# Delta Might be *MGS3*'s *Twin Snakes* Moment A [hot, new trailer](https://youtube.com/watch?v=j-4liMhPUxg) for *Metal Gear Solid 𝝙: Snake Eater* aired during the Xbox Games Showcase over the weekend. It quelled a lot of my fears and concerns about the game given Konami's hit or miss decisions with remasters, collections, and remakes over the years. Then Konami gave us [a deeper look](https://youtube.com/watch?v=1p-dbSJ2MK8) with David Hayter. That video dug into presentation and gameplay. All while watching these videos, I couldn't help but wonder if we have another *Twin Snakes* situation on our hands. *Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes* was a ground up remake of the original *MGS*, but with gameplay mechanics from its more modern counterpart, *MGS2: Son's of Liberty*. This broke or enhanced the game, depending on who you asked. As for myself, I loved [[Returning to Shadow Moses — My Journey back through Metal Gear Solid|my experience]] with *Twin Snakes* and it is a shame that it is locked to the GameCube twenty years later.[^1] The parallels are undeniable. Look at these quotes from E3 2003 compared to Summer Video Game News that Can't Be Called E3 Anymore™ 2024. Anything in bold, is my own doing. > [!quote] E3 2003 Konami Press Release, [May 14, 2003](https://web.archive.org/web/20040728163857/http://www.konami.com/usa/press/e3releases/Twin_Snakes_e3_release.pdf) > *Metal Gear Solid® The Twin Snakes* combines the thrilling story of the original *Metal Gear Solid®* **with the spectacular graphics** and extraordinary gameplay from *Metal Gear Solid® 2: Sons of Liberty*™. **Using a specially designed engine** based on *Metal Gear Solid® 2: Sons of Liberty*™, this Nintendo GameCube™ exclusive is being developed by Silicon Knights... > [!quote] Summer 2024 Official Website > With Unreal Engine 5, expansive stages are rendered with **cutting-edge technology. Incredible new graphics** bring the wild growth of the jungles, forests, and swamps to life in exquisite detail. Characters are rendered in such fine detail that facial wrinkles, pores, and even separate eye and iris movements are visible, allowing for rich and emotive facial animations. How about the cutscenes? > [!quote] E3 2003 Konami Press Release, [May 14, 2003](https://web.archive.org/web/20040728163857/http://www.konami.com/usa/press/e3releases/Twin_Snakes_e3_release.pdf) > Additionally, *Metal Gear Solid® The Twin Snakes* will feature **all-new CG sequences** led by Japanese film director and writer Ryuhei Kitamura as well as **new character voiceovers**, including the voice of the renowned screenwriter (X-Men) and actor, David Hayter as Solid Snake. > [!quote] Summer 2024 Official Website > The story, characters, voice acting, gameplay, and music that made the original a sensation return, remade for modern consoles. This evolutionary leap breathes **new life into every cutscene**, and rebuilds every corner of the world. In fairness, *MGS𝝙* is [promising](https://youtube.com/watch?v=1p-dbSJ2MK8&t=150) shot for shot matching, which *Twin Snakes* did [not](https://metalgear.fandom.com/wiki/Differences_between_Metal_Gear_Solid_and_Metal_Gear_Solid:_The_Twin_Snakes#Cutscene_presentation). For my final comparison, how about those gameplay differences? > [!quote] E3 2003 Konami Press Release, [May 14, 2003](https://web.archive.org/web/20040728163857/http://www.konami.com/usa/press/e3releases/Twin_Snakes_e3_release.pdf) > Delivering the essence of *Metal Gear Solid®* and *Metal Gear Solid®2: Sons of Liberty*™ into one unique experience, *Metal Gear Solid® The Twin Snakes* adds new elements to the gameplay that were **not available with the original release** of *Metal Gear Solid®*, such as aiming and shooting in first person view, hanging from ledges and opening lockers.[^2] > [!quote] Summer 2024 Official Website > Players can elect for a **newly added, more modern control style**. These intuitive controls let you focus entirely on the game, and the immersive thrills of the survival stealth experience. You can also choose to play with a classic control style that more closely recreates the feel of the original game. I can't not see these similarities. How can you not? The pitch is essentially the same; and why wouldn't it be? The goal of marketing a remake is to hook old and new fans into buying the new game. "Remember that thing? Here it is with improvements! But not too many to not be the thing you remember!" or "Heard how great this thing was? Well, now you can play the *ultimate* version of said thing!" But looking back at *Twin Snakes*, I am curious how the reception will be to *Delta*. Will the shiny new coat of paint and mechanics be too much for the diehards?[^3] Will the foundation of *MGS3* bear the weight? Only time will tell. But right now, it just feels like time is a flat circle to me. --- I didn't know where to fit this in, but I came across this *wild* IGN [quote](https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/15/e3-2003-hands-on-metal-gear-solid-the-twin-snakes) from their *Twin Snakes* coverage. > "We're huge fans of the first *MGS* game (which we still consider to be vastly superior to the second)..." [^1]: Yes, both *Twin Snakes* and *Snake Eater* are celebrating 20 year anniversaries during 2024. [^2]: Remember when first-person aiming was a feature? [^3]: God help them whenever they reveal EVA.