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This is the Metroid: Other M trailer we wanted to see
The last Metroid: Other M trailer confused us with its emphasis on storyline and dialogue over running and shooting. This latest trailer addresses that issue. Boy, does it ever. After Samus's armor mysteriously grows out of her glowing heart or something, we're treated to a nonstop barrage of the fastest action the series has ever seen. In addition to that, the trailer demonstrates the quick transition between third-person and first-person perspective, as well as some 3D movement in the third-person segments. Oh, and Samus faces off against Mother Brain in the end. [Via GoNintendo; thanks, Fernando]
Interview: Metroid: Other M producer Yoshio Sakamoto
After delivering a GDC panel on his cinematic inspiration, we met with Metroid: Other M producer Yoshio Sakamoto to ask him about everything from collaborating with Team Ninja, lessons learned from Metroid Prime, the newfound focus on story in the Metroid universe, and whether or not he played Chair's Super Metroid love letter, Shadow Complex. Read on! Can you tell us about the process of working with Team Ninja. Who does what design-wise and technology-wise? Yoshio Sakamoto: The original design concept came from me, but then we went and assembled a team that could pull this off. And in this case it was people from Team Ninja, who we really thought was the best fit. But they've also provided a lot of core ideas that have influenced the direction of the game, particularly the director, Mr. Hayashi. So, as I mentioned in the speech today, it's not so much that we're dividing up tasks but collaborating as equals. After E3 and the initial announcement a lot of people were making comments like, "Oh, it seems like they've dumped Retro for this series and they want to go with another developer," as if it was a big switch-off. But, in actuality, that is far from the case; rather, we just wanted to put together the best team that we could to make this project, which turns out to be Project M. %Gallery-86429%
Metroid Dread concept is something Sakamoto 'can't say never existed'
Immediately following his well-attended GDC panel, Nintendo's Yoshio Sakamoto talked with us about (what else?) Metroid: Other M. In addition to all sorts of questions on the unique Team Ninja collaboration, we asked Sakamoto about the long-rumored Metroid Dread project and, barring a confirmation of that product, when we'd see another 2D handheld Metroid. Joystiq: Speaking of the core Metroid development team that last worked on the GBA, there have been rumors of a game known as 'Metroid Dread' – purportedly a 2D Metroid game for DS. First question: Was 'Dread' a real project? Second question: If not, where is a 2D Metroid on DS? Yoshio Sakamoto: It seems we get a lot of questions about Metroid Dread, especially at interviews following E3 for example. But nothing's ever been announced about this game; it's all just been rumors so far. So we never know exactly how to respond to questions like this. While there actually was a point where some teams were meeting to discuss if it was possible to create a 2D Metroid for DS using a relatively small team size, it's not something that we ever really announced or thought of as "Metroid Dread." But whenever people bring out that idea, we recognize that the basic concept is something that we can't say never existed. But at the same time, we can't of course, make any official comment about a Metroid Dread-like project coming out. Our main goal [with Metroid: Other M] is to, as I said earlier, first raise knowledge about the Metroid universe and the Samus character before we start to introduce different elements like online or even going back to another handheld game for the next in the series. So there's nothing coming immediately, we want to think about these new challenges first. But, of course, we never say never.
