Topic: -METROID-

[Flame]

Lets talk some Metroid. The progenitor of the open world formula later known as "Metroidvania".

Prime is basically Super Metroid 3D

Prime 2 really blows

And motion controls are the best thing ever for the primes.

Also despite Other M's story being really badly written and presented, (and voiced) I can still see some shreds of potential in it. And quite a few ways to BETTER integrate the "power up progression" in sections where it made no damn sense to NOT give you the power ups. (*coughvariasuitand everynonoffensivemoveCOUGH*)

Also the gameplay was pretty damn fun. And I like the sleeker Powersuit design.

And I wish they would make a sequel to Fusion already. Fugitive Samus vs. the Galactic Federation? Yes please. Imagine the possibilities. Like, siding with Space pirates. Though im pretty sure neither side would ever fuycking work with the other, on PRINCIPLE alone. Pirates killed Samus family, and Samus busted at least what, 5 of their bases? 2 of them being entire planets and one of them exploding? (And killed their leader like a billion times)

[X]

I actually did a review of the Metroid Prime games a few years back after I had picked up the limited printed Prime trilogy for the Wii. In it I outlined both good and bad things about the first two games. I STILL have not finished Prime 3. Not since I first wrote that review. God, that was a while ago and it doesn't look like I'm going to pick up where I left off either. My most favorite Metroid game of the entire series is still Super Metroid. No Metroid game to date has yet to top it. It was a one-hit wonder on the super NES and to this day I'm still disappointed that Nintendo didn't crank out a sequel on that system. I guess Fusion just took too damned long to make which is sad since I was waiting for a Super Metroid SNES sequel for years on end. Essentially Super Metroid took what made the original good and made it even better. More bosses, items, areas, a new suit, new music, the return of an old villain with a new twist, you get the idea.

And I wish they would make a sequel to Fusion already. Fugitive Samus vs. the Galactic Federation? Yes please. Imagine the possibilities. Like, siding with Space pirates. Though im pretty sure neither side would ever fuycking work with the other, on PRINCIPLE alone. Pirates killed Samus family, and Samus busted at least what, 5 of their bases? 2 of them being entire planets and one of them exploding? (And killed their leader like a billion times)

I highly doubt that Samus is on the run from the Galactic Federation. Knowing her she would have returned to HQ in order to explain what happened. The small group within the Federation that Adam mentions in Other M is probably the same group in Metroid Fusion that takes an interest in the X parasites. And since the Adam computer on board Samus's new ship had made a complete record of all that was happening on board the station, as well as the secret messages sent to him, then it's most likely that Samus will get off the hook and an even further in-depth investigation will be made against the secret members committee.

--UPDATE--

I decided to throw this little tid bit here as I was thinking about it while writing this up. i made this false screenshot to see what a SNES remake of Metroid II would look like. Enjoy. I borrowed the Alpha Metroid from a custom spritesheet made by someone called Betatronic. however I don't know why the sheet is dubbed Beta Metroid when it clearly is an Alpha Metroid.

[Aridale]

someone was makin metroid 2 remake wasnt there? I remember seein a link not too long ago

[Successor The Cruel]

The series was my favorite at a time, but has really lost my interest now (Castlevania is also somewhat in this same spot with me now). I think the first five Metroid games are brilliant, with the original being my favorite. That game is pretty minimalistic in some ways, but there aren't many games that ooze as much personality or atmosphere as that one to me, in no small part due to Hip Tanaka's soundtrack, which works absolutely perfectly with the really creative and alien visuals.

That is also the most open ended Metroid that I've played. It quite literally just plops you in a random location (without even giving you full health), gives you little to no direction, and you have to figure everything out on your own. Some of the other Metroid games seem like they're holding your hand in comparison, with their "MASSIVE ENERGY SPIKE IN THIS LOCATION GO CHECK IT OUT," notices, and mysterious Chozo statues that tell you where to go next. I guess a lot of gamers won't have the patience for something as loose as Metroid, but that's one reason why Harmony of Dissonance is my favorite Castlevania; its comparatively loose design is most reminiscent of the original Metroid to me, and I dig that kind of gameplay.

