He's not. He's part of a gaggle of tropes you'll probably end up rescuing through the game
Metroid
- Thread starter Caldwin
- Start date
I found these at Best Buy. I also found the Sylux Amiibo at Target, but after having already spent $71 on Ammibo I cared about, I just couldn't bring myself to spend another $30 on a character I have no attachment to.
Now, I do have Metroid Prime 4 on my Christmas list. But I decided to get it digitally. For one thing, it wouldn't be the first game I have digitally and physically. If I download this tonight and then get it again for Christmas, I will still be happy to have it physically because...you know...physical media FTW.
Also, I just don't want to have to wait another 17 days to play this. It's Metroid, durnit!
Now I've heard both good and bad about this game. I'm worried about all the other NPC's you'll come in contact with. The last time they did that was Other M and...well...I'll just let that hang there.
But some people are also complaining about the motorcycle. Not gonna lie, I actually like the motorcycle. Common thought against it seems to be that the morphball is supposed to be the fast way to get around and having a vehicle minimizes that. But to that I say, morphball is for getting into tight spaces and getting into hard to reach areas. Motorcycle is for getting around hub areas. I saw the motorcycle in the trailer and my immediate thought was that I want to see Samus in a race on her motorcycle with Link on his. C'mon, Mario Kart World DLC! Make it happen!
I still have another hour of downloading. But you already know I'll keep y'all updated on my thoughts when I actually start playing. I'm getting the feeling it's either going to be another Other M or another Dread. I'd personally be happy with an in between. But with all the hype, it's rarely ever an in between.
So I've spent the day with this game. I guess I can give a first impressions review.
I wanted to give this one an 'S' ranking. I really did. 'A' at the worst. But I have to keep it real or else my reviews don't mean jive, right? I'm going to have to go with a 'B' rating.
Now let's be clear. 'B' rating by any standard is still a pretty good rating. I'm not going to say this is a bad game, because it's not. I'm having fun playing this. The graphics are great, the parts where Samus is alone is as much Metroid as ever...but then I'm sure you caught the caveat there.
Okay, let me just break this down:
Positives:
Like I said, the graphics are great. The new suit once you get the motorcycle is very cool. I really can't complain about the graphics at all.
The game play is also great. It took me about 10-20 minutes to get used to the controls, but they really are good.
Positives with Caveats:
I'm just going to say it. I love the motorcycle. I loved Zelda with a motorcycle. I like Metroid with a motorcycle. Motorcycles are fun.
BUT: the majority of the time I've been on the motorcycle so far has been in a vast, mostly empty desert. You have a cool looking motorcycle with tight controls...and nothing to do with it except boring point A to point B in an empty desert.
Negatives:
I knew the NPC's were going to be annoying. But it's worse than I thought. I only have two NPC's unlocked so far. But really, that's enough to know it was a bad idea. Mackenzie is the worst kind of Navi. If you try to take your time exploring the empty desert, going through the crystal collectithon that everyone so far is saying is critical to do, after a few minutes he will come over the headset saying "If you're lost, you can use the map to find your way." "Why don't you head here next." Damnit, Mackenzie, I'm trying to do some exploration in this "open sandbox" game. Leave me alone! The other NPC I've unlocked...well, at least he's not an annoying nerd I want to kill outright like Mackenzie. But he'll still be chattering at you through the radio at random intervals. This is Metroid. It's supposed to feel solitary...isolating. Having NPC's talking to you all the time is killing the atmosphere that is supposed to be "Metroid." So...yeah...NPC's are annoying.
And to go along with my previous point...look, I'd rather there not be any NPC's at all. But if you're going to have NPC's, don't give Samus the whole mute Link treatment. Now I know..."they gave Samus voice acting in Other M and look how that turned out." But I think that was the wrong lesson to learn from Other M. My problem with other M was not that she was given voice acting. My issue was that the only things she had to say was "the baby, the baby, the baby. Yes sir, I'm the woman, you're the man. You command, I obey. Oh no, not Ridley. Not the same monster I've already defeated multiple times before! Noooooo!" Like...give Samus characterization befitting Samus and I'd be quite happy to see her voice acted. Just please, stop the mute Link treatment. It's getting old, even in Zelda.
