Reviewed on PS5
I’m no stranger to the over-the-top cinematic insanity of the Metal Gear series. I’ve been sneaking past guards, plugging my controller into the second controller port, and checking the back of the CD case for codec numbers since 1998. I’ve Fultoned my fair share of Russian guards, fought skyscraper-sized robots as a cyborg ninja, and have met more charismatic boss characters with ridiculous powers and even more ridiculous names than I can count. Which is why it pains me to admit that when Metal Gear Solid 3, widely regarded as being the best game in the series, released on the Playstation 2 all the way back in 2004, I didn’t get around to playing it.
Thankfully, I am now able to right this grievous wrong due to Konami’s release of Metal Gear Solid ∆ (Delta): Snake Eater, a modern remake built from scratch in the Unreal 5 engine and released on Playstation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Largely a straight remake with a few gameplay and quality-of-life tweaks, most notably a new over-the-shoulder camera perspective (though you can select the old-school fixed camera if you prefer) Konami’s decision to not deviate too far the source material is a clever one, capitalising on the almost rabid fandom of Hideo Kojima’s particular style of eccentric, over-the-top game design without upsetting the purists after his controversial divorce from the company in 2015.
The story of every Metal Gear game is notoriously crazy and convoluted, and Delta is no exception. You play as Naked Snake, a CIA operative dropped into the jungles of… Russia… during the height of the cold war on a mission to rescue a scientist being forced to develop a new type of tank capable of launching nuclear weapons. The mission quickly goes to shit, your former mentor defects to the Soviets with her entire unit of creepy guys with weird powers, and the whole place is then nuked by the Big Bad Evil Guy who pins it on the US, bringing America and Russia to the brink of nuclear Armageddon. Snake is then sent back to Russia on a top-secret mission to rescue the scientist, assassinate both his mentor and the BBEG, and prevent nuclear war.
The story is told primarily through lengthy in-engine cut-scenes, and two-way codec (radio) conversations with your support team. Delta features a wide-cast of likeable characters, including fan favourites like Ocelot and Eva who play a large part both here and in the wider Metal Gear canon. MGS3 is the earliest game in the timeline and sets the stage for some of the more dramatic twists to come, though it is not without its own sense of ridiculousness typical of the series. Behold as your mentor reveals that she not only gave birth on the beaches of the Normandy D-Day landing, but she was also the first woman in space. Marvel at the crazy guy who can control bees, the man whose body has a ten-million-volt electrical charge, and the dude who summons his elite squad of soldiers by mewling like a cat.
Ostensibly a stealth action game, much of your time is spent crawling through the jungle utilising different camouflage to sneak your way past wandering patrols as you advance deeper into enemy territory. You’re equipped with a tranquilizer gun with limited suppression for silent takedowns, but if you’re more Rambo than Predator there are plenty of louder and more lethal options that you can pick up during your mission. Snake is also proficient in close-quarters-combat (CQC) for swift melee takedowns. Both styles of combat are helped by the new camera angle and control scheme, which makes aiming and utilising your arsenal of weapons and gadgets a breeze. The game controls quite well for the most part, though at times they can feel a little clunky, particularly when prone or traversing narrow ledges.
The biggest change from the original, and a major draw for returning players, are the new graphics which, as expected from the Unreal Engine, are gorgeous. The jungles are beautifully rendered and full of life, character models are full of detail and well animated, and the in-engine cut-scenes of some of the series’ most iconic moments have never looked better. Performance-wise, however, the game does struggle, with noticeable frame drops when things get busy affecting both Performance and Quality mode. I noticed these drops on my original PS5, however others are reporting a similar experience on other platforms, including PS5 Pro and PC.
The UI has been given a fresh coat of paint that makes everything more presentable and user-friendly. Camouflages, for example, can be accessed and swapped out quickly without having to navigate through multiple menus like in the original. However, you still need to access your food menu to periodically replenish your stamina, as well as the Cure menu which, despite being an interesting idea to have you tend to your own wounds as you receive them, quickly devolves into little more than a meaningless and frustrating chore.
As with the original, the game is full of small details and Easter eggs. For example, waving a chloroform-soaked handkerchief in front of your face for too long will knock Snake out. Boss fights can have secret ways to beat them, or depending on your earlier actions can sometimes be skipped entirely. There are secret cut-scenes that will only trigger under certain conditions, meaning you’ll require multiple playthroughs to see them all. This isn’t so bad as the game isn’t too long, requiring no more than about ten hours for a first-time playthrough, and you’re rewarded with new weapons and camouflages after completing the game and hitting certain achievements. There’s plenty to see, including Snake vs. Monkey, an extra minigame that tasks you with searching the jungle for the monkeys from Ape Escape. Despite this, however, one does have to balk at the asking price of $129.95AUD for what is essentially a 21-year-old game with pretty graphics.
Pros – A mostly faithful remake of arguably the best Metal Gear game. Looks great, new camera perspective modernises the game, comes complete with extra content.
Cons – Noticeable frame drops on both Quality and Performance modes. Controls can be clunky especially when prone. Lengthy cut-scenes and frequent need to heal wounds can interrupt gameplay.
Overall – Despite showing its age in some areas, this is the best way to play and experience the story of Metal Gear Solid 3… if you can get past the bloated price tag.
Note: I made it through the entire review and didn’t mention that bloody ladder even once!
Caitlin 
Clara 
Kath Smart