It’s the end of the year and Shinesparkers have put together another end of year feature. Last year, we had a great time speaking with the webmasters of the Metroid community, airing their thoughts on all things Metroid. This year, we have invited some of them back with the addition of other notable people in the Metroid fan community to discuss a year of Metroid. We asked for their thoughts on a variety of topics.
Maikel Slemmer – Former webmaster of Metroid EU
FatherBrain230 – Staff member at Metroid Headquarters, former co-webmaster of Metroid EU
Falcon Zero – Webmaster of Metroid Recon
Elias Thompson – Webmaster of Metroid Headquarters
Falcool – Staff member at Metroid Headquarters
CapCom – Webmaster at Metroid Database
Darren – Webmaster at Shinesparkers
Metroid’s 25th Anniversary
CapCom: It’s great to see series running for 25 years and still going strong. Metroid’s 25th comes at an awkward time though because Other M wasn’t very successful and most of the games are out of print (Nintendo needs to seriously re-release the Trilogy). Not to mention Zelda is also celebrating its 25th and thus stealing the show. I think this makes it easy to question the stability and longevity of the series, but honestly, with teams like Retro able to do new things with Metroid and Samus’s brave new jump to third person 3D, it’s pretty clear there is still a lot of life and potential for the series – they just need to make a game that will appeal to more than 1.5 million people.
I admit I was preoccupied around the time of the anniversary, which is really a damn shame, as this is the only time this series is going to hit 25! (Well ok, the US release was 1987, so maybe next year?) We could have coordinated the Bestiary release a bit better, and there are always projects I want to finish. It’s just a question of time and being able to focus on them, which can be hard to do when you’ve got so much going on in your life.
So actually, having Shinesparkers out there helping to carry the torch is kind of nice, but it’s also really sad as I think I could have done a lot more with the MDb if I hadn’t been so distracted.
Maikel: I’m sure that not only me but many others are very disappointed by the lack of support towards Metroid’s 25th Anniversary from the side of Nintendo, I still remember the day I played Metroid for the very first time, in a local toy store. I saved all my pocket money to be able to play Metroid every week on a Saturday at the local toy store back in 1987. I started to love the game more and more, and I became addicted, perhaps I even fell in love for the very first time, and when I learned Samus was a girl instead of a guy as was mentioned in the instruction manual on purpose (when I finally got it myself), I knew it, I no longer need a soul mate, because I found her 25 years ago!
Yet, after the lack of support to Metroid on the N64 which everyone demanded Nintendo failed on doing it, I even dreamt about a Metroid on the N64 and placed my ideas on paper. But Nintendo failed for the fan community, then again they made it right in a way by releasing two Metroid games on the GCN (including the bonus of Metroid on the first Prime game), 2 on the GBA and another one on the DS, followed soon by Metroid Prime 3 on the Wii and later Other M, also on the Wii. Then the year comes that Samus and Metroid turn 25, but instead of doing something special with it like they did with Mario and Zelda, we got some lame ports available for download on the Virtual Console, I’m disappointed, Metroid deserves it as well as Mario and Zelda, perhaps even more so, even if it was only to remember the father of Metroid, Gunpei Yokoi. Well at least Nintendo is following the right track again for Metroid, they have some damage to repair. I just hope that Metroid will also receive a bright future like Zelda and Mario on the next gen consoles.
Elias: This was obviously the biggest thing to happen this year for Metroid, though Nintendo themselves seems to have only remembered it in passing. The community response to this landmark event was extraordinary; fan sites making an effort to hold their own celebrations in some way, fans getting together massive projects for the enjoyment of the community as a whole, and avid players of the Metroid series happy to see 25 years of one of their favorite game franchises, all making the atmosphere of the anniversary something the fans will never forget, and one Nintendo will hopefully take a lesson from in the future.
Falcon Zero: Metroid sharing the 25th anniversary spotlight with Zelda was always going to be tough for Nintendo to follow (especially with two major Zelda releases this year), but that’s where the community stepped up. The Harmony of a Hunter soundtrack album along with the Metroid Database’s Bestiary were just the tip of the iceberg, and I think Nintendo’s lack of support for the anniversary has given the community a chance to show just how strong we love the Metroid series, and how passionate the fans are.
