Out of all the video game companies out there, Konami has had a hard time trying to hit a bullseye lately. However, things are looking much brighter now. With Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on the horizon, the best thing the company could’ve done is bring David Hayter back, and that’s already paying off. In a recent documentary for the remake you can find online, Hayter does more than just present. Right now, he is the bridge between old and new fans, and I think that is a terrific idea from the developers.
When I look back at how the MGS: Master Collection Vol. 1 performed, I can’t help but feel skeptical. See, in this world, there are a few franchises that should be left untouched. But if someone’s touching them, they must do it with care. Since the remasters weren’t as great as we wanted, my hopes for the remake weren’t great either. That was until I saw the legend himself return. And one might say, “Well, he’s just the voice actor, what’s the big deal?” It is a huge deal. For years, and even now, David Hayter has been the one and only Solid Snake. The fact that Konami is keeping him for the remake reassures one thing: the company understands its audience.
In my book, having David Hayter for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is already a huge step in the right direction. Furthermore, we can see there are many things that the developers are keeping as 1:1 shots for the remake. I won’t break down every single segment from the documentary, but let’s take the airplane jump as an example. The shots are virtually the same, with the remake boasting improved looks, of course. But leaving the fan service aside, the modern systems included allow newcomers not to feel alienated by decade-old features.
Whether this strategy will work or not remains a mystery. However, a quick look at the comment section of this short documentary can tell you how much fans love what Konami is doing. Also, players who’ve never touched Metal Gear Solid are also intrigued, and they should be. The series didn’t only create the staples for modern stealth games. It brought cinema to video games, a new way to tell stories. Frankly, I’m excited and a bit jealous. If I could wipe my memory to experience a game for the first time again, it’d be Snake Eater. But in the words of David Hayter, we’ll feel like we’re playing a new game regardless of the familiarity.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is in development for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
