Metal Gear Solid Delta Should Have Followed Silent Hill 2’s Lead

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In the reboot of Dead Space, players encounter a revamped shooting range that is now an intricate obstacle course nestled deep inside the doomed USM Valor, where it was originally placed. Unlike before, this area is no longer just a hall with glowing targets; instead, it presents a more challenging experience. By pressing the button to initiate the mini-game, similar to the original version, the lights abruptly go off and hordes of necromorphs invade the space, creating chaos and shattering the illusion of safety that once prevailed in 2008. This scene effectively demonstrates how a remake can reinvent itself while maintaining its familiar elements.

The remake of “Silent Hill 2” excels in horror games as it deliberately strays from comfort, which is the opposite of fear. This method can be seen in the upcoming “Dead Space” remake in 2023, and also in the “Silent Hill 2” remake, Bloober Team took significant creative liberties, enhancing the original experience to such an extent that it became distinct in certain aspects while still maintaining its essence. On the contrary, Konami’s more recent remake, “Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater,” follows a safer approach by closely following the original, illustrating that this method results in less excitement compared to taking creative risks.

Metal Gear Solid Delta Is Decent, But Too Safe

Throughout and through, Delta maintains its essence as the very game that graced the PlayStation 2 back in 2005 (or more precisely, with the enhanced re-release of Subsistence in late 2006). Intriguingly, one can synchronize the cutscenes on a different device while engaging with Delta and watch them unfold simultaneously. The camera angles and voice performances remain identical; the difference lies in the evolution of technology spanning two decades between the two versions.

This new approach may seem intriguing at first, but its charm fades rapidly as the initial excitement gives way to a sense of familiarity. Despite this, confronting Fear remains challenging. Escaping prison with only a fork and an empty gun is still a daunting task. Watching Snake struggle against Volgin before experiencing the distressing torture scene remains hard to bear. However, Delta offers little novelty and lacks the excitement that comes with the unknown.

As a devoted fan, I must clarify that my following words are not intended to undermine the greatness of Metal Gear Solid 3 or Konami’s efforts in modernizing this masterpiece. On the contrary, MGS3 continues to shine brightly within the series, and revisiting its compelling storyline and navigating through the dense jungles is always a captivating experience.

The two studios have thoughtfully introduced several enhancements that significantly improve gameplay, such as an improved user interface, enhanced shooting controls, and even a photo mode, making the gaming experience more enjoyable than ever before. Furthermore, they’ve managed to bring back fan-favorite modes like Snake vs. Monkey and the Guy Savage sequence that have been missing from other versions of the game.

In essence, these improvements serve as an invitation for us fans to once again immerse ourselves in the incredible world of Metal Gear Solid 3 while appreciating the finer details that make it even better than before.

Yet, despite the fact that MGS3 remains widely available due to the extensive multiplatform launch of the Master Collection Vol. 1, the notion of a meticulously accurate remake seems unnecessary. Granted, the additional features introduced are appealing, but the original MGS3 is not outdated enough to make it an artifact from the past that only attracts fans with nostalgia for it.

Bloober Team’s Big Silent Hill 2 Gamble

Contrarily, Silent Hill 2 isn’t widely available due to the infamous mishandling of the HD collection for PS3 and Xbox 360, which was developed with incomplete code. With scarcity surrounding it and doubts about Bloober’s competence as a developer, it seemed prudent to stick closely to Team Silent’s horror formula for the remake. However, they chose to deviate slightly and imprint their unique touch on the classic horror game instead.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to say that the team at Bloober has really outdone themselves with the new Silent Hill 2 remake! They’ve delved deep into the game’s lore, crafting intricate details and a hidden meta storyline that makes me feel like I’m uncovering secrets. They’ve also given the enemies some unique behaviors that keep me on my toes and make every encounter exciting.

The dialogue has been re-recorded and remixed to perfection, making the conversations between characters more engaging than ever before. And if you think that’s all, think again! Every level in the game has been completely switched up, offering a fresh perspective on familiar grounds. The combat has been overhauled, giving it a new lease of life, and the boss fights have been reimagined to be truly memorable.

There are so many tweaks that they’ve made to this remake that I feel like it’s got an identity all its own – one it wouldn’t have had without these changes. Not every alteration improves the experience – being over twice as long can drag things out a bit – but overall, these changes collectively breathe new life into the game.

Rather than merely reproducing what Team Silent had created, Bloober Team appeared to grasp that they needed to delve deeper into the game’s essence and not simply imitate it superficially to achieve success. Creative director Mateusz Lenart elaborated further on this during a GDC 2025 talk.

He explained that it became clear we were handling a game’s memory if success was our goal. However, rather than simply reproducing the past, we aimed to reimagine those elements for contemporary audiences. As progress unfolded, potential areas for enhancement emerged, and initial apprehension morphed into eagerness.

Although the Japanese creators involved in the remake desired additional modifications, Bloober Team was able to make substantial alterations while maintaining much of what made Silent Hill 2 a groundbreaking work in the medium. The Silent Hill 2 remake doesn’t replace the original; instead, they stand separately, each with their unique merits and potential shortcomings.

The remake of Silent Hill 2 by Bloober Team significantly improved players’ trust in the studio. Despite earlier criticisms for their horror games such as Layers of Fear, Observer, Blair Witch, and The Medium, being considered amateurish, Bloober has been able to turn things around with the success of Silent Hill 2. In interviews, they have acknowledged this previous negative sentiment and noted that their current position is significantly different. While it’s hard to predict how Cronos: The New Dawn will ultimately fare, there’s no denying that the positive reception of Silent Hill 2 has made it easier for us to consider a potential quality game from Bloober Team. However, caution is still advised, but we are more receptive to the idea of a strong game from Bloober following their successful remake of Silent Hill 2.

Delta Should Have Been More Bold

In simpler terms, Konami, by creating a more polished version of Metal Gear Solid 3, hasn’t yet shown the same level of assurance about its future plans for the series. Metal Gear Solid 3 wasn’t used as a trial run to demonstrate their approach moving forward. While Konami is expected to release a new Metal Gear game in the future, Metal Gear Solid Delta doesn’t offer any clues about what that might entail. The minor improvements it has aren’t significant enough to provide a clear picture of what the next game will be like.

As a dedicated fan, I’d have loved to see a more immersive reimagining of the iconic game, Metal Gear Solid 3, with a seamless open-world environment. Instead of just beating bosses in traditional ways, it would be awesome if there were alternative strategies. New modes and smarter enemies would definitely keep things fresh. Plus, Easter eggs that subtly hinted at future games like Portable Ops, Peace Walker, and MGSV would have been a great touch. In essence, this remake had the potential to forge its own unique path.

It’s natural for fans to feel cautious if Konami were to remake Metal Gear Solid 3, given that they aren’t the most trusted game developers in terms of player confidence. Instead of taking risks to prove something new, Konami opted for a more conventional remake approach. The upcoming remake, titled Delta, is expected to be well-received due to its safety and appeal to nostalgia. However, it would have been more intriguing if the remake had ventured beyond its original form, exploring various innovative possibilities. Unfortunately, Konami appears to have chosen to play it safe by sticking too closely to the established formula, which is a bit disappointing given the opportunity for creativity.

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2025-08-23 16:14