Father Brain: Metroid reaching its twenty-fifth year of entertaining gamers all around the world with its sci-fi exploration flavor is quite a remarkable feat.
Metroid has always been one of those games where it’s core elements, namely exploration and puzzles, are always present, but at the same time, each individual game brought something new and unique to the table, whether it be an item or a concept. For instance, Metroid II brought the different evolutions of the Metroid, Super Metroid brought you the idea of using various objects as latches to swing an electric lasso from (and also brought you the power bomb), Fusion brought the idea of being able to hang upon ledges, Prime took the game into 3D for the first time, Echoes brought in the concept that beams could have an ammunition count, and Corruption brought the concept of using an element that’s normally harmful for Samus as a weapon. There’s more, but that list is rather quite extensive.
Metroid has always been able to bring something new to the table each time a new game in the series had been developed and released. That’s one of the things keeping the series alive at this point. It’s unfortunate that Other M, the August 2010 installment for the Wii, did not receive nearly as much praise as its counterparts, but it still brought diversity to the table, and it’s my expectation and hope that every game they make for Metroid shall continue this trend of diversity.
Falcool: There was definitely a lot to look forward to this year, but I am a bit disappointed Nintendo didn’t do anything special, apart from writing on their twitter and giving out a couple of Metroid games on the 3DS for ambassadors. Even so, they did give out Metroid II in the e-shop, which made me happy. I do wish they had done some kind of collection though, but then again it has been overshadowed by Zelda’s 25th anniversary this year.
As far as fan community projects goes, I have been involved in a few of them. My personal favorite was the Harmony of a Hunter album. I think the album is the biggest Metroid fan-contribution ever created, with 36 tracks and more than 20 different artists. I edited and put together the Metroid Headquarters anniversary podcast back in August, and this was our way of celebrating the anniversary by bringing together webmasters from the different sites. It was quite successful, and so it is another favorite of mine on the celebrations. The Bestiary from Metroid Database as well as other smaller contributions around the community has definitely been enjoyable as well.
I got into Metroid only about two years ago, so it was fairly late, and at that time all I had to look forward to was Other M once I had finished all of the old Metroid titles. It didn’t blow me away as I thought it would, and now Nintendo has yet to announce a new game. Now that Metroid is 25, I think the series has reached a whole new level, and I do hope Nintendo understands how dedicated we fans are, so they can start working on a new Metroid Project.
Darren: I was very proud to put together several projects to mark the 25th anniversary of Metroid, most notably the Harmony of a Hunter project. To put together such a huge album in a short amount of time with so much support from various individuals was amazing. I still think to myself “Wow did we really do that?”. It was also great to have the support of fans and big names for the 25th anniversary tribute video, a personal tribute for fans to express their best wishes for Metroid’s birthday. We still have until August 2012 to celebrate 25 years of Metroid, and I have already announced an expansion to the Harmony of a Hunter album, 101%. I hope that this will be a nice way to bring the anniversary to a close when we launch it next year.
Metroid Database’s 15th Anniversary
CapCom: What can I say? It’s a real privilege to be in charge of a site that’s as old as the MDb. To think that this page is 15 years old and has outlived things like Netscape, AltaVista, and MySpace, that’s pretty incredible. There’s a lot of memories in the past 15 years. Actually, the site’s older than some of its fans, too! That’s absolutely incredible for a website to be that old!
We’ve got an excellent team. I’m really proud of the work Ryan (Infinity’s End) has done. He’s always pushing for changes to the interface, running the contests, and especially building the Bestiary! That was a huge project, and really makes both Metroid’s 25th and the MDb’s 15th worth celebrating. The amount of talent that has gone into that is absolutely incredible. Then there’s Jesse D who is back in the saddle after some serious life changes, and he’s helped by Tim, and then we’re all helped by Aurora Unit. I think the size the site is, you really need a good sized team like this. As long as the MDb has a good, dedicated team, it will be around. I expect the only time you’ll stop seeing updates is when the series is finished and there’s nothing left to say. But don’t expect that to happen.
