While it is pretty obnoxious how the videogame zeitgeist has overblown Kojima's input on Boktai's development, in the same manner people credit him for the ZOE series, it is undeniable how much of his DNA flows through this game. Besides the obvious rudimentary Metal Gear stealth mechanics that have you dodging the enemy's limited field of vision cone and knocking on walls to attract zombie minded enemies, alongside some recognizable sound effects from that franchise, the solar sensor that defines the Boktai series is undoubtedly Kojima to a tee.

Now, full disclosure: no, I did not play this on a Gameboy Advance with an official cartridge that has the solar sensor. However, being the committed Gamer that I am, I played a hacked version that lets me adjust the solar power at will on a portable device, only changing it according to the weather and time of day. Yes, I am that guy. While it might seem gimmicky at first glance, the solar sensor imbues Boktai with the same proficiency to blur the line between player and game that the Psycho Mantis and back of the box radio frequency 4th wall breaks had in MGS1, and the dependency on real life circumstances to be able to charge your weapon works wonderfully with the stealth angle of Boktai, forcing you to shift play styles at the sun's will.

Kojima stated once that he regrets not having been more active in Boktai's production, as the team proved to lack "power and wisdom", which unfortunately is a sentiment I agree with. The opportunities where Boktai utilizes the solar sensor to provide unique challenges and puzzles that are the most engaging and entertaining parts of the game are few and far between, and while the core gameplay is fun enough, it proves to be a bit stale and repetitive towards the end as you start to realize how much more punishing the solar dependency could and should have been.

These days, wanting more Kojima in your game might make you do a double take, but if that would imply the cartridges having breathalyzers so kids could kill vampires with their garlic breath, as he intented, then sign me up. Having to deliberately wake up at 5 am to catch the sunrise in order to dispel a curse in the game might not sound like something you would want to subject your player in a standard fare videogame, but it is something worth writing about. And yeah, that did happen. And I wanted more of that.

Also, I have to mention the badass post boss segment of each dungeon where you are forced to drag their coffin all the way back to beginning of the stage in order to exterminate it, in some odd Death Strandish precursor way. It's really fucking cool.