Metroid: Samus Returns

[Alex W.]

My limited edition was dispatched! It's going straight to the office tomorrow, nice and safe.

 

I am not at the office tomorrow. 

[Nespresso]

After all those years... my first custom theme.

 

 

*wipes tear away*

[Keyboard Koala]

A shame they didn't use the Metroid theme music as well. Pretty cool when you open your sleeping 3DS though.

[Cyhwuhx]

...

It uses the Circle Pad.

In hindsight, of course, because aiming and stuff, what was I thinking, etc. etc. But...

 

It uses the Circle Pad.

 

[edit] Oof...

Spoiler

Not a fan of how combat works. It's like the plodding pace of Prime is suddenly transplanted on Zero Mission. This is going to take some adjustment.

 

[Dig Dug]

Wall jumping on the circle pad. Oh dear.

[Cyhwuhx]

25 minutes ago, Dig Dug said:

Wall jumping on the circle pad. Oh dear.

 

No worries, you have a non-adjustable trajectory from a walljump anyway.

 

Spoiler

*sobs*

 

[edit] OK, screw attack this. I'll be back much later, because if I'm going to give an honest blow by blow of this, scottcr will pop a vein and throw his amiibo out of the pram. Enjoy and I'll see you guys whenever.

 

[Super Craig]

4 hours ago, Cyhwuhx said:

 

No worries, you have a non-adjustable trajectory from a walljump anyway.

 

  Hide contents

*sobs*

 

[edit] OK, screw attack this. I'll be back much later, because if I'm going to give an honest blow by blow of this, scottcr will pop a vein and throw his amiibo out of the pram. Enjoy and I'll see you guys whenever.

 

 

He can fuck off then. If there's one opinion I want to read on here before I buy this it's yours.

[scottcr]

6 hours ago, Cyhwuhx said:

 

No worries, you have a non-adjustable trajectory from a walljump anyway.

 

  Hide contents

*sobs*

 

[edit] OK, screw attack this. I'll be back much later, because if I'm going to give an honest blow by blow of this, scottcr will pop a vein and throw his amiibo out of the pram. Enjoy and I'll see you guys whenever.

 

 

Ha! I don't even own it

[mdn2]

Hmm, I cant find this on the Argos website. I was going to pick it up after work. Guess it'll have to wait till next week now. 

[Cyhwuhx]

3 hours ago, Super Craig said:

 

He can fuck off then. If there's one opinion I want to read on here before I buy this it's yours.

 

I'll get you a summary later today then, just started work.

 

Safe to say that AM2R is the Zero Mission of Metroid II, while this is... Metroid Prime in 2D? (I think that's the closest approximation.) It's not a bad game, it's just so slow and plodding.

Sound itself must've been a rush job. This literally lifts stuff from Prime and Super, to the point that it's not a homage but blatant copying.

 

AM2R feels made with love, MSR feels made through work. So far at least. (Because urgh, there is some excruciating Other M bad-level shit in there.)

[Mr. Gerbik]

I have not watched any previews or footage beforehand because, hey, it's a new Metroid! I now regret doing that because it would have put my expectations in check. Coming to this after AM2R is a HUGE step down. It's worse in every regard, but taken by itself Metroid: Samus Returns is fun. Its graphics completely lack the charm of the proper 2D ones however, and tbh I don't understand why the developers would choose rather crude polygon graphics over quality 2D artwork. The latter could look amazing on the 3DS, but I guess the 3D goes über alles. 

 

I'm not a hardcore Metroid fan like Cyhwux, I just play the series a lot. I loved Prime 1 and 2, and Cyh's observation that this is more like 2.5D Prime instead of Zero Mission 2 is bang on. It feels and plays like it.

 

It plays well for what it is however and so far it's a damn fine Metroidvania game. A good one of those is always fun and like I said, I'm no purist.  The problem is that coming from AM2R, made by one guy, to this, made by a professional team with a budget, is very disappointing. I can't help but compare the two and to be brutally honest Nintendo would have been better off canceling M:SR and publishing AM2R instead. Like Sega did with Sonic Mania, let someone with true love and understanding of the series handle it. 

 

Sorry if this sounds too negative, that is not my intention. Keeping the AM2R comparisons in check this is a fun game. Probably not 10/10 or 9/10 great like previous 2D Metroids, but solid fun. The melee stuff is weird tho.

[Cyhwuhx]

Let me state it just to be completely obvious:

 

IT'S A GOOD GAME, BRENT.

 

From my obsessively clingy Metroid point of view: it's got loads of issues. Prime also had issues, but claimed them to make its own flavour of the franchise. This? Not so sure if it can pull that off.

 

But as @Mr. Gerbik mentions: DO NOT PLAY AM2R BEFORE THIS. The contrast is off-putting if you are inclined to like the Super-Fusion-Zero Mission branch of the franchise. If the Primes are you main point of reference, this has far less problems to offer up and I'd say you can just buy it blindly and fully enjoy what's there.

