Hands On Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Now With Crouch Walking

Konami’s new demo of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D adds something new to the PlayStation 2 port. Snake can crouch walk in the 3DS version, if you tap down on the d-pad. This bumps up your camouflage percentage and allows Snake to move through the jungle quickly. Crawling, of course, camouflages Snake better, but forces players to slowly slither on the ground.

Crawling automatically switches the camera to FPS mode, even for aiming. If Snake is standing or crouching, players have three options: TPS mode, FPS mode, and auto aim. You can toggle between views using the touch screen. Pressing L makes Snake and R fires his gun or makes Snake punch if his weapon is holstered. The face buttons act like a second analog stick and control the camera. Menus and status info are on the touch screen. Players can tap on weapons to equip them and a camouflage icon to change Snake’s skin. Photocamo, which makes use of the 3DS’ cameras, wasn’t enabled in this build.

Other than these changes, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D is… well Metal Gear Solid 3 with 3D graphics. The screenshots make the game look muddy and it is especially when compared to the HD port from Bluepoint Games. The difference between Snake Eater 3D and the PS2 version is Kojima Productions used 3D effects to make objects, like Snake’s gun, pop out of the screen during cutscenes. But, most of the time 3D just adds depth to the background or makes an alligator snout jet out if you’re lying next to one.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D comes out on March 8 in Japan.