It is a great time to be a Metal Gear fan. With last year’s arrival of Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, the remake of one of Hideo Kojima’s most beloved works, Konami released the soundtrack in December in two versions: a 7-track EP and a complete version covering every single track from the game.
The soundtrack aims to modernize the original score for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, created by composers Harry Gregson-Williams and Norihiko Hibino in 2004. And I must say, in terms of fidelity and production, the result is excellent, thanks to a great remastering effort.
The sound they have achieved is very clean, with a stereo separation that allows you to appreciate every section of the orchestra, something that was somewhat lost in the PlayStation 2 version.
The main theme, Snake Eater Δ, was completely re-recorded and appears alongside several retouched or new pieces by Naoki Nakashima and Hiroaki Ooka, part of Konami’s in-house sound team for Metal Gear Solid Delta.
I will focus on the EP version of the soundtrack, which presents a collection of the brand-new music the game has to offer.
Cynthia Harrell returns to the microphone after two decades to deliver a new rendition of the iconic main theme. Her voice feels different; it has matured, gaining a weight and texture that transforms it. It’s no longer just a James Bond-style track; now it feels like an elegy. The emotion remains there, intact.
Suite, Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 are massive orchestral arrangements where the brass and percussion have a notable presence. It is cinematic music that perfectly blends the game’s espionage theme with more emotive moments.
The Another Patriot works as a brief atmospheric interlude, perhaps too short to stand out in this EP, but it serves its purpose of establishing a mysterious tone within the narrative.
Fox Huntis a track created for the new multiplayer mode (also called Fox Hunt) and stands out for its palpable rhythmic tension. The string instruments sound aggressive and urgent, perfectly capturing that sense of “controlled panic” that defines the series’ gameplay.
Survival Overture adds another layer of tension in the form of an epic march.
The collection concludes with Beyond The Hunt, a piece that reinforces the cinematic orchestral character of the soundtrack, where the brass shines in an explosive conclusion.
Personally, I believe that the EP version is an excellent summary of the game’s new sonic identity, recommended for those who want a glimpse of it. And of course, it is also a pleasure to have the full version of the updated soundtrack, which is a respectful release that, much like the remake itself, seeks to polish the experience without eliminating what made it memorable.
