Snake’s alive! The new Metal Gear Solid game is here, and games critic Peter Hoskin says it’s self-indulgent, bonkers – and absolutely brilliant

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Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £69.99)

Verdict: Delta, bravo!

In the year 2004, the video game titled Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater established new standards in stealth-based gaming.

Through Hideo Kojima’s ingenious move of shifting the renowned series from military bases and urban settings to wildernesses like swamps, forests, and mountains, he expanded the collective perspective for all viewers.

In disguise as Naked Snake, your special-ops character might opt for camouflage. He’s equipped to tend to his injuries on the battlefield. And when resources are scarce, he knows how to survive by consuming local wildlife-even those with a hissing sound!

In the year 2025, we find ourselves with the return of MGS3! Despite the fact that Hideo Kojima is not a part of this remake, you can trust that those responsible for it possess a deep understanding of their work.

They’ve swapped out the 3 for a delta symbol, making that title somehow even more preposterous.

Essentially, that small delta switch subtly implies that while the remake has undergone changes, it remains largely reminiscent of the MGS3 we enjoyed over two decades ago. The visuals, however, have been significantly enhanced, making for a more visually appealing experience.

The controls have been updated and made more efficient, but the most enjoyable aspects remain similar to those found in the original Metal Gear Solid 3.

This game also features stealth mechanics, along with an intricate Cold War narrative that integrates nuclear tank-robots and flamboyantly villainous characters into scenarios involving Nikita Khrushchev and Lyndon Johnson. It’s quite absurd and somewhat self-absorbed.

Yet, if even the saving process demands a radio chat with another agent, always reminiscing about classic films, who wouldn’t find it delightful?

Naked Snake is back. And he’s charmed the pants off me.

 

Experience “Kirby and the Lost Realm” on the enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 with the addition of “Star-Crossed World”! If you already own the original game, there’s an upgrade option for just £16.99, while newcomers can purchase the complete package for £66.99.

Verdict: In the pink

Experiencing a familiar sense of déjà vu, I recently revisited Super Mario Party Jamboree once more. This Nintendo Switch game underwent a re-release and an upgrade specifically tailored for the Switch 2 version.

And now I’m re-reviewing Kirby And The Forgotten Land for the same reason.

I gave this Kirby game a rating of four stars when it first released in 2022, and for good reason. It was among the pink puffball’s best journeys yet and one of the top 3D platformers on the Switch. While its gameplay could be a bit predictable at times, it was still delightful to bounce and glide through its cartoonishly dystopian setting. It brought great pleasure to explore this unique world.

Even now, I would still give it a score of four stars. In fact, I might even appreciate it more today. As for the Switch 2 version, it’s no surprise that it’s improved – particularly in visual quality. The high-resolution images really stand out on the bigger screen of the newer console.

Additionally, it now includes an extra feature titled “The Star-Crossed World”. In this scenario, some celestial hazard has descended to our realm, and as always, it’s our hero Kirby who must fix the predicament.

This implies adding additional, more complex layers to what was previously there – with a slightly increased degree of difficulty and some fresh abilities bestowed upon our versatile, shape-shifting protagonist.

The newly acquired abilities may seem insignificant at first glance – such as Kirby’s ability to consume a spring and jump higher in the air before quickly returning to the ground – but they are utilized with such creativity that they never cease to amaze.

The entire encounter reminded me strongly of Nintendo’s standout game this year, Donkey Kong Bananza. Though Nintendo’s side characters continue to play a supporting role to Mario, they seemed to embody some of the company’s wildest, most engaging gameplay styles.

Sorry, that should be ‘kraziest, most kaptivating’ — in honour of Kong and Kirby.

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2025-08-28 21:51