What does the name “Delta” mean for the Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater version by Konami?
How exciting! The Metal Gear games have been known for a long time for their complicated, hidden-in-plain-sight secrets. Every word and sign begs to be analyzed, names have power, and nothing is what it seems to be. When Konami showed off the remake of Snake Eater, the title, Metal Gear Solid : Snake Eater, had a big, juicy surprise right in it.
Konami was quick to say that the “” is not spelled “triangle,” but rather “delta.” But even this explanation brought up a whole bunch of new questions, leaving fans tangled in pure guesswork. Even though series author and master of conspiracies Hideo Kojima is no longer working on the series, this foxhole probably goes deep and the symbol has a secret meaning.
The Official Story: Change Without Change
With such a strange character in the title (the “” symbol isn’t on most keyboards outside of Greece), Konami must have known that people would wonder about the odd title change. In addition to clarifying the name (Delta), Konami made it clear through official means that the symbol meant “change” or “difference” without changing the structure itself.
This could have made people talk about major plot changes, like in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. But unlike Final Fantasy 7, this isn’t the first time Snake Eater has been re-released, and Konami probably knows better than to change too much about what many fans consider to be the best game in the series.
What’s In A Number?
Fans quickly pointed out, just a few hours after the official reveal, that the green triangle looks a lot like the number three. Even though that’s all well and good, it doesn’t explain why Konami chose the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, which in Greek mathematics is also the number four. Even though the numbers are wrong, it is not unheard of to use a number that is not in Arabic.
Metal Gear Solid 5, which takes place in the 1980s, used the Roman number V for both Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain.Sons of the Patriots and Guns of the Patriots both used the modern Arabic numbers 2 and 4. Since Snake Eater is the first book in the series in terms of time, and it takes place in the 1960s, it makes sense to use an old numbering system.
The Symbolism Of “Delta”
What is a Patriot? The La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo?The Illuminati, which is like the secret group in Metal Gear Solid, is well-known for its “eye in the triangle” logo, which, strangely enough, looks a lot like the “” sign.
Of course, that’s only one way the shape can be used. Since the trailer focuses on “the laws of the jungle,” the “” could be a dominance hierarchy or, since Nakey Snakey puts so much stress on improvised food in the wilds of Tselinoyarsk, the nutrition pyramid. It could also be a green tree. Or, a low-angle shot of a ladder that looks way too tall.
A Fresh Start
Taking out the “three” was a smart marketing move, and it makes sense as a way to bring in new people. People who haven’t played the first two games in the Metal Gear Solid series might have asked, “What happened to the first two?” or “Do I need to play those first?” instead of setting aside some of their hard-earned money for what looks like a bombastic Rambo model.
Snake Eater is a good place to start for newcomers because it is the first story in the timeline. Another benefit is that Konami announced the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 at the same time as the Snake Eater remake. The ” / delta” in the title helps to distinguish it from one of the games in the set.
The First Of Many Snakes To Come
Even though the triangle form might subconsciously make you think of the number three, there might be a reason why Konami chose “,” the Greek symbol for the number four: Snake Eater could be the first of four Metal Gear Solid games to get a “Delta remake.” Since Snake Eater came out first in time and is one of the most famous games, it makes sense that Konami would give it the most attention for a makeover.
If it does well, maybe Konami will be able to show Metal Gear Solid Delta: The Twin Snakes. Fans will finally be able to play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots without having to dig through their old attics to find their PS3s. By then, older gamers will probably enjoy its long segments more as a chance to take a quick nap (or get over some arthritis pain from the controller).
The Branching Of Snaking Lines
The MGS series is known for its deep analysis of language, and even a quick look at the word “delta” will give you a lot to think about. The word is used a lot in wartime situations: When you fly in Delta, you make a “V” shape. As the Boss might say, a delta is also “a place where rivers split into many smaller rivers,” making natural borders that are always changing, just like human borders.
A closer look shows that the three-sided sign might be a reference to Snake Eater’s most important theme: having to choose a side (the Soviet Union or the United States) and going a third way (Outer Heaven).
Still In A Δream, Snake Eater
Even though the 1960s didn’t have the technology to make things like virtual reality possible, dreams are a big part of Snake Eater in the MGS world. Delta waves are made when a person dreams, which could be a reference to a long-standing fan idea that the whole Slope Game takes place in a virtual reality mission.
Time will tell if the remake of “different but the same” will feature delta waves more heavily. One thing is certain: fans have wanted a reboot of Snake Eater for years.But will that dream become a nightmare without Kojima at the wheel?
The Missing Code
This one is a bit of a stretch, but the whole story of Snake Eater stretches the player’s ability to suspend reality (in the best way possible). The delta sign () is used in genetics to show that a gene has been lost due to mutation or replication.
Genetics are more of an original Metal Gear Solid thing (there are a lot of super-soldiers and clones), but Operation Snake Eater is where it all started: the corruption of a heritage, the loss of something that can’t be gotten back, and the warping of a man’s body all lead to him turning into a monster.
The Inversion of “V”
In the world of Metal Gear Solid, mirrored images and the clash of opposites are common themes. With Kojima’s untimely departure ending the series with Metal Gear Solid V (Metal Gear Survive doesn’t count), is it too much to think that the team making the remake of the first game in the series (in terms of chronology) might see themselves as the new, hopeful light in the darkness? The hope that V needs?
Maybe Project Virtuos thought of themselves as the opposite of Kojima Productions, or as the XOF to Kojima Productions’ FOX. As the upward triangle shape of delta suggests, they may want to take the series to new heights by turning it upside down. No matter what, if they did well, people everywhere would be happy.
A Weird Title Drums Up More Of A Buzz
When Konami put a figure that needs an ALT code in the name of its remake, they may have set the perfect trap for both social media users and game outlets. You can call it cynical, but everyone loves a good mystery. This causes a buzz in the media, which could boost sales.
But since it’s hard to type into a search engine, this trick may not work out in the long run. Even so, it’s possible that Konami isn’t expecting much from the game and just wants to get the series out one last time.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is being made for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
