The Boss – Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
There have been emotional CQC boss battles in the Metal Gear Solid series but in terms of drama and weight, the battle with The Boss is almost on top. This is Naked Snake before he became Big Boss going up against his mentor, his entire reason for being. Not only is this is a fight to the death but in true Metal Gear fashion, there’s a timer ticking down to destruction. And instead of just being a close quarters battle, there are the added layers of stealth – especially given the environment – and gun play. Perhaps one of the cooler moments is seeing The Boss just manhandle Snake in close quarters, which makes sense and gives further context to Snake using his stealth and guerrilla tactics to get the drop on her.
In the end, Snake is forced to kill his mentor, as she proclaims “There’s only room for one Boss.” Later on, we learn that everything she had done was in service of her country, even if meant being labeled as a traitor forever. Suffice it to say, the impact this had on Big Boss and his character throughout the years is significant.
