeing the appeals of a game washed away as something that needed to be “fixed”.
Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater is a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, and boy howdy does it know the pedigree attached to that. All the things you’d expect would be wiped away in a post-Kojima remake are lovingly still there, including the extremely long comms sequences, lectures on the cold war and postulating on the role of a soldier- all in the first half hour, mind you.
Still if you’re not someone who grew up with posters of Snakes Solid and Naked on your wall, Metal Gear Solid Delta serves another purpose- by being a remake of an older game it has no obligations to follow modern trends.
Metal Gear Solid Delta Really Is A Tactical Espionage Simulator
Let’s face it, stealth games lost a lot of style when they needed to be more approachable. Yet Metal Gear Solid Delta wholeheartedly embraces the nitty gritty of needing to stay hidden. Heck, the Major even tells you to do your makeup and make sure your facepaint and fatigues are color matched to your surroundings.
This game is obsessed with detail in how you sneak- at one point, I died because I stood in the water too long and started sinking. In another, the game’s tranquilizer dart had worn off, and Naked Snake had been eaten by a Crocodile.
It’s honestly nice to see Metal Gear Solid Delta do absolutely nothing to shake off its PS2 vibes. I think the Metal Gear Series is specifically tied to that era for a reason, and trying to remake Metal Gear Solid 3 without it would have, well, it would have been heresy.
If you’re just thinking about getting into a prolific series like Metal Gear Solid, Delta is a great game to do so with. Just remember eyeliner gives 5% additional stealth.
