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Metroid Prime 2 - A Degredation to the Metroid Franchise

warcrow

warcrow

Lifer
I adore the Metroid series. To me it is the franchise I hold above all others? This includes the Half-Life series (which I adore as well). I love the atmosphere, the music, the sound effects, the story, the exploration aspects, the protagonist and the rewards inherent to the games design. It's an incredible experience.

When the MP trilogy pack was released recently I could not wait to sit down and relish in the series meloncholic atmosphere once more! After completing MP1, it turns out that it was an even more enjoyable experience (I think it's fantastic in it's original form btw) with the integrated Wii remote support.

This last weekend I decided to move on to MP2 to give it another shot. This would be the 4th time I've entered its world. Mind you, my attempts are always with a clear mind in a state to seriously tackle the game?I want to love this game. I figured, hey with the newly released remake for the Wii, the controls might help sugarcoat the experience just enough to help me through the game.

Nope.

Two hours into the game and I just could not take it anymore. The feeling of being caged up and so restricted just made me want to scream (I didnt)! It was as if someone had bound my hands behind my back and set me loose on a shopping spree with no cart saying "Hey! Have fun now <wink> <wink>!" Defeated a 4th time I slumped back in my chair, the Wii remote falling to my side. I was totally baffled that a group of people sat down and said, "Yup this is the direction we're going with this game and we feel good about this".

MP1 and 3 both foster and encourage the player to explore in wonder of it's architectual achievements and off-world mysteries! To marvel at its design. It says, "hey, it's ok to stop and take it all in. Sure sure!"

I think it's probably hard not to appreciate the first and third games no matter who you are.

MP2, on the other hand, invites you into its world batting its eyelashes as it slips it's soft curvy foot under the table to rub your leg. Once submerged in it, though, it completely confines and restricting you, slapping you in the face each time you reach out. The game looks back and laughs at its predecessor completely ignoring its teachings! The very same design philosophies we all fell in love with all over again with these new games.

It's obvious I'm so disappointed with this game and being a bit melodramatic?I'm teetering on absurdity here--but it makes me sad that I will not be returning to this specific game (MP2) ever again.

Here's to MP3--a true sequel and worthy of belonging in the Metroid series.
 
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MP1 = Fantastic, I beat it probably 5-6 times on the GC. Tons of awesome features (X-ray visor showing the bones/position of your hand in the gun, little things like that), just an all around amazing game.

MP2 = Terrible. Bad story, really weird environment that I didn't really like. It's like they decided that MP1 had enough creativity for 2 games and just needed to cookie cut it...but they did a bad job of it.

MP3 = A little better but still doesn't hold a candle to MP1.
 
Kind of like trying to pick up an adorable animal only to have it rake its claws all over your hands and arms each time. I know what you mean, I found MP1 much more enjoyable than 2, even though I thought it got equally good reviews. Never played part 3.
 
Never played 2 or 3, but really enjoyed 1. How's the DS game for it (Hunters)? I like how it controls but don't know how the gameplay holds up.
 
The save point system in the games completely ruined them for me. Save points were so infrequent that I'd need at least an hour of free time to play at all. If anything came up, I'd have to abandon my progress or leave my game paused for hours at a time. Whenever I did reach a save point, I was always tempted to put the game down and stop playing so I'd be free again. That's not a good thing for a game to do. Maybe if they'd get out of the 90s and allow you to save whenever you want rather than forcing you to hit one of a handful of predetermined spots, it would make the games worth playing. I also didn't like the Wii controls.

I did play and enjoy MP1, but I had more free time back then.
 
I loved MP2 as much as the other two. The thing with it is that it takes a while to get going.

I assume the problems youre having with being "restricted" are not being able to step outside of the safety bubbles in the dark world, and thus really not being able to explore it. At the beginning, your life will get drained very quickly. Not too long from the beginning you'll get an armor upgrade that allows you to withstand the dark world outside of the bubbles much better, and IIRC theres another upgrade later that makes it almost a complete non-issue. I remember it being a problem in the beginning, but it changes very quickly.

If anything, the game gets even more wide open and interesting in the end when you have to alternate between the light and dark worlds to get through some puzzles.

The sanctuary level in MP2 is my favorite in the entire series, it's kinda tron like, very awesome.

MP1 made the biggest impact, and MP3 is the best technically, by I'd still have to say my favorite was MP2...I thought the whole light and dark world aspect really added to it in the end, even if it is stifling at the beginning.
 
Originally posted by: BD2003
I loved MP2 as much as the other two. The thing with it is that it takes a while to get going.

