Metroid Prime: Federation Farce

[Asura]

You suspect that Nintendo are banking on the fact that so many Metroid fans have been starved that they'll have the same mindset.

Which, in all honesty, is a pretty sh1thouse manoeuvre to pull on loyal fans.

Nah, not at all; I mentioned this earlier. I feel a bit of sympathy for Metroid fans (in that I don't really understand their perspective, but I at least feel bad for them), but I have no attachment to Metroid.

On the other hand, I do like 4-player, co-op, mission-based games, and I like the prospect of one for the 3DS which isn't Monster Hunter.

I probably this weird "perfect storm" of qualities Nintendo have tried to reach out for with the game, because I used to be a big fan of the DeathBall mod for Unreal 2k4, which was very similar to Blastball - and I loved it. It was one of my favourite games of its time.

I guess I just don't get irritated when I see companies distort brands to appeal to new/different markets. I've seen it so many times in my life that I'm just numb to it now.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Nah, not at all; I mentioned this earlier. I feel a bit of sympathy for Metroid fans (in that I don't really understand their perspective, but I at least feel bad for them), but I have no attachment to Metroid.

On the other hand, I do like 4-player, co-op, mission-based games, and I like the prospect of one for the 3DS which isn't Monster Hunter.

I probably this weird "perfect storm" of qualities Nintendo have tried to reach out for with the game, because I used to be a big fan of the DeathBall mod for Unreal 2k4, which was very similar to Blastball - and I loved it. It was one of my favourite games of its time.

I guess I just don't get irritated when I see companies distort brands to appeal to new/different markets. I've seen it so many times in my life that I'm just numb to it now.

That's fair enough, but NCL have had over a decade since Metroid Fusion was released (not counting a re-boot like Other M, a remake like Zero Mission or the Wii re-release of the Prime Trilogy) to make another proper Metroid game that fans clearly, arguably desperately, want.

To not do that and instead stick the Metroid brand name on something that (at present) doesn't look remotely worthy of the name smacks of cynicism of the highest order.

[noobish hat]

I also don't believe it would take Nintendo 6 years to make a 2D Metroid.

[Asura]

That's fair enough, but NCL have had over a decade since Metroid Fusion was released (not counting a re-boot like Other M, a remake like Zero Mission or the Wii re-release of the Prime Trilogy) to make another proper Metroid game that fans clearly, arguably desperately, want.

To not do that and instead stick the Metroid brand name on something that (at present) doesn't look remotely worthy of the name smacks of cynicism of the highest order.

The gap isn't too surprising. They may honestly have thought that after the flurry of Metroid titles released a while back (Prime 1/2/3/Hunters, Zero Mission/Fusion/GB Classic range Metroid, Other M) that the series needed a breather, and now that time has passed, they wanted to give fans of that universe something different to play.

I wouldn't be too shocked if this reaction has caught them by surprise. I certainly didn't know there were people actively waiting for another 2D Metroid game.

I do, personally, feel that dropping Samus Aran and other Metroid trademarks is a strange choice. I'm just waiting to see if it pays off.

[Dogg Thang]

People have been asking for another 2D Metroid since Zero Mission. And the gap makes a big difference here. If Metroid needs had been filled, nobody would object to Federation Force at all. But it arrives as the sole Metroid since Other M in 2010 and, having only played a little bit of it, I can't be certain that filled Metroid needs so maybe we have to go back to Prime 3 in 2007.

[Neon Ignition]

The chatter for a 2D Metroid has been around ever since the Metroid Dread rumours. I don't really get the noise made as it would have undoubtedly been an NDS game of the same mould as Zero Mission etc. Enjoyable games but hardly wallet stuffers for Nintendo. Their big stumble was not following up on Prime 3. It's no COD but it was probably their best placed series to appeal to western audiences but they lost it... Much like most of their once popular series

[Asura]

A related question, then - one of the things coming up time-and-time-again is that Federation Force isn't what the fans want - but then, we have people like Dogg Thang talking about "2D Metroid" and "Metroid Prime" in an interchangeable manner (I'm aware that Prime had more in common with Super Metroid than Freedom Force appears to).

