Anton Girdeux (originally voiced by Jason Cusson) is the second boss encounter, and first traditional boss of Syphon Filter. He is noted for his French accent, deadly flamethrower, and supposedly impervious armor. Though the character is only active in the game’s plot for a brief period, he has many fan-famous quotes and is among the more challenging villains in the series.
The player faces Girdeux at Freedom Memorial in Washington Park, effectively a circular room. There is a throne at center and a dozen pillars around it. Before the battle, Girdeux says:
Look around Logan. This hall contains a mosaic depicting the entire history of your country's wars and aggression. We are about to make an addition to it.
The player must defeat Girdeux by getting around him and shooting the flamethrower pack on his back. This is made difficult by a number of elements, including: the flamethrower itself, which kills the player in one hit; the shape of the room, which leaves little place to hide or run; and, arguably, the similar textures used for Girdeux’s armor and pack – it can be hard to tell which way he’s facing.
Before April 2000 and the re-absorption of 989 Studios into SCEA, the publisher’s website contained a description of Anton Girdeux. It read as follows:
Anton Girdeux: Munitions Expert Working for Rhoemer
- Sex: Male
- Height: 6 feet
- Age: 29
- Weight: 200 pounds
- Birthplace: Toulouse, France
- Eye Color: Blue
- Nationality: French
- Hair Color: Blond
- Background: Mercenary for hire, 1992-Current. Machinist, 1988-1992. Girdeux has no official records linking him to any significant criminal activity. Believed to have been recruited into the Black Baton ranks by Mara Aramov.
- Training: Certification by French Society of Machinists, 1988.
Anton Girdeux’s corpse makes an appearance in a Syphon Filter 2 mission, and he is a playable character in the multiplayer. This is his last official appearance, though there are some brief allusions to him in other games of the series.
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