Sadly, I don't really care about the series nowadays. They lost me with Prime 2, but I was already not too impressed with Zero Mission.  To me, it just didn't capture the spirit of the original well enough, but some things in it were great. After Fusion (which I love), as time went on, the games seemed to capture the spirit of Metroid less and less.

To me, Metroid is another game series that I absolutely love, but only up to a certain point, and there aren't too many games before the threshold when you get into the games I don't like.

[Inccubus]

http://metroid2remake.blogspot.com/


http://metroid2remake.blogspot.com.ar/p/am2r-demo-v11.html

[Flame]

I liked Prime 3. There are a few problems with Prime 2.

1, and this is the worst one, the areas. They are all pretty bland with the exception of Sanctuary Fortress. They all have the same overtones of brown and more brown, and Dark Aether is even worse, with constant purple everywhere.

2, The musical themes for the different areas are somewhat dull with a few exceptions, (Torvus sounds like a Prime 1 overworld theme, and lower Torvus is a neat remix)

3, Dual World Gameplay. It's a nice concept, that the Leviathan split the world into two dimensions, but the way it's implemented is just so bad, and boring and it drags on forever. "Oh I have to go all the way over here to get to there, because convenient ingworms mean there is no passage that way" And don't get me started on the key hunting. HOOOLY SHIT, did they seriously think we wanted more of that? That shit was intolerable.

4, Ammo count. On a BEAM weapon. What, the fuck, is this. I don't even. Really? What was wrong with the way every other Metroid game did it? or the way Prime 1 did it? With doors and puzzles possibly requiring you to waste ammo, you are going to use an ammo count? WHY. The selection this time around was also pretty pitiful. Just the generic light, dark, and combination. And the Annihilator beam is really not even worth it, since it uses ammo from both the other weapons. Charging it, at least, is futile, since uncharged alone, it already deals massive damage and homes in on enemies. And the charge combos are not impressive. Annihilator's is neat, and Black Hole is interesting, but Annihilator's charge combo takes like 30 missiles and 30 ammo from both the light and Dark beams, making it hardly worth the effort when you can just use Super Missiles. And Sunburst was terrible.

5, too much emphasis on combat, it felt like.

6. I didn't really like that the game forces you to take damage in Dark Aether for pretty much 3/4ths of the game, with Samus' health tanking like a rock before the Dark Suit. And No, the fact that the safe points regenerate health does NOT make it better. I mean jeez, Even other M's forced No Varia Heat Area run is better than this, because yknow, it doesnt force you to go back and forth through the sector without the Varia Suit all the damn time. It's just one and that's it, any future heat runs are heatproofed. (unless, y,know, you jump in lava)

7. the Screw Attack controls like total ass, and I know you can't control the direction. No, the trigger for it after double jumping is so ridiculously specific that half the time it doesnt trigger at all because I tried it too early, or too late.

8, I just could not bring myself to give a shit about the Luminoth. The lore felt too disjointed at times, and I found myself more interested in their interactions with the Chozo.

TL;DR, it was bland and uninteresting, and introduced too much too fast. I mean, even Emperor Ing was not too impressive. Mainly because he looks like every other Ing out there. (and his hitbox on his core is so fucked up it;'s not even funny. I cant count how many times a shot SHOULD have connected, but it didnt.)

Prime 3, while more linear in structure and again, has a slight more emphasis on the shooting, still balances it out by having more diverse areas, (planets! You can travel to planets!)

The music I think, picks up a slight bit from 2,

The PED Suit is an interesting mechanic, although it tends to make the game easier as a result,

The Screw Attack controls well, and doesnt have such a ridiculous trigger timeframe.

I actually found it interesting to interact with the Federation, and Exploring the destroyed remains of the GFS Valhalla was one of the coolest parts. That felt like some Dead Space shit right there. That place was pretty creepy.

Skytown, Elysia, DEFINITELY felt (and sounded) Chozolike, And I liked how it was like, basically a Chozo Steampunk thing.

I finally gave a shit about the story and the lore, And how it connected back to the first two Primes.

MOTHER BRAINS.
MOTHER BRAINS, EVERYWHERE.

Dark Samus design got a cool upgrade.

AHHH IT'S THE SA-X! Oh wait, it's just Gandrayda mimicking you in your normal Powersuit and kicking your ass with it.

