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    Reasons to Be Both Excited and Worried for Metal Gear Solid Delta

    What a thrill...

    Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater was perhaps one of the most interesting announcements at the PlayStation Showcase 2023. It promises to be a faithful remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, a game considered a beloved classic by many, including myself. However, while there are some details we know about the remake, a lot is still up in the air. Here are some reasons why you should both be excited and worried about Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

    Metal Gear Solid Delta Could Mark The Return of Pure Stealth Games

    Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Screenshot

     

    Many modern games incorporate stealth mechanics, but these implementations can often feel rudimentary. That’s not to say that there aren’t any modern games that do stealth mechanics well, but in many instances, stealth mechanics feel as though they are present out of obligation rather than desire. This is common in a lot of open-world action games and some other titles. 

    Unfortunately, dedicated stealth games seem to be somewhat of a rarity these days, at least in the AAA market. Sure, there are a couple of recent offerings I can think of, such as the newer Hitman games, but it’s clear that the genre’s heyday has long passed, at least for now. There always seems to be a rumor about a new Splinter Cell game, but the fact is that we haven’t gotten one in nearly ten years. Konami hasn’t put out a mainline Metal Gear game since 2015 (yes, we are ignoring Survive, as it is a spin-off anyways). 

    However, Metal Gear Solid Delta could change all that. If the game is successful enough, it could prove that stealth games are still viable in this day and age. After all, I’d love to see more AAA developers take a shot at the genre. The genre still has a lot of potential, and it would be a shame not to see it. Considering the technology we have today, there is a great opportunity for interesting new stealth mechanics. 

    No Hideo Kojima

    The first reason to be concerned about Metal Gear Solid Delta is an obvious one. Unless some miracle happens, it’s incredibly unlikely that Konami and Kojima will ever collaborate on a project ever again. Considering that in many ways, Hideo Kojima is the heart and soul of the Metal Gear franchise, a game without him at the helm can make things feel uncertain. 

    To be fair, Metal Gear Solid Delta already has a solid blueprint to work with, that being the original Metal Gear Solid 3. Delta promises to be a faithful remake, which hopefully means much of Kojima’s vision will remain intact. It’s a safe option for Konami to go with instead of making a completely new game in the series. However, without Kojima’s insight, the project may suffer. 

    The Original Voice Cast Will Be Making a Return

    Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Screenshot

    I don’t think it’s controversial to say that David Hayter’s Snake is one of the most iconic voices in gaming. It’s instantly recognizable and I can’t imagine playing a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake without him in it. The game just wouldn’t feel the same with a different voice. Thankfully, his voice, along with the rest of the original cast, will be returning in Metal Gear Solid Delta

    However, we do not know if Konami will be recording new lines for the remake. It might be a bit underwhelming to re-use the voice lines from the original game, but it’s entirely possible, and maybe even likely that will happen. In an ideal world, new dialogue recordings would be great, but it’s not the end of the world if we get the old recordings. At least we know we don’t have to worry about strange casting choices for the remake. 

    Konami Has Yet to Fully Redeem Themselves

    Silent Hill 2 Horror Games 2023

    Last December, I wrote an article about my skepticism toward the return of Silent Hill. Seeing as we haven’t gotten many updates on the revival since then, my thoughts remain largely the same. The announcements of Metal Gear Solid Delta and the Silent Hill 2 remake signal to me that Konami wants to play things as safely as possible. This isn’t an inherently wrong strategy to go with, but it could prove to be a double-edged sword. For all we know, not all of the new Silent Hill projects may come to fruition. 

    It would be easy for Konami to fall into the trap of trying to recapture their glory days. As much as I enjoy games such as the recent Resident Evil 4 remake, I love to see new projects as well. I hope that these remakes inspire Konami to make new, big-budget titles for their legacy IPs, but I’m not convinced they will. 

    Konami’s reputation among the general public just hasn’t been too great ever since the cancellation of Silent Hills. They have been largely absent from the AAA market, and it’s hard to tell if they still have what it takes to deliver great games. I want them to make my doubts go away, but I will need to see some results first. That being said, it would be great to see Konami make a comeback. 

    Metal Gear Solid Delta Is a Remake of an Awesome Game

    Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is simply a classic. With a combination of interesting stealth mechanics, a great sense of atmosphere, and a memorable story, it’s hard to go wrong. If Metal Gear Solid Delta is as faithful as a remake as it claims to be, we could be in for an absolute treat. As long as they stick close to the design principles of the original with a more modern interpretation, it should be difficult to get wrong. 

    At the end of the day, I think it’s best to remain cautiously optimistic about this remake. There’s still plenty we don’t know yet, so it’s hard to get a good read on what the quality of Delta will be. I hope it’s a great title in the franchise, but I don’t want to get my hopes up too high. Be sure to check out everything we know about the game, and keep an eye on Final Weapon for more coverage in the future!

    Itch
    Itch
    Itch has a strong passion for PC gaming and retro consoles (especially the Dreamcast). From Melty Blood: Actress Again to Forza Horizon, he will play just about anything that catches his eye. Ever since playing Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit as a young child, he has been in love with the medium of video games and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

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