It has been over twenty years since Konami and Kojima released one of the greatest action stealth games, featuring a lengthy story filled with an unfathomable amount of cutscenes and dialogue. It was a cinematic story, creating a world and adventure that was unrivaled at the time. Now that Kojima has departed and working on other projects, Konami wanted to bring the classic to the modern age, with beautiful visuals and improvements to the overall gameplay functionality. HasMetal Gear Solid 3stood the test of time in 2025 or has nostalgia got the better of us?
Previously on Metal Gear…
The Metal Gear Solid franchise has been a staple under the Kojima and Konami brands, being the perfect cheesy spy story that knew when to take itself seriously and when to play around with its campiness.Metal Gear Solid 3was the perfect example of this, throwing the overly serious Naked Snake into situations that are both grounded yet ridiculously supernatural in spots.
Konami hasn’t changed a thing inMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, feeding off Naked Snake’s energy and charisma all while he rejects advances from beautiful heroines and does battle with some of the most unique enemies in any stealth game. Speaking of which,Metal Gear Solid Deltais arguably the peak of stealth combat, meshing together the ability to play in the shadows while having the means of being turned into a top-tier action title with its gunplay.
Same Snake, New Style
One feature that Konami has added is a more modern camera. In the originalMetal Gear Solid 3, and everything in the franchise untilMetal Gear Solid 4, the camera was in a mostly fixed position. It was more of an isometric camera angle, hovering above our protagonist, making it sometimes difficult to see what’s in the distance.
This has changed inMetal Gear Solid Delta, or at least we’re given the option to adopt a more modern control scheme. For starters, the camera will be placed behind Snake and players have full control over it. In addition, when aiming, there’s an over-the-shoulder aiming system alongside the standard ADS (Aim Down Sights) function. With this, there’s a little more control over projectile weapons with an arch, such as the Tranq gun.
It’s definitely the way to playMetal Gear Delta, but if you’re more of a traditionalist or nostalgic for the old-school camera scheme, you’re able to swap on the fly by going into the menus. Having both options greatly enhances the overall adventure, as it can be played either how it used to be in this new and beautiful graphical upgrade, or by utilizing the more modern functionality.
More Than Graphical Improvements
Outside the camera angle, there have been a surprising number of improvements toMetal Gear Solid Delta. From the outset, this looks almost entirely a new coat of paint on an existing model, and to a certain degree this is correct. This isn’t on the same level as something likeResident Evil 4orSilent HIll 2where the developers completely overhauled the experience, but closer to a remaster with prettier visuals and some impressive improvements to the overall experience to be more modern.
There are various quality-of-life improvements that have been added. For example, there’s the ability to swap between camouflage and face paint on the fly. Before, players had to go into a menu to swap while in the middle of the jungle, but now they can simply hold up on the d-pad, and they’ll be able to cycle between a handful of different disguises. On top of this, the codec can be brought up by holding down on the d-pad, there’s moving while crouching and the ability to mask Snake in mud to hide his visibility has been added.
All of these are small, but add to the overall experience. WhileMetal Gear Solid 3was a classic in its own right, it feels a bit dated with functionality missing one would expect by today’s standards. The developers have done a magnificent job adding these small-but-impactful improvements that makeMetal Gear Solid Deltaall the more enjoyable and immersive.
Beauty and the Snake
Speaking of which, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the actual visuals, as Konami has done a masterful job bringing the 2004 classic to the modern day. Utilizing the Unreal Engine 5, Naked Snake, Eva, Ocelot and the entire cast of the stealth game have never looked better, with the smallest details from rain running down Snake’s face to mud accumulating on his outfit to make it all the more engaging.
It’s not just the improved character models, either, as the luscious forests and vegetation have been crafted to a degree that only makes the stealth aspects all the more believable. Scrubs of grass and bushes hide Snake so well, with the wildlife only helping bring the world full circle. That’s not to say this is a photo-realistic experience, though, as there’s still an artistic style, and one that lends itself perfectly to this cheesy spy story.
The developers have done a magnificent job adding these small-but-impactful improvements that make Metal Gear Solid Delta all the more enjoyable and immersive.
Suffice to say, Konami has performed magic when it comes to bringingMetal Gear Solid Deltato the modern age, creating one of the most visually striking experiences of the year.
Closing Comments:
While there were some doubts that Konami could recreate the magic ofMetal Gear Solid 3, thankfully those worries have been quickly squashed.Metal Gear Solid Deltais as good, if not better, than the original, thanks to the myriad of quality-of-life improvements that make it more up to modern functional standards. There are pacing issues near the middle of the campaign, but otherwise, this is something the Metal Gear Solid veterans will remember fondly and new players will appreciate. In the end, Konami has brought a classic inMetal Gear Solid 3to the modern age in the most spectacular way possible. With gorgeous visuals and quality-of-life improvements that don’t overstep their bounds,Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eateris a feast for all.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Version Reviewed: PlayStation 5
The core experience of the original, evolved and more immersive than ever.A remake of the 2004 game METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER, with the same gripping story and engrossing world, now with all new graphics and 3D audio that enhance the jungle atmosphere. Get ready for the ultimate survival stealth action experience.The Cold War Crisis that started it allIn the middle of the Cold War, Naked Snake, the man who would later be known as Big Boss, infiltrates the Soviet Union to escort a defecting scientist, Sokolov. However, the mission ends in failure when Snake’s mentor—The Boss, a soldier known as the mother of special forces—betrays him, and Sokolov is captured by Colonel Volgin of the GRU.One week later, Snake returns to Soviet territory to rescue Sokolov and eliminate The Boss—a mission that will mark the start of a new legend, a mission that will mark the start of a new legend, against the backdrop of the ever-changing march of history.
