Series co-creator Sakamoto talks shop about the increased dramatic focus and other aspects of the newest Wii Metroid title.
Whether you've already seen it or not, what I want to ask you about the following trailer is, "At what point while watching this did you realize it was a Metroid game?" But I shouldn't bother; the majority of you saw the trailer online, plastered with headlines or promotional graphics, fully aware of exactly what game it is. Your answer would be "Duh. Before I hit play."Â
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My experience was more confusing. I saw the trailer at the Nintendo E3 press briefing with no preamble indicating what exactly the trailer was for, so it wasn't until I saw the blonde girl suddenly clad in the iconic Zero suit and red helmet that I realized, holy crap, this is Metroid! I bring up this context only to convey the brief but intense confusion I felt when that recognition kicked in. (Those of you watching the live stream of the press conference at home can identify.)
Who are these people, anyway?
That this is a Metroid game shocked me because the first third of the video focuses on cinematic scenes, characters and dialogue--dramatic elements that are foreign (if not directly opposed) to the Metroid series' traditional focus on the lonely exploration of hostile alien worlds. I never came to a Metroid game looking for character development, unless those characters were Ridley and Kraid, and I was developing their nonexistence with my wave beam. Seeing multiple characters--with speaking roles!--in a game with the "Metroid" name still throws me for a loop.
This shift in focus for Other M is by design, of course. Wired's Chris Kohler did a good interview with Nintendo's Yoshio Sakamoto--director of the very first Metroid and the franchise's longtime steward--and newly anointed Team Ninja head Yousuke Hayashi about their strategy for making a new Metroid that diehard fans will accept. The most interesting part to me regards the presence of the storyline such as we've seen it so far.
Wired.com: So, then, what is your vision of the ultimate Metroid game?
Sakamoto: Within the greater Metroid series, the Other M story will tie together the stories that took place in Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. One of my goals is to present Samus as an appealing human character, and that involves explaining a little bit about what happened in her past as well as the characters that influenced her. The story will play a big part.
I wouldn't want to be in Mr. Hayashi's shoes, shouldered with the dual burden of reviving Team Ninja and satisfying the fickle hardcore Nintendo fanbase. But he does seem to have both duties in mind.
Wired.com: Team Ninja’s games are really hard, but Metroid games have a gentler difficulty curve. Can Team Ninja make a game that doesn’t just kick you in the face with difficulty at every minute?
Hayashi: It’s not our goal to make a Team Ninja version of Metroid. We’re working as part of this larger group, and so as Mr. Sakamoto said earlier, it’s our goal not just to make a game that appeals to Metroid fans or fans of Team Ninja games. It should be a game for everyone.
The full interview goes into some more depth about the size of the respective teams working on the game, and who's doing what. Give it a read if you're looking forward to Other M; information on the game is likely to be scarce for a good long while as its 2010 release date approaches.
Now you're talking my language.
In general, is Other M the sort of thing you're looking for in a new Metroid game? If not, where do you think the series ought to be going instead?
To be honest, if I hadn't read the title, I would not have thought it was a Metroid game either. The opening title Team Ninja makes you initially think its not, and Samus looks way different with the short Final Fantasy Clou-esque hair do. But I think this increased the element of surpirse. I think it is a great direction to take and hopefully one that plays as well as Ninja Gaiden. It looks very much like NG, and personally speaking the previous Metroid games look better graphically but its still early days.
I'm looking forward to this one. Hopefully nintendo keeps a tight reign on the development so it isn't too far removed or shit compared to the previous installments.
When I watched the Nintendo press conference live I was shocked to realise that what they were showing was a metroid trailer. To answer your inital question Brad, when did you realise that it was a metroid trailer? For me it was the first line of speech, before Samus was seen in her suit. The reason being was what the first line said, "Any objections Lady?" As soon as I heard that line I realised what I was watching and I was amazed. The reason why that line is significant is that in Metroid Fusion, Samus stated that her previous commanding officer used to say that to her before she went on a mission. So it is possible to say that the game is set very early in the Metroid time line, possibly before even Metroid on the NES?
People complain that Nintendo doesn't change anything with their franchises. And when they finally do, they get complaints? Well anyway, lots of peeps here seem to be interested in this change, as am I. There's already other people and dialog in other metroid games, that didn't affect me in a bad way. I like some change. I'm READY!
" Im not sure why Nintendo and Sakamoto are intent on ruining this new Metroid game. One of the funnest features of previous releases was the loneliness and lack of storyline. Sakamoto saying that Other M will "tie together" other story elements from different Metroid games is ridiculous. Every new bit of information on this saddens me more. "
False. Metroid Fusion had an awesome story, as did the Metroid Prime series. I don't know how you can jump to these conclusions of lonliness when we really know nothing about the game. I think it's pretty close-minded to think we can never have a game delving into Samus' past.Â
Personally I'm ok with them trying this direction for a Metroid game. I like the ideas of tying the games together with the narrative. As a result they can connect Samus to the authorities she works with but still leave the lonesome feeling when sent in all by herself on missions with nothing but a briefing prior. Both sides should still be able to balance well.
