metroid
Latest
Samus won't be playable in Dead or Alive Dimensions
Recent Dead or Alive Dimensions gameplay footage revealed the presence of a Metroid-themed level, complete with Ridley getting all up in the fighters' business. At the end of the clip, a spheroid Samus rolled in, leading many to believe she was being teased as a playable character for the 3DS fighter. Speaking to Eurogamer, Team Ninja leader Yosuke Hayashi countered this assertion. "This time she's not playable," Hayashi said. "But Samus Aran will be shown in the game. She comes to help the player. That's the collaboration shown there [in the trailer]." Hayashi suggested that a playable Nintendo character ran counter to the team's goal with Dimensions, which is "basically to create the best version of Dead or Alive." As for that non-playable appearance, it'll be an unlockable bonus. Hayashi encouraged players to find out how to unlock the bounty hunter helper on their own.
Jonathan Ross teases 'unexpected revivals' for 3DS event [update]
No matter where his career goes, Jonathan Ross will likely always be best known to many gamers as "the guy who spilled the beans about Fable 3." The UK TV host will be hosting a European Nintendo 3DS event on Wednesday, and may have just outed a few more tidbits. In a Twitter back and forth (detailed by IGN) Ross told a fan hoping for a new Metroid game, "I think you're going to be pleased," before adding, "A few other faves coming as well - plus a few unexpected revivals!!" [Update: 3DS Buzz has cleared up a little confusion with a new Tweet from Ross who clarified that he wasn't referencing a new Metroid game.] With the event so close, we'll avoid speculating, but you can bet we'd be madly refreshing Joystiq around 9 a.m. EST Wednesday (when a similar DS even is being held in the US) if ... you know, we didn't have to write it.
Metroid: Other M for $20 at Amazon for two hours only
Here's a chance to spend something other than full retail price for a new copy of Metroid: Other M. Amazon is currently offering the game in a lightning deal for the far-out sum of $19.99. The discount is only in effect until 6 p.m. EST / 3 p.m. PST, or until they run out, so dash on over.
Video: Sonic, Samus, Mario and more race to the finish line
Animator Steve Williams has made a plethora of 16-bit characters compete in a cross-cartridge race. Oh, Donald Duck, you have a turkey's chance of winning today.
Father-son team build Samus Aran arm cannon for Halloween
Looking for a little inspiration for your Halloween costume? Then you might not want to read any further, as you'll likely only find yourself struggling to match the Samus Aran costume that 11-year old Joseph DeRose and his father are building. That costume apparently only consists of an arm cannon at the moment, but it's certainly an impressive arm cannon -- it packs an array of LED lights with various settings (controlled by an Arduino, naturally), not to mention an assortment of sound effects from the Metroid games. Those not concerned about being upstaged can check out a video of the build process after the break.
Father and son create elaborate Samus arm cannon
11-year-old Joseph DeRose decided he wanted to (cross) dress as Samus Aran for Halloween this year. So he and his dad set out to build a replica of Samus's Metroid Prime-era Varia Suit, starting with the arm cannon. The final cannon has a speaker and LED lights controlled by an Arduino microcontroller, so it can be made to fire simulated Power Beam, Plasma Beam and charged shots. Joseph even has to correctly "log in" to use it! The rest of the costume is still incomplete, but at this point Joseph has a perfectly acceptable backup costume: "Guy With This Awesome Arm Cannon."
Cartroid: Samus built from old Nintendo cartridges
We've all got old, crummy games laying around. You could either throw those away or you could make a nice piece of folk art, like this sculpture of Samus created by JJ Hendricks. To check out more shots of the Plastic Varia Suit version of Samus, hit up the link below.
Metroid Prime model gunship boasts 'unprecedented levels of realism and accuracy'
For $300, you get a spaceship that benefits from the most attentive and accurate craftsmanship. It's not quite what intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran paid when she commissioned her gunship, but then ... this one is quite a bit smaller. And it's only a model (shh!). As part of only 750 units shipping in Q2 2011, this Metroid Prime ship model from First 4 Figures boasts a height of 12 inches, a swivel joint on its base, an elaborate sequence of LEDs and "unprecedented levels of realism and accuracy," thanks to its slavish recreation from the original game files and canon. Note: The rear-mounted plasma beam cannon is probably less functional in this instance. If you're in the position to order one of these (and you can opt for a three-month payment plan if need be), don't forget to leave space on the mantelpiece for future entries in the Metroid gunship line. First 4 Figures is probably working on a miniature of the Metroid: Other M gunship already, complete with Confession Time booth and compartments for Samus' cyber-diary and violin.
Video game characters need business cards too
Getting in touch with heroes can be difficult. Typically, they only bother to roll out of bed and show up when something goes really wrong.
Buy Metroid: Other M at GameStop, get $20 off MotionPlus remote bundle
Mom: Hi there, my son was asking for a new Wii game. Meteoroid or something. GameStop clerk: He's probably looking for Metroid: Other M, the hot new action game from Nintendo. Mom: Yes, that's the one! I'll take a copy, please. Clerk: Ma'am, you're in luck, because we're offering $20 off the Wii Remote MotionPlus bundle with every purchase of Metroid: Other M. Mom: That's okay. Geoffrey already has a remote. Clerk: But this is MotionPlus. It adds a whole new level of sensitivity to the Wii experience! Mom: Oh, so this meteoroid game needs that then? Clerk: Well, no, but ... Mom: It enhances it somehow? Clerk: Not really. Mom: Then why would I want that? Clerk: ... Mom: ... Just bag the game.
