After nearly two decades since the landmark original, Konami has recently given fans a modern take on Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The new version, styled as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, retains all the central elements of the 2004 classic while updating the graphical fidelity and tweaking some features to make it a much smoother experience for the current era. On top of streamlining some mechanics, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater presents the seminal story with all its famous twists and memorable scenes beat-for-beat.
Along with the iconic figure of Snake, Metal Gear Solid‘s characters have also always been known for being eccentric. These range from highly sinister to overtly comedic, often blurring the line between the two. And among the IP’s most recognized and beloved characters, Revolver Ocelot’s appearance and presentation in MGS Delta: Snake Eater remains one of its best and most entertaining aspects.
Spoilers for Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid‘s larger story below.
First seen as an antagonist in 1998’s Metal Gear Solid and other earlier entries, Revolver Ocelot‘s personality and checkered past have seen him enjoy a constant presence throughout the series and become a fan-favorite. Ocelot has appeared in most entries, including the most recent, MGS 5: The Phantom Pain. Of note, he would become one of the founders of the Patriots, the successor group to the shadowy Philosophers who manipulate global and political events behind the scenes in MGS‘s broad narrative.
As Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a prequel set the furthest back in the timeline so far, Ocelot’s depiction in it represents his earliest incarnation. Though Ocelot seems to be working against Naked Snake at first, it’s later revealed that he is actually “ADAM”, the other informant Snake is looking for, along with the femme fatale agent, “EVA”. Snake and Ocelot’s relationship evolves greatly throughout the tale, and the latter’s on-screen presence and part in the plot hold up as one of Snake Eater‘s highlights.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Keeps Revolver Ocelot’s Antics Intact
As Naked Snake attempts to rescue and extract defecting Soviet scientist Nikolai Sokolov, GRU Major Ocelot shows up to throw a wrench in the plans. Intending to take Sokolov for his own reasons, Ocelot and Snake engage in a standoff, in one of many of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater‘s fantastic cutscenes. Immediately, Ocelot’s prowess is clearly on display, but this is matched by his over-confidence and dismissively flippant demeanor. The entire interaction is tense and humorous at the same time, setting the stage for things to come.
As the two take measure of each other, Naked Snake critiques Ocelot’s technique, pointing out flaws in his style and choice of weapon. This is essentially the catalyst for Revolver Ocelot’s preference for his namesake firearms and later Western-style flair. And this is only the first of many meetings they will have, with the tone always walking the line between silly and serious.
This also extends to Ocelot’s interactions with other major players, like The Boss and Colonel Volgin, where his cocksure posturing is frequently thwarted, and he is sometimes outsmarted by those around him. Still, Ocelot remains an important player in Snake Eater‘s tale, and is actually the one who accidentally shoots Snake’s eye out, leading to the latter’s donning his iconic eyepatch. Every time Ocelot shows up in MGS Delta it is a true treat.
If players kill Revolver Ocelot right after the above-mentioned scene, it results in a non-standard game over, as this action causes a time paradox.
Revolver Ocelot’s role in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a testament to how well-realized the character is, particularly his presentation and portrayal in this entry. It stands as a reminder of why he is such a fan-favorite and has continued to entertain and delight while maintaining interesting and dynamic relationships with the various soldiers known as Snake throughout the history of the franchise.