[Nespresso]

I'm a Primer myself so this sounds like it'll be right up my alley.

[nakamura]

I like all Metroid games and what I've seen of this will be just as good. 

[Mr. Gerbik]

10 minutes ago, Cyhwuhx said:

Prime also had issues, but claimed them to make its own flavour of the franchise. This? Not so sure if it can pull that off.

Of course I'm reserving judgement until I finish it, but I'd be very surprised if M:SR can pull that off. It feels far too workmanlike for that - which Prime did not, in any way. I agree that Prime did its own thing compared to Super and Zero and Fusion, but it nailed that thing right from the start. Fantastic game imho.

[Mr. Gerbik]

4 minutes ago, nakamura said:

I like all Metroid games and what I've seen of this will be just as good. 

Despite the (imho valid) criticisms so far, nobody has said that it's a bad game. You have nothing to worry about

[nakamura]

Yeah I wasn't meaning to imply otherwise. I played it last week and liked the small bits I saw. I'm stupidily tired and basically added nothing worthwhile to the conversation! 

[Kevvy Metal]

11 minutes ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

Despite the (imho valid) criticisms so far, nobody has said that it's a bad game. You have nothing to worry about

 

That's fine that no one is considering it a bad game, it's just tiresome when subjective criticism is some how being considered defacto. There's a lot of tiny pedantic nit-picking with the bigger picture totally lost going on. 

[Cyhwuhx]

That's a good point. I'll properly label my nitpickings in spoiler-tags from now on.

[Mr. Gerbik]

1 minute ago, Kevvy Metal said:

 

That's fine that no one is considering it a bad game, it's just tiresome when subjective criticism is some how being considered defacto. There's a lot of tiny pedantic nit-picking with the bigger picture totally lost going on. 

What is pendantic about personal criticisms? In my post for example I mentioned the overall look, the overall feel, and the comparison to its direct competitor in terms of the basic vision: how to remake Metroid 2. And it was my first post in this thread - I'm not going to censor myself just because my observations have been mentioned before or because some people don't want to hear that a game might be less than perfect. I have a few series that I'm very passionate about and always go into any new entries with the highest of high hopes (Thief, Tenchu, Souls, Hitman, Mario) but reading what other people think of those games never annoys me. Yeah, maybe if someone was trolling, but not when someone is expressing their honest opinion. Makes for more interesting reading in fact, and I always feel free to disagree - but I would never, ever suggest they'd stop posting by saying their posts are tiresome.

[Cyhwuhx]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

What is pendantic about personal criticisms? In my post for example I mentioned the overall look, the overall feel, and the comparison to its direct competitor in terms of the basic vision: how to remake Metroid 2. And it was my first post in this thread - I'm not going to censor myself just because my observations have been mentioned before or because some people don't want to hear that a game might be less than perfect. I have a few series that I'm very passionate about and always go into any new entries with the highest of high hopes (Thief, Tenchu, Souls, Hitman, Mario) but reading what other people think of those games never annoys me. Yeah, maybe if someone was trolling, but not when someone is expressing their honest opinion. Makes for more interesting reading in fact, and I always feel free to disagree - but I would never, ever suggest they'd stop posting by saying their posts are tiresome.

 

I do however note that my own 'mode' switches quite wildly concerning Metroid: sometimes I'm in general audience mode, but I tend to cross over into the obsessive without really noticing. Separating remarks makes sense in that respect; it then has the proper context.

[ryodi]

Nintendo were on a hiding to nothing with this remake. If they'd done an AM2R / Zero Mission style remake people would have complained that they played it safe using a temple from 13 years ago.

 

Instead they did something different to try and add something new to the series which I appreciate even if the results are perfect. Hopefully it will sell well enough they'll get to make a follow up using the lessons they've learned from this game. 

[Kevvy Metal]

9 minutes ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

What is pendantic about personal criticisms? In my post for example I mentioned the overall look, the overall feel, and the comparison to its direct competitor in terms of the basic vision: how to remake Metroid 2. And it was my first post in this thread - I'm not going to censor myself just because my observations have been mentioned before or because some people don't want to hear that a game might be less than perfect. I have a few series that I'm very passionate about and always go into any new entries with the highest of high hopes (Thief, Tenchu, Souls, Hitman, Mario) but reading what other people think of those games never annoys me. Yeah, maybe if someone was trolling, but not when someone is expressing their honest opinion. Makes for more interesting reading in fact, and I always feel free to disagree - but I would never, ever suggest they'd stop posting by saying their posts are tiresome.

 

Hah, I didn't actually mean yourself Mr. Gerbik. 

 

 

This game is meant to be a re-imagining, almost "reboot" of Metroid taking into account the entire series evolution and - perhaps cost-effectively - relying on the level design of one of the older games. It's a reintroduction to the series and it's evolved into something a little different. 