Also, Rundas. (R.I.P. :< )

[Neobelmont]

I dig metroid 

Yet sometimes I get hecka bored with it.

Her zero-suit for some reason it reminds me of power rangers/sentai but only 100% tighter and well more sexy... skin tight suits are quite something.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when someone sees something like this



As for her character I cannot say much, but as being one who dug other-m I must say she is a whole lot more gentle than I thought.

Also ridely is a dang pokemon 
 

[RichterB]

Long-time fan. I would like a Metroid sequel to Fusion that mixes the best elements of Prime 1 and Other M, while adding a lot of new weapons/abilities. I picture Samus being hunted by a mix of Federation hardliners and bounty hunters on a planet related to the Chozo. During the adventure, we recount Samus' past with the Chozo and she comes into conflict with a conflicted Anthony "Remember me?" Higgs, who was ordered to hunt her. One new mechanic: I think there should be areas controlled by the Chozo that were training grounds for Chozo warriors. In these spaces, Samus' Power Suit is deactivated, and she has to navigate stealthily and acrobatically with her Zero Suit. But more than that, we need some new and meaningful upgrades in terms of beams, missiles, and suit expansions. (A flying or gliding mechanic perhaps? A drill or sword ability?) That should be one of the first orders of the day on the design doc. Other M had almost no new items, and the Prime series was rather slim with that, too.

As for my feelings on the series lately, I think that with Metroid Other M adding its sense of 3rd-person mobility and exploration, I've finally gotten a "taste" of what was lacking from the amazing Metroid Prime 1's atmosphere, puzzles, and map design. The whole thing just needs to be less guided, and the on-command switches between 3rd and 1st person need to be more seamless. All of the ingredients are there. It's just a matter of putting it together. However, as with Zelda lately, I have great concerns that this obvious fact won't be seen. I fear all of Other M's advances will be scrapped in favor of a retread of Metroid Prime 3 for Wii U. Anyway...

In retrospect:

Metroid: An impressive but frustrating start to the series.

Metroid II: Too much looks too similar, and it's a bit too floaty, but its an interesting entry with some neat mechanics and innovations.

Super Metroid: This is what secured me as a fan. It was a huge jump in all areas.

Metroid Fusion: Like the new suit and its absorption mechanic, but the game is too guided and limited.

Metroid Prime 1: Super Metroid in 3D, with a few things better and a few things worse. Biggest inherent weakness was lack of 3rd-person exploration beyond the Morph Ball.

Metorid Prime 2: A competent sequel that comes off as more of a chore than fun.

Metroid Prime Hunters: Totally underrated. One you get into it, it's the closest to Metroid Prime 1.

Metroid Prime 3: I found this to be a really good game, but I don't recall all the details. I did think it was more guided than I would have liked, though.

Metroid Prime Trilogy: Motion controls are amazing!

Metroid Other M: Most daring take on Metroid lately. Too guided and there was some awkward story elements, but I like that it portrayed the human side of Samus and found its 3rd-person 3D (with option 1st person) to be just what I was looking for. Speed Booster controlled like a dream. I wouldn't mind having a 3D camera, though; or being able to shoot in those over-the-shoulder sequences. And the Bottle Ships areas were pretty routine. I would have liked the game to expand to other planets with less recognizable themes.

[X]

I also liked Other M, but Samus' character in that title was a serious botch job. All previous games had established her as a warrior woman who didn't take crap from anyone including her former commander Adam Malkovich. No alien or man could dominate her spirit and that's how it should have remained. Unfortunately the person in charge of Other M's story development didn't bother to do his homework on her, and left us with a very different Samus then what we already knew of her. Either that or he was eking his own personal views of women in general into the game and expected the gaming community to except it. I can see her being vulnerable in her youth, but not as an adult who's faced down unimaginable horrors time and again.

[RichterB]

I also liked Other M, but Samus' character in that title was a serious botch job. All previous games had established her as a warrior woman who didn't take crap from anyone including her former commander Adam Malkovich. No alien or man could dominate her spirit and that's how it should have remained. Unfortunately the person in charge of Other M's story development didn't bother to do his homework on her, and left us with a very different Samus then what we already knew of her. Either that or he was eking his own personal views of women in general into the game and expected the gaming community to except it. I can see her being vulnerable in her youth, but not as an adult who's faced down unimaginable horrors time and again.

