Death Stranding Can Put Its Spin on Psycho Mantis Memory Card Trick

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Death Stranding Can Put Its Spin on Psycho Mantis Memory Card Trick

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that Hideo Kojima is a master of pushing the boundaries of what games can be. His unique approach to hardware integration and fourth-wall breaking has left an indelible mark on the gaming industry, and I eagerly await the release of Death Stranding 2 to see how he will continue to innovate.

Hideo Kojima’s knack for fully leveraging the technology of the time stands out among his many game-making abilities. For example, in Death Stranding, he uses innovative controls like the DualShock 4’s motion sensors as a virtual representation of Sam Porter Bridge’s hands. Players physically rock the controller to calm BB during tantrums and other scenarios. It’ll be intriguing to observe how future Kojima games continue this hardware-focused design approach, particularly as titles such as Death Stranding 2 expand beyond PlayStation platforms.

In innovative ways, Kojima has integrated motion controls, tactile feedback, and 3D sound, but arguably, his most distinctive application of this comprehensive design philosophy is evident in the initial Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation 1 – the legendary Psycho Mantis fight. True to his moniker, Psycho Mantis mind-games Snake, with these psychological maneuvers manifesting as breaks of the traditional game boundaries, such as compelling the player to switch their controller to the player 2 slot and scrutinizing their memory card to generate personalized taunts and ridicule from Mantis. While the first tactic is no longer feasible due to the prevalence of wireless controllers in the current era, the latter could potentially be recreated in a unique manner on modern devices, possibly in Death Stranding 2 or other future Kojima projects.

How Death Stranding 2 (or Other Kojima Games) Can Modernize Psycho Mantis’ Memory Card Reading

Trophies and Achievements Are Akin to Modern Memory Cards

As technology advances with cloud saving and digital gaming taking center stage, memory cards and their counterparts, save for SD cards on certain gadgets, seem to have become relics of the past. Now, these systems do preserve our data, so there’s a slim chance that a future Kojima game might recreate Psycho Mantis’ iconic tricks. However, doing so would be rather predictable and could risk treading familiar territory.

An intriguing approach could lean more on trophies and accomplishments, common elements in today’s video games. Characters such as Higgs or other mysterious adversaries might break the conventional boundaries of the game, using a player’s gaming past as a reference. They could sarcastically commend players for platinum-ing specific games or earning challenging achievements. Alternatively, they could scold players for not completing all the achievements in a particular game, or for overlooking easy ones. Implementing this on devices like the Switch 2 might pose challenges, given its lack of an achievements feature, and it’s uncertain whether future Kojima games will be compatible with this platform.

In other words, it’s not necessary for breaking the fourth wall to occur only during a boss fight, since characters like Deadman in the game “Death Stranding” do so in non-aggressive manners as well.

Why Focusing On Achievements Could Be a Fun Way for Kojima Games to Break the Fourth Wall

In the world of gaming, the battle against Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid is still talked about widely due to its unique fourth-wall-breaking features. The chilling effect comes from the villain directly addressing the player, which makes them seem all-knowing and terrifying. This direct communication breaks down the protective barrier between the player and the storyline, pulling them in closer and making them feel less secure about their detachment.

It’s an effective intimidation tactic that more games should make use of. This goes double for Kojima games like Death Stranding, which establish themselves as cerebral and mystical stories conveyed through unconventional means. Kojima Productions is clearly not shying away from unconventional techniques, and with Death Stranding 2 possibly coming to Xbox and PC, reading achievements would be a unique, non-platform-specific way to discomfort a new generation of players.

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2024-11-19 23:15