The Besties – "Metal Gear Solid Delta is Peak Remake"
Release Date: September 5, 2025
Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick

Episode Overview

This lively episode features the Besties crew diving deep into the new Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater remake, tackling what makes it worthy (or not) of the "peak remake" title. Along the way, they examine issues of preservation, nostalgia, and the thorny economics of remasters in modern gaming. Also on the docket: thoughts on the new Kirby DLC for Switch 2, a spirited mailbag segment, biking, 3D printing, indie operating systems, and their classic banter about favorite games and random pop culture.

Main Topic: Metal Gear Solid Delta – Is This the Ultimate Remake?

Cold Open: Justin’s Musical Interlude

Justin serenades the crew with a tongue-in-cheek acoustic song about Metal Gear Solid, riffing on the infamous cutscenes and their history with the game.
Quote:
"We are never, ever, ever playing more Snake Eater. You crawl through the grass, look like an ass, I'll play some Wii—but we are playing more Snake Eater."
—Justin McElroy [01:01–01:53]

Initial Takes: What Is Metal Gear Solid Delta?

Chris summarizes Delta as a nearly 1:1 remake of MGS3: Snake Eater—graphics and controls improved, but everything else kept faithful, right down to level design and cutscenes.
Justin points out the improved visuals (Unreal Engine) and especially the modernized controls:
- Crouch-walking, better aiming, streamlined systems.
  "The controls are not total batshit... If you played Metal Gear Solid 5, the controls are basically comparable to that."
  —Justin [04:46–05:43]

The Preservation Question and Naming Controversy

Justin rants about renaming the game "Delta" instead of "3," seeing it as an erasure of history and a move to make future recycling easier.
"It is an unmooring from history... I really feel like...it should be called what it is."
—Justin [07:19–08:08]
Griffin is of two minds: He agrees, but confesses this remake is the first version that "really worked" for him—finally smoothing out the play and letting the story shine.
[08:40–09:53]

Explaining MGS3 (For Newcomers)

Justin gives context:
- Chronologically the first in the MGS saga, set in the '60s, with Cold War spy intrigue.
- Focus on survival—scavenging, camouflage, food from wildlife.
- More straightforward narrative than later, more convoluted entries. "There's like 5% magic in this, but most of it is just, like, Cold War spy shit..."
  —Justin [11:42–12:29]

The Experience of Playing Delta

Cutscenes and exposition are still present but skippable; pacing better than MGS4, though not as snappy as modern games.
Plant theorizes Kojima’s move to social media has “weeded out the boring thoughts” from his in-game writing:
"He would just tweet directly into the game...Now, if you actually follow Kojima on Twitter or Instagram, my dude has the outlet and boy does he take great use of it."
—Plant [14:03–15:58]
Griffin celebrates how the remix of control and tips system makes the MGS weirdness much more accessible and fun.

Humor, Systems, and Surreal Kojima Bullshit

It's the first Metal Gear (chronologically and in design) where humor and wild, silly moments intermingle with serious drama.
Griffin realizes "this is a stupid thing" (in a good way) after a bizarre Ocelot fight; treating it like a "magical mystery tour of silly bullshit" opens up the experience.
"When you start to treat it as Hideo Kojima's magical mystery tour of silly bullshit... it made me more curious to see what was going to happen next."
—Griffin [27:44–28:06]
The hosts reminisce about all the ways you can mess with systems—throwing sleeping snakes, porno mags, tranquilizer shenanigans—many of which are still present in Delta.
Plant and Griffin joke about the legacy “horny button” (pressing R1 during cutscenes).

On Value and Preservation (Again)

Justin strongly objects to the $70 price for what is essentially a preservation-leaning remaster, especially with recycled voicework and assets.
"Charging $70 for that is not preservation. ...You didn't make a new video game...you're charging people for a new thing. I think that sucks."
—Justin [21:02–22:14]
Plant counters that, for corporations like Konami, the goal is to “ramp up” their pipeline and train new teams (like Halo's 343) just as much as preserve or profit.