No music while riding the bike in the empty desert...unless you bought the $30 Amiibo. And look, you can see from the picture above that I do, in fact, have that amiibo. So for me, I've already paid the paywall. But I bought the amiibo because...dang those look cool and I love Samus Aran. But that doesn't mean I don't agree in principle that putting something like background music behind a paywall is scummy. It's really scummy and I'm glad Nintendo's getting called out on it...even if I am a part of the problem.
Conclusion:
So yeah, it does look like there are more positives than negatives. And if any of that turns you off of buying the game, I really can't say anything other than that it's fair. This game is good. It's actually really good. But it does have it's issues. I want to be the Nintendo fanboy. I want to be the Metroid Fanboy. I want to give this an 'A'-'S' ranking. It really is a good game. But I just can't let my fanboyism ruin my credibility, and honestly, this game does have some issues. I'm afraid I really do have to go with...
B rank
I wanted to give this one an 'S' ranking. I really did. 'A' at the worst. But I have to keep it real or else my reviews don't mean jive, right? I'm going to have to go with a 'B' rating.
Now let's be clear. 'B' rating by any standard is still a pretty good rating. I'm not going to say this is a bad game, because it's not. I'm having fun playing this. The graphics are great, the parts where Samus is alone is as much Metroid as ever...but then I'm sure you caught the caveat there.
Okay, let me just break this down:
Positives:
Like I said, the graphics are great. The new suit once you get the motorcycle is very cool. I really can't complain about the graphics at all.
The game play is also great. It took me about 10-20 minutes to get used to the controls, but they really are good.
Positives with Caveats:
I'm just going to say it. I love the motorcycle. I loved Zelda with a motorcycle. I like Metroid with a motorcycle. Motorcycles are fun.
BUT: the majority of the time I've been on the motorcycle so far has been in a vast, mostly empty desert. You have a cool looking motorcycle with tight controls...and nothing to do with it except boring point A to point B in an empty desert.
Negatives:
I knew the NPC's were going to be annoying. But it's worse than I thought. I only have two NPC's unlocked so far. But really, that's enough to know it was a bad idea. Mackenzie is the worst kind of Navi. If you try to take your time exploring the empty desert, going through the crystal collectithon that everyone so far is saying is critical to do, after a few minutes he will come over the headset saying "If you're lost, you can use the map to find your way." "Why don't you head here next." Damnit, Mackenzie, I'm trying to do some exploration in this "open sandbox" game. Leave me alone! The other NPC I've unlocked...well, at least he's not an annoying nerd I want to kill outright like Mackenzie. But he'll still be chattering at you through the radio at random intervals. This is Metroid. It's supposed to feel solitary...isolating. Having NPC's talking to you all the time is killing the atmosphere that is supposed to be "Metroid." So...yeah...NPC's are annoying.
And to go along with my previous point...look, I'd rather there not be any NPC's at all. But if you're going to have NPC's, don't give Samus the whole mute Link treatment. Now I know..."they gave Samus voice acting in Other M and look how that turned out." But I think that was the wrong lesson to learn from Other M. My problem with other M was not that she was given voice acting. My issue was that the only things she had to say was "the baby, the baby, the baby. Yes sir, I'm the woman, you're the man. You command, I obey. Oh no, not Ridley. Not the same monster I've already defeated multiple times before! Noooooo!" Like...give Samus characterization befitting Samus and I'd be quite happy to see her voice acted. Just please, stop the mute Link treatment. It's getting old, even in Zelda.
No music while riding the bike in the empty desert...unless you bought the $30 Amiibo. And look, you can see from the picture above that I do, in fact, have that amiibo. So for me, I've already paid the paywall. But I bought the amiibo because...dang those look cool and I love Samus Aran. But that doesn't mean I don't agree in principle that putting something like background music behind a paywall is scummy. It's really scummy and I'm glad Nintendo's getting called out on it...even if I am a part of the problem.
Conclusion:
So yeah, it does look like there are more positives than negatives. And if any of that turns you off of buying the game, I really can't say anything other than that it's fair. This game is good. It's actually really good. But it does have it's issues. I want to be the Nintendo fanboy. I want to be the Metroid Fanboy. I want to give this an 'A'-'S' ranking. It really is a good game. But I just can't let my fanboyism ruin my credibility, and honestly, this game does have some issues. I'm afraid I really do have to go with...
B rank
Trying to determine if changing your Custom Title to "Banned for posting Metroid's flesh doors" would fit...
