Metroid Topic

[stan423321]

I never did understand the need to bring that theme so aggressively in, it's an interesting perspective, but was incessantly hammered in.

Eh, my writing... experiences... suggest that it's a relatively easy error to make.

[Pirez]

Zero Mission is the real deal.

[Master]

Zero Mission was a good remake of the first, though I'm not keen on how they hand held with the Chozo Statues.

[Haruka]

I only played a bit of the original Metroid and I fear I need a guide to complete it.

[Master]

Try playing Zero Mission instead, it's a remake of the first.

[Haruka]

Ah thanks for the suggestion. ^^

[Bradandez]

I would too, but only the original is closer access for me for now.

[Pirez]

#BumpTopicsOnFriday

Did anyone play Metroid Federation Force? If yes, what were your thoughts on it? I highly hesistate to buy it. So far I have read scarce, conflicting opinions on it.

[Greeness]

Nah I only played blast ball. the game controls fine (on the new 3ds xl) and surely metriod prime: Federation force could be an enjoyable experience.

[Master]

Heh, anyone seen Wikipedia's featured article for today? Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.

And two years later, Prime 3 ended up getting featured yesterday.

Anyways, I've finished AM2R, not 100%ed it, but finished the main thing. I'll probably write up my thoughts at some point.

[Master]

Man, I really want that. The Prime 2/3 Varia suit is my favourite incarnation, and this figure looks pretty awesome.

[Keane]

How tardne is Other M? I can't tell if it's a genuinely bad game or just something that no one really asked for, other than the cutscenes look exhausting and contradicts the lonely atmosphere of the games.

[Master]

I'm not too sure, I've yet to play Other M. From what I've seen, I think there's a wide range of reasons folks don't like it though, for some, it comes down to the plot and how it treats the Metroid lore and portrays Samus. Others dislike its gameplay, and feel that it doesn't fit to the Metroid formula.

[Reese Riverson]

I'm looking to give this series a good try, primarily on my older gaming consoles. Which Metroid game would you recommend me to start off with?

[Master]

If you're going for the 2D series, probably Metroid: Zero Mission, it's a remake of the first game and it's a very well constructed and accessible title at that.

If you're going for the 3D titles, well, just play the Prime Trilogy in order, there's no real reason not to. Just be sure to take a break between the three, they're very good games, but you'll tire out if you try marathoning them all at once.

[Master]

Bumping. Seeing how Metroid's getting two new games, might as well resurrect the actual topic.

Firstly, there's going to be a Metroid themed New 3DSXL: https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/sta ... 1409250306

And, there's more gameplay of Samus Returns:

[Master]

Bumping. A car based off Samus' Gunship is going to be playable in the Switch version of Rocket League, and while I don't play it, I love how it looks: (Also I really, really like the sound of that mix of the classic Metroid title theme)

I'll also update this post tomorrow, Nintendo's showing some more of Samus Returns in Gamescom.

EDIT: Here you go, new trailer and some more gameplay:

[Master]

Continuing from the music thread...

I'm guessing the choice of Agon Wastes as your OST of choice for that post was a pointed one given the desert?

Yeah, the desert boggles the mind. I was willing to give it a chance because I didn't want to be prejudicial, and we've already had a slight unconventional means of connecting areas what with the gunship in Prime 3. But the desert is just really dull. It's not bad or horrible to trek through (if anything I actually like how the motorcycle controls), but it's just...there.

I do really like Agon Wastes at least, it's very atmospheric and matches the game's tone perfectly! Meanwhile the ambiance in the MP4 (not the file format) desert perfectly captures the crushing sense of V O I D you get while traversing it.

Yeah Agon Wastes, even if I do find it to be the blandest of the Prime 2 areas, does have the benefit of actually being a Metroid area. Plus it's got the Pirate Base to spruce things up. Sol Valley is just featureless and bland in comparison. Honestly I don't know if I'd like it even if it were more lively though to be honest, it's inherently antithetical to Metroid design in being an open space. Labyrinthine design is the point, and having a vast open space is antithetical to that. I also wasn't fond of the wide open area that was in the entrance to another area, it felt like it was just there for the one setpiece and then was just a waste of space afterwards. (And considering there was a Kinetic Orb Cannon - or whatever Prime 4's name for it is - to get over that space when leaving, I feel like the dev knew that too).

At least the MP3 (still not a file format) gunship was basically Metroid's take on Ratchet & Clank's planet transitions for the most part and it didn't felt out of place in such a sci-fi universe, even if a downgrade after the first two games... But the desert and the motorcycle, however... what are they even doing here? Who decided this, and why?...
I would joke about the guy being also responsible for the BotW motorcycle, but clearly, whoever at Nintendo decided that didn't understand at all why it actually worked in a game like Breath of the Wild (or Mario Kart 8 )!

Considering the game's development started (or rather was rebooted) in 2019, and thus saw the entirety of BoTW's lifecycle. I do wonder if it was an influence. And if so, I feel like that was a big misstep. Nintendo's main franchises have tried to embrace a more open space design philosophy, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that...provided their formulae can fit it. Zelda can (although I'd argue there's a sizeable contingent who bemoan the fact that the BoTW formula has supplanted the old-school dungeon and overworld design of classic 3D Zelda). Mario can (Odyssey was a very fun game). Pokemon can (although frankly they need time and budget to make it look and play good).

Metroid can't. At least not something that feels like Metroid. People say Metroid is about exploring, which is true...but I'd say it's about pathfinding and a sense of things opening up as you progress. It's very very difficult to constrain someone in an open space without something arbitrary blocking or dissuading you. And unless you're sequence breaking, Metroid games are actually pretty linear, but give the illusion of openness. That's the balance. I don't know how well an Open-World game can do that while still not making you feel like you're just completing missions on a map.

Or maybe I'm just rambling again. I'll say I'm glad it wasn't completely open-world, but just...Sol Valley should've been a Temple Grounds. It would've been perfect as Temple Grounds. Honestly Prime 4 had the perfect template in what it was trying to do, in Prime 2. You had an ancient civilisation that had fallen, but still could interact with you in a fashion. You had a central area, and each other area connecting to it, much like how Temple Grounds connected to each other area in Prime 2. And you could've easily linked up each other area through elevators, trams or other transports. And as for the areas themselves...make em more organic. There's way too much in the way of corridors, and very little in the way of more intricately shaped rooms. Volt Forge was a fun area, but it is soo simplistic in its level layout compared to similar facility...say Sanctuary Fortress (I'm very deliberately comparing to Prime 2 xD).

Prime 3's areas I think also got pretty corridorry as well, but I don't think it felt as substantial as it did in Prime 4. And I'm gonna stop there otherwise I'll spend an eternity griping and nitpicking Prime 4 further. To be clear, I did enjoy Prime 4. But god almighty do I feel it could've been so much more.