It was not handled well, but it was not completely inaccurate, either. As I said above in my assessment of the series' future and past, it at least showed us the "human" Samus. As warrior-like as she can be, she clearly shows a motherly side in Metroid II's ending and through the course of Super Metroid, and also shows a sentimental side during Fusion. She's not just a stone-cold killer.

I think the Ridley scene was the biggest offender, but that had to do with the director wanting to show something he never got to show before, I think. He wanted to show the terror of facing down one's tragic past. Unfortunately, he didn't take into account the pre-existing flow of the narrative, where she had already done that (even without the Prime games).

Nevertheless, we can't say that Samus should be totally emotionless. I think that's wrong, too.

[Neobelmont]

It was not handled well, but it was not completely inaccurate, either. As I said above, it at least showed us the "human" Samus. As warrior-like as she can be, she clearly shows a motherly side in Metroid II's ending and through the course of Super Metroid, and also shows a sentimental side during Fusion. She's not just a stone-cold killer.

As I said she is a whole more gentle that I thought but she can kick your butt six ways to sunday if she wanted to you know

And I forgot about MII and SM my bro beat them so what happen is cloudy to me. Fusion(you machine!), zero mission, and the first Metroid are the only ones I have beaten.

[Flame]

All previous games had established her as a warrior woman who didn't take crap from anyone including her former commander Adam Malkovich.

Metroid 1-Super she had very little dialogue aside from text narration in Super. We saw actions in the primes, but due to the nature of the suit obscuring her features for the most part, (and despite Prime 2 showing her face off a bit more, it did nothing with it) we can't get a real read of her face or unhindered body language. We assume she is Ripley, because let's face it, that was her inspiration, and because she doesnt talk, and never seems to show any extreme emotions in the primes. Fusion gave her a narrative, and in all honestly, her personality there was VERY similar to other M. The difference is that Other M had bad writing and a poorly thought out plot (and themes) and therefore, in conjunction with the terrible voice actress, Samus came off as a far extreme version of her Fusion self. And again, we don't see Samus face or get a real good read of the body language as far as Fusion  goes, so we can rely SOLELY on her narrative, and that narrative is pretty contemplative and introspective. And she definitely goes expresses her feelings for Adam, especially once he reveals he is literally Adam's mind in a computer.

Yknow, that is something I really look forward to in any post-Fusion games. The interaction between Samus and Adam. It can make for some interesting moments, or interesting dialogues from Adam, considering he isn't just a mere AI, but a replica of Adam's mind, and therefore thinks and acts like he would. So instead of "RANDOM SHIT OVER HERE. LEMME MARK THE MAP." He could be more like, "Strange... I recall the Federation having records of such a thing..."

Not to mention he could butt in other times, ASIDE from pointing out items, such as a boss battle, where he can make some interesting commentary. Also, considering he is the brain of a Federation Official, that means he has inside info on stuff Samus herself probably isn't privvy to.

Hmm. Considering the explanation of his robo brain in Fusion, would that mean his mind would have no recollection of the events in Other M? That's both convenient AND awkward at the same time... Convenient because it means Other M and it's poorly handled story doesn't have to be referenced too much, and awkward because Despite SAMUS knowing how he sacrificed his life for her, he would not know the details of how or why, other than Samus perhaps telling him at some point of the events that transpired that led to that.

[X]

It was not handled well, but it was not completely inaccurate, either. As I said above in my assessment of the series' future and past, it at least showed us the "human" Samus. As warrior-like as she can be, she clearly shows a motherly side in Metroid II's ending and through the course of Super Metroid, and also shows a sentimental side during Fusion. She's not just a stone-cold killer.

