Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is my most anticipated game of 2025, and having played through it twice now, I can say with confidence that despite it being a safer remake, Snake Eater is back and better than ever.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is my favourite game on the PlayStation 2, and probably one of my favourite games period, so after the success Konami and Bloober Team found with the Silent Hill 2 remake, I was eager to get my hands on Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, despite it being a post-Kojima Productions effort. Thankfully, Konami has done a solid job of modernizing MGS3, thanks to a new coat of paint and a new control scheme, reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid V.
Despite offering a new control scheme, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater mechanically shares the same fundamentals as Metal Gear Solid 3. The game still feels like its 2005 counterpart, which was groundbreaking for its generation and has stood the test of time.
That said, newcomers to the series, or those coming directly from Metal Gear Solid V, may find the rigidity of Snake Eater takes some adjustment. Even with the modern control option, Metal Gear Solid Δ maintains the deliberate pacing and structure of the original release.
For longtime fans who played Snake Eater before its Subsistence re-release, which added a third-person camera and other quality-of-life updates, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater includes a classic mode. This option restores the top-down camera and controls reminiscent of the first version. Players can switch between camera styles at any time, though doing so forces a reload from the last checkpoint. It is a useful feature for those who want to experiment or gain a better bird’s-eye view of their surroundings, whether to track enemy patrols, locate Kerotan frogs, or hunt for the newly added GA-KO duck collectibles.
The most significant change in Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is its overhauled graphics, powered by Unreal Engine 5. The results are impressive, but not without drawbacks. On PlayStation 5, the game suffers from noticeable frame drops when the action intensifies or when multiple characters are on screen, creating a jarring experience for players familiar with the stable 60 frames per second remaster.
“Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is the most complete edition of the game, containing both the base experience, with the new camera options on top of the return of Snake vs Monkey.”
I played Metal Gear Solid Δ on a PlayStation 5 Pro, and at present there appear to be no performance options or improvements. The game seems to run at the same settings as the base PlayStation 5. With luck, Konami will address stability issues in future updates, regardless of hardware model.
That said, playing Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater as intended, with a focus on stealth, results in a more consistent 60 frames per second. Combined with its high-fidelity visuals and dense jungle foliage, the game offers one of the most striking gameplay experiences of 2025.
Unlike the Silent Hill 2 remake, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater reuses archived audio recordings from its original release. This may disappoint players expecting fresh performances. That said, hearing David Hayter return as Snake is a triumph, and one that will hopefully set a precedent for future Metal Gear projects.
Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is also the most complete edition of the game to date. It includes the full base experience, the new camera options, and the return of Snake vs. Monkey—a set of unlockable levels where players capture apes from the Ape Escape series. PlayStation users will also find a few extra surprises for Astro Bot fans.
“Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is still a thrill to play and a dream come true for fans.”
Additionally, Guy Savage—a surreal, Castlevania-inspired action sequence—can be launched directly from the main menu. Like Snake Eater itself, it has been completely rebuilt and offers a stylish hack-and-slash mode as a bonus. Outside the main game, Metal Gear Solid Δ includes a robust collections menu that tracks all items and statistics across save files, making it easy to monitor progress toward full completion.
When playing Metal Gear Solid Δ with the new control options on higher difficulties, such as Extreme, the game stays faithful to its original release. The main exception lies in boss fights, where enemies are noticeably more aggressive and demand tighter timing. Close-quarters combat sequences and non-lethal takedowns in particular require more precision, creating a fun challenge for returning players.
Some exploits from the original release have also been addressed. For example, you can no longer run with silenced footsteps while cooking a grenade, nor rely on certain tricks during boss encounters. However, intentional shortcuts and developer-sanctioned exploits remain, which helps Metal Gear Solid Δ feel more polished overall, outside of its unstable frame rate.
Set earliest in the Metal Gear timeline, Konami’s latest remake is both an ideal entry point and the definitive way to experience Snake Eater. With its gripping story, inventive mechanics and restored content from past releases, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is not only a thrill to play but also a dream come true for longtime fans. The return of this legendary franchise feels well earned.