Nintendo's Yoshio Sakamoto reveals Metroid: Other M's cinematic inspirations
Yoshio Sakamoto has had a rather diverse career with Nintendo, having worked on games like Metroid, WarioWare and Tomodatchi Collection. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata asked the Metroid: Other M producer to speak at GDC to "explore the secret of creating games for such a dynamic range of titles." One of Sakamoto's greatest inspirations seems to be film, noting directors Dario Argento, Luc Besson, John Woo and Brian de Palma as key figures. In particular, he found Argento's "Deep Red" to have a profound impact. Argento's manipulation of mood through music and timing is something he found moving; the use of foreshadowing helped transcend the film beyond other horror films. Other M will take these various inspirations by becoming a "synthesis of everything I've learned," Sakamoto told the audience. A new trailer screened for GDC attendees highlighted various cinematic moments in the upcoming Wii game, including a CG reimagination of Super Metroid's climatic ending. Sakamoto pointed out the return of Metroid Fusion's Adam, reminding the audience that foreshadowing will play a key role in creating suspense in the interquel. Considering the subsequent applause, it seems clear that Metroid fans approve of this new direction. %Gallery-86429%
Metroid: Other M trailer features a Samus soliloquy
While we're happy to see any new media related to Metroid: Other M, this new trailer isn't doing much to build excitement. Here's a short list of Metroid standards missing from the video: Samus's suit Metroids Weapons But on the other hand, it has: The catchphrase used by the annoying AI guide that nobody liked in Metroid Fusion At least, now we know we'll be able to skip the cutscenes between the awesome shooting sequences. %Gallery-86429%
Mario, Metroid, Sin and Punishment, more dated in Europe
Here's some great news for those of you in Europe interested in playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Sin and Punishment: Star Successor. Nintendo announced that Galaxy will be available in Europe on June 11, not long after America's May 23 date. And Sin and Punishment will be out in Europe (under the slightly altered title Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies) on May 7, exactly one month before North America gets its hands on that Treasure. The bad news is that Metroid: Other M is dated simply "Q3." It's due June 27 in North America. We've collected all the European release dates for Wii and DS (including a "summer" date for Dragon Quest IX!) after the break. [Via Eurogamer]
Hands-on: Metroid: Other M
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Hands_on_Metroid_Other_M'; There's a lot I want to tell you about the 45-minute demo of Metroid: Other M that I played at the Nintendo Media Summit, but let me answer your most pressing question first: The game is really impressive; it's really fun; it's totally Metroid. The demo was only the beginning sequences of the game, but if everything Nintendo and Team Ninja have managed to deliver in this short span holds up for the entirety of the game, it's going to be really good. (Also, let it be said now, Other M is in no way a re-skinned Ninja Gaiden.) My demo began with the game's opening cinematic, which is fully pre-rendered CG and recounts the ending of Super Metroid, to which Other M serves as a direct sequel. It sees Samus in a showdown with Mother Brain (realized by Team Ninja as a mammoth bipedal monstrosity with one huge eye) before the bounty hunter awakes in a medical bay wearing her Zero Suit. The cinematic narrated entirely by Samus (as promised, Other M is the first time we hear her voice -- and it's, well, just all right) and leads directly into a tutorial disguised as a "diagnostic" of her armor and recollection of how to kick ass. %Gallery-86429%
Metroid: Other M screens (the other M is for 'mmmmm')
The other, other M is for media, which you can click here to see. Nintendo released a flood of information about Metroid: Other M today, not the least of which is when it's coming out. The Media Summit press release describes a game that takes place primarily in a side-scrolling perspective, using a sideways Wii Remote, but gives the player the ability to switch to first person at any time and control the game with the pointer. So it's an odd hybrid of old Metroid and Prime. As these screens reveal, it's also very nice-looking (though it must be said, these screens are from a pre-release version, and at a higher resolution than an actual Wii can display). Other M will be in stores June 27. %Gallery-86429%
Metroid: Other M rolls into North America June 27
The galaxy is at peace, now that we know we'll be able to demand our copy of Metroid: Other M from the patient retailer of our choice on June 27. The date for the Nintendo and Team Ninja collaboration was just announced at the Nintendo Media Summit event. Even better: Nintendo has a playable build of Other M on hand at the event. We're shooting down every door between us and the demo immediately, so we can deliver our impressions to you later tonight! %Gallery-65847%
Sakamoto: Other M shows 'human side' of Samus
Other than knowing it's a thing, details of Nintendo and Team Ninja's collabrotive effort to bring Samus back into 2D space in Metroid: Other M are slim. In the current issue of Famitsu, a one-page interview with Metroid co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto didn't reveal much in the way of new information but the legendary creator did say the upcoming game will focus on Samus Aran's "human side." The complete Metroid: Other M experience is being produced by three teams: Nintendo will continuously peek over the shoulder of Team Ninja (presumably to ensure very few bouncy-bikini shots appear in the final game) while D-Rockets will handle the title's movie sequences. The computer-generated movie sequences in Metroid: Other M are one of the methods Sakamoto says players will learn more about Samus Aran's emotional side. "She's a strong woman, but she also has a fragile side. We want to make a game whose charms can be felt from the story areas and these human touches as well," he said. Before you begin to cringe, Sakamoto clarified that he's well aware of the core of the Metroid franchise. "It's an action game, but it's capable of having a clear emotional side." Emotionality that you can view, after the break. Metroid: Other M is expected to hit the Wii later this year.