Fan Work and the Economics of Remakes

Justin laments that fans create free HD texture packs for love of the game, while companies clamp down to squeeze out profit from updated versions.
Griffin pushes back: it's more than a reskin; the work is considerable.
Griffin describes his "conversion"—the new controls and clarity unlocked the appeal for him.

Notable Quotes and Moments

"This is a quibble separate from the product itself, but does bother me..." —Justin [07:19]
"The contrast with the goofy bullshit makes it work..." —Justin [31:16]
Hilarious sidetrack: The “R1” button’s original function versus its odd modern replacement in the remake, such as showing "pictures from that same woman's family...now."
—[19:40–20:51]

Secondary Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 DLC

New Content and Upgrades

Kirby’s new expansion gets hands-on time from both Justin (positive) and Griffin (a bit underwhelmed).
60fps upgrade for Switch 2 is a huge plus.
DLC levels remix old favorites, but don’t offer much in new abilities or meta-progression. "Just as a game, it's still got it...the huge draw was just playing it at 60fps."
—Justin [34:34–37:20] "There's not a lot of carrots to pursue as far as I am concerned...it has not gotten its hooks in us."
—Griffin [36:20–37:20]

Debate About Paid Upgrades

The cost ($20) and inconsistent Nintendo policy (some games get free upgrades, others don’t) spark frustration and speculation about the future of cross-gen support.
"If Nintendo goes too hard on these...their release schedule is gonna get even more predictable."
—Justin [39:01–39:37]
Discussion about the challenge of incentivizing customers to buy paid upgrades now that hardware cross-compatibility is expected.

Mailbag & Side Quests

Highlights

Shout out to Stray Children & Chibi Robo mechanics
[42:11–43:25]
Justin’s e-bike adventure:
Problems picking the right one, living on a hill, and the shop promptly closing after his purchase.
3D Printing and Gaming:
– Parallels between graphic anti-aliasing and 3D print quality; Justin shows off a new print handle for a handheld system. [46:29–47:09]
Kazeta:
An indie Linux OS emulating the joy of old-school game cartridges using SD cards, with each card holding one DRM-free game. [49:51–51:13] "It's got some rough edges. It's just getting started. But that's kind of the fun with these open source things..."
—Justin [51:13]

What Else They've Been Playing

Hollow Knight:
Justin replays and finishes it in anticipation of Silksong; still holds up as a genre, pacing, and art milestone.
"Nothing comes close to holding a candle to what Hollow Knight did..."
—Justin [47:32–48:37]
Final Fantasy V Advance:
Griffin finally completes it; remarks on the job system and "infamously weird" English translation with pop-culture references.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (PS1):
Justin played the 3rd Edition; dated questions, but still fun (“Regis is alive...he's trapped in here!”).
Movie Recommendation:
Weapons, Zach Kreger’s new film; not connected to Barbarian, but "very exciting" and another indie success.
Shout-out:
Demon School, an upcoming Persona-like tactics game, delayed (due to Silksong hype), but recommended to keep an eye on.

Looking Ahead

Next Episode:
Silksong will (finally) be out, and the Besties promise a big review—or at least a wild discussion alongside everyone else (no advance codes!).
Bonus Content:
Patreon for extra content, including their "battle bracket" and upcoming "Art of Vengeance" ninja game round-up.
Teaser:
"Big news" coming for Patreon backers announced next episode.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Remake Naming Schemes:
"To me, I feel like it's an unmooring from history that makes these things easier to recycle and regurgitate..."
—Justin [07:19]
On Kojima's shift to Twitter:
"He needed to tweet more than any person has ever needed to tweet in their life. And he would just tweet directly into the game."
—Plant [14:03]
On MGS Humor:
"This is the beginning of Kojima having a lot of fun with later games... full Kevin McAllister bullshit."
—Justin/Griffin [29:53–29:57]
On paid remasters:
"You didn’t make a new video game… you’re just profiting off the same work of the same people that… You didn’t make a new thing and you’re charging people for a new thing."
—Justin [22:14]
On Kirby DLC’s appeal to kids:
"My son for whatever reason loves it. And that's like the driving factor. Matters, right?"
—Justin [37:20]
On avoiding spoilers:
"It's really easy to not ruin it for yourself. Don't watch any trailers... just wander around. Have a good time with the world."
—Justin [48:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

