Similarly, I used to believe the second controller port symbolized Solid Snake possessing an impetuous mind. A soldier disciplined to suppress empathy in favor of trigger happy instinct. Psycho Mantis operates as the most powerful character in the entire franchise, but it's surprising how easily he was beatable after all the demonstrations of his abilities.
Not in a traditional or deep way. It has gameplay weight though, and if she leaves, there's a tangible absence. Same with killing your infested soldiers who you had to acquire yourself.
They could've done more, but I felt there were enough nonverbal cues to convey a growing link. The rain scene is the most overt, but you also have bits like the looks they exchange when Venom puts his hand on her shoulder when she first arrives at MB and everyone wants to kill her, or the way she looks at him in trust and without judgment during the interrogation, or my favorite, the way Venom can lean forward and trust her to snipe the tip of his cigar to light it (the birthday scene, something minor but fun nonetheless). Early on in Ch. 2, they're at the point where Venom loses his cool when she dives into the chlorine tank to retrieve the necklace. It's subtle, but it's there. Even the way Quiet's response to the "Quiet" command changes overtime in-game, with her looking down when your bond is low, but gradually warming up to a thumbs-up. Just showing that the trust is there.
In that really big post it says:
I recall the game characterizing Mantis as drawn to negativity, not necessarily vengeance (although vengeance would of course qualify as negativity). Maybe Liquid Snake wasn't the most positive guy.
And maybe he thinks that, or maybe he doesn't. I felt like he was placating Kaz while privately being unsure what to do, but intuitively feeling there's more to Quiet. I mean, he brought her to Mother Base, and the trust only grows from there.
He really is the most despicable character in the game - commiting terrible acts under a layer of delusion that he's simply "right." All while doing Olympic level mental gymnastics during the Ocelot torture scene.
Best to think of Ch. 1 as three acts (1-12, 13-20, 21-31) and Ch. 2 as a short story collection that serves the purpose of an epilogue. That's how I saw it while I was playing it. Thematically, you have the quest for revenge, and then the (rather unfulfilling) life they lead after they've had their revenge.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I believe Kaz didn't find out the true identity of Venom Snake until after the events Phantom Pain based on how Mother Base soldiers begin to express awareness of the ruse once you've completed the "truth" mission. Some speculate it occurs sometime earlier based on his irritated reactions to several of Venom's decisions, but no one has pin-pointed where he begins to express this realization since he seemed convinced you were the real deal during the rescue op. I'm particularly more curious to know when Ocelot snapped out of his self-hypnosis.
Seems pretty clear to me that Kaz learns it at some point after Mission 45 but before Mission 46. Kaz says to Ocelot (and I paraphrase) "In the meantime, you and I will have to go back to coexisting," meaning Kaz learned the truth while they were still serving with Venom back on Mother Base. This would also explain the other troops on Mother Base coming to know the truth about Venom.
I think Venom cares. He showed his feelings not long before that mission when he panicked over Quiet in the chlorine tank and when he had his moment with her in the rain. I just think that when she made the decision to leave, he had the grace to accept it. Grace is sometimes accepting the things you can't control.
Yoooooo this is amazing.
Personally, I don't value Venom for his meta-ness. I value him for acting as a foil to BB.
Snake (wearing a Big Boss alt): "Pit, we need to check Palutena for snukes."
I don't think Kojima rikes that. I don't think Kojima rikes that at all!