Having talky NPCs can work, but yeah. Not with Metroid. Navi is annoying but doesn't really hurt the atmosphere. And if you're a kid who isn't using a guide and has to take a break from the game for months (maybe a whole semester) and don't remember exactly what the goal was when you left off, Navi suddenly becomes genuinely useful. Not everyone is a speedrunner who already knows where to go next.
Samus needs to be isolated. She just does. I'm okay with her being mute. It works for her. I don't need that to ever change. I don't even want to see her eyes when she has the helmet on (I completely disagree with Metroid Prime on this). But cut the chatty NPCs. You don't supervise Samus. If you hire Samus it's because this job is out of your league and it's time to bring out the nuclear codes. She has tools you can't replicate. Be quiet and let her do her thing. She'll send you the bill when she's done. Maye you'll see the planet explode before she's done. Oh well. You didn't have any less extreme options left.
Samus needs to be isolated. She just does. I'm okay with her being mute. It works for her. I don't need that to ever change. I don't even want to see her eyes when she has the helmet on (I completely disagree with Metroid Prime on this). But cut the chatty NPCs. You don't supervise Samus. If you hire Samus it's because this job is out of your league and it's time to bring out the nuclear codes. She has tools you can't replicate. Be quiet and let her do her thing. She'll send you the bill when she's done. Maye you'll see the planet explode before she's done. Oh well. You didn't have any less extreme options left.
Like, like, like...a thousand times, like.
I think I should clarify. I don't mind Samus being mute...but that's mostly because I don't think she should have any other NPC's to talk to. My complaint of her being mute was totally in the context of "there shouldn't be any NPC's for her to talk to...but if you're absolutely going to have an NPC for her to talk to, don't make her mute."
I think I should clarify. I don't mind Samus being mute...but that's mostly because I don't think she should have any other NPC's to talk to. My complaint of her being mute was totally in the context of "there shouldn't be any NPC's for her to talk to...but if you're absolutely going to have an NPC for her to talk to, don't make her mute."
I think I just figured out what bugs me so much about McKinsey. Yes he's the Navi character in a franchise where there shouldn't even be NPCs. Yes he's an annoying, cowardly, self-important nerd type. Like in a world where "nerd" can be a be a good thing or a bad thing, for him it's a bad thing.
But also, take one good look at him and tell me he doesn't look like a Pixar caricature in an otherwise polished, realistic looking title!
But also, take one good look at him and tell me he doesn't look like a Pixar caricature in an otherwise polished, realistic looking title!
Y'know, speaking as someone who hasn't touched the game yet (I've been busy with Pokemon), I can KIND of see what Nintendo's trying to do, here.
Because, let's face it, Metroid has always kind of been a odd duck for Nintendo. It's the closest thing Nintendo has to a "horror" franchise. And Nintendo doesn't really DO horror games, because of it's family-friendly image.
(*Eternal Darkness peaks it's head around the door, wishing someone would remember it...then goes back to listening to Taking Back Sunday*)
(*Famicom Detective Club just sighs and goes back to reading*)
But, Samus IS a iconic part of Nintendo. She's been in every Smash Bros game. Metroid games may not always sell the best, but Samus is up there as one of the icons, regardless.
So, I can kind of understand what Nintendo's trying to do. Nintendo is trying to make Metroid more in line with it's other properties. Less "scary" and more "adventurous". I can see this as Nintendo trying to slowly push Metroid into a tone that's more like Zelda. Or Guardians of the Galaxy, more broadly speaking. Where you can still have creepy MOMENTS, but the entire game isn't really as intimidating as it sometimes is. And having a cast of quirky characters is a part of that. Zelda has it's share of quirky weirdos, too.
And this isn't even the first game to introduce more recurring characters for Samus to interact with. This is something they've been fairly consistently trying to do for the last few decades. Other M. Metroid Prime Hunters. It just never really works. And it doesn't seem to be working here, from everything I've heard.
But, I don't think Nintendo's going to stop going in this direction with Metroid. Nintendo seems to really want to give Samus a cast of characters to interact with. And Metroid is really the only Nintendo franchise that lacks that memorable cast of characters. So, in future games, I think they're going to continue to move away from being inspired by "Aliens" and probably going to try to make the franchise more like "Star Wars". Because something along those lines is just more what Nintendo is comfortable with.
