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When the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1 was initially announced, many fans were curious how the compilation would address the quirks of the original Metal Gear Solid. In particular, many wondered how the collection would preserve the magic of the groundbreaking Psycho Mantis boss fight.
Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid
The greatest mystery about this battle revolved around the iconic fourth-wall-breaking from Psycho Mantis. Given the unique nature of this encounter, which involved manipulating your controller and accessing your memory cards, there were questions about how it would be adapted to modern hardware.
In the original PlayStation version, Psycho Mantis breaks the fourth wall multiple times before and during the duel. He possesses the ability to manipulate your controller through telekinesis and delve into your thoughts by scanning your memory card. He even predicts your every move throughout the battle by reading your mind unless you outsmart him. On the original PlayStation, the primary method to stop his mind-reading was by physically switching your controller to the second port.
Remarkably, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1 handles Psycho Mantis by maintaining this authentic approach. It provides players with a menu screen that enables a virtual controller port swap, recreating the 1998 experience. Consequently, the battle unfolds just as it did on the original platform.
How Psycho Mantis works in Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1
In the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1, Psycho Mantis wields his full array of powers on modern consoles. Not only can he still manipulate your controller, but thanks to virtual save data, he can read Snake’s mind extensively. Back in the PS1 days, Mantis would access your memory card to discover and comment on other Konami games that you had played. Games like Suikoden and Castlevania were among the titles that would pique his curiosity.
However, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1 has reimagined the mind-reading aspect. It functions by creating virtual save data before launching the game. You can curate this save data, enabling you to choose which games Mantis will reference in the pre-fight mind-reading sequence. Overall, The care that went into a 25-year-old boss fight proves that Konami intends for this to be the definitive Metal Gear collection.
The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