Elias: Yet another landmark anniversary for the Metroid community, Metroid Database has come a long way since it’s origins in 1996, setting the bar for fan sites like MHQ and Shinesparkers and showing everyone why they’re the most visited Metroid fan site on the web. The release of the MDb Bestiary was just the kind of database (pardon the pun) that the community needed, and it’s in depth look at Metroid universe creature with the promise of inevitable expansion is something that any Metroid fan could spend hours browsing. Congrats again MDb for 15 years!
Falcool: Metroid Database is definitely the biggest Metroid site out there, and I carry a huge respect for it. The Bestiary, the contests and such have all been very much awesome additions to the site, both in response to Metroid’s 25th anniversary, and their own 15th anniversary. I hope they keep up the good work, since it’d really be a shame if one of the oldest fan-websites on the internet disappeared!
Maikel: Metroid Database, it is all thanks to hem that I started Metroid.eu in the first place. I started of as a free website on Angelfire called Illusion Database, see the resemblance? Later it became Norfair Depths and then Metroid.eu, we didn’t make it to a full 15 years though, we ended up on 7 or 8 years. So thumbs up for Metroid Database, the mother of all Metroid fan sites. I first learned of them in the late 90’s and visited them many times, even a time I signed up to their message boards and was very active there, it was so huge, excellent design everything about it felt real, and still does.
The community of Metroid Database was also very impressive everyone was always friendly, helping newcomers in the game any way as they could, always responding, and a very lively message board, on every single message one posted they had at least 15 replies in a mere hour. It was great, one of the best communities out there. And they still do great, they’ll always be friendly as the limited fan base of Metroid needs to support each other, and that they will do always.
Falcon Zero: The MDb continues to impress and expand their range of offerings, and the Metroid community wouldn’t be the same without them. Our community may not be as large as other video game communities, but we’re very lucky to have one of the oldest websites on the internet leading the charge! Here’s to a continuing and prosperous future for the MDb, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!
Father Brain: Fifteen years of contiguous up-time and service from any website, let alone a Metroid website, is an amazing accomplishment. Think about this: Metroid Database is older than AOL, older than Google, older than Yahoo, and older than MSN. Growing up with the Metroid series starting in 1997 with Super Metroid (I was in 4th grade at the time), and when I finally had computer access for the first time, Metroid Database was where anyone who was anyone in the Metroid circles congregated, and where the amateur player, like me, got all of his/her information.
Now that I have returned to the Metroid communities after the website that I partnered with eventually fell apart due to personal issues (Metroid.eu), it’s amazing to see that while they have certainly undergone makeovers and ownership changes and new additions, the same Metroid Database I grew up with is still going strong. Here’s to good health and long life, MDb!
Darren: What can I say? Such a long running and respectable website deserves much praise. Staff old and new should be proud of what they have accomplished. Thank you for being the beating heart of the Metroid community.
Metroid Headquarters Live Stream: Raising Money For Child’s Play
Elias: This year presented a rare opportunity for most of the staff at MHQ to gather together and put on a streaming event for our site’s 7th anniversary. All those who were in attendance (including some rather big Metroid-related names, such as Jessica Martin and Mike Wikan) I’m sure will tell you that it was a fun experience for all who were involved, audience or broadcaster. This was the first time we had ever tried to do something of this scale for our celebration, and though it meant sacrificing some other things (such as a new site skin and a delay in the yearly forum member polls), we consider the marathon to have been a resounding success, and we look forward to putting it on again in some form or fashion in the coming year.
Falcool: Having been a major part of this myself, I can say that I was very happy with the results, the effect we left on the Metroid community, and the money we raised for Child’s play. It proves that Metroid fans are dedicated enough to donate by just participating in the livestream. With about 110 hours of gameplay, going through every Metroid game hardest mode possible and 100% (or 101%), I’d say it was definitely worth it, and that we are definitely doing something similar next year. I believe it was also one of the most social events in terms of Metroid that has ever taken place, with hundreds of fans chatting and watching together. I thank everyone for their support on the stream, especially DoctorM64, Jessica Martin, Mike Wikan and Darren, it would never have been as good without them. And also thanks to my fellow staff members that deserves a mention in this as it would never have taken place without them.
