Every industry has a “best.” Whether it’s the best actor, director, singer, athlete, whatever. The video game industry is no different. In the case of who the best video game director is, my answer is clear: Hideo Kojima.
Hideo Kojima is a modern-day genius known for Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding, and the Early Silent Hill titles. After a messy breakup with Konami, the parent company of MGS and SH, he’s decided to focus solely on the Death Stranding series. That, however, doesn’t mean that the other two are specifically dead. On the contrary, Metal Gear Solid is thriving. Konami seems reluctant to let its biggest cash cow die just yet.
Initially announced on May 24, 2023, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a remake of the hit action espionage game originally released in 2004. The original game pioneered a new era of innovation. Never before had a game had so much depth, secrets, polish, and gimmicks, while boasting the best graphics to date…all on the PS2. Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater takes the magic of the first game and replicates it…almost to a fault.
Personally, I love Metal Gear. The goofy but well-choreographed cutscenes, riveting story sprinkled with deep political themes, and fleshed-out characters make for a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience. The espionage aspect is second to none, as well. In all of the games, Hideo Kojima pushed the boundaries of what defines an espionage game. In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, enemies have different schedules depending on the time of day, whether you’ve visited the base in the past, how many soldiers have died, and so many other factors. Old routes you took into a base will be crawling with guards, and helicopters will patrol the area if you escaped via aircraft, etc. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is no different.
The game follows Naked Snake, a promising soldier who has served for years in the most lucrative positions in the military. Naked Snake (or Jack) has been trained to be a specialist by the most legendary soldier in the world…The Boss. When a secret mission brings him behind the Iron Curtain in the depths of the Cold War, Snake is forced to improvise and adapt to his environment as his situation unfolds before him. I really don’t want to get too much into the content of the game to limit spoilers as much as humanly possible, but I’ll get into the gameplay aspect.
The gameplay is amazing. Snake can use a variety of both lethal and non-lethal methods of taking care of his opponents. Whether it’s getting close behind them and sticking them up, pushing them off a cliff, shooting their radio to prevent backup from being called, or throwing rations to bait them out of cover, Snake has a variety of tools at his disposal to deal with every situation. His tools, however, aren’t the only variable at play.
Since this game takes place in the depths of the Russian Jungle, Snake is forced to improvise depending on his environment. Equipped with many different camouflage suits, Snake can blend into his environment, hiding in plain sight on the trunks of trees, or crawling through bushes in bright green face paint. Snake can crawl through logs, climb trees, and hang off cliffs to stay out of the enemies’ sight. If spotted, enemies will call for backup and chase you down. They’ll increase security in areas where you were spotted, and will bring stronger military personnel to ensure you don’t struggle. Due to how vastly outnumbered Snake is, head-to-head combat is ill-advised.
If Snake does end up taking a hit, the player must use first aid to help Snake recover from his injuries. Whether you’re sewing a knife wound, healing a burn, or splinting a broken bone, Snake must use the supplies he scavenged to heal himself. What’s even cooler (and what I think is the coolest thing in the game) is that your injuries stay on Snake for the rest of the game. Any knife wound sewn shut, bullet extracted, or burn wound will leave behind a scar after healing. It is so awesome to come out of a fight scathed and to carry that remembrance with you as you navigate the jungle.
Before I talk about the graphics, it is important to mention that the game is loyal to its original…almost to a fault. In some foliage-thick areas, the game can stutter badly. The game is riddled with loading zones (although they hardly take more than 2 seconds to load), and the maps are a bit small, a relic of the PS2 era. That’s really all the criticism I have, which just goes to show how great the game is. Now for the graphics…
The graphics in this game really blew me away. While the game does stutter at some points, the visuals never disappoint. Sweat glistens off the character, small folds and wrinkles can be seen in the skin, and the eye is masterfully detailed with small veins and arteries. Virtually every shiny surface reflects a clear image, and the picture really just blows me away every time I look at it.
I’m getting a bit carried away and excited just thinking about this masterpiece, so I’ll end it here. The game has beautiful graphics, great gameplay, an amazing soundtrack, thoughtful storytelling, and different levels of difficulty for everyone. I cannot recommend this game enough. I know I say that a lot, but Metal Gear Solid truly has a special place in my heart. Don’t just take it from me. Mr. McCrystal himself sings the praises of the series often. If you ask him about it, it may be hard to get him to stop talking about how intricate the storytelling is. The series as a whole is so amazing, and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a wonderful addition and remake that does the series a dutiful justice. I really hope there is more to come.