Metroid co-creator hosting GDC lecture
The official GDC 2010 website has revealed that Metroid director Yoshio Sakamoto will be leading a lecture at this year's conference. The lecture is titled "From Metroid to Tomodachi Collection to WarioWare: Different Approaches for Different Audiences." The session will focus on Sakamoto's "thought processes and techniques on game designs that have allowed him to find market acceptance for his expansive portfolio of titles." In other words, it will delve into the success of Sakamoto's many wildly different games. Assuming the lecture has a Q&A session, we also imagine it will focus on journalists needling Sakamoto about Metroid: Other M. Curiously, the lecture listing also fails to mention the inevitable follow-up event: Watch fanboy journalists and developers rush Sakamoto to get their DSes autographed. [Via Gamasutra]
Mod replaces Link with Samus in Ocarina of Time
We don't get why somebody would do such a thing, but this mod by Flotonic, which inserts the space bounty hunter from Metroid into The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, is pretty nifty nonetheless. The only issue is that the brief video clip -- which you can watch past the break -- doesn't show Samus pulling off any of her classic moves in Ocarina of Time. She doesn't morph into a ball and she doesn't fire a single shot from her arm cannon, but oh boy does she look good in the game. [Via GoNintendo]
Report: Metroid Prime Trilogy no longer being shipped
A gaming blog by the name of Coffee with Games recently noticed a disturbing trend on Amazon -- Metroid Prime Trilogy was no longer being stocked first-hand by the online retailer. The blog contacted Nintendo to find out why the game ... err, three games weren't being sold on the site anymore, and reportedly received the following response: "Unfortunately, Metroid Prime Trilogy is no longer being shipped. Having said that, you may be able to find what you seek through the secondhand video game market." We've contacted Nintendo to get our own confirmation first-hand of this troubling report. You can fully expect us to fall to our knees, and belt out a resounding "Whyyyyyyyyyy!" should we succeed in doing so. [Via Go Nintendo]
Nintendo not done with Metroid Prime series
You may have completed Metroid Prime Trilogy and begun to enter Full Excitement Mode™ for next year's Metroid Other M, but there could be even more Metroid in store under Prime's banner of first-person action. Nintendo's Kensuke Tanabe, who oversaw development on the Prime games for Nintendo at Retro Studios, recently told ONM that Nintendo is "always planning to make new games in the Metroid Prime series." Tanabe didn't speak of a continuation on Wii, but noted that depending "on the timing and the situation, we cannot deny the possibility of realising it on DS or DSi." Though Retro hasn't isolated itself from the franchise, we know Nintendo isn't shy about sharing Samus with external developers. Just don't call it "Metroid Dread," guys. Bad memories.