Of course, one of the main reasons it was such a success was because we were able to raise money for a charity called Child’s Play, which, to sum up, let’s kids be kids, meaning those who are in extended hospital stays and otherwise can’t enjoy the same childhood video games and toys that we did are given that opportunity. We were able to raise $500.20 for this cause thanks to the donations of the Metroid community, and that’s something that both I and the kids who benefit will be forever thankful for.
Father Brain: My return to the Metroid community was because of this very event. I spent whatever time I could during that week in July watching this marathon with rapt attention, as people I had never met before were playing through the games in storyline chronological order; I was amazed by some of the playthroughs (Falcool’s Echoes run) while others made me laugh hysterically (Axion and Dragon tackling Corruption, and MM1914 falling asleep during Prime). But it was because of this very event, that Falcool announced a quiz event where the reward was a podcast appearance for MHQ. I had heard of these podcasts and I was ecstatic, so I participated, and subsequently won. Then they found out I was a co-Webmaster for Metroid.eu, so the podcast became an interview. They also needed a content staff member, as they were lacking one, so I applied and I was accepted. And I have returned to the community to give back to the ones who raised me.
As for the guest appearances, I unfortunately did not get to see them while they were on, but having people like Jessica Martin and Mike Wikan, influential and noteworthy individuals responsible for facets of the Metroid universe being what they are, appear during the stream is nothing short of an honor. I would have loved to have been on when they were, but I am glad they did pop in to say hi. MHQ raised $500 for Child’s Play charity through that event, and if they were to continue to do that marathon every year, I see greater success for them on the horizon. Who knows, you might even watch me playing through Other M or Super Metroid next July.
CapCom: I think it’s wonderful to see more involvement from the developers with the fan community. You saw this a lot with Capcom to a certain degree (Robot Master design contests for Mega Man, for instance), but it doesn’t happen so much with Nintendo. I’m really grateful to those developers who have taken the time to step forward and interact with the community so they can tell us how much they enjoy our support, and we can tell them how much we enjoy their work. It’s not fanboyism of, “Oooh! It’s Jessica Martin! Give me your autograph! Hold my baby!” but, “We made Metroid, we like the community, we’re going to help give to charity.” And there’s also the opportunity for, “These are things we really like about your game; here’s some things we thought could have been better, give us more of the good stuff and less of the bad!” And that feedback hopefully leads to better games.
Maikel: I wish I could say something useful about Metroid Headquarters, but I’m afraid I can’t as I have never been highly active there. Yet I do have a lot of respect for their fund raising for charity goals, and I’m impressed the connections they have with the actual staff behind the Metroid series. I hope they keep doing this, because it makes “Metroid more then just a game” (that is actually the slogan of Metroid.eu but they may use it for the things they do, don’t steal it! ) Metroid for charity, who could have thought of that, well Metroid Headquarters did. three cheers!
Falcon Zero: The live marathon was a blast to watch, and a great way to get Metroid fans together despite the overly single-player nature of the series. Nice job guys!
Darren: Although I was unable to contribute financially to the goal, I was able to invite along some well known people who have worked on previous Metroid games to celebrate the marathon. I was also very happy to provide vocal commentary. Thank you for having me MHQ and well done for raising money for such a worthy cause.
Metroid Other M: One Year On
Maikel: The idea behind Metroid: Other M was kinda unique, they wanted a game using the power of the Wii, yet stay simple to the classic Metroid side-scrolling style only in 3D. The first things I saw about it, I once again fell in love like I did 25 years ago. I wanted the game so badly, and I bought it 2 days before the actual release date. I started playing the game, the switch between Full Motion Video and gameplay was impressively smooth, yet somehow it kinda felt wrong, full motion video cut-scenes in a Metroid game, it just isn’t right, no matter how much I loved it. Don’t get me wrong I love Metroid: Other M. One of my favorite Metroid Titles so far. But after I went through the game it kinda felt disappointing, the story about Samus herself was limited, we still know nothing about the Chozo who raised her, and how she lost her parents, we hardcore Metroid fans know the story mostly, but others don’t it’s a shame.
