Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Developers Share Insights on Classic Remake
The highly anticipated remake of the legendary stealth title, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, known as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, is set to launch on PC and consoles on August 28th. Recently, journalists had the opportunity to speak with Noriaki Okamura, Series Producer, and Yuji Korekado, Creative Producer, to delve into their vision for the project, their commitment to honoring the original, and hints about the franchise's potential future.
Both developers have deep roots in the Metal Gear universe. Okamura's involvement began in 2005 with Metal Gear Acid 2, serving in various capacities from assistant writer to producer. Korekado has contributed to nearly all Metal Gear Solid titles and other Hideo Kojima projects like Policenauts. Their extensive experience includes working on the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and its subsequent re-releases, bringing a profound understanding to the remake.
Fidelity to a Classic: Remaking the Legend
Noriaki Okamura admitted that his initial instinct was simply to update the graphics. However, colleagues warned him against this approach. When the team tried it, the result looked "doll-like" and unnatural, prompting a shift in strategy. "My idea proved untenable," Okamura conceded. The team then decided to completely overhaul animations and mechanics.
Yuji Korekado elaborated, "We began by reworking the animation and game mechanics. We introduced animation technologies that simply didn't exist twenty years ago to make the game more realistic. But this meant that reproducing the original mechanics one-to-one was no longer possible. Metal Gear is a stealth game, and it’s critical that users can make precise movements. We put a lot of effort into maintaining the same feel as the original, while still adding realism."
Returning to Metal Gear Solid 3 for the remake, Okamura and Korekado were struck by how robust and compelling the original concept remains. Despite being 20 years old, the game's core design, emotional depth, and charismatic characters still resonate. Special attention was given to the environment; developers meticulously crafted every leaf, blade of grass, and layer of moss in the jungle. This ensures that when the camera draws close during crawling or hiding, the world feels alive and believable from every angle.
Sound design also received significant upgrades. In Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, acoustics now account for wall and floor materials, allowing players to hear enemies through barriers. Caves and corridors feature a detailed echo system with varied parameters, enhancing intuitive navigation and intensifying the stealth atmosphere.
Modern Touches for Enhanced Playability
Delta introduces a refined interface and control system. Accessing the Survival Viewer is now instant, and costumes can be changed via a quick menu. These quality-of-life improvements are made possible by the increased power of modern consoles, streamlining the gameplay experience without compromising the original's challenge.
A Bridge to the Future: Passing the Torch
The developers explained that the remake isn't just about revitalizing a classic; it's also a valuable tool for understanding contemporary gamer preferences. Okamura stated, "It was very useful to understand how modern gamers play games, what irritates them, and what simplifies the process. We received a lot of feedback from young employees on the development team. We understood that we needed to preserve the original, we wanted to keep the story and gameplay as close to the source as possible. They understood the task and helped us ensure the game doesn't feel clunky, and remains fun and engaging."
For long-time fans, an authentic remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, the chronological starting point of the series, is a significant event. For newer players, this part of the franchise often remains unexplored. When asked by Rolling Stone why a remake was chosen over a new game, Okamura offered a candid response: "We're getting older. We only have a few more years to make games, right? And one of the things we noticed that really spurred this project – we saw a huge wave of new gamers who didn't even know about Metal Gear. And we thought, 'We need to do something to preserve the legacy.'"
For Konami, the MGS3 remake serves a dual purpose: to re-energize the series and to pass the torch to the next generation of developers. Okamura added, "One of the reasons we brought in many young specialists – all these new developers – is because we wanted not only to give them the opportunity to understand how to create and develop Metal Gear but also to allow them to experience the game themselves. We'll still be here for a while, but our goal now is to build a team that can continue the legacy on our behalf and, hopefully, create even more exciting games in the future."
New Ways to Play: Fox Hunt and Snake vs. Monkey Return
The team has also prepared fresh content. A new multiplayer mode, "Fox Hunt," has been added, emphasizing stealth, survival, and cunning in a hide-and-seek style. Participating in Fox Hunt allows players to unlock new camouflage options for the main campaign. Yu Sahara, Director of Fox Hunt, explained why they opted for a new mode instead of the classic Metal Gear Online: "With significantly improved graphics in the remake, we explored various online modes that would match these visual updates. Ultimately, we decided to focus on stealth, covert movement, and survival, as these are core elements of the main game. The result is a mode built on the 'hide-and-seek' principle, reflecting the classic Metal Gear spirit and reminiscent of early Metal Gear Online stealth missions."
The quirky "Snake vs. Monkey" mode also makes a return. According to planner Taiga Ishigami, the goal was to make the Pipo Monkeys even more amusing and charismatic, with new animations and signature lines like "Gotcha!" Furthermore, a collaboration with Astro Bot has been confirmed for Snake vs. Monkey. Players can catch robots from the acclaimed game on certain levels for unique, non-essential rewards.
Learning from the Past, Looking to Tomorrow
Interestingly, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater isn't the first remake in the Metal Gear Solid series. In 2004, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was released for the GameCube, featuring re-recorded dialogue, a modified shooting system, and re-shot cutscenes by director Ryuhei Kitamura at Hideo Kojima's request. While well-received, Twin Snakes isn't universally considered the "ultimate" version by fans, who sometimes criticized its shift in emphasis towards action over stealth.
When asked by Game Informer if Twin Snakes influenced Delta, Okamura and Korekado responded negatively: "When we create any game, we learn a lot during the development process each time. We didn't specifically draw anything from Twin Snakes. And the way we made the remake is completely different. This is a full remake that almost doesn't change the original game."
The future of the Metal Gear Solid series remains uncertain, especially with creator Hideo Kojima having separated from Konami and now developing his own spy game, Physint, with Sony. When Game Informer inquired about a potential Metal Gear Solid 2 remake, the developers merely chuckled and said "thank you," but offered a glimpse into the series' prospects.
According to the developers, they constantly consider future possibilities for Metal Gear, but their immediate focus is on the present: releasing Delta and effectively engaging both long-time fans and new audiences. If, after the third part's remake is released, players express a desire for more projects, the team is open to exploring other games in the series, but for now, all attention is solely on Delta.
The Enduring Emotion of Metal Gear Solid 3
Okamura confessed that he rarely cries during games, but the original Metal Gear Solid 3 brought him to tears. He hopes that players will derive as much enjoyment from the story as he did. "I rarely cry playing games, but I remember shedding tears while playing the original Metal Gear Solid 3. The development of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater aimed to accurately convey the emotions and tension that gamers experienced twenty years ago. Metal Gear Solid 3 is the best example of storytelling in games, and dreaming of creating something similar, I now feel a sense of satisfaction. I hope everyone enjoys the story as much as I do."
Players will have the chance to experience whether the developers of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater succeeded in their challenging task of updating and enhancing a classic on August 28th. The game will be available on PC (Steam), Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5, featuring text-based Russian localization. Those who pre-order the Deluxe version can start playing on August 26th. The remake promises to be a pivotal moment for the series, bridging its rich legacy with the future of gaming.
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