Batman: Arkham Asylum creator focused on quality over quantity, hasn't played BioShock
In a lengthy post-mortem with Gamasutra this week, Rocksteady Studios creative director Sefton Hill spoke his mind on a mess of topics regarding this summer's surprise hit, Batman: Arkham Asylum. "There are too many games out there that deliver lots of average content," Hill said when asked about the relative "tightness" of Batman in comparison with other games. Personal inspiration for the game's design came from places like Zelda and Metroid, two game series he's been a fan of "for years," as well as Silicon Knights' Eternal Darkness. And though Arkham's audio logs and "environment as a character" motif hearken back to 2007's BioShock, Hill claimed he's never played it. "It's on my list of games to get back into ... I can't say for me that was a big direct influence."Truth be told, we're just scratching the surface of Gamasutra's thorough dissection of Batman -- a game we loved with all of our jaded, rancorous hearts -- so do yourself a favor and stroll through the entire five pages. Call it an afternoon treat! You deserve it, dearest Joystiq reader.%Gallery-31781%
Metroid Prime producer hints at future Prime titles
With the recent release of Metroid Prime Trilogy, it was easy to presume that the Prime series of Metroid games had received a final nail hammered into its coffin. According to a recent interview with Kotaku though, it appears the series' producer isn't quite done. In response to a question regarding multiplayer in the series, Kensuke Tanabe said:"As all I take part in is the Prime series, I am not capable of commenting on the whole Metroid series. But we will keep considering multiplayer for the Prime series. For instance, I think I can come up with some unique ideas using the Morph Ball, which is a specific skill of Samus'."Though the series got a spinoff for the DS in Metroid Prime Hunters, and it's possible Tanabe is speaking about future Prime titles for Nintendo's handheld system, hearing about more Prime games in any capacity is intriguing news. While Team Ninja is busy working on Metroid: Other M, it's possible that Prime series dev Retro Studios could be working on the future of its brand of Metroid. Don''t just take it from us, take it from Retro Studios prez and CEO Michael Kelbaugh who said so himself!
Swag Sunday: Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii) [update]
Update: The comments have been closed and the winner will be contacted shortly. Check your email, folks! And thanks to everyone for entering!How is it that every time we run a Swag Saturday/Sunday post for a Nintendo Wii game, it's something wonderful? Last time we offered you Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, and this week we're treating one lucky winner to a copy of Metroid Prime Trilogy! To get your hands on it, leave a comment below telling us your favorite moment in the Metroid series -- yes, you can go all the way back to NES. We'll pick one answer at random tomorrow evening to receive the fancy "Collector's Edition" you see above. One stipulation: Automatic disqualification should your answer include the Zero Suit in any way. You know why, ya scoundrels! Leave a comment telling us your favorite moment in the Metroid series, excluding those that involve the Zero Suit. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, for obvious reasons) Limit 1 entry per person per day This entry period ends at 8:31PM ET on Monday, September 21 At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Metroid Prime Trilogy on Wii ($50 ARV) For a list of complete rules, click here
Retro Studios could return to Metroid 'some day'
Promoting the recently-released Metroid Prime Trilogy, IGN posted a video tour (embedded after the break) of Retro Studios' Texas offices. In the video, Retro President and CEO Michael Kelbaugh discusses the franchise and the possibility of a Retro return to the Metroid series. While Kelbaugh notes the team was aware it would only be responsible for a trilogy within the franchise, he could not say the team will never return to Samus' universe. "I think Retro will always be associated with the Metroid Prime franchise and who knows, maybe we'll do another one someday," Kelbaugh said, leaving the door to a possible Metroid return slightly ajar. For now, Retro Studios has hung up its Galactic Federation club coat and is working on new projects, in hopes to "refresh" its development team. Metroid continues to grow elsewhere with Team Ninja currently developing Metroid: Other M for the Wii. An exciting game on the Wii's horizon -- albeit with a terrible name.
These Metroidvania games are neither Metroid nor Vania
"Metroidvania" is a term used to describe side-scrolling games with large, open worlds, new areas of which are accessible only with certain items or powerups. Take away the side-scrolling element, and you've got Zelda; take away the powerups, and you've got Pitfall. It's named after the two most famous series to make use of the format, Metroid and (later) Castlevania. Shadow Complex has suddenly thrown the Metroidvania genre back into mainstream gamers' attention, thanks to its fancy graphics and being an Xbox 360 game. It isn't the first game that isn't a Metroid or Castlevania to apply this formula -- in fact, many developers stumbled upon the Metroidvania formula or a close variant even before Symphony of the Night.Join us on a brisk tour of some notable free-roaming games. If you are overcome by Metroidvania fever, you can read more detailed writeups of many of the games in GameSpite's ToastyWiki.Click here to start your adventure!
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Metroid Prime Trilogy dev diary
This Week on the Nintendo Channel presents the lengthy video you see above. It's a developer diary talking about all of the hard work that went into combining all of the Metroid Prime games into one delicious, tinned package. Hey, it may be the highlight of this week, but that's certainly not all there is! Hit the break for this week's videos and DS demos.
