Technologies

Metal Gear Solid Delta Review: What Makes This Remake a Must-Play for Fans

Snake Eater never looked better.

Konami surprised fans with the announcement of a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake in 2023. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a dream for longtime players, though others may see only a classic dressed up with beautiful graphics.

Metal Gear Solid Delta remakes the 2004 classic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater with updated visuals, modern controls and some extra content, but it’s not a full revamp. From start to finish, it plays just like the original MGS3, with a graphical overhaul and a few minor script tweaks. For longtime fans or newcomers, that’s more than enough to make it a great remake.

Naked Snake has some new skin

As this is a remake of MGS3, the most obvious change comes with the graphical overhaul for today’s game platforms. Metal Gear Solid Delta uses Unreal Engine 5, so the character models look amazing. The remake also has modern controls and includes first-person or over-the-shoulder views, as opposed to only the latter in the original.

There are also some «quality of life» changes, such as frequent auto-saves and quicker menu access. Playing through the game, there wasn’t a moment when I felt that I was stuck with the aged mechanics, controls or graphics from yesteryear — it felt modern through and through.

Aside from these updates, Metal Gear Solid Delta sticks to the same espionage story of Naked Snake — the future Foxhound leader later known as Big Boss — on a 1964 mission set at the height of the Cold War. The events that play out in this game lay the groundwork for the entire Metal Gear franchise, so it’s a fitting entry point for newcomers.

The end is just the beginning

Where Metal Gear Solid Delta really shines is after you beat the game, which is why hardcore fans will get more out of it than casual players. A second playthrough unlocks new camos, face paints and weapons — plus a bounty of fun (and often weird) extras.

One of the most interesting extras is the Secret Theater. In this unlockable mode, players can view 18 different cutscenes. I didn’t manage to unlock them all, but the first shows Snake meeting Nikolai Sokolov, the scientist behind the Shagohad tank — the dangerous MacGuffin players chase through most of the game — as he tries to get him out of Russia. For some unexplained reason, in this cutscene Sokolov suddenly wields a strange power that he unleashes on a Cobra Unit helicopter.

Don’t get it twisted: This isn’t new lore or unused game footage. Rather, it looks like the developers just made some new animations with the characters. There’s not even additional voice acting in this particular cutscene, just remixed dialogue from other scenes. And the preview images for the other clips suggest some scenes are meant to give players a chuckle.

To unlock more scenes, players will have to obtain film reels carried by soldiers scattered throughout the game. However, players can only obtain these reels in one specific way: by holding up a soldier with a gun — not by putting them to sleep, knocking them out or killing them. Some Secret Theater cutscenes require tracking down a specific soldier at a certain spot on the map and getting the reel from them to unlock. This is really for hardcore fans, since finding them all adds an extra challenge for the truly devoted.

Another interesting unlockable is Guy Savage Delta. In the 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Snake has a nightmare that turns into a hack-and-slash minigame referred to as Guy Savage. This new version puts players in control of a vampire hunter, battling waves of monsters and vampires in a fast-paced action style reminiscent of Devil May Cry, though without quite as much depth. I didn’t get much time with this mode, so there may be unlockables for those who stick with it. Another returning bonus is Snake vs. Monkey on the PS5 and PC versions (a bizarre extra from the original MGS3), while Xbox players get Snake vs. Bomberman. Both serve as fun distractions that also unlock more equipment.

Beyond those modes, players can also unlock the Demo Theater, which replays cutscenes and highlights any missed due to in-game choices. The camo collection lets you track what gear you’ve unlocked (and what’s still missing), while the food collection catalogs every animal and item Snake has eaten. There’s also a Character Viewer that provides a brief history of each character across different points in the game — complete with nods to other entries in the series, including 2015’s Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

