Game Review: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in retrospective

It’s hard to believe that the game that introduced the world to the origins of Big Boss is now a decade old as of this day, November 17.

 

Legendary, epic, and undoubtedly a classic for all time, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remains one of the most pivotal games in Konami’s long-running Metal Gear franchise. 

 

Originally released for the Sony Playstation 2 in the fall of 2004, the game is set in the 1960s at the height of the Cold War, chronicling the adventures of Naked Snake as he is tasked with rescuing a weapons designer and assassinating his former mentor. 

 

 

After the release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty in 2001, many gamers were equally entrenched and frustrated with the unexpected decision to replace the series long serving protagonist Solid Snake with a young androgynous newcommer named Raiden. 

 

As a result, Metal Gear creator and video game programmer Hideo Kojima decided that a “Snake” would indeed return as the main character for the next MGS game, and that turned out to be Naked Snake, who would be revealed through the course of the story to be the younger version of Solid Snake’s own mentor and ex-FOXHOUND leader, Big Boss.

 

 

The beauty of Snake Eater cannot be simplified and overstated – the game broke ground in many ways and introduced the world to a new kind of “Tactical Espionage Action” gameplay that the Metal Gear Solid franchise sorely needed as it adapted to the advancements of technology during that era of console gaming.

 

Originally intended for the Playstation 3, Kojima and Konami made the decision to make the game for the PS2 instead since the wait for Sony’s next console system would take a couple more years. 

Also, the setting from the game changed from an urban based landscape to jungle and tropical ones found in the forests of Russia, bringing a much needed and fresh new element to the series that was previously unexplored in terrain and depth.

 

Much like past installments, players control Snake in an environment that requires putting emphasis on the player’s ability to think on his feet and do whatever it takes to survive. 

 

Radio contact could be established to get tips from those assisting the future Big Boss in his mission, as well as saving the current progress of the game if necessary. Also, as with earlier installments, weapons and equipment were procured on site and through the course of the game, making stealth an absolute necessity in getting through and infiltrating enemy lines.

 

 

Another brand new element added to the series was switching camouflage uniforms and face paint in order for Snake to “blend to his environment” and hide from enemies. 

 

This was represented with different outfits and material the player could find throughout the game, and was judged effective or not through the “camouflage index” seen on the screen. 

 

Snake Eater also introduced the concept of Snake actually hunting for food, medicine, and whatever he could in the surroundings of the jungle. Whether it was killing a tree frog or cutting down some herbs and mushroom for ointment, it was the player guiding the soldier through tough and unpredictable terrain to accomplish his mission. The soldier had to eat to keep his stamina up, and injuries sustained also had to be kept on check, with players treating a wound, burn, or broken bone accordingly with the proper meds or bandage one finds in the game.

 

When it comes to fighting, Naked Snake is the best at what he does, and that’s primarily due to the combat style he forged together with his mentor “The Boss” called CQC, or better known as Close Quarters Combat. Using grappling-based techniques combined with incapacitating the opponent to be at the user’s mercy, Snake could easily disarm an unsuspecting victim and interrogate them at the same time for useful information. 

 

At the same time, it proved to be the backbone behind going against against drones of soldiers in multiple numbers as well if he needed to go hand-to-hand. Weapons still played a part in the mission, and there were a plethora more of primary and secondary weapons based off post-World War II era that helped the future Big Boss to complete his mission.

 

In the end, Snake Eater was a critical success, and the game brought some impactful changes and influences to the Metal Gear saga not only just in terms of gameplay, but through the emotional depth of the story that chronicled more of the Snake family’s origins and introduced how Big Boss came to be. 

 

From being deployed on a simple rescue mission to fighting a one-man war on hostile territory, Naked Snake overcame the odds against the likes of Colonel Volgin and the Cobra Unit that stood in the way of his commitment to serve. He had several experiences in the field that helped mold and shape his character and his legend as well, including meeting EVA and building a respectable rivalry with the young Ocelot. 

 

Mysteries were solved and were further deepened in the mythos in true Hideo Kojima cinematic fashion, and ultimately everything came to a head when Snake faced his true test in completing the mission by coming face-to-face with the person he was instructed to assassinate – his mentor and mother figure, The Boss. 

 

This game was a turning point, and being a decade old now, it still resonates as one if not the best Metal Gear Solid game in the series to date.

 

Play, experience, and celebrate Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater by revisiting the game in the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, which is currently available for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PS Vita! — TJD, GMA News