I wonder, is there any other character that could evoke the reaction that Snake did in 2006? I'm guessing not, because a large part of that was due to the revelation of third party characters being a factor. Even so, what other characters might get that kind of fevered response?
I would have thought Mega Man would do it, but I was wrong. In hindsight I think that's because he seemed so likely to the point where some people were even taking it for granted. A character to really blow minds would need to be something nobody had expected.