While I wished Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater could have received the same full revamp of the graphics and story as the Silent Hill 2 Remake, I can’t find any real flaw in Konami’s execution of remaking the original MGS3 virtually shot for shot. The game looks fantastic, runs smoothly and offers plenty to do after the credits roll — all while being a remake of arguably the best entry in the series. Fans are going to love it. If you’ve never played MGS3 and are curious, this remake is a must. But if that doesn’t describe you, it’s not an immediate pick-up.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will be released on Aug. 28 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Buying the Deluxe Edition of the game will unlock early access to the game starting on Aug. 26 at 12 a.m. ET.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, April 8

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 8.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Hint: It uses a lot of the letter Z for some reason. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: ___-Carlton (hotel chain)
Answer: RITZ

5A clue: Span of the alphabet
Answer: ATOZ

6A clue: Cable channel with an out-of-this-world name
Answer: STARZ

7A clue: Takes care of, as a squeaky wheel
Answer: OILS

8A clue: Toy on a string
Answer: YOYO

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: When a post receives far more negative comments than likes, in social media slang
Answer: RATIO

2D clue: World’s leading wine producer
Answer: ITALY

3D clue: Middle of the human body
Answer: TORSO

4D clue: Sleeping sound
Answer: ZZZ

6D clue: Tofu base
Answer: SOY

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for April 8, #562

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for April 8 No. 562.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Working out.

Green group hint: Cover your face.

Blue group hint: NFL players.

Purple group hint: Leap.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Exercises in singular form.

Green group: Sporting jobs that require masks.

Blue group: Hall of Fame defensive ends.

Purple group: ____ jump.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is exercises in singular form. The four answers are crunch, plank, situp and squat.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is sporting jobs that require masks. The four answers are catcher, fencer, football player and goaltender.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Hall of Fame defensive ends. The four answers are Dent, Peppers, Strahan and Youngblood.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ jump. The four answers are broad, high, long and triple.

Technologies

The $135M Google Data Settlement Site Is Live — See If You’re Eligible

Use the settlement website to select your preferred payment method, and you may end up $100 richer.

You can now file a claim in the $135 million Google data settlement. The case centers on claims that Android devices transmitted user data without consent. Specifically, the class action lawsuit Taylor v. Google LLC contends that Google’s Android devices passively transferred cellular data to Google without user permission, even when the devices were idle. While not admitting fault, Google reached a preliminary settlement in January, agreeing to pay $135 million to about 100 million US Android phone users.

The official settlement website for the lawsuit is now live. The final approval hearing won’t occur until June 23, when the court will consider whether Google’s settlement is fair and listen to objections. After that, the court will decide whether to approve the $135 million settlement.

In the meantime, if you qualify and want to be paid as part of the settlement, you can select your preferred payment method on the official website. There, you can find information on speaking at the June 23 court hearing and on how to exclude yourself or write to the court to object by May 29.

As part of the settlement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to clarify that certain data transfers do occur passively even when you’re not using your Android device, and that cellular data may be relied upon when not connected to Wi-Fi. This can’t always be disabled, but users will be asked to consent to it when setting up their device.

Google will also fully stop collecting data when its «allow background data usage» option is toggled off.

Who can be part of the settlement?

In order to join the Taylor v. Google LLC settlement, you must meet four qualifications:

Be a living, individual human being in the US.
Have used an Android mobile device with a cellular data plan.
Have used the aforementioned device at any time from Nov. 12, 2017, to the date when the settlement receives final approval.
You’re not a class member in the Csupo v. Google LLC lawsuit, which is similar but specifically for California residents.

The final approval hearing is on June 23, so you can add your payment method until then. The hearing’s date and time may change, and any updates will be posted on the settlement website.

If you choose to do nothing, you will still be issued a settlement payment, but you may not receive it if you don’t select a payment method.

How much will I get paid?

It’s not currently known exactly how much each settlement class member will receive, but the cap is $100. Payments will be distributed after final court approval and after any appeals are resolved.

After all administrative, tax and attorney costs are paid, the settlement administrator will attempt to pay each member an equal amount. If any funds remain after payments are sent, and it’s economically feasible, they will be redistributed to members who were previously and successfully paid. If it’s not economically feasible, the funds will go to an organization approved by the court.