A game is played to pass the time, to be enjoyed, and to play with someone else. It’s also played to enjoy the full aspects of the narrative structure, but also to make you believe in the characters, to be inspired by them too.
Metal Gear Solid is one of those games; it’s one of my all-time favourite games, and will never move from its place. While rumours are abound of another remake, the first release on the Gamecube brought some positives, some negatives, and some Nintendo-ness that made it still unique on its own.
But it was also the bosses that stood out in both versions; and one of the highlights was Psycho Mantis. Not only being able to beat him with a different method with a controller, but he also had some, unique skills.
Here’s what that skill was, and what set it apart on the GameCube.
Reading your Memory Card Mind
If you’re planning on playing Metal Gear Solid for the first time soon, I envy you. But if you don’t want to be spoiled, stop reading and come back when you’ve completed it.
When you face Psycho Mantis, you think it’s just going to be a run, shoot and dodge affair. Just like the many previous bosses you will have faced. But even before you face him, you are greeted with some surprising aspects.
I can see you like Nintendo games...
He instructs you to put down the controller, and with ‘his mind’, he commands the vibrations in the peripheral to move left and right. Following this, he then attempts to evaluate your progress in the game so far. At this point, you would think that the game couldn’t do anymore, and if you did, you would soon be proven wrong.
With the relevant saves on your GameCube Memory Card, he would then read out games such as Mario and Zelda, even going so far as to commending you on the types of games you have on the card as well.
READ MORE: The 35th Anniversary of Zelda; Could a remaster be coming to the Switch?
Mario Sunshine Solid 2
Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes is a remake that is a product of its time. The music was replaced in this version, alongside some voice actors, which lessened the experience for me. Mix this in with the ‘bullet-time’ dodges from Snake in many cut-scenes, and it makes for a strange game, but a fun one, just because of what it’s originally based on.
You are very methodical in your games so far..
While I’d love this to come to the Switch, the original game holds a special place in my ‘all time favourite games’ list. Aspects like Psycho Mantis’ methods of being beaten, and his comments to your saves in the memory card make it for something you’ve not played before, or since for that matter.
Yet seeing Psycho Mantis read my Switch saves and even commenting on newer games that came after him, would be a fantastic touch if the game was to be ported to the Switch.
But for now anyway, revel in the memory of 2003, where Psycho Mantis would give you some sass in the games you played back on the GameCube.
Note: The artwork for this article was made using the brilliant Psycho Mantis figure by First 4 Figures.
READ MORE: Has the world forgotten about Mario 64 DS?
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