Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater vs Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain: Which Game Did It Better?

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After the launch of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, it’s become evident that Konami has nailed the remake effort. They’ve tastefully incorporated modern elements and style, all while preserving the enchanting qualities of the original game. Now, the definitive way to delve into Big Boss’ early years as Naked Snake is by playing Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

Instead of focusing on just the title, let’s delve into Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain, which serves as Hideo Kojima’s final contribution to the series before his separation from Konami. This game is indeed an impressive experience and has significantly expanded upon the franchise’s stealth-action gameplay mechanics, making it a noteworthy addition within its own right.

Let’s take a look at how each option excels and falls short, comparing them head-to-head to determine which stands out in key aspects of their overall user experience. So, let’s get started!

Stealth And AI

As a devoted fan, diving into the stealth mechanics of both titles provides an excellent starting point for determining which one delivers a superior Metal Gear Solid experience. Let’s kick things off with Delta and witness how its enhancements have breathed new life into the original stealth encounters in MGS3, making them feel fresher and potentially even more engaging.

It’s worth noting that the original game, Phantom Pain, has had a significant impact on the remake, with several contemporary elements being incorporated into Delta. Nevertheless, stealth in the remake seems somewhat unpolished, yet authentic – a testament to its roots as a 2004 title. The infiltration of Volgin’s forces by Naked Snake is significantly enhanced in Delta, thanks to the new camera angles and the option to blend seamlessly into the environment, making for an incredibly engaging experience at the time.

The camouflage system and timer-based Caution/Evasion states of Snake Eater create an ongoing sense of anxiety. On the other hand, TPP’s stealth is more subtle and integrated within its mechanics, leaving you guessing when the search might conclude. In other words, TPP uses a systemic and emergent approach to stealth which complements its sparsely populated open world, as your tools and companions play a significant role in every mission. On the contrary, Delta emphasizes a “man-vs-wilderness” feel: camouflage and positioning are crucial, and opponents blend into their surroundings just as well as you do. Both games excel at stealth, but TPP takes the lead due to the greater freedom it offers in missions.

In the updated version of Delta, the AI for opponents has been significantly enhanced, making them far more lethal compared to the initial release. They exhibit quicker reflexes and superior hearing abilities, yet Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain capitalizes on the eleven years and various other titles preceding it, offering innovations to the gameplay dynamics that set it apart from Delta in terms of stealth mechanics. The stealth experience in TPP is noticeably more authentic due to a dynamic weather system, highly sophisticated AI, the option to plot enemy routes and patrol patterns, and numerous additional features that infuse a strategic component into gameplay which Delta can’t replicate. To top it off, enemies in TPP even adjust to your playstyle: over-rely on headshots and they’ll start wearing helmets; infiltrate frequently at night and they’ll equip NVGs!

In terms of stealth and AI, Phantom Pain outshines Metal Gear Solid 3’s mechanics, even though Delta made an admirable attempt to modernize those aged mechanics.

Combat, Boss Battles, and Tools

If you’re discovered by the enemy, it might become vital to engage in a firefight or hand-to-hand battle to evade them and return to safety before blending back into the shadows. In terms of combat, Delta offers a seamless experience, but Phantom Pain delivers a more refined and concentrated one that gives it an edge over the latest remake. Additionally, Phantom Pain boasts a vast array of weapons compared to Snake Eater.

In contrast, the adversaries that both Naked Snake and Venom Snake face off against, using their special skills, significantly contribute to the overall gameplay experience. Notably, Delta excels in this regard as characters like the Cobra Unit, Volgin, and The Boss each offer distinct abilities, captivating histories, and a strong dose of character in their interactions with Naked Snake.

Contrarily to Phantom Pain, the antagonists in this case are distinct, yet none match up to the unforgettable or intimidating nature of those found in Delta. The skirmishes against the Skulls were merely enduring barrages of bullets, and the game’s narrative prevented us from engaging with Skull Face. Although the battle against Sahelanthropus and Quiet is considered among the series’ top encounters, Konami’s remake emerges as superior in terms of its riveting boss fights compared to those found in Phantom Pain.

Let’s discuss another significant element of the Metal Gear Solid series: the array of tools available during your gameplay journey. While Venom Snake’s formidable resources in Phantom Pain, including a powerful army at his command and an impressive collection of weapons used with great skill (the Phantom Cigar being particularly notable), certainly make an impact, it’s worth considering the strategic use of a more limited toolset in Delta. Despite having fewer tools at their disposal, the way they are utilized in Delta is noteworthy.

