So I Played The New Metal Gear Solid… And I’m Deeply Conflicted

Right, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The Metal Gear Solid 3 remake is finally here. After dusting off my old bandana (figuratively) and diving into the jungle for a solid weekend, I’m left scratching my head. Konami didn’t just remake Snake Eater; they bottled its very soul, jank and all, and gave it a multi-million dollar facelift. And I can’t decide if that’s genius or utterly mad.

Let’s get into it.

It’s Stupidly, Almost Unfairly, Pretty

I’m not gonna lie, my first hour was just me taking screenshots. The leap to Unreal Engine 5 is nothing short of black magic. We’re talking god rays piercing through the canopy, individual leaves swaying in the breeze, and character models so detailed you can see the stitching on Snake’s harness. It’s the game my PS2 desperately wanted to be but couldn’t.

But here’s the weird part. That stunning visual fidelity creates a strange disconnect. The cutscenes, now re-rendered with these hyper-realistic models, sometimes lose the grainy, cinematic charm of the original. It’s like watching your favorite cult classic film get a Disney-fied CGI reboot. It’s impressive, but it feels… different. A bit sterile.

The Control Scheme is a Mess (And Kinda Brilliant)

This is where things get really interesting. Konami knew the original tank controls wouldn’t fly, so they gave us two options:

1. “Legacy” Controls: This is for the absolute purists—the folks who think the original experience is sacred. I switched to this for about five minutes. My muscle memory is apparently gone, because I immediately walked off a cliff. It’s a cool inclusion, but it feels like a museum exhibit: interesting to look at, painful to actually use.

2. “Modern” Controls: Ah, the promised land. This is the standard over-the-shoulder, third-person shooter setup we all know. And it feels great… for about twenty minutes.

Then the cracks show. You see, the entire game—every enemy patrol, every hiding spot, every ambush—was meticulously designed for those clunky, limited camera angles. With this new free-floating camera, I found myself cheesing the game without even trying. I could see guards through walls I wasn’t supposed to, completely bypassing tense sections. It’s more comfortable, but it accidentally dismantles the carefully crafted tension Kojima was famous for. It’s a solution that creates a whole new set of problems.

It’s Faithful to a Fault

And that’s the core of my confusion. Metal Gear Solid Delta is the most faithful “remake” I’ve ever seen. I’m talking every single quirk.

The bizarre, menu-heavy healing system where you dig bullets out of your leg? Still there.
The need to hunt random animals to stop your stomach from rumbling? Yep.
The way you get stuck on a tiny rock while crawling? Oh yeah.

They preserved everything. It’s less of a remake and more of a time capsule. For veterans, it’s a potent shot of nostalgia. For newcomers, it’s going to feel incredibly dated and weird. There’s a certain charm to it, but also a feeling that Konami was too scared to actually remake anything beyond the visuals.

So, Should You Buy It?

This is the tricky part.

• If you’ve never played MGS3: Honestly, this is probably the best way to experience this bonkers, brilliant story. The modern controls (despite their issues) and incredible visuals make it far more approachable than emulating the PS2 version. You’re in for a treat.

• If you’re a hardcore fan: You’ll have a blast, but it’s a specific kind of blast. You’re not getting a new experience. You’re getting your old experience, looking absolutely phenomenal. It’s a luxury item. A premium, $70 nostalgia trip. Whether that’s worth it is entirely up to you.

The Final Word: Metal Gear Solid Delta is a technical marvel and a creative paradox. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful museum piece built around a twenty-year-old game that they were too afraid to change. I loved my time with it, but I spent the whole time wondering what could have been if they’d been just a little bit braver.

The Good:

• Graphically, it’s a masterpiece. Unreal Engine 5 works miracles.

• The core story is still one of the best in gaming.

• It’s a incredibly respectful tribute to the original.

The Not-So-Good:

• The modern control scheme accidentally breaks the game’s design.

• It preserves all the original jank, for better and worse.

• It feels more like a glorified remaster than a true from-the-ground-up remake.

• The price tag is steep for what is essentially the same game.