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Metroid Dread is finally real
The more detailed minimap reminds me of Hollow Knight more than anything else, which came out before this game even started production (presumably right after SR came out in 2017). I think it's cool, though I hope there's an option to toggle it off when playing (it's a bit too visually busy as an ingame HUD element imo).
I do think it's rather neat (though perhaps inevitable) that the developers are looking outwards at other search action games for influences. Samus Returns already had some of this, with some very clear nods to the Axiom Verge soundtrack and some of aspects of its design. Hopefully they're able to combine their influences and ideas in a more coherent way this time around.
Speaking of coherency, I feel like some of you who are skeptical of Dread might find something to appreciate in the SM hack Vitality instead--- stunning, beautiful, contemplative, subtle, gross, schlocky, and offensive --- an unnaturally refined piece of stoner art with an uncomprising, singular artistic vision. I recommend going into it with no spoilers.
I do think it's rather neat (though perhaps inevitable) that the developers are looking outwards at other search action games for influences. Samus Returns already had some of this, with some very clear nods to the Axiom Verge soundtrack and some of aspects of its design. Hopefully they're able to combine their influences and ideas in a more coherent way this time around.
Speaking of coherency, I feel like some of you who are skeptical of Dread might find something to appreciate in the SM hack Vitality instead--- stunning, beautiful, contemplative, subtle, gross, schlocky, and offensive --- an unnaturally refined piece of stoner art with an uncomprising, singular artistic vision. I recommend going into it with no spoilers.
Ludendorkk
(he/him)
New Promo.
Shrimp-teresting, if "gold" is the starting suit color I wonder if the new suit really is there to seal away the Fusion suit?
Am I the only one who doesn’t want more cutscenes and dramatic csmera angles in his Metroid games and thinks Suoer Metroid got it right, please stick to that kind of storytelling, thanks?
I think that ship sailed a decade+ ago. Sakamoto seems to love his cutscenes, as the growing trend from the GBA games on up through Samus Returns show.
Ludendorkk
(he/him)
I don't think the series has an obligation to remain slavishly loyal to the style of one game that released a quarter century ago, no
I became frustrated rather early on in the Samus Returns remake, so I don't know how cutscene-heavy it was. But Zero Mission's quick cinematic shots worked very well and provided sufficient context where necessary. And, to be honest, I actually had to concentrate on the Prime series' cutscenes to remember whether they were intrusive or not--Prime 3 has the longest ones--so I guess they weren't too bad there either?
As long as we don't go into the full-fledged, unearned drama from Baby: Other Baby, I think we'll be good. And so far, there's no indication of that.
As long as we don't go into the full-fledged, unearned drama from Baby: Other Baby, I think we'll be good. And so far, there's no indication of that.
Considering that they appear to have gone out of their way to outright avoid any mention of Other M when talking about Dread, even when mentioning Fusion and Adam, it does seem they don't want a repeat of that.
It's been literally 11 years since Other M. I'm still not sure why some many folks are worried about them repeating the exact same mistakes. Personally, I'm excited for MercurySteam to make a whole host of new, exciting mistakes for us to get mad at.
Because Super Metroid was so sublime that people are invested in keeping this stupid space bug series precious.
Nobody will ever truly rebottle Super Metroid's lightning, and I've made peace with that. It was very much a product of the mid 90s, when games were getting more into ambience and set pieces but still prioritized the game part of the game 'cuz cartridge space was limited and nobody really knew what to do with all that disc space yet. And before Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid came along and were super popular and suddenly everybody started adding a lot more cutscenes and words to all the genres in the console space.
Same. And made it all the more disappointing when others didn't do that after we now knew they very well could.
Becksworth
Aging Hipster Dragon Dad
I can agree that hoping that the magic of Super Metroid to be recaptured perfectly with modern graphics and gameplay is a fool’s errand. Not only is Nintendo in a different place, but so is the audience that fell in love with Super Metroid when they were younger.
Given that plethora of 2D Metroidvanias available now, one of 2D Metroid’s main distinguishing selling points is expanding on the setting as Sakamoto envisions it, for better or worse, and that means some story bits are inevitable. Now if Metroid Prime 4 spends too much time trying to convince me Sylux is a compelling villain, when 3D Metroidvanias are still largely unexplored territory, then I’ll gripe about cutscenes.
Given that plethora of 2D Metroidvanias available now, one of 2D Metroid’s main distinguishing selling points is expanding on the setting as Sakamoto envisions it, for better or worse, and that means some story bits are inevitable. Now if Metroid Prime 4 spends too much time trying to convince me Sylux is a compelling villain, when 3D Metroidvanias are still largely unexplored territory, then I’ll gripe about cutscenes.
Phantoon
I cuss you bad
This is me! I still need to play Samus Returns to get (likely) lightly annoyed at it.
For all of the indie Metroidvanias, nothing can replace the real deal.
Sarge
hardcore retro gamin'
That's how I feel about Igavanias, too. Lots of exploratory platformers that take inspiration from them, but there really isn't anything that replaces them, as Bloodstained showed.
