Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – How the New Features and QoL Changes Affect Gameplay

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Expressing it in a more natural and easier to understand manner: It’s safe to say that the wait for a new Metal Gear Solid has been incredibly long, and diving back into the stealth action franchise with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater feels great. Now, with early access available on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, players worldwide – or at least those who purchased the Digital Deluxe Edition – can immerse themselves in the remake’s splendor. Although the visuals have been updated, this game remains true to its classic roots when it comes to storyline, characters, and iconic voice acting. However, let’s talk about the gameplay – how has that evolved?

Konami has persistently held onto the core elements that contributed to the 2004 classic’s enormous success, while introducing a variety of fresh options and enhancements to keep things exciting. Let’s explore how significantly these innovative additions impact or even boost the gameplay experience by delving into some of the most transformative new features, commencing with…

New Camera Style

As a devoted fan of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, diving into Delta might initially feel like controlling a whole new character. The unfamiliarity is stark, almost unsettling. But don’t be alarmed, the New Style camera has a way of making you feel right at home. It’s like peering over Naked Snake’s shoulder, meshing seamlessly with the fresh movement mechanics (details to come). This setup not only heightens immersion but also subtly tweaks the challenge level during boss fights. Tracking and countering opponents becomes more manageable, though you can crank up the difficulty if you want to keep things spicy!

Is the vintage-styled camera still functioning adequately, taking into account the significant visual enhancement? To put it simply, it’s getting the job done, although it may not evoke the same emotional resonance as the 2004 original. However, you should be aware that you can’t seamlessly toggle between the modern and vintage camera views, like in Subsistence. It’s important to mention that certain scenes will adhere to the classic camera setup no matter your preference, so keep that in mind when playing.

Compass

One significant change, which sparked debate initially, is the absence of radar, a common characteristic in previous “Metal Gear Solid” games. While this move became a key aspect that’s now praised in “Metal Gear Sold 3”, the introduction of a compass in “Delta: Snake Eater” raised eyebrows. In 2025, imagine Konami telling me where to go – hard to imagine indeed!

One major departure from tradition, causing quite a stir at first, was the removal of radar, a hallmark in previous “Metal Gear Solid” games. Although this feature is now celebrated in “Metal Gear Solid 3”, the inclusion of a compass in “Delta: Snake Eater” was met with skepticism upon announcement. The thought of Konami providing me with directions in 2025 seems far-fetched.

The unexpected truth is that the application’s usage is surprisingly straightforward. Instead of creating an unsightly red arrow or line on the ground like you might anticipate, it instead places a subtle marker on the Heads-Up Display (HUD). This marker signifies the next objective, thereby minimizing the need for Snake to contact his allies and ask for directions, which is quite useful, albeit not overly prominent or flashy.

Movement and Stealth

Welcome to a world reminiscent of the wilderness, where blending with tall vegetation and stealthily approaching adversaries significantly increases your chances of survival (or avoiding detection). The new game, Delta: Snake Eater, offers some exciting modifications compared to the original version. For instance, it now allows you to move in first-person perspective. Imagine creeping along the ground, taking aim at an enemy, and then silently relocating without having to look away. That’s possible! But what truly sets this game apart is that, similar to Snake Eater 3D, you can now walk on all fours for even quieter movements.

Although it may seem otherwise, stealth isn’t entirely rendered useless. In fact, it sometimes feels as if enemies possess exceptional hearing abilities, making increased mobility an invaluable advantage.

Quick Dial and Quick-Change Camo

Despite its initial appeal, constantly having to open the menu to alter your camo or communicate using the codec can feel monotonous over time, particularly when you’re immersed in the game. To reduce these interruptions, Konami incorporated Quick Dial and Quick-Change Camo features. The Quick Dial function is activated by pressing down on the directional pad, while the Quick-Change Camo is accessed by holding up. Initially, one might not expect such minor changes to make a significant difference, but they function exceptionally well and keep your attention firmly fixed on the game instead of menu navigation.

Revamped Camo UI

In essence, there are valid reasons for delving into the camouflage (camo) interface and fine-tuning Snake’s upcoming outfit. The Camo Index holds great significance in both games because it indicates how well you blend in with your surroundings. A higher number means enemies have a harder time spotting you, but this depends on various factors such as the environment. In Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, the revamped camouflage UI makes it simpler to choose the best options thanks to colored arrows and a new overlay. While it’s not exactly OctoCamo, being able to swiftly apply these adjustments without too much thought is certainly beneficial.

Faster Save Loading

As someone who values every step in this challenging game, I can’t stress enough the importance of being able to swiftly revert to a previous save. A misstep in this no-alert, no-kill run could mean all my hard work goes down the drain or even hinder my progress towards unlocking specific camos and items. The original Snake Eater made this process a tedious task, with lengthy loading times adding to the frustration. In Delta: Snake Eater, however, I can instantly load the latest autosave whenever I need, allowing me to rectify errors or experiment with different strategies. The blazingly fast loading times on PS5 and the addition of a quick-save shortcut just make the experience even sweeter.

Guy Savage Returns

Few players may recognize Guy Savage, even those who have played Snake Eater on PlayStation 2. This is due to the fact that his presence can only be unlocked by saving at a particular stage in the game, then quitting and reloading. Subsequent versions and adaptations omitted this feature, but it’s fully integrated in Delta: Snake Eater. However, Konami revamped it significantly by enlisting PlatinumGames for development. This update includes enhanced graphics, new character models, additional moves, smoother controls, and even a boss fight. You won’t miss out if you want to revisit it later – Guy Savage can be accessed from the main menu after initial play.

Snake vs. Bomberman

In simpler terms, the mini-game called “Snake vs. Monkey,” which is a cross between Sony’s “Ape Escape” series, is back but exclusively for PlayStation 5 and PC users. For Xbox Series X/S players, Konami has replaced it with a new version of Bomberman. The main goal remains the same – eliminating all Bombermen in the jungle. However, this time, Snake now uses bombs. Not just any bombs, these have the same style and animations as the Bomberman franchise, and they explode in a grid-like pattern. An exciting addition to this update is that Konami has added new voice lines for Otacon and Mei Ling for the mode, along with a new sprite for Mei Ling.

Secret Theater Reels

Snake Eater, Konami has turned the unlocking process for various reels into a game mechanic. Completing the game will unlock the mode, but you must individually collect the reels from specific enemies to view them. You can find these reels in the wild and have to hold up to seize them, causing any type of damage to break the reel, necessitating a retry (which is useful as it speeds up save loading).

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2025-08-29 18:16