Snake Eater 3d immerses you in the jungle like never before.
MGS3 3D updates the PS2 game in almost every respect. In my time with the game (( currently have beaten the PAIN)) I have noticed better cloth physics, better hair motion. The visuals on the 3ds look much sharper than their PS2 counterpart for a few reasons. The blur effect that was noticeable in the PS2 version is gone. The texture work seems better overall. MGS3 3D retains what made the original a classic and gives it that little extra shine it deserves.
The other noticeable enhancement is the controls. This however is the double edged sword of this version. The ability to walk while crouched makes the game alot more enjoyable overall. Peace walker's influence is evident here and its a better game for it. The caveat to this is that the face buttons used to control the camera can feel rudimentary at times. This can be less than adequate when things heat up. I can't speak for myself as I have not tried out the circle pad pro but I have heard the peripheral really increase your accuracy and makes aiming a snap.
One thing I found to be a bit of a disconnect is that some of the voice work for the tutorial in regards to the touch screen is supposed to sound like Major Zero but isn't. I expect this is simply due to the addition of this new control scheme and the original voice actor that voiced Major Zero was unavailable.
MGS3 3D introduces two key features. The gyroscope control in regards to balancing on wires and the infamous bridge can feel a bit clumsy at times and make viewing the 3d a bit harder. The feature that I really was impressed with was the photo camo creator. I took a picture of some of my camo hunting pants and too great effect I had two sets of camo that helped boost my camo rating to 100%. This seems like a novelty at first but the feature really does add to the game and adds a element of creativity and experimentation that was only previously seen in downloadable camo's in previous mgs games.
Last but not least... the all important question. Does the 3d effect add to the game or is it just a gimmick? From my time with the game thus far I thoroughly enjoy the 3d effect. Its the subtle touches that really add to the experience. The way the grass parts as you crawl through it. Water droplets that occasionally splash against the screen really pop in 3D. Kojima really spent alot of time getting the 3d to serve the game well rather than just tack it on.
Snake Eater 3d is a love letter to MGS fans. And it allows nintendo gamers to experience a truly great game and perhaps the best of the entire MGS series. What better way for newcomers to experience the exploits of Snake than the chronological first in the series.
If you have already played MGS3 on PS2 you may not feel like the game warrants a second purchase but trust me MGS3D makes the game feel fresh again and is quite possibly the definitive version of this classic. If you already own a 3ds I highly recommend you pick this game up and show nintendo that we want to see more 3rd party support like this in the future.