This might be blasphemous to some, but I'm not quite as high on Super Metroid as most are. It's a great, great game, but I'm not even sure it makes my top ten on the system. But it was still hugely influential on the genre, and the atmosphere and attention to detail is tremendous. (My favorite in the series is Zero Mission, and Metroid Fusion's SA-X encounters were genius and genuinely frightening.)
Phantoon
I cuss you bad
Heh, as you may guess from my user name, I'm very high on it. As with my favourite music, it's the games that made a bad first impression that I later learned to love that became my favourites (the other notable one for me being Shining Force). The feeling of going steadily deeper and deeper into an alien world that is packed with creatures that really want to kill you is hard to beat. It also gives the feeling of history; the callbacks to Metroid are sparingly used but pretty potent.
The other thing is that the level design gives the feeling of a real world - bits by Maridia are wetter, for example. Although I'm not sure how things like the doors work for the native wildlife and how Kraid is supposed to get around the Space Pirate base. Meh, videogames. For whatever reason, though, other Metroid style games are obviously gamey in a way the Metroid games aren't; the exploration is somehow different. Even Fusion makes you feel like you're going off map in a weirdly "realistic" way.
Sarge
hardcore retro gamin'
Oh, I understand the love and adoration. I mean, I'd still absolutely give it, say, a 9/10 at a minimum. It's an absolute powerhouse. I imagine my slight (but only slight!) annoyance is how people feel when I say how much I like Chrono Trigger or Symphony of the Night for the umpteenth time.
Also agree that it feels more "real" than a lot of other games. Yeah, it's still a video game, so some weird stuff to be expected, but the world really does feel very cohesive.
And yes, Shining Force is awesome. I remember salivating over it in magazines when I didn't have a Sega Genesis. It was one of the first games I tracked down when I finally got one, and that's after I'd finished it through good ol' KGen on PC. Those were the days.
Anyway, I'm really hoping Metroid Dread turns out great. I actually did quite enjoy Samus Returns - I loved it and AM2R for different reasons - and it sounds like MercurySteam is addressing some of the issues folks had with SR. (I do agree that the game forces you to engage with the counter mechanic for too long on piddly enemies, even if I like the counter mechanic in practice.)
Also agree that it feels more "real" than a lot of other games. Yeah, it's still a video game, so some weird stuff to be expected, but the world really does feel very cohesive.
And yes, Shining Force is awesome. I remember salivating over it in magazines when I didn't have a Sega Genesis. It was one of the first games I tracked down when I finally got one, and that's after I'd finished it through good ol' KGen on PC. Those were the days.
Anyway, I'm really hoping Metroid Dread turns out great. I actually did quite enjoy Samus Returns - I loved it and AM2R for different reasons - and it sounds like MercurySteam is addressing some of the issues folks had with SR. (I do agree that the game forces you to engage with the counter mechanic for too long on piddly enemies, even if I like the counter mechanic in practice.)
Nintendo put out another video, this one looks to be the opening cutscene, or at least part of it:
So it looks like she starts in a modified Varia suit, she goes to that planet to seek the X-parasite (theory: The EMMI robutts are programmed to seek the X out and destroy them, and Samus still has some X in her from Fusion), something something depowered suit. This time blue.
Oh and 'Adam' speaks. Meh.
So it looks like she starts in a modified Varia suit, she goes to that planet to seek the X-parasite (theory: The EMMI robutts are programmed to seek the X out and destroy them, and Samus still has some X in her from Fusion), something something depowered suit. This time blue.
Oh and 'Adam' speaks. Meh.
Ludendorkk
(he/him)
Spoiler heavy second trailer:
Yeah, reiterating that this is going to be an amazing speed game. And at long last, the return of Kraid, the superior Metroid 1 boss! Living Chozo! The game also looks amazing, one of the best looking on Switch.
Yeah, reiterating that this is going to be an amazing speed game. And at long last, the return of Kraid, the superior Metroid 1 boss! Living Chozo! The game also looks amazing, one of the best looking on Switch.
I admit, I was surprised to see Kraid. Could the long-awaited 3D rematch with Big Green finally be here, after being cut from Metroid Prime? And more importantly, will they be able to resist just throwing Ridley in there as well?
Also, is this the first time we've ever seen a living Chozo? Looks like this one doesn't seem to know or care about why a non-Chozo is sporting their power suit. Or maybe it senses the Metroid DNA in Samus?
Also, is this the first time we've ever seen a living Chozo? Looks like this one doesn't seem to know or care about why a non-Chozo is sporting their power suit. Or maybe it senses the Metroid DNA in Samus?
I want to state this plainly and contractually. If Ridley is not in this game, then I will fight a goose, live, and on video. I will probably die! I cannot sufficiently defend myself against a goose. But I am saying this because I am that confident that that space dragon will be in this game after seeing that trailer.
For some reason, up til now I've been like, "oh cool, a new Metroid game. I understand why that is neat." But that trailer somehow flipped the switch to "This looks sweet, of course I'm getting this immediately"
Mmm...that gameplay looks delicious!
Honestly does not really look more actiony than any other Metroid game to me? But of course the trailer emphasizes the action part.
Anyway I ordered it a few days ago. Had a Target gift card to burn and I was getting this no matter what.
Anyway I ordered it a few days ago. Had a Target gift card to burn and I was getting this no matter what.