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[Neiteio]

First off, I think these are an AWESOME nod to the Metroid games, so please read the OP before jumping to conclusions. (Also, I mean "skimpy" relative to everyone else. Again, it's not a problem.)

Pic of the day. Looking at the number of days we have left for development, it would be an impossible task to create this… That's what I told my staff. But thanks to the determination of her female designer, these Zero Suit outfits got completed in time. From the ending of Metroid: Zero Mission, here's Samus in shorts!

Here's a look at the 3DS version. You can use the same outfit variations in both the 3DS and Wii U versions.

They're based on the following, from Metroid Fusion (left) and Metroid Zero Mission (right):

What I find interesting here is the first caption. Do you think Sakurai felt compelled to mention it was a female designer who made them simply because these days the sexism claims come hard and fast? Note, I'm not saying this costume design is or isn't sexist. I already said I like these outfits and think they're a great reference. I'm just curious what you think about the way he's presenting this here, because I'm not sure I've ever seen a Nintendo dev try to... head things off like this, lol.

 

[technocritter]

HERE WE GO AGAIN

 

[Neiteio]

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Read my OP. I'm not complaining about it. I fully support this design choice.

If anything, it's a bummer we can't get Justin Bailey (with the green hair) because she wasn't in Japan, apparently (or so I'm being told in the other thread)

 

[Sulik2]

Should of saved it for on disc DLC. Weird costume, doesn't seem to really fit the tone of Smash Brothers.

 

[Regulus Tera]

If only they didn't have the rocket boots. Best alternate costume in the game by far, though. The Zero Suit introduced in Zero Mission is blegh.

 

[Thorakai]

HERE WE GO AGAIN

chill bruh

 

[Dr Amazon MD]

I think they look nice. Nice ode to the other games.

 

[furious]

Is a "female designer" a female who designs, or a designer of females?

 

[PAULINK]

This is AWESOME

 

[SuperAngelo64]

What does the Japanese text say? I know foreign developers are coming under the hammer of western social justice bullies lately, so it's probably better that he placated with that remark.

 

[technocritter]

Read my OP. I'm not complaining about it. I fully support this design choice.

If anything, it's a bummer we can't get Justin Bailey (with the green hair) because she wasn't in Japan, apparently (or so I'm being told in the other thread)

I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about Kotaku

 

[Jotamide]

Aw man, should've picked this one:

Still pretty cool outfits.

 

[Mature]

Skimpy? Kinda just looks like running clothes, honestly...

 

[HGStormy]

Wish they had kept the shoes the same. Oh well!

 

[GuessMyUserName]

So happy with these - should definitely have a black colour scheme so I can pretend it's Super Metroid

 

[Zeyphersan]

Skimpy? Kinda just looks like running clothes, honestly...

Yeah, she's been in bikinis before. I was sort of expecting that

 

[LowParry]

Wow those looks damn cool. I like the orange color one.

 

[ZeroGravity]

Good on you, Sakurai. This is an awesome nod.

 

[coolasj19]

What does the Japanese text say? I know foreign developers are coming under the hammer of western social justice bullies lately, so it's probably better that he placated with that remark.

This.

If only they didn't have the rocket boots. Best alternate costume in the game by far, though. The Zero Suit introduced in Zero Mission is blegh.

Yeah... Make them unnoticeable please, they're super clonky.

 

[Neiteio]

Skimpy? Kinda just looks like running clothes, honestly...

Well, yes, I meant "skimpy" by the standards of everyone else in the game. I don't think it's salacious or anything, of course not. I love it, to be honest, I just find it interesting how Sakurai made a point of the designer's gender. I think it's an interesting reflection of how these things tend to be received on the Internet these days.

 

[Dr Amazon MD]

What does the Japanese text say? I know foreign developers are coming under the hammer of western social justice bullies lately, so it's probably better that he placated with that remark.

I'm sure that's why the remark was included.

 

[Riposte]

They make her massive boobs look marginally smaller I think.

EDIT: The position of her waist is kind of painfully to look at in both instances.

 

[ReiGun]

The "female designer" comment feels like them trying to cover their asses. Of course, it just calls more attention to the outfit, and comes across as insulting. "See? A woman made it! That means it's okay!"

