Psycho Mantis: The Mind-Reading Metal Gear Boss Who Uncovers Gaming Secrets
In the world of gaming, there are certain moments that become iconic and forever etched in the memories of players. One such moment is undoubtedly the battle against Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid. Not only is it a thrilling boss fight, but it also serves as a subtle critique of our gaming habits.
For those unfamiliar with Psycho Mantis, he is a gas-masked psychic with the ability to read your memory card and decipher what games you’ve been playing. Back in 1998, this was a mind-blowing concept. Imagine having a character in a game call out the titles of the games you’ve been enjoying. It was a true testament to the immersive nature of gaming.
Psycho Mantis had the uncanny ability to name a few games you had been playing. If he couldn’t pinpoint the exact titles, he would make a general statement like You like action games! This feature relied heavily on the number of Konami games you had saved, but considering it was the late ’90s, the accuracy was impressive.
However, let’s not forget the games that we would rather forget. Unfortunately, Psycho Mantis could see all of our gaming history, even the less enjoyable experiences. Here are a few games that I wish he had overlooked:
– You prefer the dark, blind to all but the most garish of lighting. Ah… yes, you enjoy beat ’em ups with tank controls!
The game in question here is The Crow: City of Angels. While the original movie was cool, this video game adaptation fell short. It promised exciting 3D fighting with a vengeance, but it ended up being a horror experience due to its clumsy controls and powerful enemies. It’s safe to say that facing Psycho Mantis would have been a more enjoyable experience.
– You shun Tony Hawk, don’t you? You prefer to live on the razor’s edge.
Confession time: I actually rented and enjoyed a game called Razor Freestyle Scooter back in the year 2000. I was completely immersed in it and accomplished everything possible. Surprisingly, I never achieved 100% completion in any of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games, despite playing them endlessly. So, if Psycho Mantis could truly see my memory card, I’m sure he would secretly be impressed.
– Put your controller on the floor. Now, grab your copy of Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi and weep!
Believe it or not, there was a time when Star Wars fans were desperate for new content. In 1997, Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi was released, promising an exciting one-on-one fighting game set in the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, the execution was clumsy and forgettable. The title itself was a mouthful, and the game didn’t live up to expectations. It’s safe to say that Psycho Mantis had no hope of prying any secrets from me with games like these in my collection.
– My demonstration is not yet over… I see you enjoy the celebrity spotlight. But one star is not enough for your sky. Perhaps your skills are best served not with twin snakes, but with twin mistakes! Die in your winner’s circle!
Yes, it’s true – buried deep within the confines of my PS1 memory card lies a save file for Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winner’s Circle. I can’t fully explain why I decided to play what may go down as the least intellectually stimulating game starring the Olsen twins. But if playing this game is a crime, then Psycho Mantis might as well deliver the final blow.
While it’s all in good fun for a video game character to call out the enjoyable moments we’ve had in gaming, it’s another thing entirely when they uncover the less stellar choices in our gaming library. As embarrassing as some of our past gaming decisions may be, there’s no need to feel ashamed. We should proudly embrace all the moments, both good and bad, that we’ve experienced in the ’90s and early 2000s.
And as for Psycho Mantis, he better not gain the ability to read my Game Pass saves. We all have our gaming guilty pleasures, after all.
