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[Bronetta]

But we have been inundated with Metroidvania type Games like Axiom Verge, Hollow Knight and AM2R and others.

Axiom Verge is 2.5 years old
Hollow Knight is PC exclusive (for now)
AM2R is a 1 year old fan made game, also PC exclusive.

Ill help you out with another title: Ori & the Blind Forest. Also 2+ years old by now.


Absolutely inundated, are we?

 

[Mael]

Axiom Verge is 2.5 years old
Hollow Knight is PC exclusive (for now)
AM2R is a 1 year old fan made game, also PC exclusive.

Ill help you out with another title: Ori & the Blind Forest. Also 2+ years old by now.


Absolutely inundated, are we?

There's more than that.
You have Salt & Sanctuary, Owlboy and so many others.
Heck if you just look at the direct competition on what's available on 3DS right now you have the following list.
It's not the 90's anymore where you had only Super Metroid, Metroid II and Metroid and after that you had to dig up games because there weren't that many.

 

[kyo2004]

Guess who's back.

Back again.

Immediately reminds me "Eminem - Without Me"... xD..

Actually, can anyone do a gif with that part of the song but with faces of Nintendo/Sony/MS/etc?... xD... that would be the perfect gif... xD...

 

[Opa-Pa]

People tend to call Metroid games "Metroidvania" like they're the same thing, but really all those indies emulate Castlevania far more than Metroid. The only Metroid-likes I know of that have come out lately are Axiom Verge and AM2R.

 

[Mael]

People tend to call Metroid games "Metroidvania" like they're the same thing, but really all those indies emulate Castlevania far more than Metroid. The only Metroid-likes I know of that have come out lately are Axiom Verge and AM2R.

Absolutely true and even among the Igavania games there's quite a bit of diversity too.
But for a random reviewer at Ign doing a product report? That's a dime a dozen.
Kinda like for BotW, the game is pretty special but it's less so in the context of open world games.

 

[esmith08734]

Cool! Glad to see Metroid back.

 

[QuixoticNeutral]

But we have been inundated with Metroidvania type Games like Axiom Verge, Hollow Knight and AM2R and others. Metroid has to stand out in some way. I think the purity of Metroid and how all the power ups are almost guaranteed usage in some (mostly pretty creative) way for progression is why the series is so strong. It's short and Punchy, 100% completion is satisfying and not hugely tedious most of the time and often has unique challenges throughout to provide consistent variety.

The thing that has always distinguished Metroid (and Zelda) for me is the elegance of a progression system based on discrete accomplishments and skill checks (discoveries, obstacles, puzzles) and almost never based on grinding or stats (though the armour upgrades in BotW stretch this a little bit). Short and punchy, as you said, but most of all clean. You become more powerful not directly via repetition, but via the personal improvement in technical/observational skills that come with repetition. Not experience points, but experience, in the form of actual competence as a player. And that's why I'll always find their rewards more satisfying. The power-ups feel like they individually matter in how you obtain them as well as in how you use them.

People tend to call Metroid games "Metroidvania" like they're the same thing, but really all those indies emulate Castlevania far more than Metroid. The only Metroid-likes I know of that have come out lately are Axiom Verge and AM2R.

Guacamelee! is closer to the Metroid side, but I agree: most of the time, when people pull out the word Metroidvania, I get the impression that either they have never played a Metroid game, or all they got out of the experience was that it's a side-scroller where you run-and-gun in more than one direction on a roughly contiguous map (and not always even that). You could release a Contra game these days with some minimal freedom of backtracking and connectedness between areas, and someone would call it a Metroidvania.

 

[Neoleo2143]

People tend to call Metroid games "Metroidvania" like they're the same thing, but really all those indies emulate Castlevania far more than Metroid. The only Metroid-likes I know of that have come out lately are Axiom Verge and AM2R.

This is true, Axiom Verge was kinda disappointing to me (simplistic bosses and combat design that revolved around abusing corners plus the movement wasn't as fun as Metroid's liberating, speedy and yet tight feel) but AM2R was excellent.

The purity of gaining power through exploration (of abilities and the environment) rather than getting power through levelling is much more appealing to me.

Hollow Knight had a good mix of both though.

