A must-play game. In-depth healing system that is far ahead of its time, a vast array of melee and movement options - a flaw at first due to its time period, understanding an enemy's line of sight is difficult to pin down at first, your silencer breaks after a while, your radar is far less accurate making stealth tricky, but over time you get used to it, something I find the entire series does extremely well - a massive setting that’s constantly changing environments with differing atmospheres, masterfully made boss fights that will test your thinking and make you reflect on your actions, glorious soundtrack that permeates throughout important scenes and of course an exceptional story with some of the most intriguing characters in video games. Much like MGS2, Snake Eater’s story heavily relies on recontextualisation although even from the beginning you are hooked by the betrayal of Naked Snake’s “boss” and her defection to the Soviet Union. By the end of the final fight you will be crushed by the weight of your actions throughout the game, unbeknownst to the actual ending sequence which could be very well argued to be the best in the medium, a complete subversion that will leave you simultaneously heart-broken and shocked. A masterpiece that lives up to its massive hype, play it for yourself if you get the chance.
10/10