After Metal Gear Solid Delta, Which MGS Game Needs to Be Remade Next?

Metal Gear Solid 3 served as an effective launching pad for Konami to revive the series’ prominence. The company itself acknowledged this, stating they chose to remake the 2004 original first because it represented the “beginning” of the franchise. Now, Konami finds itself at a juncture: Should it create a new installment or remake another older one? Given the potential uproar that might result from the latter, it seems likely that Konami will reimagine yet another title within the Metal Gear series.

Intriguingly, the debate persists: Which Metal Gear game is ripe for a remake? Let me lay out the possibilities and speculate on their outcomes.

1) Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

The original “Metal Gear” and its sequel, “Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake,” are the earliest installments in the franchise, but since the series didn’t gain significant popularity until “Metal Gear Solid,” they’re generally overlooked by many. Being older, somewhat clunky, and sometimes difficult to understand, these games can be a challenge for players. However, due to their narrative significance within the series as a whole, they are excellent candidates for a unified remake that could bring them to a new audience.

As a dedicated fan, I’d say it feels like Konami has a lot of room to innovate due to the rough edges in the tech and storytelling of their games. They can expand on narrative threads and incorporate elements from the Big Boss saga while still presenting them in a modern, cinematic style, complete with actual cutscenes (in addition to Codec calls). The basic stealth mechanics also offer an opportunity for improvement, which could be achieved by incorporating the smooth, covert gameplay found in titles like Delta and MGSV.

The rudimentary nature of the initial two Metal Gear games makes them strong contenders for a standalone remake, as this simplicity encourages bolder decisions that were not necessarily taken in ‘Delta’. Furthermore, they don’t enjoy the same level of nostalgic devotion as some other games in the series, which means players might be more receptive to extensive modifications. Although this project would undoubtedly present significant challenges, it could potentially result in the most intriguing and innovative Metal Gear remake due to its high potential for transformation.

2) Metal Gear Solid

The video game Metal Gear Solid, which was previously remade as the GameCube exclusive Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes in 2004, has not been made available on other platforms despite Konami’s persistent reluctance to do so. Although Silicon Knights altered the controls to resemble those of Metal Gear Solid 2 and made some creative adjustments, it seems odd to remake the same game anew.

Nevertheless, “Metal Gear Solid” remains a possible choice for a remake due to its similarity with “MGS3” as a solid foundation for the series. Since many players began their Metal Gear adventure with this classic PlayStation 1 game, revisiting it could be logical, considering Konami’s earlier mention of “Snake Eater” serving as a starting point.

As a PS1 game, Konami might need to make significant changes due to its original design. For instance, the audio may need an upgrade, and the straightforward level designs might not pose much challenge with modern control systems, as even _Twin Snakes_ faced similar issues. To match the complexity of contemporary _Delta_-like controls, they could potentially enhance the game by introducing advanced enemy patterns, new risks, and remodeled rooms. These additions may include redesigned arenas.

Restructuring Shadow Moses to allow for exploration and backtracking, similar to the updated USG Ishimura in the Dead Space remake, could significantly enhance Metal Gear Solid’s gameplay experience. This approach would make the environment feel more connected and immersive. However, a simple upgrade using Unreal Engine 5 and third-person shooter controls wouldn’t be enough for an older game like MGS1. A comprehensive remake that caters to both nostalgic players and modern audiences requires bold decisions from Konami. Such a remake must strike a balance between honoring the original game’s essence and providing a fresh, engaging experience.

3) Metal Gear Solid 2

Among the Metal Gear Solid series trilogy, only Metal Gear Solid 2 has yet to receive a remake, making it an ideal candidate for one. Yet, its position is somewhat complex as it’s deeply rooted in its time period, necessitating significant alterations. A shift from the fixed camera could expose the relatively compact size of each area, so stages might need enlarging to suit the new perspective. To make the Big Shell feel more expansive, loading screens would ideally be eliminated between each strut and core, creating a seamless experience. Furthermore, Snake and Raiden’s weaponry and toolsets in this game are less extensive compared to later installments, so a direct replication could potentially appear overly basic.

The discussion about remaking a Metal Gear Solid 2 game touches on the approach for remaking games: should it be a literal reproduction or an attempt to replicate the emotional impact experienced by players during the original release? A direct copy of MGS2 might maintain its authenticity, but could appear too basic and lose its charm outside its initial launch period. Instead, a Metal Gear Sold 2 remake striving for a similar feel would strive to recreate the shock from character switches and gameplay advancements, which was fundamental to the game’s lasting impression. Achieving this level of surprise in a remake is challenging (if not entirely feasible) but is key to preserving MGS2’s unique appeal.

If Konami takes this into consideration and attempts to bring something fresh to a remake, then MGS2 becomes a strong contender. However, it would be quite peculiar if the publisher were to replicate their approach from the MGS3 remake by releasing a safe and predictable product, as that was the complete opposite of what MGS2 represented.

4) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

It’s time for Metal Gear Solid 4 to transition out of the PlayStation 3, but a remake might not be the ideal approach. The game’s controls have been modernized, allowing for an enjoyable return to its tactical third-person shooting. Its animations remain fluid, and despite being nearly two decades old, its visuals still hold up well. Essentially, it would benefit more from a port rather than a remake, making it a strong candidate to lead the upcoming Master Collection.

5) Metal Gear Solid V

It’s not surprising that Metal Gear Solid V, with its almost perfect controls and unmatched player control over gameplay style, seems less in need of a remake compared to other games in the series. To this day, it continues to stand as the peak of the stealth genre. Fortunately for PS4 Pro players, an updated version of The Phantom Pain offers smoother gameplay. Unfortunately, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S owners may not share the same experience, as only the PS4 Pro version received the update, leaving the other versions somewhat outdated.

The suggestion is to enhance or complete certain aspects of the game to make it even better. For instance, implementing a more comprehensive Survival mode that drops players into missions without any equipment, applicable across all missions rather than just select ones, could be beneficial as it showcases the game’s open mission design more effectively. Additionally, finalizing the largely incomplete cutscenes might also be worthwhile. This would seemingly bring the creators’ vision closer to completion, although some may find alterations made by Konami without Hideo Kojima’s direct involvement sacrilegious. However, these changes are mostly minor and don’t warrant a full remake; instead, they could be incorporated in an updated version or current-gen port of the game, such as a Master Collection.

6) Metal Gear Spin-Offs (Acid, Acid 2, Portable Ops, Peace Walker, and Revengeance)

While Metal Gear has numerous spin-offs, none of them cry out for a remake. For instance, Portable Ops offers a more restricted and less in-depth take on the mission design found in Peace Walker (which was later developed further in MGSV). Both games were designed with portable play in mind, making a console or PC remake seem somewhat incongruous. Similarly, Acid and Acid 2 are among the least-played Metal Gear titles in recent years. A complete remake of these turn-based card games might not be the wisest use of resources. These four games were specifically crafted for the PSP and its brief gameplay sessions, which doesn’t make them ideal candidates for a non-portable hardware remake.

The game Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance lacks issues related to PSP games, but it shares the overall feel of all five games in this series. These games could be well-suited for less complex remakes and would make good additions to another Master Collection. The PSP versions could greatly benefit from modern features such as save states, rewinding, online play, and so on. However, the gameplay of Revengeance, which focuses heavily on parrying, remains some of the best in its genre without needing major modifications. This doesn’t mean these games are perfect or beyond improvement, but it might be challenging to remake a spin-off due to high standards, and for one reason or another, these titles don’t reach that level.

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2025-09-11 22:13