There's a lot of "This is wrong because it should do x" absolutes going on which are just totally missing the point. 

[Cyhwuhx]

3 minutes ago, ryodi said:

Nintendo were on a hiding to nothing with this remake. If they'd done an AM2R / Zero Mission style remake people would have complained that they played it safe using a temple from 13 years ago.

 

Instead they did something different to try and add something new to the series which I appreciate even if the results are perfect. Hopefully it will sell well enough they'll get to make a follow up using the lessons they've learned from this game. 

 

26 years. But yeah, do agree with that. Making it more Prime-like makes much more sense for the current generation of players.

 

Still, that makes every review of the game claiming it's classic 2D Metroid a bit insincere to me. As if the 2D viewpoint alone is a hail mary for the franchise.

[Cyhwuhx]

1 minute ago, Kevvy Metal said:

This game is meant to be a re-imagining, almost "reboot" of Metroid taking into account the entire series evolution and - perhaps cost-effectively - relying on the level design of one of the older games.

 

Spoiler

Oh, it doesn't rely on it. At all. You'll be hard-pressed to recognize Game Boy SR388 in this. The landing zone is basically where the comparisons start and stop so far.

 

In the now common movie parlance this would be a "soft reboot". It's way more of an overhaul than even Nintendo suggested, making a 2D Metroid Prime style all the more logical to reach a larger audience.

[Kevvy Metal]

1 minute ago, Cyhwuhx said:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Oh, it doesn't rely on it. At all. You'll be hard-pressed to recognize Game Boy SR388 in this. The landing zone is basically where the comparisons start and stop so far.

 

In the now common movie parlance this would be a "soft reboot". It's way more of an overhaul than even Nintendo suggested, making a 2D Metroid Prime style all the more logical to reach a larger audience.

 

Yes, related to the spoiler there that's a good thing. Making a game that's for a now broad audience that keeps on getting broader with each release. AM2R isn't going anywhere (well kinda, depends if one downloaded it before Nintendo nuked it) So I totally welcome a "2D Metroid Prime". 

[Dig Dug]

I'm not too impressed with how this plays so far. I don't like how it controls, the combat is designed to force you to use counter (because everything else is weak in comparison), and wall jumps only exist to save you time rather than do your own thing.

[gizmo1990]

My Legacy Edition has turned up. Not allowed to open it yet (it's a present) but it comes in a nice compact box. Unfortunately that also means that the art book will be tiny. Bah, after being spoilt by the FE Echoes LE one, that's a shame. Still, exciting!

[the_debaser]

Mine is in transit. Hopefully the delivery guy will just pop it through my letterbox. 

 

Bit disappointed that it uses the circle than d pad though. 

[Cyhwuhx]

Some quick Metroid-obsessive notes from playing so far (don't say I didn't warn you):

 

Spoiler

Good

• Enemies have different attacks that are interesting.
• Map on second screen. Like god intended.
• Metroids are an actual threat

 

Bad

• Sound effects/jingles directly copied
• Atmosphere of SR388 gone: this is not an alien planet with secrets, just another Chozo church
• Uses Circle Pad as opposed to d-pad
• Walljumping is non-dynamic
• Items are automatically picked-up (no effort or Charge Beam shortcut)
• Aeion power is constantly replenished making it an odd choice to give it gauge to start with
• Music remixes are tepid at least, lacking either the eeriness of M2 or the subtle recognition of AM2R
• That said Lower Norfair theme is in there and by JOVE, will it make its presence known...
• Enemies are not restricted to certain zones any more, mixed from all over?
• Central corridor is gone, instead elevators now separate areas?
• Save points have overt animations, yet the saving itself is nearly instant; weird friction, uneven visual/time cost vs. visual satisfaction balance
• Save points are positioned at utterly random places; even by Metroid II standards
• Samus feels slow, especially when going into crouch / Morph Ball; somersault animation makes her lanky instead of sleek
• Reliance on pressing both shoulder buttons to aim and fire Missiles together feels needlessly complex; ironically the old Missile toggle would've been more convenient here
• Upgrades handed out willy-nilly, odd sense of reward, no emphasis on importance

 

Ugly

• Graphics are ugly, sorry. Just don't know what else to call it.
• Gaudy reliance on overtly godly Chozo setting
• Counter needed for just about every enemy or suffer instant hit; comparable to MercurySteam's insanely boring fatalities in Mirror of Fate.
• Skill based challenges seem to allow only one specific skill rather than hint/allow other means (Zelda vs. Metroid issue)
• Walljumping disabled in a 1 grid unit wide shaft; biggest WTF yet
• Aiming and movement required (why not go whole-hog with a lock then?)
• Bombs have their own destructible terrain now (why the distinction? just to gate areas and rely less on level design?)

 

Coherent reading structure will be applied after completing this.