Are the fanbase's wants for a Metroid game pretty cohesive? Or does it have the same problem as the Sonic franchise, in that people's desires are fragmented by their own experience? (for instance, is there a group that will only be placated with Metroid Prime 4, a group that insists on Other M 2, a group that wants 2D and doesn't even accept 2.5D, etc)

[Neon Ignition]

Other M comes up in Metroid talk a lot but I don't think it was a particulary well recieved entry. Nintendo had a good run of 2D entries on handheld and fps entries on console and fans were happh enough with that. I don't think fans expected Retro to take so many years out on the DKC series and for Nintendo to just stop supporting Metroid again. FF appearing, using the well regarded Prime name and looking like a rushed bodge job that answers neither fanbase just lit a power keg on the frustration. A bog standard 2D entry or Prime 4 would have seen a different response

[Dogg Thang]

That's a tough question, Asura, in that it calls for speculation on the needs of a lot of fans but the impression I have been getting from people since Metroid Prime 1 on the GC is that Metroid fans have loved them and that, yes, to a large extent they can be treated in an interchangeable manner. Fusion came under criticism for too much handholding and linearity but that had nothing to do with it being 2D.

The Prime series generally has done a remarkable job bringing the feel of the 2D games to 3D. So for me, I'd love seeing a new 2D Metroid or I'd love seeing a new Prime game and I'd be equally happy with either.

But as SF mentions, Other M doesn't seem to fall into that same category. I have only played the opening so can't really comment on the game itself but the early section doesn't feel like a Metroid game and that's not a 2d, 3D, 2.5D thing.

[Golgo]

Fusion came under criticism for too much handholding and linearity but that had nothing to do with it being 2D.

Unfairly so. It was only linear if you let it be. if you broke with your orders and went off you had a lot of freedom, and got some amusing commentary/tellings-off from your annoyed AI commander as a result. Best 2D Metroid there's been. Back on topic: Federation Force can go razz.

[Pikate]

Metroid is a difficult franchise to do anything with. 2D-wise Super Metroid is Nintendo's only true perfect game. While some games may be more enjoyable they're not perfect, Super Mario World isn't as good as SMB3 or Yoshi's Island in some ways but better in others, same story with Super Mario 64 vs. Sunshine vs. Galaxy or Link to the Past vs. Ocarina of Time vs. Wind Waker. Super Metroid is really all a 2D Metroid could be and I can see why Nintendo are out of ideas for 2D Metroid. People hold up the GBA games but Zero Mission is just the NES game remade in Super Metroid style and Fusion is a very similar game to Super Metroid that gets worse the more it differs from it's template.

3D Metroid is another problem, I don't think anyone is truly burning for a new Metroid Prime, that franchise is done, the second one isn't really essential gaming, Prime had certainly fizzled out by the end of the third entry and I don't think that game even made the top 10 Wii games in sales, the GC ones didn't seem to sell as well as Nintendo wanted either (relative to how Halo sold and drove console sales with a similar level of critical acclaim to Prime).

So yeah, I love Metroid but I can live without it until Nintendo have a genuinely great idea for it, tacking that license onto a generic game idea gets you Federation Force and making a game for the sake of it or farming it out to someone like Drinkbox or whoever just gets you the likes of Other M. Neither thing anyone seems to want, I know I'd rather they just made something safe like another Mario or got Zelda out the door or did something new/quirky like Warioware/Rhythm Tengoku/Chibi Robo/Pikmin...

[Dogg Thang]

This all seems pretty negative, Pikate, especially when you bring up Mario and Zelda. Zelda games haven't needed all that many new ideas to continue making them. A huge amount of them follow the same template and that's not always a bad thing. Metroid has not yet had its template exhausted. Not by a long shot. They don't need a genuinely great idea. They just need to be good games.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I know I'd rather they just made something safe like another Mario

Yes, because the Wii U and 3DS are totally lacking in Mario games.

I swear if Sonic was being prostituted this hard, Sega would come in for immense criticism (I say that as somebody who has criticised Sega immensely for doing just that over the years!)

Shocking how many solid franchises Nintendo have let turn to sh1t (F-Zero, Metroid, Mother/Earthbound, 1080, Wave Race, "Wars", etc.). Ironically enough, Nintendo don't appear to see the financial value in reviving such franchises but new editions of those games could've been used to drive Wii U sales and pique interest amongst those who want them back.

[Pikate]

Not negative, I love Super Metroid, it's one of my all-time favourite games but I just think the same people who want new 2D Metroid are mostly the same people who trash New Super Mario Bros. games and that's what Nintendo would do with a 2D Metroid. Also Super Metroid is so good because it's arguably Nintendo's best narrative story but it's basically a rip-off of Alien and I don't think Nintendo could write something so good on their own so it'd just be a rehash and why make that when Super Metroid exists?

Case in point Star Fox is their take on Star Wars and it's alright... Star Fox 64 is a remake of that and it's better... The Wii U one is a "reimagining" of the same story which is in it's favour so far but look at Nintendo's attempt to do something else with Star Fox, all those games are panned, hated, forgettable as is Other: M, mostly.

[Dogg Thang]

Hmmm... it might not be as good so why try? That would ended gaming with the NES.