METAL GEAR SOLID DELTA: SNAKE EATER Review

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Intro: A Classic Reborn or A Cheap Imitator?

In the modern age of gaming, it feels almost impossible to avoid the steady stream of remasters and remakes. From last year's Silent Hill 2 remake to the long list already released in 2025 – including the original Gears of War and the highly anticipated return of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – this trend seems destined to become the industry norm. But here's the thing: I don't think I hate it as much as many others in the community.

Not only have remakes given me the chance to revisit classics like Resident Evil 4, but they've also allowed me to experience games I missed the first time around, such as Silent Hill 2. That brings me to Metal Gear Solid DELTA: Snake Eater, a project that aims to bring back the original's greatness while balancing the fine line between nostalgia and modernization. The central question is whether the elements that made the 2004 classic shine still resonate today, or whether they fall flat in execution.

Story and World: The Cold War Conflict On Steroids

The story of Metal Gear Solid DELTA: Snake Eater is, in nearly every way, identical to the original. If you enjoyed the signature Kojima humor, over-the-top villains, and Cold War espionage storytelling before, you'll find yourself right at home. For some players, that will be the game's biggest drawback, while for others it will be the hook that reels them in again. Personally, I found it as entertaining as ever, with the original's charm preserved in almost every scene.

You once again take on the role of Snake during a covert mission in the Russian wilderness. The narrative quickly immerses you in its world; military compounds, dense forests, and a variety of quirky allies and enemies alike to keep you company. The Cold War backdrop, complete with double agents and bizarre personalities, embraces all the tropes of the spy thriller genre. From the "man of few words" protagonist to the scantily clad partner who both helps and complicates his mission, the game keeps its tongue firmly in cheek without ever losing the seriousness of its stakes.

This balance of absurdity and espionage is what made the original stand out, and it remains effective here. Missions range from tense stealth sequences in sprawling forests to high-risk infiltrations of Soviet bases. At every step, the game succeeds in making you feel alone, stranded, and forced to rely only on your own skill. That sense of isolation in the face of overwhelming odds is core to Snake Eater, and it survives intact in this remake.

Addressing the technical side, my entire 12-hour playthrough on PC ran almost flawlessly. I only experienced a single frame drop during an opening cutscene. With a powerful graphics card, environments looked clean and detailed, character models were sharp, and I rarely dipped below a consistent frame rate even on high settings.

That said, console players appear to have had a rougher time. Reports of stuttering and optimization issues suggest that a patch might be worth waiting for if you're on PS5 or Xbox. The Unreal Engine struggles of the last few years haven't fully gone away here, though the PC version felt stable throughout my experience.

From a presentation standpoint, the remake is a triumph. The world design captures the lushness of the Russian wilderness and the grimness of secret bases, while character models rival some of the best seen in recent memory like Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. Familiar faces like Ocelot, with his spinning revolvers, and Eva, with her shifting loyalties, are as captivating now as they were two decades ago. Every interaction feels loaded with secrets and double-crosses, embodying the spirit of Metal Gear Solid.

Gameplay: A Snake In A Spies World

The most debated aspect of this remake will undoubtedly be its gameplay. On one hand, it feels revolutionary in the way it preserves the systems that made the original groundbreaking. On the other, its devotion to those systems sometimes makes it feel dated. This isn't a simple remaster – it's a full remake – but the mechanics are so close to their 2004 counterparts that players used to modern stealth titles might find them clunky.

That said, key quality-of-life additions go a long way toward modernizing the experience. The new cover system, reminiscent of The Phantom Pain, is a standout. Snake naturally leans into walls and obstacles, and switching between first- and third-person aiming adds flexibility in open combat. Movement feels smoother, combat encounters less rigid, and stealth routes more approachable in this new system and I have no real complaints on the base mechanics the game revolves around.

The core gameplay loop remains faithful to the original: you can go in guns blazing with AK-47s and machine guns, or silently dispatch enemies with pistols, tranquilizer darts, and takedowns. While combat is always an option, stealth is where the game shines. Using camouflage to blend into your environment, carefully planning your route, and executing flawless infiltrations feels immensely rewarding. I found myself restarting areas just to achieve the satisfaction of leaving without being seen, and the game consistently encouraged that style of play.

The bosses are another area where the remake's loyalty to the original creates mixed results. Mechanically, some fights feel outdated, while others hold up surprisingly well. On standard difficulty, none of them were overly punishing, but I did encounter moments of frustration where the game didn't clearly explain its mechanics.

Despite that, the bosses remain one of the highlights. Their personalities are as memorable as ever, from Ocelot's flair for the dramatic to the bizarre eccentricities of the Cobra Unit. These battles still define Snake Eater's identity, and even when mechanics feel dated, the spectacle and creativity behind them leave a lasting impression.

Final Thoughts: A Deeply Unique Experience

Metal Gear Solid DELTA: Snake Eater is a remake that wears its reverence for the original on its sleeve. Its storytelling, atmosphere, and characters remain as compelling as they were two decades ago, and the new visual polish helps them shine in the modern era. While its faithfulness means some mechanics feel stuck in the past, the updates it does make – specifically to movement and stealth – are welcome improvements.

For veterans of the series, this remake offers a faithful return to one of the most beloved entries in gaming history. For newcomers, it's an opportunity to experience Kojima's Cold War masterpiece in a form that balances nostalgia with modern expectations. Whether or not that balance works for you will depend on how much you value preserving the past or reinventing it.