Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – Review
Reviewed by Karan Parmar | August 25, 2025
I finally got a chance to play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and it’s a mix of awe and frustration. The game does a fantastic job updating a classic, with stunning environments, fluid animations, and tense stealth moments that still feel iconic. But on PC, technical issues like frame drops and uneven textures keep it from feeling fully polished. Despite that, the story, characters, and survival mechanics still shine, making it a rewarding experience for fans and newcomers alike.
First Impressions – Stepping Into the Jungle
The moment the game loaded, I was struck by the jungle. Sunlight cutting through thick leaves, mist rising over rivers, and distant birdsong all immediately set the tone. It felt alive in a way that the original could only hint at, with wildlife scurrying through undergrowth and subtle environmental sounds that make you feel truly embedded in the world. The opening missions gradually ease you into Snake’s world, blending careful stealth with tense story beats and a few clever survival mechanics that hint at deeper gameplay layers to come. But early stutters, occasional frame drops, and slightly uneven texture pop-ins reminded me that this is a PC port still rough around the edges.
Story & Characters – Classic Cold War Drama
The narrative still hits hard. Set in 1964, you play as Naked Snake on a mission to rescue a defecting scientist, which spirals into a tense nuclear crisis. The story alternates between stealth sequences, survival challenges, and dramatic cutscenes, balancing quiet tension with high-stakes moments perfectly. Subtle details like coded messages, field reports, and survival mechanics further immerse you in Snake’s mission, making every decision feel consequential.
Characters feel just as iconic as they did twenty years ago. Snake is still that perfect mix of calm precision and emotional weight, and you can see the subtle growth of his character through both dialogue and gameplay. The Boss exudes charisma and tragedy in equal measure, while Ocelot’s playful but dangerous personality adds constant intrigue. Even minor characters like EVA, the Cobras, and supporting operatives leave their mark through memorable dialogue, distinct mannerisms, and cleverly staged encounters that enhance the world.
Moments like The End’s sniper duel, the grueling jungle survival sequences, or the climactic confrontation with The Boss remain unforgettable emotionally charged sequences that combine gameplay skill with narrative tension. Kojima’s signature touches, unexpected humor, surreal events, layered symbolism, and tragic undertones still land, proving the story hasn’t aged a day. Subplots like loyalty, betrayal, and the moral cost of war feel just as relevant now, adding layers to an already gripping tale.
World & Exploration – Gorgeous but Familiar
Visually, the jungle is stunning. Raindrops ripple in puddles, foliage reacts realistically to movement, and light filters through dense canopies. Every hill, river, and cliffside feels deliberate, like the world exists beyond your own path. Small touches, a rustling leaf, a distant animal call, or a hidden cave reward exploration and immersion. Even the dynamic weather and day-night cycles add layers to the experience, affecting visibility, enemy behavior, and the overall mood of each mission.
The level design itself hasn’t changed much. Paths often feel predetermined, enemy patrols follow predictable routes, and opportunities for improvisation are limited. In a few areas, I wanted to approach situations differently, only to find the game gently funnels you along the intended route. Certain sections, like dense jungle ambushes or river crossings, are beautifully staged but feel more like scripted set pieces than truly open-ended challenges. It’s a strange contrast: the environments look modern and alive, but the gameplay still feels tied to the old structure, with freedom sometimes sacrificed for cinematic presentation.
Combat & Mechanics – Tactical, Rewarding, but Slower
Stealth remains the heart of the game. You can choose Legacy controls for a classic experience or New Style for more modern responsiveness. Crouch-walking is smoother, aiming feels tighter, and enemy detection cues are easier to read. It’s satisfying to plan a careful infiltration, taking advantage of camouflage, stamina, and careful observation. Environmental sounds and line-of-sight mechanics make sneaking feel meaningful, rewarding patience over brute force.
Survival elements give extra tension. You need to treat wounds, manage stamina with food, and select camouflage carefully. Weather and terrain also affect visibility and stamina, forcing you to adapt constantly. Every small decision, like whether to hunt for food or risk crossing open ground, reinforces that Snake Eater isn’t about rushing in; it’s about preparation, strategy, and patience.