Delta” is a more linear adventure where Snake’s choices at any given point during a mission are largely determined by effectively utilizing his weapons arsenal. Consequently, his toolset might appear slightly restricted, but this makes them even more valuable due to the limitations. Striking a balance between providing challenges and offering exciting gadgets that a stealthy spy would use in real-world situations is tricky, but both games excel at presenting options tailored to the distinct experiences they offer.

As far as tools are concerned, it’s a tie between the two games. But what about their stories?

The Story, Animations, And Graphics

Navigating comparisons between the stories in Phantom Pain and Snake Eater can be complex due to the unconventional circumstances surrounding Phantom Pain’s development. Creative differences between Kojima and Konami resulted in some critics perceiving Phantom Pain as “incomplete”, an opinion that was widely shared by the critical community.

Although Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain introduced characters like Cipher, XOF, Venom Snake, and numerous others in an action-packed narrative filled with surprises and turns, its preference for incorporating lore tidbits rather than detailed exposition may place it at a slight disadvantage when compared to the legendary storyline of Snake Eater, a title that significantly enriched the franchise’s lore.

Although both games are known as Big Boss, Delta offers a more refined, targeted, and arguably conclusive exploration of the character’s origins as Naked Snake. Konami’s visual upgrade of the original version adds to its immersive quality. Plus, the cast remains just as iconic and memorable today as they were in 2004, and the story is presented in a more straightforward manner compared to Phantom Pain.

Certainly, discussing Episode 51’s exclusion from The Phantom Pain is important since it highlights potentially omitted content meant for the game. On a storytelling level, it appears that Naked Snake’s transformation into Big Boss plays a more significant role compared to Venom Snake’s portrayal of the character.

While The Phantom Pain’s narrative, when deciphered, is truly captivating, Snake Eater edges it out due to its comprehensive tale, offering a full-fledged storyline from beginning to end.

When it comes to the animation quality, both Delta and The Phantom Pain excel significantly. While Delta benefits from many refinements found in TPP, it surpasses the original MGS3 notably. The character movesets, however, serve as distinct portrayals of Snake in each game. Venom Snake in TPP boasts a wider range of skills, while Naked Snake in Delta is depicted earlier in his career, with a more limited yet purposeful set of movements. Nevertheless, both games showcase impressive movement, close-quarters combat (CQC), and transition work; essentially, they match each other in terms of animation quality.

Regarding graphics, Delta outshines other games in the series, including Phantom Pain. Even though Phantom Pain was released a decade ago and had the advantage of learning from previous titles, Delta surpasses them all. It doesn’t just meet the standards between the original release and current-gen; it exceeds them significantly. The character designs, particularly Snake’s model, facial expressions, and gear details, make the leap in quality evident. While Phantom Pain continues to impress visually, Delta takes the crown in this category.

Naked Snake or Big Boss?

Although both titles may appear superior based on these comparisons, it’s crucial to keep in mind that “Delta” and “Phantom Pain” cater to distinct gaming generations with unique objectives.

It’s challenging to definitively say which version of Metal Gear Solid offers a superior overall experience, as both versions provide additional layers to the character of Big Boss, enhancing the narrative and technical aspects in their unique ways.

When deciding between the two options, it’s essential to consider each player’s unique preferences and expectations from their Metal Gear Solid gaming experience. This aspect can be quite subjective, making it challenging to quantify and forecast accurately.

When considering both games from our personal perspective, we’re declaring a draw. Delta, which harkens back to Naked Snake’s early days, has been a delightful fusion of nostalgia and modern-day quality. It manages to evoke memories of the original game while addressing some of its issues for an enhanced experience. On the other hand, The Phantom Pain still amazes with its freedom and depth. Each game excels in different areas, but the differences are minimal. Both have strengths that make it difficult to choose a clear winner.

Reflecting on the enduring quality of the Snake Eater remake since its initial launch, it’s quite likely that Big Boss might cast a nostalgic gaze back to a period in his life where events were both less complex and yet, at times, incredibly challenging for his character.

As a passionate gaming enthusiast, I’d like to express that the opinions shared in this piece are my own. They may not align perfectly with the collective standpoint of GamingBolt as a platform.

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2025-09-04 14:14