Metal Gear Solid, upon its release, revolutionized the gaming industry with its game-breaking mechanics. Not only was the game ahead of its time in terms of story and graphics, but Hideo Kojima established his legacy starting with this game. One particular move that Konami made in this game was way ahead of its time.

During the Psycho Mantis boss battle in Metal Gear Solid, Konami introduced a new element to the game, unlike anything seen before. The game shocked fans with the dialogue said in the cut-scene by Psycho Mantis before the battle. While the dialogue might not be enough to make players fans of Konami, the mechanic used to beat the boss surely did.

4th wall-breaking boss fight in Metal Gear Solid

The Psycho Mantis boss battle in Metal Gear Solid earns renown for its fourth wall-shattering genius, making it stand out as one of the game’s most iconic moments. In this battle, the game introduces Psycho Mantis as a character with a dark and tragic past, casting him as the antagonist. He had a difficult childhood, marked by the death of his mother during childbirth and the hatred of his father, which eventually led to him developing psychic powers.

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Before the battle begins, Psycho Mantis analyzes the player’s gameplay style. He comments on how the player has been progressing, offering remarks like “careless” if the player has been frequently spotted by guards or “great warrior” if the player has killed many enemies. One of the standout features of this battle is Mantis’s ability to access the memory card inserted into the PlayStation. If the player has saved files from certain Konami games, he will comment on them. For example, he might say, “I see you like Castlevania” if the player has a Castlevania save file.

Hideo Kojima, the game’s director, is known for breaking the fourth wall in his games. In this battle, he pushes the boundaries of this concept. Mantis instructs the player to physically place the controller on the floor. He then appears to move the controller with his ‘mind,’ creating an eerie sense of player involvement in the game world.

The wall-breaking mechanic

During the battle, Mantis elevates the fourth wall breaking to another level by randomly plunging the screen into darkness, displaying the word “HIDEO” in the top-right corner, reminiscent of old TVs that showed “VIDEO” when they lost a signal. This action implies that Mantis possesses the power to interact with the player’s console and deactivate it.

While Mantis’s psychic abilities render him nearly impervious to direct attacks. The battle’s final surprise emerges when the player switches the controller to another port on the PlayStation. This straightforward maneuver bewilders Mantis, as it disrupts his ability to anticipate the player’s actions. This move ingeniously molds gameplay mechanics with the fourth-wall-breaking narrative.

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The Psycho Mantis battle exemplifies the creativity and imagination of Hideo Kojima and his development team. The battle is self-aware and takes full advantage of the interactive strengths of the gaming medium. The Psycho Mantis battle is considered one of the boldest and most subversive moments in the Metal Gear Solid series. It challenges traditional game design conventions and encourages players to physically interact with their consoles. This kind of innovation was groundbreaking for its time.

Have you beaten the Psycho Mantis boss in Metal Gear Solid? How did you figure out the trick in a world where the Internet was not that accessible? Let us know in the comments below.

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