Replaying Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater through Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 on PS5 has been a fascinating experience. After revisiting Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, I remembered Snake Eater as the odd one out. Growing up, it was easily my least favorite of the trilogy. A big reason was simple: you weren’t playing as Solid Snake. After two games building that character into an all-time gaming icon, suddenly you’re stepping into the boots of Naked Snake. At the time, that felt like a strange shift.
But coming back to it years later, it’s clear that Snake Eater is doing something a little different—and something pretty special.
Right away the game establishes that it’s not just another base-infiltration mission like the previous titles. Instead of tight, structured environments like Shadow Moses or the Big Shell, you’re wandering through the jungle. You still have a map, but the flow of progression feels less linear. There were definitely moments where I found myself thinking, “Where the hell am I supposed to go?” It’s a different rhythm than the earlier games, and that alone might have been part of why it felt strange the first time I played it.
Snake Eater also asks more of the player. This is the game that introduced survival elements to the series. Suddenly you’re hunting animals for stamina, managing camouflage, treating injuries, and navigating a more natural environment. The radar works differently, stealth plays out in new ways, and the game leans much more heavily into close-quarters combat. It’s a lot more systems to juggle compared to the first two games, which probably felt overwhelming when I was younger. Now, though, those mechanics feel ambitious and rewarding once you get comfortable with them.
And of course, the game has that wonderfully bizarre Kojima energy running through it. Exhibit A: the legendary ladder scene. At one point you climb a ladder for what feels like two straight minutes while the Snake Eater track slowly kicks in. It’s completely ridiculous and completely unforgettable. It’s also the most Kojima thing imaginable—turning something as mundane as climbing a ladder into an oddly emotional moment.
As always, the boss fights are a highlight. The Cobra Unit—The Pain, The Fear, The End, and The Fury—deliver some really creative encounters. The sniper duel with The End is still one of the most unique boss fights in gaming. That said, as a group they’re maybe a little less memorable than FOXHOUND from the first game or Dead Cell from the second. The Cobras are introduced briefly as a legendary team, but they don’t spend as much time together on screen. I almost wish we had gotten a few more scenes of them interacting, maybe competing over who gets to take down Snake. Still, the fights themselves are fantastic.
One character who absolutely stands out is Colonel Volgin. He’s just a ruthless, over-the-top villain who fits perfectly into the Metal Gear world. And seeing a younger Revolver Ocelot is a great reminder of how deeply woven he is into the entire franchise.
The more the story unfolds, the more Naked Snake grows on you as a protagonist. Knowing that he eventually becomes Big Boss adds a lot of weight to the story. This game is essentially the origin point for everything that follows in the series. Characters like EVA play key roles in shaping the larger timeline, and you start to see the pieces that eventually lead to Solid Snake, Liquid Snake, and the events of the later games.
Then there’s the ending. The final confrontation with The Boss in the white flower field is one of the most visually striking moments in the entire franchise. It’s not just a boss fight—it’s a powerful emotional payoff that redefines everything that came before it. It’s the kind of moment Metal Gear does better than almost any other series.
By the time the credits rolled, I realized something pretty remarkable: the first three Metal Gear Solid games are unbelievably strong. Each one does something different, and each one succeeds in its own way. If I had to rank them personally, Snake Eater probably still sits just a tiny bit behind the first two—but we’re talking millimeters. There really aren’t any weak games in this trilogy.
Revisiting these titles has been a great reminder of how special this series is. Incredible characters, unforgettable boss fights, weird and brilliant storytelling, and gameplay that constantly evolves from one entry to the next. Snake Eater might have felt like the strange one growing up, but replaying it now, it’s easy to appreciate just how ambitious and important it is.
And now, with the first three games revisited, there’s only one place left to go: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. I can’t wait to dive back in and finally bring Solid Snake’s story full circle. 🐍
Metal Gear Solid 3 = 9.4/10