MGS3 Song Parody (Cold Open): 00:01–01:53
Discussion Begins – What Is Metal Gear Solid Delta? 02:41–04:46
Graphics, Controls, and Modern Changes: 04:46–06:08
Naming and Preservation Rant: 07:19–08:40
Newcomer Explanation of MGS3: 10:13–12:29
Kojima's Social Media Theory: 14:03–16:09
Goofiness and Humor in Metal Gear: 27:44–31:16
Kirby Switch 2 DLC Review: 33:33–39:37
Mailbag & E-bike segment: 42:11–45:47
3D Printing & Kazeta OS: 46:29–51:13
Other Games (Hollow Knight, FFV): 47:12–53:21
Movie Chat ("Weapons"): 53:21–55:06
Upcoming: Silksong & Patreon Plugs: 56:29–58:00

Final Thoughts

This episode is a Besties classic: irreverent, passionate, and hilarious—a must-listen for fans of both the Metal Gear series and the evolution of game remakes in general. Whether debating preservation, mocking legacy control schemes, groaning about corporate publishing, or simply celebrating the joy of silly bullsh*t in gaming, the hosts keep the energy high and the takes spicy. If you’re eagerly awaiting Silksong or wondering whether to pick up Snake Eater again, this is an essential companion listen.

Next Up:
Hollow Knight: Silksong deep dive and big Patreon news!

The Besties – "Metal Gear Solid Delta is Peak Remake"
Release Date: September 5, 2025
Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick

Episode Overview

Main Topic: Metal Gear Solid Delta – Is This the Ultimate Remake?

Cold Open: Justin’s Musical Interlude

Justin serenades the crew with a tongue-in-cheek acoustic song about Metal Gear Solid, riffing on the infamous cutscenes and their history with the game.
Quote:
"We are never, ever, ever playing more Snake Eater. You crawl through the grass, look like an ass, I'll play some Wii—but we are playing more Snake Eater."
—Justin McElroy [01:01–01:53]

Initial Takes: What Is Metal Gear Solid Delta?

Chris summarizes Delta as a nearly 1:1 remake of MGS3: Snake Eater—graphics and controls improved, but everything else kept faithful, right down to level design and cutscenes.
Justin points out the improved visuals (Unreal Engine) and especially the modernized controls:
- Crouch-walking, better aiming, streamlined systems.
  "The controls are not total batshit... If you played Metal Gear Solid 5, the controls are basically comparable to that."
  —Justin [04:46–05:43]

The Preservation Question and Naming Controversy

Justin rants about renaming the game "Delta" instead of "3," seeing it as an erasure of history and a move to make future recycling easier.
"It is an unmooring from history... I really feel like...it should be called what it is."
—Justin [07:19–08:08]
Griffin is of two minds: He agrees, but confesses this remake is the first version that "really worked" for him—finally smoothing out the play and letting the story shine.
[08:40–09:53]

Explaining MGS3 (For Newcomers)

Justin gives context:
- Chronologically the first in the MGS saga, set in the '60s, with Cold War spy intrigue.
- Focus on survival—scavenging, camouflage, food from wildlife.
- More straightforward narrative than later, more convoluted entries. "There's like 5% magic in this, but most of it is just, like, Cold War spy shit..."
  —Justin [11:42–12:29]

The Experience of Playing Delta

Cutscenes and exposition are still present but skippable; pacing better than MGS4, though not as snappy as modern games.
Plant theorizes Kojima’s move to social media has “weeded out the boring thoughts” from his in-game writing:
"He would just tweet directly into the game...Now, if you actually follow Kojima on Twitter or Instagram, my dude has the outlet and boy does he take great use of it."
—Plant [14:03–15:58]
Griffin celebrates how the remix of control and tips system makes the MGS weirdness much more accessible and fun.