Personally though I want nothing more than another sidescroller on the DS. Castlevania's kept the style alive but I'd really like a new Metroid.
That's when I knew it was Metroid. Why? Because that's what her former Commander Adam (Malcovich?) said to her. I remembered it from Fusion. So that's who that one guy is.
I also realized the trailer was a Metroid game as soon as I saw Samus in hew blue Zero suit and blonde ponytail. That was one of those spine shivering goosebumpy moments Nintendo used to be incredible at delivering.
I didn't get into the Prime series at all. I couldn't stand the way the horrible Japanese-friendly FPS controls were on the GC.; and haven't picked up the Wii edition out of unfamiliarity with Prime's story. However Super and Fusion were my favorite Metroid games of all time, so the story setting of Other M really appeases me.
I was really really wanting a new 2.5d NDS Metroid, but am satisfied (and pleasantly surprised) at the Other M showing. Besides, we have Shadow Complex to fill our 2.5d metroidvania demands for now. Other M is definitely not a 2.5d sidescroller. Looking forward to knowing more about it.
Also, I have a feeling we'll see a return of Mother Brain... "Other-M" is too similar to "Mother"... and you know how Japanese devs like to pretend they're clever with their foreshadowing name schemes. Either that or Samus is inoculated with the Metroid's seed.
I was watching a live stream of the Nintendo press conference...so when the Metriod Other M trailer began I thought it was a new IP that Nintendo so desparately needs. But when I saw the blonde girl I suspected it was Samus, and when the military officer sitting at the desk said "Any objections lady?" I immediately recognized the reference to Metriod Fusion, which I have played through a dozen times. Since I was disappointed with the Nintendo press conference overall, I didn't pay much attention to the game. I was especially skeptical about Team Ninja's involvement, because I don't like their games. Yet the more I think about the trailer and the more I think about this interview, I like the direction that they are taaking the series. Metriod needs a reinvention. I loved the Prime games, but I think that I'm the only one...cause 2 and 3 didn't sell. Hopefully this game appeals to everyone and Metriod takes its rightful place as the top Nintendo franchise.
Sakamoto: You might be aware of this, but I actually wasn’t that involved in the development of the Prime series. The goal in creating Metroid Prime was to create the ultimate first-person adventure, and I do think that Retro was able to do that. My approach, my concept, is a little bit different in terms of gameplay. And the story I want to tell with Other M can’t be achieved with that approach. So I think my take on this project is quite a bit different than Retro’s.
This has me ridiculously excited. I dug the Prime series and all. But Super Metroid is maybe my favorite game ever. And the fact that Other M could be going back to those type of roots is the complete shit.
As a fan of Metroid Fusion and it's story, I believe in this. I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said by the other fans supporting it so here's hoping for a good new Metroid.
Prime 3 had dialog, while that game sold like shit, it was a game with other characters who interacted with Samus in more than gunfire. Maybe that is telling and the fact that those people were there is what made it sell so poorly. Even though I'm a lifelong player who remembers Metroid being released as part of the new "Adventure Series" games, and getting used to a game that wasn't just moving to the right the whole time, I also get annoyed when certain game franchises stay in the past and don't try to innovate.Â
Metroid has always been the black sheep of Nintendo's family. It was not that popular in Japan, which is why it took so long for a new game. But it was very popular in the rest of the world, so it made sense to make a new one for the Gamecube. But Nintendo was smart and had a Western developer make it, since they knew it was a Western audience that wanted a new Metroid in the first place. Just like the Prime games, Nintendo sees again that a developer that knows what Western gamers like is a good choice for Metroid, but this time they decided to try for both.
My only fear in this game is that it looks very action-based. Metroid has always been about exploration, if you take that away then it's not a Metroid game, it's just Samus in a Ninja Gaiden clone. So far the closest game Team Ninja has done to a Metroid/Ninja Gaiden type of game was Rygar. It had more exploration than Ninja Gaiden did, but the action it had was a little less extreme than Ninja. I'd like to see that expanded on with much more exploration. I'm not expecting a level on par with Super Metroid, that's just wishful thinking at this point, but if it's at least half as vast as that game I'll be happy.
part of me misses the days when you were just samus and you killed stuff and there wasn't story to deal with. i like storyline, but for games these days, it's all just a cookie cutter approach to storytelling which dumbs down the whole thing. lots of franchises that didnt have any storyline in their first few outing become mediocre. play to your strengths and leave the storytelling for dev companies with a strong pedigree in that area.
I fucking love when people use the word "cheesy" or "corny" incorrectly.
I'd post my many walls of text from the 1-Up boards, but don't feel like it right now. I'll just leave this instead: http://www.onemanga.com/Metroid/ Yes, it's official.
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