As the lines between what constitutes a remake and a remaster become increasingly blurred, Konami and Virtuos have come along with the new definition of what a pure remake represents. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is the most faithful, most loyal, most dedicated recreation of its source text since the Nintendo GameCube remake of the original Resident Evil.

It wholeheartedly brings back the PS2 masterpiece Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and modernises it without interfering with anything that made it so special more than 20 years ago. Konami said this project was all about "change or difference without changing structure". It succeeded.

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The visuals have been brought into the modern era, the gameplay has been handed an optional New Style setting that tweaks the controls and the camera angle, and a few new items and mechanics make it easier to play the game.

Besides that, this is every bit the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater you remember so dearly, now rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5.

Naked Snake’s journey through the Soviet Union jungle is long considered one of the franchise’s greatest experiences, and this loving recreation lets it shine once more. It stands the test of time with a (slightly) more grounded origin story featuring an incredible cast and emotive twists. The elite stealth gameplay remains a highlight, combining a manual camouflage system with expanded movement capabilities. While the PS2 charm is no more, the upgraded visuals haven’t washed away any of the original’s personality and swagger. This is the best Metal Gear Solid 3 has ever been.

It’s so faithful, in fact, that it quite literally is that original title in some ways. Konami and Virtuos have wholesale lifted the cutscenes and voice acting from the PS2 effort and placed them into the PS5 remake.

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This means the many moments when you can put the controller down for some Hideo Kojima-directed cinematics are identical. It’s the same exact cutscenes, vastly enhanced for the current generation, coupled with untouched voice work. They say to get a dog if you want loyalty, but the two companies are giving the phrase a strong run for its money.

Approaching the project in this manner means that actually playing Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater proves incredibly unsurprising if you’ve already played it before. A perfect starting point for a newcomer, certainly. Returning players shouldn’t expect any surprises, however.

What actually is new, then?

It’s all bundled together in the New Style setting. When starting the game, you must choose between this option and Legacy Style, which makes the title play exactly as it did back in 2004. You get the top-down camera and more restricted controls.

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In the New Style, however, you gain access to the full repertoire of gameplay enhancements the remake brings. The camera gains free movement, and aiming is done over the shoulder, bringing it more in line with modern third-person shooters. New movement options include a crouch and better crawling, and you can now aim and move at the same time.

Features that used to be tied to the pause menu have now been turned into button prompts. Instead of having to open up the Survival Viewer every time you wanted to improve your camouflage, you now only need to use the D-Pad to bring up a menu of uniform and face paint recommendations appropriate to your current environment. The codec has also been remapped to the D-Pad and includes speedier options to find the frequency you need. You can still use the pause menu for these interactions if you wish, but the PS5 remake cuts out much of the busy work.

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It also works to be more consistent between gameplay and cutscenes. If you sustain injuries, cuts, and scars during combat, those wounds will be visible during cinematics for a while afterwards. The same goes for clothing stains, as crawling through mud leaves splatters and smears on Snake’s uniform. Finally, a new Compass item makes navigation easier and marks where to go for your next objective.

All relatively minor on their own, the additions the PS5 remake brings help to present a far, far better playing experience for the modern era. You may need to shake off a bit of muscle memory in the opening hours, but the new control scheme and mechanics quickly become second nature.

The other side of the package is its visual improvements. The leap from the original’s PS2 graphics — and even the PS3’s HD Collection — to today’s PS5 remake is monumental. It looks and sounds like a new release all over again, with top-of-the-line visuals and 3D audio to make the jungle setting even more immersive. Stunning lighting allows the setting sun to glow through the trees while the textures on foliage appear lifelike.

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Even though the cutscenes and voice acting are taken from a game 21 years its senior, you wouldn’t really be able to tell, as character models animate beautifully — and they look the part too. The PS5 remake is an all-around splendid recreation of the graphical design and approach Konami took for Metal Gear Solid 3 on PS2.

Over two decades later, it’s never looked better. It’s never played better.

Coupled with its mesmerising visuals is a smooth frame rate on PS5 Pro. The remake targets 60fps, and it maintains that the vast majority of the time. There is the odd occasion where chaotic and action-packed scenes will drop frames, but these are a rarity. When running on a PS5 Pro, the game makes no mention of a Quality Mode or a Performance Mode in the options, so you don’t get a choice in the matter. What we can confirm, at least at launch, is that the remake mostly runs exactly as you’d want it to. There’s no need to worry about an Oblivion Remastered situation here.

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It’s a good job, too, because any sort of significant technical problem would distract from how much of a masterpiece Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remains. This is the perfect jumping-on point for anyone curious about the series, and old-timers have the chance to return to what many consider their favourite instalment.

From the introductory Virtuous Mission to sneaking through Groznyj Grad, from the weird and wonderful boss fights to the intricate details only Hideo Kojima would ever think to include, it’s a timeless experience.

The expanded and improved stealth gameplay sheds the original’s frustrations, and the vastly upgraded visuals allow it to stand alongside some of PS5’s best. As incredible as it was in 2004, this is now the definitive version of Metal Gear Solid 3.

However, there’s potential for this commitment to the original to be somewhat of a turn-off. Anyone who has already played the game won’t find anything new or surprising to chew on; the PS5 remake plays things incredibly straight and sticks to exactly what was available on PS2.

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While an effort like Resident Evil 2 transformed a classic into something completely new, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater stays true to what made it one in the first place. For returning fans, the experience may prove a little bit too safe.

Conclusion

One of the most faithful remakes ever, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater has made a stealth classic feel modern all over again. Its light but meaningful gameplay updates enhance interaction and feel, while a visual overhaul allows it to rub shoulders with the PS5’s graphical elite. By staying so loyal to its source text, Metal Gear Solid 3 is now just as incredible today as it was over 20 years ago.

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