Boss encounters are the highlight. From The End’s sniper duel to The Fury’s flamethrower chaos, each fight tests both patience and creativity. They’re mechanically precise but also cinematic, incorporating the environment in memorable ways. The remake adds subtle quality-of-life tweaks, like more readable health indicators and better camera control, making these encounters smoother without losing the tension. These fights remain as thrilling as ever, proving the remake understands what made the original special while gently modernizing the experience.
New Additions – Small Tweaks, Meaningful Quality-of-Life
The remake doesn’t try to reinvent Snake Eater, and I appreciate that. Inventory management is smoother, aiming adjustments make exploration easier, and subtle tweaks enhance combat responsiveness. Camera handling feels more intuitive, and AI behavior has been slightly refined, making stealth encounters feel fairer without breaking the challenge. These changes don’t alter the core experience but make it feel more comfortable to play in 2025.
Some extra collectibles, hidden documents, and minor mode enhancements add replayability, while photo opportunities and optional challenges encourage exploration. Still, the story, levels, and survival mechanics remain largely untouched. The focus is on polish rather than reinvention, giving veterans nostalgia without frustration and newcomers a slightly smoother introduction. Even small touches, like improved animations during climbing, updated sound cues, and subtle environmental interactions, show the developers’ attention to detail without compromising the classic feel.
Audio – Classic Themes, Clean and Immersive
The audio design is excellent. Leaves rustle, footsteps crunch, and the wildlife sounds around you are layered and detailed. Rivers babble, birds call in the distance, and even subtle insect noises add depth to the jungle environment. Weapons and environmental interactions feel grounded, and subtle cues enhance both stealth and tension, helping you anticipate enemy movements and stay immersed.
The soundtrack is as iconic as ever. The re-recorded “Snake Eater” theme is polished, dramatic, and still evokes the same emotional punch. Codec conversations, alert stingers, and environmental sounds feel clearer, bringing the jungle and missions to life. Voice acting hasn’t been fully re-recorded, but the clean mix allows emotional beats to come through more effectively. Even ambient music cues during exploration or tense encounters subtly shift, reinforcing mood and pacing, showing that the audio team put thought into both nostalgia and modern sound design.
PC Port – Rough Around the Edges
Here’s where the experience falters. The game is capped at 60 FPS, which is frustrating on high-refresh monitors, and there’s no official option to unlock it. Dense jungle areas and scenes with complex lighting sometimes cause frame dips, making stealth timing less precise. Shader compilation stutters appear on first loads. UE5’s ray-traced lighting and reflections look great, but the performance hit often outweighs the visual gain. Shadow quality fluctuates during heavy foliage sequences. Even high-end GPUs can struggle to maintain a consistent experience without tweaking settings. In short, while the port looks impressive, it feels like it could have used more optimization. It’s playable, but PC players will notice the rough edges immediately, and some of the technical hiccups occasionally pull you out of the otherwise cinematic experience.
Overall Feel – Nostalgia Meets Frustration
At its core, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater succeeds as a respectful remake. The story is still compelling, the characters remain iconic, and the jungle feels alive, filled with subtle environmental details that reward exploration. Boss fights retain their tension, stealth is satisfying, and small quality-of-life improvements, like refined controls, smoother inventory management, and clearer UI, make the game more accessible without altering the original experience. Even minor touches, such as updated animations, subtle sound enhancements, and dynamic weather effects, help the world feel richer and more immersive. On PC, though, technical issues hold it back. For fans of the original, it’s a chance to revisit a classic with upgraded visuals and smoother mechanics. For newcomers, it’s a solid introduction to Snake’s world; just be prepared for some rough edges, patience in stealth sequences, and the occasional technical hiccup.
Rating: 8.5/10
Special thanks to Konami for providing the review code.
© Images and screenshots used in this review are courtesy of Konami.
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You can purchase Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater from the following official platforms:
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