Falcon Zero: I spent a lot of time playing Other M recently for my site’s guides and walkthroughs, and more and more I found the game to be very rewarding for players who stick with it and try to improve their combat skills – there’s nothing quite like beating some of the tougher bosses (lousy Rhedogian…) while only taking one or two hits, or sometimes none at all! I can’t praise the SenseMove enough So for a good action romp, Other M still has it one year on.
Elias: This year saw the settled down reaction to the latest and perhaps most controversial Metroid game to date, Metroid: Other M. While the reactions immediately after the game’s release were very hot and cold, 2011 saw people take a much more calm and logical critique of the game. While it certainly seems to be a consensus that it could have been better (to what degree depends on whom you ask), we can hope that Nintendo will learn a lesson from it’s reception and use it to continue to create great Metroid games in the future.
Falcool: The first Metroid game that came out after I became a Metroid fan was Metroid: Other M, so of course I was very excited and enthusiastic about it. Somehow it just got worse and worse with people around me pointing out bad things about it, but as I sit here I know it’s not as bad as everyone says it is. I do think they should’ve made Samus seem a bit less weak in some cutscenes, made the game longer, worked more on the music and on some controls, but it was an enjoyable game. I think Other M’s biggest problem is that while it’s not a bad game, it doesn’t live up to the expectations we got, especially after the spectacular Prime games. I do hope it will have sold one million in not too long.
Father Brain: Like I stated earlier, it is disappointing that Other M did not do as well as it should have for the hype and the amount of development that went into the game. Overall, the game was a good game that I would play again and again – so long as I get to skip cut-scenes. As much as I love storyline in a Metroid game, Other M rehashes Fusion’s plot and adds in a few twists – but sadly, a couple of those plot twists are tied in a very anti-climactic, almost disappointing fashion. Had they refined the game just a tiny bit more and possibly done a better job with the loose ends, this would have a top-notch plot game. There were also a few flaws with actually developing Samus’s personality and the personality of some side characters, but those are minor details and I usually don’t worry about that too much.
Also of note is the first-person view mode. To those who happen to not know, Other M is a 3D game played in a third-person, bird’s-eye view, with controls very reminiscent of the 2D style. However, entering first-person mode to fire Missiles, the view itself isn’t the most responsive to aim with, and you have zero movement while in first-person mode, save for the ability to do an emergency dodge that will force you out of first-person. This just feels so bulky of a system to switch to and from. One goes from the fluid motion of the third-person mode, to stand-still, point-lock-shoot first-person. Great in concept, not the best of execution.
CapCom: I haven’t sat down and played this again since last year, actually. I remember I felt like playing through it a second time immediately after I was done with it, and not just because of Hard Mode. It really was a lot of fun to play, and I felt I had missed something and wanted more of the experience. So I really enjoyed the game at the time, though I had to shake my head quite a few places with the script. Metroid Gear Solid really is a fitting name for the story.
Looking back, it’s pretty clear the game’s biggest flaw is the script, and there isn’t anyone to pin responsibility on that but Yoshio Sakamoto. It’s therefore a bit of a surprise, considering his track record with Fusion, Famicom Tantei Club (Famitan), and For the Frog the Bell Tolls, but I think if you compare Other M with these games, with the exception of Fusion, all the other games were done through collaboration with Toru Osawa, the guy who made Kid Icarus. All these scripts were collaborations, and especially with Famitan, they were limited by storage capacity, so they had to edit the hell out of them to get them to fit. Words weren’t wasted. With Other M, you have Sakamoto doing the script apparently entirely by himself – which is quite a feat – but unfortunately not enough feedback. Because if you ignore the script entirely, the game actually isn’t that bad, with the only part that doesn’t make much sense being activating the Varia Suit (though it’s been pointed out the heat deals less damage to Samus per second than in any other Metroid). So it’s really clear that Mr. Sakamoto needs an editor, because he clearly can write well when he collaborates.
Darren: Metroid: Other M is a game I have always tried to be constructive over. The game is not without its flaws but it’s certainly not the worst. Metroid: Other M was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Samus, a character I respect from a franchise I adore. It tied up a plot gap between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion and was an attempt to bring Metroid back to its 2D roots while retaining its 3D aspect that has been key for the series for almost a decade. As I have said previously in interview, I think we should accept the game for what it is and understand that the series is more than just one game. It is a legacy of games we have all enjoyed, that shouldn’t have to change.