That said, it's a nice nod to the games. I like it.

 

[Necromanti]

I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about Kotaku

Worried about what?

 

[popyea]

Should of saved it for on disc DLC. Weird costume, doesn't seem to really fit the tone of Smash Brothers.

Smash Bros. encompasses many different tones. Think of this as an addition, not an alteration.

 

[Byronic Hero]

Ugh. Makes me sick.





She didn't have those boots back then.

Spoiler

 

[JazzmanZ]

did this really need its own topic

 

[Mechazawa]

I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about Kotaku

There's nothing wrong with these costumes and they look infinitely less fanservice than that shitty catsuit she otherwise has on.

This is Samus goes for a jog on the track. Space track.

 

[MuddyDonut]

I am really feeling the nods to these GOAT games

 

[Neiteio]

The jet boots blend in a lot better on these alts.

 

[ZoddGutts]

She's showing her navel, of course it's skimpy!

 

[Buckethead]

They know what they're doing.

They want their cake and eat it too.

 

[Fantastical]

The "female designer" is kind of cringeworthy. Seems pretty obvious what they're doing.

 

[Ashhong]

Man the 3DS art style looks so cool

 

[Valnen]

Shows more skin but I think Zero Suit is still skimpier/sexier.

 

[Neiteio]

Is a "female designer" a female who designs, or a designer of females?

LOL, this is a good point

Ah, Sakurai, in another life you were a lawyer

 

[mgc093]

What's wrong with her torso???

 

[BabyFaceKillah]

those boots kinda killed it.

 

[technocritter]

There's nothing wrong with these costumes and they look infinitely less fanservice than that shitty catsuit she otherwise has on.

This is Samus goes for a jog on the track. Space track.

you seem to believe that game journalists listen to logic.

 

[Zeyphersan]

Well, yes, I meant "skimpy" by the standards of everyone else in the game. I don't think it's salacious or anything, of course not. I love it, to be honest, I just find it interesting how Sakurai made a point of the designer's gender. I think it's an interesting reflection of how these things tend to be received on the Internet these days.

If they had gone full bikini, I think THAT would have clashed with the Smash aesthetics. This is about as close as they could get, honestly

Looks great!

 

[Ragnorok64]

Does Samus have huge hands?

 

[Neiteio]

So what should we call this?

I nominate: Zero-er Suit Samus

 

[Kamek]

It makes sense to have it as an alt, as there is historical context for it. I don't see it as gratuitous.

 

[CrackPebbles]

Radical

 

[Conan-san]

Yeah, this is just a thing that showed up in the metroid cannon, not a big deal.

Until the Robot Carnival rolls in and makes it a big deal.

 

[random25]

So what should we call this?

I nominate: Zero-er Suit Samus

Zero Shorts Samus

 

[C.Olimar788]

They're nice nods, though they kinda emphasize how ZSS is a terrible character choice for Smash. These costumes are loungewear, which Samus has been shown to wear only when she's not, well, fighting. Same with the Zero Suit in general, which she only willingly wears into battle when her suit malfunctions.

ZSS in Smash Bros. has always been blatant fanservice - and not in the fun, reference-y way. Whether one is okay with that is up to the individual, I s'ppose.

 

[Neiteio]

It makes sense to have it as an alt, as there is historical context for it. I don't see it as gratuitous.

Yeah, the question isn't whether it's gratuitous. I think it's fine. I'm just interested in what it says about gaming culture today that Sakurai felt the need to say, "A woman made this, so don't read into it the wrong way!" I'm interested to know if the Japanese phrasing was similar, since this particular concern might not be as topical in the East as it is in the West.

 

[786110]

This means we'll get Naked Snake right?

 

[blamite]

I like that alt costumes are being used for cool shoutouts like this (Golf Mario, Wireframe Mac).

I have to say I'm a bit surprised they're including such an arguably sexualized outfit though when, looking at the game's female characters in general, it kind of seems like Sakurai has been generally steering clear of that sort of thing.

(This is also the first confirmation of GCN Brinstar for the 3DS version, right?)