A take on the two rumored Metroid games in the making

«Previous post | Next post»

There has been some rumors going around that, not one, but two “Metroid” games (Retro Studios and Climax Studios are the rumored developers behind the games) will be released in the near future (one game is said to be shown at this year’s edition of E3). That’s great news (if true) for the fans with no doubt. However, the previous games had some problems that rubbed fans the wrong way. With “Other M”’s flaws (the horse is past post-mortem. but I need to bring them up) and “Federation Force”’s tainted reputation, and when Nintendo’s lawyers were slapping DMCAs left and right. Nevertheless, with all said and done, it wasn’t always a question of “if,” but a matter of “when.” And with that I had a few thoughts on the topic.

There are still some players out there, somewhere…

The next Metroid title is, without a doubt, going to be a Nintendo Switch game. After playing “Breath of the Wild” on the Switch for some time (a loan, courtesy of my brother) I think a release the system is the best way to jumpstart the Metroid hype ship with its performance in presentation and having a controller that’s designed closely to a normal gamepad, though I still treat it like an infant with hemophilia. Plus having a Metroid game on the Switch early in its lifespan will help to ensure an interest with both the system and the installment, even when it’s time to bring more titles in the series. Even so, it begs the question: is it going to be a “traditional” (and I use the term loosely) “Metroid” or is it going to be a new installment in the Prime series?

I’m sure this is how Samus would feel if she had to be in Another M.

If Nintendo decided to make a “traditional” “Metroid” I believe there are some improvements from “Other M” so we can have a better experience. Under control the Joy-Con Grip/Pro Controller (not a single Joy-Con setup) can easily be mapped to control Samus and have dedicated buttons for her vast arsenal and gear. And if there must be a first-person mode we should at least be able to move while aiming, even if motion controls are involved (like using a bow in “Breath of the Wild”). Next detail I think they may avoid is having “Other M” Samus, as in her character portrayed in the game.

This was a shoehorned-in characterization to force in lore right before “Metroid Fusion”, and to me, this didn’t work so well with the established persona (from what little you get from “Zero Mission” and “Super Metroid” as well as all the dialogue from “Fusion”). And if anything Nintendo shouldn’t be recycling things from the past “Metroid” games, especially elements taken from a title that is chronologically after it. Why? Because I find a freash and clean-cut start (reboot) to be the best way to go.

However, if it’s a “Metroid Prime” game (“Metroid Prime 4”?), then we can be sure that it’s not going to be a spin-off title. As “Federation Force” filled in that role last year, and I doubt they’ll have another one as their first “Metroid” game on the Nintendo Switch. And since it’s highly likely that motion controls will be added to the gameplay I think there should be options to turn that on or off, for people who have a preference for more traditional FPS gamepad controls (like how they have different control settings in “Federation Force”).

This is the last time we’ve seen Samus in a Prime game; exhausted. So hopefully, she’ll be up and ready for “Metroid Prime 4”.

In a nutshell, I think (or at least hope) Nintendo will come out with “Metroid” game we’ve been waiting for on the Switch, promoting the system with a title that would win fans back. Even so, I still don’t think that Nintendo is working on two different “Metroid” games. Because”if” “Metroid” should have a comeback, then it should be a title that rolls out the red carpet instead of having a side project come out first and then the feature game at a later year.

As I would much rather see a focus on one good “Metroid” then having Nintendo publish multiple Metroid titles of mix results (quality over quantity), in any case, what better way is there for Metroid to come back than being on the latest Nintendo system? As I said it was only a question of when but Metroid needs to come back on a good note after “Metroid: Other M” and “Metroid Prime: Federation Force“. So “if” it’s true that Nintendo will show the next “Metroid” game during E3 2017 in June, then let’s wait and see what the next mission will be and hope that this is the “Metroid” game which we’ve been waiting for all this time.

See you next mission.

And with that said, what do you think? Should we get two Metroid games? And which branch of the “Metroid” franchise would you like to see as the next installment? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!

***Disclaimer***
This is a personal opinion of the writer, and it doesn’t necessarily represent the other writers (nor The Gaming Ground´s) opinions. The writer has also played the Metroid games mentioned (“Metroid: Zero Mission”, “Super Metroid”, “Metroid Fusion”, “Metroid: Other M”, and the Metroid Prime series) in the article and uses his experiences from these titles as basis for some of his arguments.

Credit:
Robin Ek – Editor

Source:
Alexander Brandon
Spawn Wave
One Angry Gamer
The Know