Where do you draw the line when remaking a beloved classic? It’s a tricky balance between honoring the original and adding something new. For Konami, though, the goal with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater was clear: stay as faithful as possible to what made the original special. And they’ve done exactly that. With a complete visual overhaul and very few gameplay changes, this 2025 remake sticks closely to the 2004 PS2 classic crafted by Hideo Kojima.
Right from the beginning, Konami made it clear that Kojima and his original team were being acknowledged throughout. That decision seems to have guided everything about Delta. It’s essentially the same game under the hood, just with a stunning coat of modern-day paint. And while it’s obvious the core design shows its age—21 years later—it still carries that nostalgic charm, especially with a story that sticks the landing so well. It's hard not to feel a wave of emotion all over again once the credits roll.
If you’ve played Snake Eater before, you’ll know exactly what to expect. The story, with its mix of Cold War espionage, melodrama, and ridiculous (yet lovable) characters, is completely intact. The long, drawn-out cutscenes, the political overtones, the wild cinematic flair—it’s all still here. You could literally run the original and the remake side by side, and they’d match beat for beat. David Hayter’s iconic growl as Snake returns, complete with his habit of repeating back everything he’s just heard over the Codec. Even the item boxes and guard reactions are right where you remember them. Structurally, nothing’s changed—each area is still divided by short loading screens, keeping that old-school pacing.
So yes, Delta is exactly how you remember Snake Eater. For better or worse.
Heading in, I wasn’t totally sold on the switch to Unreal Engine 5. Now that I’ve finished a full 12-hour run (went full stealth and non-lethal, by the way), I’m still a bit on the fence. The new photorealistic look is undeniably gorgeous, but it sometimes clashes with the game’s quirky, over-the-top tone. Moments like Ocelot calling in backup with a dramatic howl, or the bizarre superpowers of the Cobra unit—those scenes don’t quite hit the same way when they’re rendered in hyper-real detail. The campiness just lands differently when everything looks so polished. Still, you can’t remove those elements and call it Snake Eater. They're essential.
The truth is, a lot of what made the original so impactful had to do with the time it came out. In 2004, Snake Eater was pushing boundaries, both technically and narratively. That same impact is harder to replicate now, especially with modern players used to deeper mechanics and more open-ended gameplay. Some parts of the remake might even feel a little flat if you’re coming off of Metal Gear Solid V. But at its core, Delta proves how well-designed stealth mechanics can age, and how Kojima’s unique blend of drama and absurdity still resonates.
In the end, I did find myself wondering why this remake exists in the first place, especially since it doesn’t really change anything beyond the visuals. But if you’re looking to play Snake Eater today—whether it’s your first time or your fifth—this is the version I’d recommend. Kojima may not have been directly involved this time around, but his influence and vision are still very much alive in every scene. And that’s what really matters.
GAMENEON RATING 9 OUT 10 OUTSTANDING
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