Metroid: Other M review: a successful fusion
When I started playing Metroid: Other M, I didn't know what to make of it. Basic movement felt nothing like the previous games. The story was front and center. Samus talked a lot. The cutscenes were unskippable and initially intolerable. As I became acclimated, I began to realize that the game wasn't that much of a departure for the series at all. In fact, the elements that make this feel like a Metroid game gave me a better idea of what it means to be a Metroid game.
Metroid: Other M ads focus on nostalgia, overacting
A recent Metroid: Other M trailer promoted the game by taking us through the series' history. A Japanese TV commercial ties the game to the past even more directly, showing the original NES game morphing into Other M gameplay footage. The ad even goes so far as to declare this "a Famicom game with the latest technology," a tagline that also came up several times in the last Iwata Asks interview. Meanwhile, the American commercial focuses on the "other M," as in: melodrama -- total melodrama. See the beautiful slow-motion, live-action TV spot unfold just below the Japanese ad after the break.
Metroid: Other M is an action game in this trailer
We can forget our worries about Metroid: Other M for just a few minutes, thanks to this trailer. While we watch it, we can let our continuing concerns about the number, length and melodramatic content of cutscenes within Team Ninja's upcoming Wii game fall away as we enjoy wall-to-wall action. We learn nothing at all of Samus's past in these clips, nor about her feelings, save for the fact that she feels like not being eaten by a lava worm thing. Instead, we see Metroid: Other M as we first imagined it: as a Metroid game with the speed and intensity of the combat dialed way up. We'll find out soon enough how realistic this version is.
Preview: Metroid: Other M
With the game set to land in a mere 25 days, I had one last chance earlier this week to play the final version of Metroid: Other M -- though not as much as I would have liked. Nintendo had hand-picked a couple of areas for me to try. The first covered a good amount of ground in a botanical area of the Bottle Ship (the space station where Other M begins), while the second, far shorter one was meant to show that the game's combat isn't always as straightforward as in 2D Metroids past. %Gallery-98881%
Metroid: Other M's latest Japanese trailer beams in
We can't tell you everything that's being said in this newest trailer for Metroid: Other M -- not because we're jerks and don't want to, but because it's in another language. Japanese, to be specific. Thankfully, the characters introduced during this montage of CGI and in-game footage have their names kindly provided in English. Names like Lyle Smithsonian, Adam Malkovich and Brad "U.S." Treasury. (Only one of those is made up.) There's also a look at some good old fashioned gameplay, from Other M's first 45 minutes or so, but also in later, more planet-y environments. The purpose of most of it is to show Samus using the various beams at her disposal -- plasma, grappling and the like. If you're more of a still-image person, Nintendo has also released some new shots from the game, which lands on August 31, including the really cool box art we won't be seeing in the States. Check 'em out below, and watch the trailer beyond the break.%Gallery-98487%
An ice cold Metroid: Other M boss fight
The E3 demo of Metroid: Other M featured a boss fight in which the Galactic Federation worked to freeze a giant monster so Samus could shoot missiles at it. Now you can watch this dynamic battle for yourself, courtesy of CVG's week-long Metroid: Other M video series.
Metroid: Other M trailer features the 'birth of Samus'
CVG is posting new footage of Metroid: Other M all week, starting with a weird cutscene depicting Samus as a space baby. We're happy to see these videos now, but we're also slightly hesitant, knowing that we're going to see them again as unskippable in-game FMV.
Metroid: Other M rolls into Europe in September
The "Q3" window for the European release of Metroid: Other M has been clarified. An ad in the MCV magazine listed the game for "September." Nintendo subsequently confirmed the release period to Eurogamer. Back when the American release date was slated for June, that Q3 European release seemed depressingly far off. But thanks to the delay of the American version to August 31, and the Japanese release date of September 2, we can all enjoy waiting together.%Gallery-95759%
Metroid: Other M pre-orders include 'art folio' at GameStop
For most of us, "it's a new Metroid" is sufficient to ensure a pre-order of Metroid: Other M. That makes any extra items given away by retailers fully extraneous, though, of course, we'll take them. GameStop is offering a "collectible art folio" with pre-orders, containing 16 cards with art from Other M. The single preview image looks super classy. The "folio" design, by the way, means that these pieces of art will be easy to scan for use as desktop wallpapers. We appreciate that kind of convenience. It's safer than creasing the spine on an art book. [Via GoNintendo]
Nintendo explains Metroid: Other M, Sin & Punishment 2 delays
Nintendo delayed two of its big summer titles for Wii today: Metroid: Other M (to August 31) and Sin & Punishment: Star Successor (to June 27). When the company made the announcement, it provided no reasons. As it turns out, there is a decent reason for each delay. "As you may know, this game is the product of a unique partnership between longtime Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto, Team Ninja and many other individuals and groups, all of whom have set very high standards for this latest installment in the series," a Nintendo rep told IGN regarding Metroid: Other M. "Although it's taking slightly longer than expected to complete the project, we're confident that fans will find it to be well worth the wait." We can understand the game not being finished as a reason not to release it -- although if it were in that precarious of a position, maybe Nintendo shouldn't have been so optimistic with the date in the first place. As for Sin & Punishment, "A June 27 launch allows gamers to enjoy Sin & Punishment: Star Successor without having to rush through Super Mario Galaxy 2 (May 23)." Honestly, as Treasure boosters, we appreciate any effort made not to bury the developer's work -- although, again, we have to wonder why Nintendo set the original release date so close to Galaxy. %Gallery-86427%