The thing that has always distinguished Metroid (and Zelda) for me is the elegance of a progression system based on discrete accomplishments and skill checks (discoveries, obstacles, puzzles) and almost never based on grinding or stats (though the armour upgrades in BotW stretch this a little bit). Short and punchy, as you said, but most of all clean. You become more powerful not directly via repetition, but via the personal improvement in technical/observational skills that come with repetition. Not experience points, but experience, in the form of actual competence as a player. And that's why I'll always find their rewards more satisfying. The power-ups feel like they individually matter in how you obtain them as well as in how you use them.

Or What this guy said.

 

[RagnarokX]

People tend to call Metroid games "Metroidvania" like they're the same thing, but really all those indies emulate Castlevania far more than Metroid. The only Metroid-likes I know of that have come out lately are Axiom Verge and AM2R.

Well Metroidvania was coined to describe just Castlevanias that played like Metroid, so Metroidvania itself is meant to be "Metroid-like"

 

[nicolasacmf]

Give AM2R or the original Metroid 2 a try some time in the future after you beat Samus Returns. It's good even if you just want a point of reference for how impressive Samus Returns is.

I have Metroid II on the 3DS, I used to start it up, play for a few minutes and then think "Man, this game really needed that Link's Awakening DX treatment" and then I'd give up and play something else, which is weird because playing old games has never been a problem. But I guess I'll do what I did for Fire Emblem Shadows of Valentia, I'll go back to the original after playing the Samus Returns.

AM2R is still fantastic regardless. This and it don't make each other irrelevant. They can coexist, and AM2R is basically on par with the best Metroid games in terms of quality.

Not trying to invalidate AM2R, I'm just not fond of playing fan-games, emulators being a big reason behind that.

 

[Nocturnowl]

I get the feeling that the counter mechanic here and the flow of some bosses is going to be reminiscent of mirror of fate at points.
And I do mean that in a good way.

The problem with Ridley in ZM is that he just goes down so fast for some reason.

All it takes is like around 10 Super Missiles and he's dead. You might be saying that's just because I'm using Super Missiles, but I can fire like 30 of them at Ridley during the boss fight in Super Metroid and he'd still be alive.

He brings it harder than the rest of his encounters on hard mode mind you.

But yeah, finishing Super again the other day with Zero Mission being the last one I'd played beforehand I was like "dammit Riddles, why wont's you die?!" I exhausted all my missiles, I underestimated the fiend and it went down to the wire.

 

[Usobuko]

This will be the last 3ds game I'm buying.

What a run 3ds had.

 

[Neoleo2143]

This will be the last 3ds game I'm buying.

What a run 3ds had.

The potential of a 2D metroid on two screen Hardware was finally fulfilled. I'm happy now.

 

[Plum]

The potential of a 2D metroid on two screen Hardware was finally fulfilled. The galaxy is at peace.

FTFY

 

[Opa-Pa]

Not trying to invalidate AM2R, I'm just not fond of playing fan-games, emulators being a big reason behind that.

Not trying to force the game on you, but AM2R is a PC game with an executable, not a fangame with a rom you play on an emulator.

 

[evilromero]

There's more than that.
You have Salt & Sanctuary, Owlboy and so many others.
Heck if you just look at the direct competition on what's available on 3DS right now you have the following list.
It's not the 90's anymore where you had only Super Metroid, Metroid II and Metroid and after that you had to dig up games because there weren't that many.

Maybe I missed the premise of this conversation by why does the number of games in a similar genre matter? I've played a couple of those games and none of them compare to a Metroid game outside of the progression structure. Axiom does borrow some platforming and visual motifs from M1, but the game lacks some of the most important hallmarks of the Metroid series including aesthetic, tone, music, character movement and abilities, attention to detail and nuanced world building, or even just the logic behind the structure of the interconnected areas and their fundamental utility (including how they tie environment into the story).

 

[CloudyTuba]

This will be the last 3ds game I'm buying.

What a run 3ds had.

The potential of a 2D metroid on two screen Hardware was finally fulfilled. I'm happy now.

It is done.

 

[MrSaturn99]

So I went to YouTube to listen to the SR388 Surface remix again and found out the entire soundtrack was leaked. Only two things to say:

1. Spoilers ahoy. Preview the game's music at your own risk, although what I could gleam from the titles what they were..."implying" seemed really cool.

2. Goddamn at the quality all around. For anyone who thought the Ancient Chozo Ruins theme grated on the nerves, you have nothing to fear.

 

[Ecliptor]

I'm going to celebrate that Metroid is back by changing my phone wallpaper to this beauty.

