Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater review scores are out, with the game receiving widespread acclaim. Nevertheless, the critical reception of Konami's latest title has still fallen short of the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater—although not by much.
The Metal Gear Solid 3 remake was originally announced as part of the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase event. Co-developed by Konami and Oblivion Remastered developer Virtuos, the modernized version of the 2004 classic is on track for an August 28 release on PC and the current-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Online Multiplayer Comes With a Catch
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater won't be the complete package when it launches later this month.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Reviews Are Overwhelmingly Positive
The Metal Gear Solid Delta review embargo was lifted on Friday, August 22. The initial reviews are overwhelmingly positive, earning the game a "Mighty" rating on OpenCritic, derived from 48 reviews with an average score of 88 and a near-perfect 96% recommendation rate. Many reviewers have praised the game's production values and gameplay, which was described as a faithful recreation of the original combined with some quality-of-life improvements. One example of the latter is the way Metal Gear Solid Delta implements the camouflage system, allowing players to swap outfits and face paint in real time.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Review Scores
- OpenCritic: 88 average score, 96% recommendation rate (48 reviews)
- MetaCritic: 86 average score (59 reviews)
Even compared to the enhanced edition of Snake Eater—Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, released in 2005—the remake was praised for its more intuitive controls, allowing for smoother aiming and easier transitions into and out of cover. In terms of criticism, some reviewers found the game to be too easy, arguing that modernized controls and over-the-shoulder camera make patrols non-threatening and turn bosses into pushovers. The developers seemingly anticipated this complaint, which may be why Metal Gear Solid Delta also offers an alternative top-down perspective that directly impacts its difficulty and was designed to mimic the original experience. Some reviewers also identified performance as an occasional pain point, citing graphical glitches with hair and reflections, as well as sporadic cutscene stuttering.
Original Snake Eater Still Reviewed Better Than MGS Delta—Though Not By Much
Looking at the broader picture, the game's overall critical reception fell short of the original Snake Eater. However, the difference isn't massive, with the 2004 game holding a 91 score on MetaCritic, based on 68 scores. As of August 22, Metal Gear Solid Delta has an 86 score on the same platform, based on 59 reviews. Since the review embargo was only lifted a few hours ago as of this writing and there's still nearly a week until the game hits the market, its average scores could still shift. Be that as it may, the chances of the remake exceeding the original now appear slim, as it's rare for day-one review averages of single-player games to change by more than a couple of points.
Reviewers generally agree that the newly released remake serves as an ideal entry point for newcomers. Beyond being the most recent release, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater's story is also the earliest in the series’ chronology, thus requiring no pre-existing knowledge to follow.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, Adventure, Stealth
