Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater has received its ESRB rating, shedding light on its content and confirming the return of a feature that has ignited controversy in the gaming community. The game has been rated M for Mature due to explicit “blood, sexual themes, and violence.”While this rating aligns with the original game’s classification, fans may find the reintroduction of a particular feature—deemed by some as predatory—provocative. Consequently, discussions surrounding this element are likely to mirror the divisive feelings previously expressed.
This article addresses sensitive topics, including the depiction of sexual themes and the objectification of women within gaming.
According to the ESRB rating detailed by Video Games Chronicle, the controversial Peep Demo Theatre is set to return. This mode allows players to view scenes featuring a female character from a first-person perspective, which has raised eyebrows given its past issues around consent and presentation of women in gaming narratives.
Understanding the Peep Demo Theatre
More Than a Simple Cutscene Viewer
Originally part of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, the Peep Demo Theatre served as an elaborate bonus mode that complemented the conventional Demo Theatre. This allowed players to watch various cutscenes featuring the female character EVA in her underwear, providing the ability to manipulate the camera and view the scenes from angles not possible in the standard gameplay cutscenes. Players had to unlock the Peep Demo Theatre by completing various tasks, including significantly progressing through the game, which required multiple full playthroughs.
Our Perspective: Increased Controversy Anticipated
An Unwavering Commitment to Original Content
The Peep Demo Theatre’s presence was contentious during the initial release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and with the technological advancements enabling more realistic graphics in this remake, the feature is expected to stir even more debate. As character designs become increasingly lifelike, players may find the feature’s implications more pronounced, leading to heated discussions.
Critics argue that the feature promotes the sexual objectification of EVA, one of the few female characters in the game. Attitudes towards such portrayals have evolved since the game’s initial success in the early 2000s. Even Hideo Kojima, the series’ creator, has notably softened his stance on female character designs in newer titles like Death Stranding. Conversely, some players welcome the inclusion of this feature as a means to remain faithful to the original experience.
Furthermore, the reinstatement of the Peep Demo Theatre may indicate that developers intend to stay true to the essence of the original game, which could appease fans in a landscape where remakes often modify or omit elements of the source material. With Metal Gear Online reportedly excluded from this entry, the presence of the Peep Demo Theatre might serve as a conciliatory measure for fans eager for unaltered nostalgia. Ultimately, this feature will likely evoke polarized responses from the audience of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
Sources: Video Games Chronicle, ESRB