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MCV 16/07/10 27 FRANCHISE FOCUS: METROID
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004) Format: GameCube Series order: 4th Samus discovers a planet split across two dimensions. She faces off against a dark version of herself.
Metroid Prime Pinball (2005) Format: DS Series order: 2nd This pinball retelling of the first Metroid Primemarked the series’ debut on DS – excluding a demo.
gone since Samus first appeared, but Langford believes there are two key aspects that keep Metroid games fresh and different from rival titles. “Firstly, there’s the lead character: Samus Aran,” he says. “Unlike most lead characters in gaming Samus is female and this is both interesting and appealing to many people. “Secondly, the themes of adventure, discovery and isolation made the Metroid Prime titles ‘first person adventures’ rather than a traditional FPS, are very appealing. “The Metroid series
feel there is something new to bring to the franchise and players.” In fact, the Metroid series has undergone more experiments than any other first-party Nintendo franchise – transformed from 2D platformer to first- person adventure and even a pinball game – and Langford is keen to point out that all were justified and successful.
Metroid Prime Hunters (2006) Format: DS Series order: 3rd The full version of Huntersfinally arrived in 2006, pitting Samus against six rival bounty hunters.
contains gameplay elements from shooter, platformer, and adventure games. The series had been a 2D side-scroller in all its incarnations until the Metroid Prime games changed the perspective to a first- person perspective, leading to a new first- person adventure element.” Perhaps it helped that fans went without a new romp for more than eight years after Super Metroid – considered by many as the series’ peak. While there were rumours of an N64 entry – a project which eventually became Metroid Prime – Nintendo was not about to rush one of its most beloved IPs. “It’s important to remember that we
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Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007) Format: Wii Series order: 5th The conclusion to the Primetrilogy saw players attempt to prevent Dark Samus from infecting entire planets.
don’t just create games for the sake of it,” Langford says. “We will create a title when we
Metroid Prime Trilogy (2009) Format: Wii Series order: N/A All three Metroid Primetitles together, introducing Wii motion controls to the first two games.
The story of Other M will appeal to long time fans of the series as it picks up right after Super Metroid.
Roger Lanford, Nintendo
“Again, it’s important not to try and force changes and experiment just for the sake of it and we’ll only do so when we feel there is a real benefit and value to the player,” he says. “For example, the new Legend of Zelda game – Skyward Sword – really innovates and changes the experience of playing a Zelda title through the use of Wii Motion Plus.
So what changes can fans expect in Other M? Most notably, the game has partially ditched the first-person perspective and returned to its 2D roots – albeit with a Nintendo twist. “The new control method is also groundbreaking for the franchise and this style of game. The game is played holding the Wii Remote horizontally, like the NES controller,” Langford explains. “Normally, the Prime games are played in a third person perspective, where Samus can jump, shoot her arm cannon and turn into a morph ball. By pointing the
Wii Remote towards the screen, the game changes to first person. “There are several instances where players will have to constantly switch between play modes; for example, playing in third person to fight off a horde of flying enemies, whilst switching to first person to destroy their spawn points. Additionally, the first- person mode is also used in exploration, when locating hidden items such as missile expansions and energy tanks.” Langford is confident that Other M will not only appease veteran Metroid fans who weren’t overly fond of Prime’s first-person focus, it will attract newcomers too.
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Metroid: Other M (2010) Format: Wii Series order: 8th The adventure that fills in the game between Super Metroidand Metroid Fusionarrives this September.
Samus Aran returns in Metroid: Other M over 20 years since she first
appeared on NES in 1986. And she looks as good as ever...
“The story will appeal to long time fans of the series as it picks up right after Super Metroid,” he says. “Through Wii, there will also be a whole new group of people who haven’t experienced a Metroid title yet as they hadn’t played games before Wii or weren’t born when some of the earlier Metroid titles were sold. “The unique control method and story might also attract some gamers looking for something new and a little different to a traditional ‘shooter’ or FPS.” Metroid: Other M arrives on Wii this September and, given the popularity of the series, it’s already shaping up to be a blockbuster hit. Ultimately, the way in which the game marries the 2D exploration of the cherished original games with the intense first-person action of the Prime titles means that Samus could be about to embark on her best and most successful mission to date.
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