Without question, the battle with The Sorrow in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is one of the more creative battles in the game. Unlike other bosses, it does not play out like a “battle” at all; it really mirrors the experience of playing the game and the decisions you made throughout the experience. Depending on how many enemies you chose to kill throughout the experience, this whole sequence may be shorter, or it may take you some time. Here is how to clear it without any issues.
How to Beat The Sorrow
The encounter with The Sorrow is unlike any other in the game. Rather than a traditional battle, it acts as a consequence for how you’ve been playing so far. Players who have not killed unnecessary enemies will obviously find this a short winded challenge, however if players have shot up nearly every guard they are going to be in for a larger test. At the end of the day, the Sorrow merely wants you to reflect on your choices in the game, and the impact of those choices.
There is actually two ways to end this encounter, but this, of course, just depends on how patient you are willing to be, and how many enemies
Option One: Walking the River
The Sorrow summons the ghosts of every single enemy you’ve killed up to this point. These phantoms appear one after another as you move upstream. If your kill count is low, the sequence will be over quickly. On the other hand, if you’ve spent the game fighting head-on, the river will feel endless, with ghost after ghost slowing you down.
As you proceed, The Sorrow also launches psychic blasts that gradually chip away at your health, so you’ll need to stay alert to avoid unnecessary damage. At the very end of the river, The Sorrow will strike Snake down. This is not the end—simply use the revival pill to bring Snake back to life.
Taking this route rewards you with The Sorrow’s special camouflage suit. Its benefit is straightforward but powerful: Snake becomes completely silent, making future stealth sections much easier.
Option Two: Drowning Yourself
If the thought of trudging through a seemingly endless procession of ghosts doesn’t appeal to you, there is a faster solution.
Enter the water, submerge Snake, and let him drown. You’ll immediately get a game over screen, but this is intentional. At this screen, hold left on the D-pad to select the revival pill. Using it revives Snake on the spot and completes the encounter without having to walk the river.
Which Method to Choose?
The decision comes down to your playstyle. If you’ve killed very few enemies, the river sequence is relatively short and nets you The Sorrow’s useful camo suit. But if you’ve racked up a massive body count, the ghosts will drag out the process, making drowning the faster and less frustrating method.
