Of course, when discussing the original Metal Gear Solid, there's one moment that simply trumps all others. There's many great boss fights in the game but battling with Psycho Mantis is an unforgettable experience. As Snake and Meryl progress through Shadow Moses, Psycho Mantis takes control of Meryl's mind and tries to make her shoot him, though Snake knocks her unconscious, forcing Mantis to reveal himself. This fight is the finest example of Kojima's love of breaking the fourth wall; Mantis' opening speech references Snake's actions throughout the game, commenting on how he hasn't saved a lot, for example. He also infamously reads the player's memory card and comments on the games saved on there ("you like Castlevania, don't you?"). Another example of Mantis' tricks is when the screen suddenly cuts to black with HIDEO in green text in the top corner, giving the illusion that Mantis has changed the TV channel. How do you beat this master of telekinesis and telepathy then? Simple; just change the controller from Port 1 to Port 2. Suddenly, Mantis is unable to 'read your mind' and you can continue the fight on fairer ground. It's this sort of fun experience which makes Metal Gear Solid so unique and while it may be near impossible for a remake to recreate this fight exactly, creating new ways for Mantis to mess with the player is the perfect way to preserve his legacy. It's definitely one of the moments that a remake needs to get right; screwing up such an entertaining and key boss fight would dramatically undermine the success of the game. Are there any key moments from the original Metal Gear Solid that you would want to see preserved perfectly should a remake ever arrive? Do you even think the game should be remade again? Let us know in the comments below.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