Humor, Systems, and Surreal Kojima Bullshit

It's the first Metal Gear (chronologically and in design) where humor and wild, silly moments intermingle with serious drama.
Griffin realizes "this is a stupid thing" (in a good way) after a bizarre Ocelot fight; treating it like a "magical mystery tour of silly bullshit" opens up the experience.
"When you start to treat it as Hideo Kojima's magical mystery tour of silly bullshit... it made me more curious to see what was going to happen next."
—Griffin [27:44–28:06]
The hosts reminisce about all the ways you can mess with systems—throwing sleeping snakes, porno mags, tranquilizer shenanigans—many of which are still present in Delta.
Plant and Griffin joke about the legacy “horny button” (pressing R1 during cutscenes).

On Value and Preservation (Again)

Justin strongly objects to the $70 price for what is essentially a preservation-leaning remaster, especially with recycled voicework and assets.
"Charging $70 for that is not preservation. ...You didn't make a new video game...you're charging people for a new thing. I think that sucks."
—Justin [21:02–22:14]
Plant counters that, for corporations like Konami, the goal is to “ramp up” their pipeline and train new teams (like Halo's 343) just as much as preserve or profit.

Fan Work and the Economics of Remakes

Justin laments that fans create free HD texture packs for love of the game, while companies clamp down to squeeze out profit from updated versions.
Griffin pushes back: it's more than a reskin; the work is considerable.
Griffin describes his "conversion"—the new controls and clarity unlocked the appeal for him.

Notable Quotes and Moments

"This is a quibble separate from the product itself, but does bother me..." —Justin [07:19]
"The contrast with the goofy bullshit makes it work..." —Justin [31:16]
Hilarious sidetrack: The “R1” button’s original function versus its odd modern replacement in the remake, such as showing "pictures from that same woman's family...now."
—[19:40–20:51]

Secondary Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 DLC

New Content and Upgrades

Kirby’s new expansion gets hands-on time from both Justin (positive) and Griffin (a bit underwhelmed).
60fps upgrade for Switch 2 is a huge plus.
DLC levels remix old favorites, but don’t offer much in new abilities or meta-progression. "Just as a game, it's still got it...the huge draw was just playing it at 60fps."
—Justin [34:34–37:20] "There's not a lot of carrots to pursue as far as I am concerned...it has not gotten its hooks in us."
—Griffin [36:20–37:20]

Debate About Paid Upgrades

The cost ($20) and inconsistent Nintendo policy (some games get free upgrades, others don’t) spark frustration and speculation about the future of cross-gen support.
"If Nintendo goes too hard on these...their release schedule is gonna get even more predictable."
—Justin [39:01–39:37]
Discussion about the challenge of incentivizing customers to buy paid upgrades now that hardware cross-compatibility is expected.

Mailbag & Side Quests

Highlights

Shout out to Stray Children & Chibi Robo mechanics
[42:11–43:25]
Justin’s e-bike adventure:
Problems picking the right one, living on a hill, and the shop promptly closing after his purchase.
3D Printing and Gaming:
– Parallels between graphic anti-aliasing and 3D print quality; Justin shows off a new print handle for a handheld system. [46:29–47:09]
Kazeta:
An indie Linux OS emulating the joy of old-school game cartridges using SD cards, with each card holding one DRM-free game. [49:51–51:13] "It's got some rough edges. It's just getting started. But that's kind of the fun with these open source things..."
—Justin [51:13]

What Else They've Been Playing

Hollow Knight:
Justin replays and finishes it in anticipation of Silksong; still holds up as a genre, pacing, and art milestone.
"Nothing comes close to holding a candle to what Hollow Knight did..."
—Justin [47:32–48:37]
Final Fantasy V Advance:
Griffin finally completes it; remarks on the job system and "infamously weird" English translation with pop-culture references.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (PS1):
Justin played the 3rd Edition; dated questions, but still fun (“Regis is alive...he's trapped in here!”).
Movie Recommendation:
Weapons, Zach Kreger’s new film; not connected to Barbarian, but "very exciting" and another indie success.
Shout-out:
Demon School, an upcoming Persona-like tactics game, delayed (due to Silksong hype), but recommended to keep an eye on.