The motorcycle getting put in here kind of supports this idea. A character on a motorcycle says more "cool action", rather than "survival horror" to me. I feel like the motorcycle represents Nintendo desperately trying to change the tone of this game. Plus...it DOES make for a cool toy. Which certainly doesn't hurt when they're trying to sell Amiibo.
Plus, I think they might think that might make these games sell a little better? Metroid is probably, overall, one of the lower-selling "big" franchises that Nintendo has. So, maybe they think making it less "scary" will help more people try it out? I'm not sure if that logic actually tracks, given how popular the Resident Evil games are. But, I could see Nintendo thinking that it doesn't work for them, at least. The audience that they've cultivated is less interested in a game like Metroid, rather than a game like Zelda. So, I could see Nintendo trying to make Metroid more like Zelda, in a attempt to boost sales.
So, I don't think THESE guys will end up sticking around in future games. But, I feel like this is something Nintendo's going to try again with Metroid in the future. They're going to try and force Samus to socialize more. Hopefully, they just do it better? Maybe the key is to give Samus a supporting cast who are all "mute" like she is? That way we can WATCH them discover these worlds alongside us...but they aren't constantly chattering in our ear the whole time. Make it more about the animation than the dialogue? I don't know, just a thought.
Because, let's face it, Metroid has always kind of been a odd duck for Nintendo. It's the closest thing Nintendo has to a "horror" franchise. And Nintendo doesn't really DO horror games, because of it's family-friendly image.
(*Eternal Darkness peaks it's head around the door, wishing someone would remember it...then goes back to listening to Taking Back Sunday*)
(*Famicom Detective Club just sighs and goes back to reading*)
But, Samus IS a iconic part of Nintendo. She's been in every Smash Bros game. Metroid games may not always sell the best, but Samus is up there as one of the icons, regardless.
So, I can kind of understand what Nintendo's trying to do. Nintendo is trying to make Metroid more in line with it's other properties. Less "scary" and more "adventurous". I can see this as Nintendo trying to slowly push Metroid into a tone that's more like Zelda. Or Guardians of the Galaxy, more broadly speaking. Where you can still have creepy MOMENTS, but the entire game isn't really as intimidating as it sometimes is. And having a cast of quirky characters is a part of that. Zelda has it's share of quirky weirdos, too.
And this isn't even the first game to introduce more recurring characters for Samus to interact with. This is something they've been fairly consistently trying to do for the last few decades. Other M. Metroid Prime Hunters. It just never really works. And it doesn't seem to be working here, from everything I've heard.
But, I don't think Nintendo's going to stop going in this direction with Metroid. Nintendo seems to really want to give Samus a cast of characters to interact with. And Metroid is really the only Nintendo franchise that lacks that memorable cast of characters. So, in future games, I think they're going to continue to move away from being inspired by "Aliens" and probably going to try to make the franchise more like "Star Wars". Because something along those lines is just more what Nintendo is comfortable with.
The motorcycle getting put in here kind of supports this idea. A character on a motorcycle says more "cool action", rather than "survival horror" to me. I feel like the motorcycle represents Nintendo desperately trying to change the tone of this game. Plus...it DOES make for a cool toy. Which certainly doesn't hurt when they're trying to sell Amiibo.
Plus, I think they might think that might make these games sell a little better? Metroid is probably, overall, one of the lower-selling "big" franchises that Nintendo has. So, maybe they think making it less "scary" will help more people try it out? I'm not sure if that logic actually tracks, given how popular the Resident Evil games are. But, I could see Nintendo thinking that it doesn't work for them, at least. The audience that they've cultivated is less interested in a game like Metroid, rather than a game like Zelda. So, I could see Nintendo trying to make Metroid more like Zelda, in a attempt to boost sales.
So, I don't think THESE guys will end up sticking around in future games. But, I feel like this is something Nintendo's going to try again with Metroid in the future. They're going to try and force Samus to socialize more. Hopefully, they just do it better? Maybe the key is to give Samus a supporting cast who are all "mute" like she is? That way we can WATCH them discover these worlds alongside us...but they aren't constantly chattering in our ear the whole time. Make it more about the animation than the dialogue? I don't know, just a thought.
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*points to title *
Kirby has friends, but they're not chatterboxes.
I mean, you guys were talking about pink, fleshy things, right?
