Regions, Versions & Platforms of MGS3

Like so many of the games in the Metal Gear franchise, MGS3 has several launches and platforms. Each come with their own unique and interesting differences. While some are minor others can be game breaking. This page will detail all that we know about the game versions. If we've left something out, feel free to add what you know!

• Plays in 30FPS. (25 if PAL)
• Going into first person does not stop The Pain's bullet bees from attacking you.
• Pain Skip is possible.
• Box glide is not possible.

• Subsistence 3D Camera is not available.
• Box glide is not possible.
• Stun grenades will stun Ocelot without actually decreasing his lifebar.
• Very Easy starts with 75% (3 blocks) HP.
• Very Easy guards take longer to fall asleep after you shoot them with a non-lethal weapon.
• Credits are shorter than Subsistence.
• Snake Vs. Monkey is playable.

• Country flags facepaints are included.
• Very Easy guards have better hearing/sight than other releases.
• Snake Vs. Monkey is playable with 2 extra levels.
• Possible to skip the Lab & Eva.
• Only Snake Eater Version with European Extreme.
• Only Snake Eater Version with Duel mode.
• Ledge clip is possible.
• Eva escort cutscenes where Snake boosts her up are skippable.
• Snake's O2 gauge drains slower when swimming.
• When 50% of the stamina gauge is depleted, Snake's stomach growls a lot more frequently compared to NTSC.
• When fighting The Pain or The Boss, MK22/Mosin Nagant shots won't count/be detected if you quick-reload too fast. (Unsure about other boss fights)
• In-game menus are less responsive.
• M1911A1/SVD spamming is slower than any other versions.

• Very Easy guards have better hearing/sight than other releases.
• Very Easy boss HP is higher than other releases.
• Very Easy stun grenades to do less damage to The End. You cannot one cycle The End.
• The End's spawn is randomized, he can spawn either at the rightside hill or the hill in front of Snake.
• Ledge Clip is not possible.
• Eva escort cutscenes where Snake boosts her up are unskippable.

• Subsistence Camera is available by clicking in the right stick, but using it in certain areas will cause lag.
• Snake Vs. Monkey is playable with 2 extra levels.
• Includes Online Mode, Boss Duel Mode, Scecret Theater, Metal Gear 1 and Metal Gear 2 on Disc 2.
• Credits are longer by 1 minute compared to Snake Eater.

• Only the Limited Edition red cover release includes Disc 3.
• Very Easy is in line with HD version.
• Very Easy stun grenades to do less damage to The End. You cannot one cycle The End.
• Depleting The Fear's stamina is easier due to the lower framerate.
• The Fear's dart poison decreases your stamina compared to HD.
• Eva's Stamina decreases quicker compared to HD.

• Very Easy is in line with HD version.
• Depleting The Fear's stamina is easier due to the lower framerate.
• The Fear's dart poison decreases your stamina more quickly compared to HD.
• Eva's Stamina decreases quicker compared to HD.

• This version includes disc 3 by default.
• Very Easy is in line with HD version.
• Depleting The Fear's stamina is easier due to the lower framerate.
• The Fear's dart poison drains your stamina more quickly compared to HD.
• Only Subsistence version where Lab/Eva Skip is possible.
• Eva's Stamina decreases quicker compared to HD.

• Snake Eater PAL is overall the fastest version for speedrunning on the Playstation 2 platform. Pros: Eva skip, shorter credits. Cons: Slightly harder to play, slow 1911/SVD spamming, Very Easy quirks, stun grenades on Ocelot don't deal damage, extra stamina management (Extreme/European Extreme).
• Subsistence (any region) is also a great version, especially for Very Easy. Pros: Easy to play, similar to HDC, includes 3D camera, stun grenade damage on Ocelot/The End is fixed, VE/E-EX oddities are fixed. Cons: Full length credits sequence, no Eva skip (if NTSC).
• Snake Eater NTSC-U/J/K are versions to avoid. Pros: Shorter credits. Cons: No 3D camera, VE quirks, stun grenades on Ocelot and The End don't deal damage, The End's randomized spawn, no Eva skip, unskippable cutscenes during Eva escort.

• Plays in 60 FPS.
• Released on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles via backwards compatibility, Xbox 360, PS3, Nvidia SHIELD, and PSNow.
• Subsistence 3D Camera is available by clicking in the right stick.
• Includes Metal Gear 1 and Metal Gear 2
• Snake Vs. Monkey is removed, due to Ape Escape being a Sony IP.

The Xbox Series S and X consoles load the HD version the fastest and have zero to no lag/slowdowns in framerate. Making this the ideal HD version to speedrun.
* Leaderboards currently separate PS3 as a platform into its own leaderboard, so PS3 and Xbox Series as speedrun platforms stand on their own.

• Plays at maximum 20fps.
• Difficulties are: Easy, Normal, Hard, Extreme. Easy is the equivalent of other versions Very Easy (With EZ gun) Extreme is European Extreme?
• Only one save file slot is available. When you are asked to save and press “YES” the game will not confirm. Be careful.
• RESULTS on the title menu shows your current save files stats alongside your total stats across all playthroughs on the save files.
• You can soft reset to the main menu by pressing and holding: L+R+Start/Select.
• Options for “I like Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker” and “Metal Gear Solid 4” are available, learn more about the unlocked camos here.
• Significantly poor frame rate performance. Comparable or even worse than PS2 in some cases. Tested on Original 3DS other models need testing
• Subsistence camera is forced throughout the game (uses face buttons or Circle Pad Pro for camera control) except for The Boss?
• Touch screen has all the extra information while Top Screen is Gameplay with no HUD.
• Gyro is forced to be used while balancing on a branch or crossing the bridge in Dolinovodno.
• Grid layout for selecting Items and Weapons.
• Photo-Camo is available. Take a picture with your 3DS camera and use that as your Camouflage. Known exploit for 99% Camouflage more info later
• You are able to check your current playthroughs Score Screen at anytime in the Options menu.
• Kerotan are replaced with Yoshi and with a different amount (64 Kerotan vs 60 Yoshi) Locations and differences have yet to be looked into
• Options are more robust than in other versions
  • Weapon and Item Switch can be changed from Equip/Unequip like in other versions, to 2-Slot Swap(Previous) and 3-Slot Cycle(MGS4/PW)
  • Normal Camera Controls for Inverse on X-Axis, Y-Axis, or both Axis'
  • Normal Camera Speed Control. Speeds 1-9 (5 is Default)
  • FPV Camera Controls (Same Inverse Axis options as listed previously)
  • FPV Camera Speed Control (Same Speeds as listed previously)
  • TPS Camera Controls (Same Inverse Axis options as listed previously)
  • TPS Camera Speed Control (Same Speeds as listed previously)
  • Aim direction can be changed between Camera Direction and Character Direction. Character Direction seems better

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