Looking Ahead

Next Episode:
Silksong will (finally) be out, and the Besties promise a big review—or at least a wild discussion alongside everyone else (no advance codes!).
Bonus Content:
Patreon for extra content, including their "battle bracket" and upcoming "Art of Vengeance" ninja game round-up.
Teaser:
"Big news" coming for Patreon backers announced next episode.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Remake Naming Schemes:
"To me, I feel like it's an unmooring from history that makes these things easier to recycle and regurgitate..."
—Justin [07:19]
On Kojima's shift to Twitter:
"He needed to tweet more than any person has ever needed to tweet in their life. And he would just tweet directly into the game."
—Plant [14:03]
On MGS Humor:
"This is the beginning of Kojima having a lot of fun with later games... full Kevin McAllister bullshit."
—Justin/Griffin [29:53–29:57]
On paid remasters:
"You didn’t make a new video game… you’re just profiting off the same work of the same people that… You didn’t make a new thing and you’re charging people for a new thing."
—Justin [22:14]
On Kirby DLC’s appeal to kids:
"My son for whatever reason loves it. And that's like the driving factor. Matters, right?"
—Justin [37:20]
On avoiding spoilers:
"It's really easy to not ruin it for yourself. Don't watch any trailers... just wander around. Have a good time with the world."
—Justin [48:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

MGS3 Song Parody (Cold Open): 00:01–01:53
Discussion Begins – What Is Metal Gear Solid Delta? 02:41–04:46
Graphics, Controls, and Modern Changes: 04:46–06:08
Naming and Preservation Rant: 07:19–08:40
Newcomer Explanation of MGS3: 10:13–12:29
Kojima's Social Media Theory: 14:03–16:09
Goofiness and Humor in Metal Gear: 27:44–31:16
Kirby Switch 2 DLC Review: 33:33–39:37
Mailbag & E-bike segment: 42:11–45:47
3D Printing & Kazeta OS: 46:29–51:13
Other Games (Hollow Knight, FFV): 47:12–53:21
Movie Chat ("Weapons"): 53:21–55:06
Upcoming: Silksong & Patreon Plugs: 56:29–58:00

Final Thoughts

Next Up:
Hollow Knight: Silksong deep dive and big Patreon news!

Metal Gear Solid Delta is Peak Remake

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Summary

Episode Overview

Main Topic: Metal Gear Solid Delta – Is This the Ultimate Remake?

Cold Open: Justin’s Musical Interlude

Initial Takes: What Is Metal Gear Solid Delta?

The Preservation Question and Naming Controversy

Explaining MGS3 (For Newcomers)

The Experience of Playing Delta

Humor, Systems, and Surreal Kojima Bullshit

On Value and Preservation (Again)

Fan Work and the Economics of Remakes

Notable Quotes and Moments

Secondary Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 DLC

New Content and Upgrades

Debate About Paid Upgrades

Mailbag & Side Quests

Highlights

What Else They've Been Playing

Looking Ahead

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Final Thoughts

Summary

Episode Overview

Main Topic: Metal Gear Solid Delta – Is This the Ultimate Remake?

Cold Open: Justin’s Musical Interlude

Initial Takes: What Is Metal Gear Solid Delta?

The Preservation Question and Naming Controversy

Explaining MGS3 (For Newcomers)

The Experience of Playing Delta

Humor, Systems, and Surreal Kojima Bullshit

On Value and Preservation (Again)

Fan Work and the Economics of Remakes

Notable Quotes and Moments

Secondary Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 DLC

New Content and Upgrades

Debate About Paid Upgrades

Mailbag & Side Quests

Highlights

What Else They've Been Playing

Looking Ahead

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Final Thoughts