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Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Review for Nintendo 3DS

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Review for Nintendo 3DS

Re-Loaded And Better Than Ever!

Metal Gear Solid 3 is definitely a classic in the PlayStation 2’s library. It reinvented the stealth action genre, and finally gave fans the world over an origin story for one of the most iconic characters in the world: Snake. It’s only been seven short years since the game was released, but in the gaming world that might seem like a lifetime—which means it’s time for the inevitable remake! However, Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater is much more than a remake, and is more of a reimagining of the game.

From the moment the game starts up, you’ll notice that all the cutscenes have been redone, in both the visual and audio departments. The plot may be the same, but you can tell that Snake Eater 3D has been rebuilt from the ground up to make sure it shines on the 3DS. Ocarina of Time 3D may have been a showpiece for Nintendo’s developing capability on the 3DS, but Snake Eater 3D definitely shows what third parties can do with the platform, and how well it can be used.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Screenshot

The game’s technical specs are unparalleled, and if the only reason you want to pick the game up is to see Metal Gear Solid 3 with a brand new coat of paint and re-recorded voiceovers, you’ll be very pleased. But that isn’t the only new feature added to Snake Eater 3D. The game takes advantage of both the gyroscopic and camera features on the 3DS to create a handheld game that feels extremely immersive. The camera function is probably the most interesting, as it allows you to take pictures of everyday object and turn them into customizable camouflage. Of course, you can make some hilarious camouflage patterns as well, but once you are done taking pictures of rainbows and puppies, you can actually make some camouflage that will keep Snake hidden much better than just the standard options.

The gyroscopic function is a little bit less fun to play around with, but does kick in when Snake is crossing a bridge, climbing a tree, or in an otherwise tight spot. You’ll have to tilt your 3DS left and right (while still keeping an eye on the enemy) so you don’t fall or get detected. It sounds easy in theory, but when you are trying to infiltrate a high-security area and are literally juggling your 3DS at the same time, the situation can feel pretty intense. And any game that can make you sweat under the collar just a little bit is one that definitely deserves your attention.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Screenshot

It’s also worth noting that although Snake Eater 3D may be marketed toward those that have already played and loved the original, it plays extremely well for someone new to the franchise. Since the third entry in the series is technically the beginning of the story, Snake Eater is the perfect place for a newbie to jump in, and the easy mode is surprisingly user-friendly (without feeling too easy).

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Screenshot

Though the game doesn’t have the multiplayer modes or extra post-game content that some have come to expect from modern games, the story mode is so massive that you won’t miss these modern inventions at all. Simply playing through Snake’s first outing is enough to make this game worth your $40 investment. It’s easy to go on and on about games with endless modes and bonus features, but when you get down to it, the core single-player experience has always been what Metal Gear is all about, and that experience in Snake Eater 3D is among the best you’ll find on the system.

The only area where gamers might not feel like Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D doesn’t live up to all of the conventions of modern games is in the control department. Because the 3DS hardware lacks the twin analog sticks of the PlayStation 2, the control scheme can feel a bit off sometimes. Shooting and performing basic actions with the shoulder buttons feels fine enough, but moving the camera with the face buttons isn’t always as precise as you need, which can lead to some frustration, particularly on higher difficulty settings.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Screenshot

However, the good news here is that if you are planning to invest in the circle pad attachment, Snake Eater 3D will support it, and you will be able to have much better control over both the camera and aiming. But if you aren’t planning to purchase the attachment, be warned that the controls probably won’t be as good as you remembered, especially in tight situations.

The whole experience of playing Snake Eater 3D is one that proves that handheld gaming isn’t dead, and is instead adapting to new markets. Snake Eater 3D is doing things on the 3DS platform that haven’t been done before, and I hope this is a trend that continues. There’s a longstanding idea in the gaming industry that no one can develop for Nintendo platforms better than Nintendo, but this game definitely defies that notion. Snake Eater 3D is easily one of the top games for the system, and even if you’ve never played a Metal Gear Solid game before, Snake Eater 3D is one that is easy to jump into for a newbie.

The 3DS may have had a bit of a troubled launch, but games like this show that this system definitely has a lot of untapped power. I hope more developers take Konami’s example and give us games that are worth playing on the 3DS. Even though Snake Eater 3D is technically a remake, it feels like a whole new game, and is one that definitely shouldn’t be missed.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.9 Graphics
Visuals are amazing, and 3D is used to its fullest potential here. 4.3 Control
Controls are easy to use, but the camera occasionally focuses in the wrong direction, and aiming with the face buttons isn’t as precise as you might hope. 4.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Voices have been completely remastered and stereo audio sounds great through the speakers or headphones. 4.5 Play Value
The game is extremely expansive, and features just as much value as (if not a little bit more than) the original. 4.7 Overall Rating – FINAL
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Experience an all-new re-interpretation of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, previously released on PlayStation 2 with over 4 million copies sold, in 3D for the first time ever.
  • Auto-stereoscopic 3D viewing capability that endeavors to create a rich jungle world with natural depth in settings of trees, rock/stone, water and more.
  • Photo Camo’ system utilizing the built-in camera technology of the hardware bringing customized stealth and camouflage options to the player. By snapping a photo in the real world, players will be able to use the same image as a camouflage pattern applied to Snake’s uniform within the game.
  • Utilizing the Gyro Sensor, players will become one with Snake through specialized tilt mechanics throughout the game design. As Snake climbs trees, or traverses bridges and other environmental obstacles, players will be in danger of falling based on the balancing of the system.
  • An intuitive menu utilizes the touch screen for quick and easy equipping of items and weapons.

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