The Release Of Classic Games On 3DS (Metroid, Metroid II And Fusion)
Maikel: Making Metroid and Fusion available for download on the 3DS is kinda a good thing, I like the idea of that, even though Metroid IS available on the Wii Virtual Console as well as a bonus on the original Metroid Prime disc for the GameCube and It is even available on the GamePak of Metroid: Zero Mission as well so re-releasing Metroid is kinda unneeded, as I can’t imagine anyone who doesn’t own a Wii nowadays I think almost everyone has a Wii, but for the ones who only have a 3DS it’s a good thing, so they too can play the very first and original Metroid. Sadly I fear very few can appreciate Metroid, mostly graphic wise and simplicity, the current generation looks at one thing only, Graphics.
Elias: This was a very wise move for Nintendo to make in my opinion, and I can’t think of anyone who would disagree. It’s always a treat when we have a reason to revisit and replay the games you love and have fond memories of, and Nintendo gave us just that with these downloadable classics. Here’s to hoping they continue that trend and allow us to revisit even more of our favorite Metroid games on the 3DS.
Falcool: I think it’s great that we can get the Metroid games on the 3DS, and I do think a 3D version of Super should be made, so we can have all of the four first Metroid games on our 3DS. I think Metroid 1 should be available to all early 2012, and that Fusion should be made available later the same year.
Falcon Zero: I do hope that one day Game Boy Advance titles will be widely available on 3DS VC to the public, that way (as of 2011) all the Metroid games would be playable in some form on the Wii and 3DS. Either way, it’s great that Nintendo is keeping Metroid at the forefront of VC classic releases.
Darren: As a Nintendo 3DS Ambassador, it’s been great to experience these classic games all on one handheld. I have yet to download Metroid II: Return of Samus, but I have made it very clear that the game should be released for the system, as it celebrated its 20th anniversary recently. It’s also an integral part of the Metroid story that new fans should be able to experience.
Future Of Metroid: Metroid On 3DS And Wii U
Elias: The future of Metroid is murky at best right now in my opinion, but there is one thing I’m certain of. Despite it’s sales setback with Metroid: Other M, the Metroid franchise is one of Nintendo’s staple intellectual properties, and though it could be a while, we will certainly see more Metroid games in the future (we once had to wait 8 years!). I’ve said for a while now that It would be both in Nintendo’s best interests and a good move in pleasing the fans to release a brand new side-scrolling Metroid game for the 3DS, taking full advantage of everything the 3DS has to offer.
That said, with the atmosphere that Metroid provides and the details of the Wii U now unveiled, it’s hard not to imagine a full-blown HD Metroid title for Nintendo’s newest home console. While I think it’s still too early to make any predictions yet, they would be missing out on a fantastic opportunity if they didn’t come out with a Metroid game for the Wii U at some point.
Maikel: If a remake is to be made I would love to see a Remake of Metroid II, you all have seen the fan communities working title, a remake of Metroid II using the Super Metroid Engine and the Zero Mission Moves. For that alone I’m very excited and I really hope that there will be an original remake of Metroid II, if so I can’t wait till it will be released. Not a better option for it than our 3DS handheld, it seems to suit well for such a task. But leave Super Metroid alone, it hasn’t been given the title of best game ever 5 years in a row between 1994 and 1999 for nothing. Remaking Super Metroid could turn out well, but I fear it’ll never reach the limits of the original Super Metroid not to mention surpass it, thus far not a single Metroid game or any game at all has beaten Super Metroid for me. Only Metroid Prime 2 came very close imo.
Father Brain: As I stated in the Other M section, Metroid is a volatile, dangerous game to further develop. Fans have not received Other M very well, and they fear that mistakes can and will be repeated if a new game is developed too soon. They also fear a sequel, which I have seen some rather ridiculous outcry regarding that rumor.
