Metal Gear Solid 3 is an iconic action-stealth game set in the 1960s during the Cold War.
Players take on the role of Naked Snake, tasked with rescuing a scientist and preventing a new nuclear threat. The game introduced survival mechanics such as hunting, healing injuries, and using camouflage to endure the jungle environment.
Now, more than 20 years later, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is arriving this August, bringing back everything fans loved – including its famous Easter eggs, hidden details and secrets intentionally placed by the developers. Many of the classic Easter eggs from the 2004 release are expected to return, making it the perfect time to revisit and highlight the best of them. Let’s check our short MGS 3 secrets guide.
Metal Gear Solid 3 Easter eggs
Fight with The End
One of the most epic Easter eggs in the game comes from the fight with The End, one of the toughest bosses. Known as a master sniper, he’s not easy to defeat in a regular duel.
But there’s a hidden trick: If you turn off your console during the boss fight and wait about eight real days (or simply set your system clock one week forward), The End will die of old age. When you return, the Snake will appear in a cutscene, finding The End’s body.
The Sorrow
The Sorrow is another fascinating character in Metal Gear Solid 3 and one of the most unique ones. As a spirit and former member of the Cobra Unit, he follows The Boss and Snake throughout the story. Two major Easter eggs are tied to him:
The first can be discovered early in the game through a hidden cutscene. By pressing the R1 button to switch to Snake’s first-person view near the Dolinovodno area, players can spot The Sorrow’s lifeless body, wearing his Cobra uniform and glasses
The second is the famous “River of the Dead” sequence. As Snake wades through the river, he is haunted by the ghosts of every soldier the player has killed. If the entire game has been played without taking a single life, the river will remain almost empty.
Kerotan frogs
When it comes to MGS Snake Eater remake callbacks this one is one of the most characteristic and funny. Kerotan frogs are some kind of dolls that haunt Snake throughout the whole jungle. They may appear anywhere and player need to shoot them all. It’s no easy though – there are 64 of them and what’s more, their croaking sound are needed to see if they really were shot.
Receiving all of them unlocks exciting rewards, such as Stealth Camouflage device and “Kerotan” title.
The Johnny Joke
Which MGS fan doesn’t know Johnny? He is one of the funniest characters in the franchise, best known for his infamous “toilet problems”. Johnny shows up throughout the entire series, and in Metal Gear Solid 3 it’s actually his grandfather who appears as a guard watching over Snake in the prison.
As usual, players can outsmart him by giving him spoiled food, which makes him rush to the bathroom. He’s easy to recognize thanks to the big letter “J” on his uniform.
Guy Savage
One of the most mysterious MGS Δ references in the series. After Snake is imprisoned, he suddenly finds himself in a completely different hack’n’slash world – full of brutality, darkness, and fast-paced combat. In this strange dream sequence, a lone warrior fights against monsters. The scene is actually a hidden teaser for another Kojima project that was once planned for release.
To trigger it, players need to be in the Groznyj Grad jail cell. What makes it even more intriguing is that this teaser appeared only in the original PS2 version of Metal Gear Solid 3, and was removed from all later editions. Its disappearance fueled even more speculation among fans: was it just an inside joke from Kojima, or an abandoned project?
Croc Cap
The Metal Gear Solid franchise is also known for its creative use of animal imagery. One of the most memorable examples is the crocodile mask, which Snake can put on his head to gain excellent camouflage in water and sneak across areas like Ponizovje South. Disguising himself as a crocodile even adds a humorous twist in some boss encounters, as enemies may laugh at the absurd sight.
Animals in the game are not only for survival or camouflage but can also be used as weapons. Snakes, spiders, or even swarms of insects can be captured and then thrown at enemies to cause panic during combat.
Radio calls
Fans of Metal Gear Solid Easter eggs are also familiar with the strange and funny radio calls Snake can make at different points in the game. For example, he can contact Sigint or EVA and hear humorous, often ridiculous comments about James Bond movies. Similar jokes can also appear if players equip certain costumes – or even when Snake is wearing nothing at all during the infamous “Naked” sequence.
These calls are packed with quirky humor and hidden references to previous Metal Gear installments, which is a real treat for longtime fans of the series.
Ocelot fight
Ocelot is one of the most characteristic characters in Metal Gear Solid 3 – a confident master of revolvers and tricks with weapons. During the second playthrough, players can trigger a funny Easter egg in the duel against him. Instead of focusing only on defeating Ocelot, you can provoke him to show off his revolver tricks.
To do this, you need to use the tranquilizer gun (Mk22), aim in first-person mode and target his weapon or keep close to him. Ocelot will then start showing his tricks. It’s surely one of the most anticipated Metal Gear Solid Δ Easter eggs.
Snake spinning
Hidden jokes and gags are what make MGS3 so distinctive. On the Cure screen, when players examine Snake’s 3D model, they can experiment with different silly tricks – for example, spinning him around rapidly. Once they return to the game, Snake will actually get sick and throw up, a small but hilarious detail.
Different types of snakes
As we know, snakes are a typical source of food in the game, so it’s no surprise they appear throughout MGS3. However, Kojima adds a clever twist during the final boss fight: three white snakes named Solid, Liquid, and Solidus.
Longtime fans will recognize these names from the Les Enfants Terribles project. The fact that Snake can literally catch and eat these snakes is absurd, but it’s also a brilliant reference to the entire saga.
Conclusion
Snake Eater remake Easter eggs are definitely among the most exciting details to discover and enjoy. Fans always look forward to hunting them down, smiling at the absurd humor, and appreciating the creativity of the developers. With Metal Gear Solid Δ, it’s safe to say these hidden details will return – so make sure to keep an eye out for them all!