2 more wallpapers here:

http://metroidsamusreturns.nintendo.com/extras/

 

[Opa-Pa]

^Yooo, I'll be grabbing that. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Mael]

Maybe I missed the premise of this conversation by why does the number of games in a similar genre matter? I've played a couple of those games and none of them compare to a Metroid game outside of the progression structure. Axiom does borrow some platforming and visual motifs from M1, but the game lacks some of the most important hallmarks of the Metroid series including aesthetic, tone, music, character movement and abilities, attention to detail and nuanced world building, or even just the logic behind the structure of the interconnected areas and their fundamental utility (including how they tie environment into the story).

Ign complains that the game isn't exactly unique and well that's kinda true.
You had 1 franchise that tried to do that kind of stuffs before, there's way more now.
Regardless of whether or not they do EXACTLY what M:SR is doing, there's games out there that offer something close enough for comfort.
If you like the core explorative design of Metroid, there's loads of games that do that much better for example.
In the context of a Ign reviewer I don't think M:SR is that special.

 

[Yarbskoo]

I really really hope "too familiar" is the biggest complaint people can come up with for Metroid Prime 4.

 

[Eusis]

Oh God please no

We don't need any more remakes.

It's mainly 1 and 2 that needed remakes anyway. Super Metroid could just use a milder QOL update, I.E. using a dedicated button to be in missile mode. Most likely they'd fuck up the game with a heavier remake anyway (well, I guess they arguably did that for Metroid 1 anyway, but that was to service people who wanted something closer to Super Metroid while doing the same for Super Metroid is... for who?)

 

[TheSadRanger]

I was watching Victor Lucas' review of it and I feel like I'm back in 2004 O_O.

Reminds me of how much I miss Metroid and Judgement Day

I'm still kinda bummed super euro land gets the art book with the special and NA doesn't :/

 

[Mael]

It's mainly 1 and 2 that needed remakes anyway. Super Metroid could just use a milder QOL update, I.E. using a dedicated button to be in missile mode. Most likely they'd fuck up the game with a heavier remake anyway (well, I guess they arguably did that for Metroid 1 anyway, but that was to service people who wanted something closer to Super Metroid while doing the same for Super Metroid is... for who?)

Metroid 2 didn't really need a remake, certainly not like this anyway.
And Super Metroid on GBA wasn't a great idea to begin with.
They should have kept expanding the Metroidverse instead of the same few stuffs they keep pushing around.
now that we're back to another SR388 guess another round of Zebes is going to be next.

 

[CharminUltra]

Samus never forgets to expect the unexpected.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

SR388

Samus Returns 3DS 88 Metacritic

It's like poetry.

But what about that awkward moment like when Breath of the Wild dropped to a 97 an the OT just sounded silly...

 

[DilWSTS]

This will be my first metroid until the SNES classic gets here. Looking forward to it!

 

[MemoryHumanity]

SR388

Samus Returns 3DS 88 Metacritic

It's like poetry.

 

[ZeroX03]

I've always maintained that MercurySteam is full of extremely talented people that can do great work with the right leadership (Nintendo/Konami via Kojima). They proved that with Lords of Shadow and again here. Excited to dig in. Got a preorder in, plus squishy Metroid amiibo.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Monster Hunter Stories and now Metroid.

3DS gettings its best content right before it dies, damn.

What a platform really.

AND THERES STILL YOKAI WATCH 2 THIS YEAR

sdjfhskdjfh send help

 

[Tarextherex]

Getting this day one to support one of my favorite series, I did this with freaking Star Fox Zero might as well do it for that one

Game looked great from the previews. Looks nothing like idk castlevania mirror of fate(smh). The negative reviews are kinda worrisome but they don't even give any arguments on why they "missed the mark", besides namedropping recent indie games of this genre(including freaking am2r) while also mentioning how mercury steam did mof which sucks. It's like they just wrote the information around this game to sound as cynical as possible, this is not good criticism. Anyways it's been too long, even if it doesn't evolve the series that much at least it's not in freaking Zebes all over again.

 

[Brock Reiher]

I was hoping this wouldn't be very good so I could ignore it and save some money 😭😭😭

 

[Hylian7]

Monster Hunter Stories and now Metroid.

3DS gettings its best content right before it dies, damn.

What a platform really.

AND THERES STILL YOKAI WATCH 2 THIS YEAR

sdjfhskdjfh send help

SMT: Strange Journey Redux next year too, plus that Etrian Odyssey game and Radiant Historia if you're into that.