Still, a future for Metroid is still a large possibility. Nintendo revamped Star Fox 64 for the 3DS; so, why can’t Super Metroid receipt the same treatment? Sure, it’s not an actual 3D game, but this would allow Nintendo to repair the sequence breaks and glitches that they accidentally left in the SNES game (Mockballing and the “VAR Beam” being the big keys here) and allowing the world to view one of the SNES’ greatest games in a whole new way. Have Samus and any enemies be on the 3D plane and all background events be on the 2D plane. The controller layout of the 3DS is indeed very conducive for this game, however, the SELECT button is not. Swapping the Select (weapon select) and Y button (weapon cancel) designations would be best for the default controls. While it would seem that the game could be conducive of Fusion/ZM controls (Hold L = angle up/down, Hold R = activate weapon), the presence of the grappling beam and X-Ray visor as “weapon bar” items makes this idea implausible. Maps could be displayed on touch screen, with a touch button leading to real-time weapon/upgrade activation screen (because Samus does not get to pause time while figuring out her surroundings or select her active abilities).
As for Wii U, the tech demo Nintendo presented for the Wii U looked an awful lot like a Metroid game. Could this be a hint? Maybe, but they better be careful, due to the reception of Other M. I could see Nintendo using the “screen” of the Wii U controller as a Scan Visor reticle; while casual gamers would like this, I fear the hardcore gamer would not, as it seems too gimmicky. Only time will tell what Nintendo will do t expand or improve the Metroid franchise.
Falcon Zero: I am very excited to see the future of Metroid on Wii U. An HD first-person Metroid title would be a dream… Imagine a game like Metroid Prime but with HD-resolution textures and state-of-the-art lighting and particle effects? A traditional 2D title on Nintendo 3DS (with some 3D tricks thrown in) would complement the HD game nicely too… As for remakes – a Zero Mission-style remake of Metroid II would be a treat.
Falcool: I want them to make a superb and lengthy 2D Metroid game on the 3DS, one that builds on everything we’ve learnt from Fusion, Super and Zero Mission. I want this game to have quality, and at the same time be a sidescroller. If they don’t do that, I really hope they try making a new Prime game for it, but it’d have to be a lot better than Hunters.
As for Wii U, I hope they try to make a game more like the Prime series and less like Other M. However, I do think they can make a more intense story like Other M had, but as for game play, I think we should continue with 1st person, and have the characteristic Prime puzzles.
CapCom: 3DS: 3D has potential for showing foreground and background objects and playing fields like in Virtual Boy Wario Land. The Circle Pad would require the controls be less precise for a 2D game (or give more wiggle room). 3D would probably work very well with an Other M-style game, and you could also put an FPS using the Circle Pad to aim and ABXY to move, L to jump, R to shoot. You can also do neat effects with the visor, holo displays, etc., and I think you could even add a new visor to make good use out of the 3D effects – maybe to find secret passages or something. 3D can certainly be used for more than making objects pop out – you want to provide new puzzles that you can only do in 3D (or that are easier in 3D) so it’s not just a gimmick that makes your game look nicer. The gyro is interesting too, and I think you could use that to look around in a first-person mode. If you’ve seen the menu screens for DOA, you can tilt the system around to take a look around the background. That could be interesting with a 2.5D map…think of all the secrets you could hide!
I think the Wii U best suggests multiplayer Metroid. Two hunters, each with unique abilities that make use of the capabilities of the Wiimote and Wii U. Whether they’re co-op or exploring a planet in contest with each other doesn’t matter – two screens and two controllers is something Metroid has never had before. I would love to see the series finally work in some multiplayer that isn’t just death match, which again is implement to do but not very interesting for me and doesn’t have that core game play of being lost and alone exploring a hostile alien planet. Beyond that, it’s a little too soon to tell what the finalized version of the Wii U will be able to do.
Darren: I want to see Metroid continue to grow and offer new entertaining experiences on many Nintendo consoles. For me personally, I would love to see a 2D Metroid game on the Nintendo 3DS, Metroid Dread has to happen. There are so many possibilities to speculate on, that I can’t come up with a solid answer right now. Perhaps in the future i’ll have to write something up on what I would like to see, but for now i’m just going to say that Metroid needs to come to 3DS and Wii U with something to appeal to the fan base.
A huge thanks to everyone who contributed in our feature. Happy new year Shinesparkers!
This feature was originally published in December 2011. It has been slightly edited since its original publication.