Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Introduces a Unique Approach to Difficulty

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set to tackle difficulty in a distinctive manner, influenced by how players position the camera in this eagerly anticipated remake. Developers have confirmed that players will have the option to experience the classic Metal Gear gameplay through either the original fixed perspective or a new third-person view. Each perspective will offer its own set of challenges, theoretically ensuring a smoother adaptation of this beloved title to next-gen hardware.

The announcement of this current-gen remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 caught fans off guard last year, when Konami revealed the project during a PlayStation State of Play livestream. The excitement within the Metal Gear community was palpable, especially considering the mixed reception of more recent entries like 2018’s Metal Gear Survive, which left many fans wanting more.

This disappointment was particularly pronounced after the release of the highly acclaimed Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in 2015, which set high expectations. Konami has since provided further insights into Snake Eater during the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, and pre-orders for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater are now available. As anticipation builds, the Metal Gear team has unveiled a unique new system for handling difficulty in the game.

In a recent interview with Famitsu (translated by VGC), Yuji Korekado, the creative producer behind the Metal Gear series, explained, “We initially planned to allow players to switch between the two viewpoints at any point during gameplay, but we ultimately decided against it.” Korekado elaborated that this decision was influenced by the difficulty settings, which adapt based on the player’s perspective. “The difficulty level changes significantly depending on the viewpoint. The ‘New Style’ features a wider, more linear field of view, allowing players to shoot their weapons while moving, which resulted in a lower difficulty level than we anticipated,” he noted.

Rethinking Difficulty in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

“However, if we adjusted the ‘New Style’ difficulty, the ‘Legacy Style’ would become excessively challenging, so we opted to separate the play styles,” Korekado continued. The ‘Legacy Style’ aims to mirror the difficulty of the original game, while the ‘New Style’ is being redesigned from the ground up. This new perspective for Snake Eater will offer gameplay reminiscent of The Phantom Pain, adopting a more traditional third-person experience rather than the original’s zoomed-out view.

In addition to enhancing sound and visual fidelity, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater aims to retain the elements that made the original 2004 game a fan favorite. The first trailer has already teased a range of classic weapons and combat scenarios, promising a nostalgic yet fresh experience.

Scheduled for release later this year, an exact launch date has yet to be confirmed. Earlier this summer, special editions of Snake Eater were announced, including an impressive Collector's Edition. This edition features the standard game along with a FOX Unit patch, a miniature terrarium inspired by the iconic opening scene of Virtuous Mission, and a selection of other collectible items for fans of the franchise.