It's partially my wall-o-text, and probably partially a Freudian Slip. I was talking about how Nintendo's been trying to give Samus a supporting cast for years now. Then you guys started talking about wide, gaping maws. Is it any wonder Kirby came to mind as a Nintendo character with a memorable supporting cast, like what they're trying to give to Samus?
Human brains, watchoogonnado?
It's partially my wall-o-text, and probably partially a Freudian Slip. I was talking about how Nintendo's been trying to give Samus a supporting cast for years now. Then you guys started talking about wide, gaping maws. Is it any wonder Kirby came to mind as a Nintendo character with a memorable supporting cast, like what they're trying to give to Samus?
Human brains, watchoogonnado?
I meant that as a response to the idea of Nintendo wanting Metroid to have more memorable characters. That may be what they're trying to do here, and I get it. But it still doesn't mean they have to be so chatty.
If I'm going to be honest the NPC's don't bug me much in the game after Mackenzie's first tagging along in the jungle area. I don't have an issue with Samus not being alone and potentially having others to interact with. Do I want a Navi like character all the time. No , not really. But I don't want it all the time. And the occasional times I got to try and keep them alive haven't been anything horrible so far with me being mostly through the majority of the game. And yes it does annoy me that Samus gets to just be non verbal with everyone. I get that they might be reluctant after Other M, but there are sometimes I barely see the movement of her head to confirm things. She doesn't need to be chatty but simple short confirmations wouldn't hurt.
The Bike..... I don't mind it if there was a better purpose for it then crossing the interconnected desert. Honestly what does bug me is the lack of connectivity between regions that made the desert relevant at all. One thing about the original Prime was finding the hidden ways between the different regions. Here in most regions until you hit a certain upgrade you might not get until much later you are going to dive deep into a region, only to back track the way back or find the path that loops back to the start. and then cross the desert to then go to whichever biome you want or need to hit next. The desert is only there to justify having the bike in the game mostly.
What really does grind my gears. The Psychic powers are plainly window dressing. Most are just Samus's usual powers with Psychic in front of the name. And the rest could be new upgrades to the usual abilities. The telekinesis ability could be mostly a Grapple Upgrade with the bombs being a combo with it and a remote detonation. The most unique thing is the guided charged Psychic beam and even that feels like it's a step away from a wave beam thing.
And honestly the worst part is this feels like we really haven't changed the game in any meaningful way. I'm happy to be playing a new Metroid Prime, but it's so safely a Metroid Prime game that the gameplay doesn't feel that exciting overall. I have been digging the lore of the game but again it feels like it's window dressing over whats come before. A slight twist on the last two Prime games if I'm honest.
I want to love this, and mostly I do enjoy the game, but it feels hollow somehow.
The Bike..... I don't mind it if there was a better purpose for it then crossing the interconnected desert. Honestly what does bug me is the lack of connectivity between regions that made the desert relevant at all. One thing about the original Prime was finding the hidden ways between the different regions. Here in most regions until you hit a certain upgrade you might not get until much later you are going to dive deep into a region, only to back track the way back or find the path that loops back to the start. and then cross the desert to then go to whichever biome you want or need to hit next. The desert is only there to justify having the bike in the game mostly.
What really does grind my gears. The Psychic powers are plainly window dressing. Most are just Samus's usual powers with Psychic in front of the name. And the rest could be new upgrades to the usual abilities. The telekinesis ability could be mostly a Grapple Upgrade with the bombs being a combo with it and a remote detonation. The most unique thing is the guided charged Psychic beam and even that feels like it's a step away from a wave beam thing.
And honestly the worst part is this feels like we really haven't changed the game in any meaningful way. I'm happy to be playing a new Metroid Prime, but it's so safely a Metroid Prime game that the gameplay doesn't feel that exciting overall. I have been digging the lore of the game but again it feels like it's window dressing over whats come before. A slight twist on the last two Prime games if I'm honest.
I want to love this, and mostly I do enjoy the game, but it feels hollow somehow.
Yonic the Yedgeyog? Yotta go yast?
Anyway, I just think it would be neat if there was a "Settle down" button prompt you can choose to initiate when dealing with Miles, where Samus turns to him, picks him up by the back of his collar, and holds him up to her eye level, silent the whole time, and he's just like "...yes'm."
Of course, I can see that button getting a lot of use... and not because people want Miles to shut up.