Watch the trailer here and the Treehouse Live segment here.
This was a welcome surprise for Metroid fans next to the announcement of Metroid Prime 4. And this will already be available September 15th in Europe and get two nice amiibo and a Special Edition with a soundtrack (the European version even gets more extras).
I personally had envisioned a 2.5D Metroid game for Nintendo 3DS for the longest time now. Last August in my Future of Metroid article I also described, how Nintendo could remake Metroid II - Return of Samus in the style of Metroid: Other M. And now it looks like I'm getting all of this.
This also explains, why Nintendo took measures against the fangame AM2R, because these projects are very similar. I can still advise every Metroid fan to try it out, if you can still find it on the internet, because it's really well done. But from what I've seen I'll probably like Metroid: Samus Returns even more.
It feels more like a real Nintendo product, despite it being developed by MercurySteam. But they are doing a good job here and even seems like they were reacting to some issues that have arisen with AM2R. One of the biggest problems of the fangame was how most damage is dealt by enemies running into you. And the melee counter attack is such a nice answer to this! The fights look a lot more dynamic and the different Metroid stages so much more threatening. The Gamma Metroid shows a lot of new tricks (it can even walk around), while the Zeta Metroid seems to be on a similar level to the Omega Metroids in AM2R.
I also find the "Aeion Abilities" intriguing and I like, how they improved the SR388 world design with teleport chambers and alike. It really feels like a proper remake by Nintendo standards. AM2R was still great and I enjoyed it a lot, but this is the real deal.
My only gripe I have with the game is that the graphics could probably be better. But since it's developed for the years old Nintendo 3DS this is to be expected.
It's still nice, how the Nintendo 3DS is still getting new games and finally a proper Metroid title after all these years. MercurySteam even has experience Metroidvania-like games thanks to their Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series, so this was probably a good choice. At the same time Sakamoto doesn't seem to insist on any narration this time, so that we don't get another Other M story here. So, this looks overall very promising.
Metroid is back, Baby! And the title couldn't be any more fitting, since it has been exactly seven years since Samus' last game.
Regarding the graphics, I think this is a wait and see scenario. 3DS games designed to play on small screens rarely translate well visually on E3 showcases and their big displays. It's usually best to play it for yourself.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it's no different than that first A Link Between Worlds reveal, which didn't look impressive either back then. It wasn't until I played it for myself that I was able to fully appreciate the visual design, especially when playing in full 3D (water effects in the Swamp Palace or the sheer depth of field in the Ice Ruins come to mind).
I imagine that'll be the case with the upcoming Metroid. At least, from what we've seen, the animations seem fluid enough, close enough to Other M's level. It certainly looks much better than Prime Hunters.