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Side game outrage!

I’ve been sitting on this piece for a while and thought I should write it up now. If you’re like me, when you think of Nintendo games, the first three series that pops into your head are “Mario“, “Zelda“, and “Metroid“. I guess you could call the three series the “Triforce” of gaming. Sadly, while “Mario” and “Zelda” still have games coming out, Metroid’s been left to languish by the wayside. As everyone knows by now, in 2015, Nintendo released a trailer for “Metroid Prime: Federation Force“. And, of course, the part of the “Internet Hate Machine” known as “Metroid” fans saw red the instant that it hit.

“Metroid Prime: Federation Force” will forever have fans furious at Nintendo.

Full disclosure, I was just as guilty of seeing red. I cannot recall if I down voted the trailer or signed the petition, though. Furthermore, it didn’t help that the previous Metroid game was “Metroid Other M” (which was released back in 2010), as we all know the issues with that game (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, then go and what Gaming sins: “Everything Wrong with Metroid Other M” video).

So how comes that this game has brought so much hate to the table and not “Metroid Prime Pinball” or “Metroid Prime Hunters“?

“Metroid Prime Hunters” needed a better control scheme.

Well, a part of the reason is the timing. Because had this game been released in 2011 at the start of the 3DS life cycle instead of in 2016, then the story could have been a different one. Even so, MPH would still have gotten backlashes, but likely not as much. Especially if they announced it at the same time as “Other M” and then announced they were pushing it back a year to coincide with the release of the 3DS.

However, it’s not like “Metroid” is the only franchise that Nintendo or even other developers have left behind to rot. For Nintendo, games with the names “Diddy Kong Racing”, “F-Zero“, “Chibi Robo“, “Ice Climbers”, and “Startropics“, among others, have been IPs that have been gathering dust for ages and fans have wanted a brand-new installment of all of those games for a long time. Even “Kid Icarus” only got one new game at the start of the 3DS, and that was because of his inclusion in Smash Bros.

“Startropics” was originally released to the NES system back in 1990.

Oh, wait, you’re wondering about “Startropics”? Two games in the franchise, both released on the NES, exclusively for Western Audiences, never saw a Japanese release until the Wii Virtual Console. And, yes, both were developed by Nintendo as first party games. Let’s not forget that Sega sits on some excellent IPs as well (I´m looking at you, “Vectorman”), and the less I have to say about Capcom or Konami and their IP neglect, the better. Sony has some seriously good IPs that it’s not using. How many fans of Legend of Dragoon have begged Sony for a sequel? “Wild Arms” fans have waited ten years for a new Wild Arms installment. So, why are Metroid fans are so furious about Metroid Prime Federation Force?

Well, part of it is that after “Other M,” (and the butchering of Samus’s character), fans of the franchise wanted a “Metroid” game where Samus returned to the glory she had in every previous “Metroid” title (the old-school days). Another issue is that Metroid fans got a bit spoiled. After all, from 2002 to 2007, there were five main games and two side games in the Metroid Franchise, and all of them were high-quality titles. Having so many high-quality releases out in a relatively short period left me satisfied, yet wanting more.

There have been quite a few “Metroid” games since the release of the original game. So some might think that the fans became spoiled over time.

As an aside, “Metroid Prime” convinced me to buy a Gamecube, but I had to wait until 2004-2005 before I could get the lunchbox system, and by that time Fusion, Zero Mission and Prime 2 were out as well.

My personal favorite “Metroid” game, the all so awesome “Metroid Prime”.

Unfortunately, that “more” was “Metroid: Other M”. Had that game been better. It would have sold better, and we’d already have another Metroid game on the Wii U by now. So, “Federation Force” (an innocent side-game to the main Metroid canon) is hated on by fans and wasn’t given a chance. And, no, it’s not fair to the game, but what can you do?

No, I am not buying the game. Nor am I trying to convince you to do so either. However, other franchises, such as “Mario” and “Zelda” get side games fairly often and yet. No one really cares about them as much. Well, “Mario” has a ton of games and “Zelda”, while having fewer, gets enough that when side-games came out, it’s viewed as a “hold over” kind of game.

Mario has “Mario Party“, the Olympics games, “Paper Mario” and the “Mario Sports” games after all…And Zelda, well, the Wii U have nothing but remakes and side-games on it (from Wind Waker HD to Twilight Princess HD to Hyrule Warriors). Furthermore, even the 3DS has almost all remakes or side-games on it as well. Which includes everything from “Ocarina of Time 3D” to “Majora’s Mask 3D” to “Hyrule Warriors Legends” to “Tri-Force Heroes” (only Link Between Worlds was truly a new Zelda title other than “Hyrule Warriors Legend” and “Triforce Heroes”). Nevertheless, I bought all of those games, and most of them when they launched.

Yes, I know. “Tri-Force Heroes” is a new Zelda game, but it feels like a side-game due to how it’s structured. So that’s eight Zelda titles since the Wii U and 3DS launched that have come out, six of which was either remakes or side-games is a lot.

Non-sexual fanservice, the game (yes, there are plenty of boobs and butts from Cia and Twili Midna though).

The biggest reason why it works for “Mario” and “Zelda”, and not “Metroid” is that those two have a lot of games and a side-game not selling well doesn’t mean a thing. However, Metroid isn’t a game franchise that can have side-games in its current status. I guarantee if F-Zero got a game, and it was some sort of bullet hell that had you playing as Captain Falcon (with the tracks of F-Zero in the background and the music of the SNES going off). Then fans of that series would be quite furious with Nintendo for doing that with no doubt.

So tell me what you think in the comments below if you agree or disagree with this article. Thanks for reading and have a good day.

Credit:
Robin Ek – Editor

***Disclaimer***
This is a personal opinion of the writer, and it doesn’t necessarily represent the other writers (nor The Gaming Ground´s) opinions.

***Disclosure***
Metroid Prime: Federation Force.

Phil Weigel
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @SilverScarCat