Metal Gear Solid fans were given a bombshell with this news: players will have an option between two completely different camera styles in the upcoming METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER. These options allow for a choice between a modern third-person over-the-shoulder camera called “New Style” or the classic top-down angle GroovyStyle from the original PS2 production called “Legacy Style.” Gamers are already split on which one they would try first if given the choice.
The news broke from an official Tweet by the Metal Gear account and an instant back-and-forth erupted between old-school fans and new. Some want to fight again amid jungles with Snake; some hold the vintage camera in high regard. On the other hand, could one say that both parties are right in some regard?
Go New Style if you desire that Phantom Pain type of immersion and cinematic feel where you peek around corners like a true stealth operative. The Legacy Style is all about classics—the way Snake Eater was meant to be played back in 2004. And Konami is really good at knowing their customers; they gave them this choice upfront to prevent the kind of backlash that generally comes from too much alteration in various remakes.
Community responses are varied: Augustine Escobar asked whether Legacy Style will still let you push the left stick to toggle the camera behind Snake, a feature present in the original. Meanwhile, BOLDASAUR refuses to indulge in anything that is the remake, and he will hold onto his PS2 copy. (Poor Konami.) Matt Dawson reminded them Legacy is already in the HD version, so why not try the new one?
Less persuasive, however, is the old camera idea. Baloch (alias EmadOuranos) deemed Legacy Style “a mistake,” saying that Snake Eater was never supposed to be developed with that kind of perspective. Other users were going to mix the two: TheScottishGuy for the first run, New Style for the second. Ultra summed it nicely: “Legacy for recon. New Style for revenge.”
Some players rejoiced that Konami remembered to include crouch-walking from the 3DS version (props to Golisopod for that deep cut.) Then there were others, including Mario Lamar Terrell II, who went fully New Style to have a fresh iteration for the game, having played the first one probably a hundred times already.
Much has been said about the pricing. Patrick K. (II_JumPeR_I) thinks it should top $50 no more; “Comparable to Oblivion Remastered.” Then James Spencer and Izak_Klark had gripping debates whether or not Konami “is trying to please everybody” and so not committing to a more modernized vision.
Regardless, at the end of the day, we win because both exist. Whether you are a die-hard purist or a desperate one for the new interpretation of Snake’s mission, METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER will appear to satisfy. The real question is: which style are YOU trying out first?
