20 Mind-Blowing Things You Didn't Know About Metal Gear Solid 2
18. A "Mantis Mask" Mechanic Was Scrapped During Development
Kojima's games are always packed with wonderfully creative, outside-the-box ideas and mechanics, and one that infuriatingly got scrapped during Metal Gear Solid 2's development was the inclusion of a "Mantis Mask."
In a homage to the prior game's telepathic boss Psycho Mantis, the mask would let players read the minds of anyone in the area, which it goes without saying would've had some highly eccentric and hilarious outcomes while sneaking up on guards.
The original plan was that players could unlock it for a second playthrough and use it to discern Iroquois Pliskin's real identity before his big reveal.
Sadly it's never been publicly stated why the feature didn't make it in, though considering its mechanical complexity it's easy to take a guess.
The Mantis Mask is such an ingenious idea, though, that it's a shame Kojima never recycled it in another Metal Gear game.