Adding to the ever-growing list of stellar holiday titles, Konami has announced the release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater into North America retail stores. Once again starring series hero Snake (no sign of alternative playable characters here, folks), MGS3 is set during the height of the Cold War era, and also of the U.S.'s suspicion of Soviet involvement with nuclear capabilities. As Snake, players will have to take on a dangerous solo mission to uncover and destroy a weapon of mass destruction being created in the Soviet Union. With a good hunk of the game set in the jungles, new features such as a camouflage index, a new "CQC" hand-to-hand combat system and the vital stress on capturing and eating food ensures players can fully take advantage of their new surroundings.

"Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the pinnacle of the MGS series," ensures Jason Enos, Product Manager for Konami Digital Entertainment - America. "The game contains all the amazing tactical espionage elements fans have come to expect from an MGS game, plus it incorporates new in-depth gameplay features such as close quarters combat (CQC), camo index, food capturing and the cure system, which once again redefines the entire stealth video game genre."

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is currently hidden cleverly (well, not really) in stores nationwide, carrying an "M" for "Mature" rating and $49.99 price tag. But heck, you know you'd shell out any amount of cash to play as Snake again.