I also agree that Samus is rather fragile figure inside, but Other M was just the wrong game and the wrong time to implement that side of her, and they went quite overboard with some other aspects too. Her PTSD incident with Ridley should've happened in the events of Super Metroid as she had not seen Ridley since his defeat in the first game and believed he was K.I.A. What should have happened in Super Metroid is that Samus enters the Ceres station, finds the hatchling on the floor, then out from the dark emerges Ridley and then she has her PTSD episode. This would prevent Samus from defeating Ridley and he makes his escape from the station, setting off the auto destruct sequence. Samus then recomposes herself and chases after him before the station explodes. I didn't count the Prime series as they weren't made prior to Super Metroid.

[RichterB]

Now that I think about it, Metroid Prime 3 has her reminiscence about her fellow bounty hunters that were lost in the battle against the Phazon menace, suggesting emotions yet again.

And Zero Mission has her cute drawing with the Chozo as a child after her parents' passing.

As I said she is a whole more gentle that I thought but she can kick your butt six ways to sunday if she wanted to you know

And I forgot about MII and SM my bro beat them so what happen is cloudy to me. Fusion(you machine!), zero mission, and the first Metroid are the only ones I have beaten.

Metroid II she is sent to exterminate all known Metroids on their home planet. After she defeats the Queen Metroid, she observes the hatching birth of its child. She has an opportunity to destroy it, but lowers her gun arm when the baby Metroid fixes itself to her, assuming (presumably) that she is its mother. She instead captures this Metroid and brings it to Ceres Station for research, where they find that Metroids can be used for the good of mankind. Enter Super Metroid, and the Space Pirate kidnap the baby Metroid. Samus goes after them to recover the baby Metroid and destroy their base of operations. Along the way, the baby Metroid, expiramented on by the pirates,is sent to kill her, but can't do it. Later, when Samus is about to be killed by Mother Brain, the baby Metroid sacrifices itself and gives the last of its energy to Samus. Samus goes all-out and avenges the baby Metroid. On her way to escaping the planet, she has the opportunity to rescue a few other native creatures (etecoons and dachoras), which the player can choose to do. Given that the option is there, that the thought would even be presented, suggests the motherly or human nature, especially given the relationship with the baby Metroid. And also, these alien creatures can help to teach you wall jumping and shine sparking techniques, creating a subtle narrative of "thanks/repayment. And of course, in Fusion, she is sentimental and nostalgic toward Adam.

I forgot to mention Zero Mission in my retrospective! Ahh! That game was very well done; though, some of the hints were a bit overboard, and seemed to lessen some of the sense of discovery in the original (which could at the same time be as frustrating as rewarding. It's give and take). But anyway, Zero Mission suggests a playful, human nature as she was growing up with the Chozo after her parents passed away. There is her cute drawing of being with them, for instance.

I also agree that Samus is rather fragile figure inside, but Other M was just the wrong game and the wrong time to implement that side of her, and they went quite overboard with some other aspects too. Her PTSD incident with Ridley should've happened in the events of Super Metroid as she had not seen Ridley since his defeat in the first game and believed he was K.I.A. What should have happened in Super Metroid is that Samus enters the Ceres station, finds the hatchling on the floor, then out from the dark emerges Ridley and then she has her PTSD episode. This would prevent Samus from defeating Ridley and he makes his escape from the station, setting off the auto destruct sequence. Samus then recomposes herself and chases after him before the station explodes. I didn't count the Prime series as they weren't made prior to Super Metroid.

"

Agreed. The timing was wrong; the writing choppy. (Though, some pieces were not without intrigue). I just think the director was desperate to let us know there was more to her than being Ripley's little sister from Aliens. As Flame said, though, her introspective and sensitive nature was established in Fusion, but it was sort of taken to extremes here. Honestly, all and all, I do like the idea of Samus being more multidimensional than "I point and shoot and destroy." It needs to be more balanced in the future. I just hope we get a good game that doesn't throw out everything from Other M in order to satisfy those who think Prime is the only way Metroid works.

EDIT: Having seen Metroid Blast on Nintendo Land, I think that'd be a really cool direction for Metroid maybe, in terms of controls/camera.

[Pfil]

My 1st Metroid was Other M for the Wii and I loved it.
After that, I became more interested in the saga, so I played Prime 3 and again I liked it a lot.
So I went for the Other Prime titles and the NES and SNES games, and they are all incredible!

Yes, I know, I played the saga backwards... that was weird, I know

Now I'm looking forward to the next title on the WiiU