 

[Astral Dog]

I've always maintained that MercurySteam is full of extremely talented people that can do great work with the right leadership (Nintendo/Konami via Kojima). They proved that with Lords of Shadow and again here. Excited to dig in. Got a preorder in, plus squishy Metroid amiibo.

Except Eric Alvarez if the rumors are true 😐

 

[Soul Lab]

You better buy this game!

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

Metroid 2 is sort of the interesting transition point between Metroid and Super. It's more refined in comparison to the first, giving Samus more control options and adding in save points and missle/health refill stations, and yet it's still really clunky and archaic compared to what came after.

I played through it all the way on my 3DS a few years ago and I did enjoy it, which is a lot more than I can say for the original Metroid, but it's not something I'd really go back to after AM2R and now SR.

I still feel like M and M II nailed the horror aspect of Metroid better than anything that came after, despite being on the weakest hardware. They are different enough from their objectively superior remakes and hold a certain charm that makes me want to replay them as often as other games in the series. M II is actually my favorite of the original trilogy, so I'm absolutely thrilled to have thrilled to have two different versions of the game.

 

[Astral Dog]

They will remake Fusion next

 

[Astral Dog]

I still feel like M and MII nailed the horror aspect of Metroid better than anything that came after, despite being on the weakest hardware. They are different enough from their objectively superior remakes and hold a certain charm that makes me want to replay them as often as other games in the series.

If you have to say that, then Metroid was never really horror

 

[HardRojo]

But can Metroid crawl?

 

[aadiboy]

Hopefully Super and Fusion aren't remade, they look perfect already and I wouldn't want them in 3d. Also, I just want to move forward with the timeline and have a new game set after Fusion.

 

[Savitar]

One of my favorite Christmas Days was playing the original Metroid II on Gameboy. I can still remember certain aspects of it or playing sections.

 

[HardRojo]

Hopefully Super and Fusion aren't remade, they look perfect already and I wouldn't want them in 3d. Also, I just want to move forward with the timeline and have a new game set after Fusion.

Yeah, Samus is in a dire situation after Fusion, I want them to explore that, so hopefully a 2.5D Metroid will come out on Switch within the next few years. I need that resolution and graphics bump, 3DS doesn't cut it anymore :/

 

[jipewithin]

Seems great!

 

[J_ToSaveTheDay]

I'm not a huge Metroid series fan. I think the only game in the entire series I've played to completion is the original Prime.

I also don't hate the series. Not even by a stretch. I simply never got super hooked into it and brought into the fanship fold.

... But I do think Samus Returns looks marvelous. I've enjoyed a pretty great number of Metroid-esque platformers since Super Metroid really set the basics of the "Metroidvania" for years to come, and Samus Returns looks like another great entry into the genre. I will very likely be giving the game a shot.

 

[Valkerionseven]

Anyone have a summation of how much reading or dialogue is in this yet? Was thinking about just grabbing a copy here in Japan, or waiting (and saving extra money) on getting the digital english version.

 

[D.Lo]

the only downside of Fusion/ZM is the tiny GBA resolution.

Super Metroid has at least a decent retro resolution so needs no remake, ever.

I still feel like M and M II nailed the horror aspect of Metroid better than anything that came after, despite being on the weakest hardware. They are different enough from their objectively superior remakes and hold a certain charm that makes me want to replay them as often as other games in the series. M II is actually my favorite of the original trilogy, so I'm absolutely thrilled to have thrilled to have two different versions of the game.

Metroid II is the scariest game I ever played. The music when a Metroid appears unexpectedly made me jump more than anything ever did in Resident Evil.

And those sections where you start to get to Gamma Metroids, and the Metroid shell starts to appear quite a few screens before the actual beast... tense stuff as you crawl along.

 

[Neoleo2143]

Anyone have a summation of how much reading or dialogue is in this yet? Was thinking about just grabbing a copy here in Japan, or waiting (and saving extra money) on getting the digital english version.

There is the intro and not much else it seems.

 

[Dragmire]

Also, I just want to move forward with the timeline and have a new game set after Fusion.

Me too. Why is Samus stuck in a time loop???

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Anyone have a summation of how much reading or dialogue is in this yet? Was thinking about just grabbing a copy here in Japan, or waiting (and saving extra money) on getting the digital english version.

Samus has no lines.