I assume the problems youre having with being "restricted" are not being able to step outside of the safety bubbles in the dark world, and thus really not being able to explore it. At the beginning, your life will get drained very quickly. Not too long from the beginning you'll get an armor upgrade that allows you to withstand the dark world outside of the bubbles much better, and IIRC theres another upgrade later that makes it almost a complete non-issue. I remember it being a problem in the beginning, but it changes very quickly.

If anything, the game gets even more wide open and interesting in the end when you have to alternate between the light and dark worlds to get through some puzzles.

The sanctuary level in MP2 is my favorite in the entire series, it's kinda tron like, very awesome.

MP1 made the biggest impact, and MP3 is the best technically, by I'd still have to say my favorite was MP2...I thought the whole light and dark world aspect really added to it in the end, even if it is stifling at the beginning.
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Absolutely agree. It takes a while before you really get going and once you do it's very enjoyable. I also was pretty frustrated in the first 2+ hours of actual game play. Probably my favorite MP - very freaky and at times downright scary environment. Seeing the puzzles in the light vs. dark world were very nice. You'd see a puzzle and say "oh! I've got to be in dark for this" and make a mental note to get back to it.

Never did get MP3, need to pick it up for cheap as I really enjoyed 1 & 2.
 
MP1 was insanely good when it came out. Everything, but it's controls have aged well, which I hope this trilogy re-release fixed.

I loved MP2. I agree that it does confine you, thus going against the standard rules of a Metroid game, but it's still a good game @ the least. Great boss fights (apart from the final, which is a joke.),standard beautiful environments/audio and they even got the screw attack to work in 3D?!?!?!?

Never played 3, can't comment. I was considering buying a Wii to actually get this game though. Now that this trilogy is out, I'm more likely.
 
Looked it up...without any upgrades, the dark world is fairly instant death.

The dark suit, which you get fairly early, makes you resistant to the darkness, to the point where you can travel around in it without too much worry during a battle, but you cant really stray off course.

The light suit is the upgrade that lets you fully resist the dark, but you get it much later.

Being confined is nothing new to a metroid game - its a hallmark of the series that there are places you can see that you cant get to...yet. There will come a point where the dark world is as free to access as the light world. But think about how confusing it would be at start to have two entirely different mirror worlds to explore - the dark poison atmosphere is there in the beginning to keep the game flowing until it's ready to open up.

Stick with it...it's as good as the other two.
 
I wish they would release a 2D metroid on the console again

Super Metroid is still the best in my book

I have not played MP3 though
 
I couldn't get into 2 either. I haven't played 3 as I don't have a Wii, but Prime was amazing (although a big part of that was the wow coming from FP Metroid working as well as it did).

I think its good that they've tried to make each Metroid unique, as it would be very easy for them to just half-ass it, but of course that will lead to some not being as popular (although those can be gems to a few people).
 
Had a hard time with MP2 as well, but loved MP1 and MP3. Definitely looking towards a 2D Metroid that would be a worth Super Metroid successor.
 
Originally posted by: BD2003
I loved MP2 as much as the other two. The thing with it is that it takes a while to get going.

I assume the problems youre having with being "restricted" are not being able to step outside of the safety bubbles in the dark world, and thus really not being able to explore it. At the beginning, your life will get drained very quickly. Not too long from the beginning you'll get an armor upgrade that allows you to withstand the dark world outside of the bubbles much better, and IIRC theres another upgrade later that makes it almost a complete non-issue. I remember it being a problem in the beginning, but it changes very quickly.

If anything, the game gets even more wide open and interesting in the end when you have to alternate between the light and dark worlds to get through some puzzles.

The sanctuary level in MP2 is my favorite in the entire series, it's kinda tron like, very awesome.

MP1 made the biggest impact, and MP3 is the best technically, by I'd still have to say my favorite was MP2...I thought the whole light and dark world aspect really added to it in the end, even if it is stifling at the beginning.
Click to expand...

I do appreciate your perspective and opinions, but I suppose my point is that I reached my limit 4 times and couldnt continue on. It just takes too long to get going even if the series conventions return eventually. In short--if it takes over 2 hours to get to a playable, enjoyable state then that's far too long.
 
Originally posted by: mchammer187
I wish they would release a 2D metroid on the console again

Super Metroid is still the best in my book

I have not played MP3 though
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Look up Metroid: Other M

Hopefully Team Ninja doesn't blow it but thus far it looks promising (Mother Brain is back!)
 
Originally posted by: mchammer187
I wish they would release a 2D metroid on the console again

Super Metroid is still the best in my book
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: Agreed. I enjoyed Metroid Prime, and at some point I'll get the Trilogy and play the other two, but part of me will never fully accept a first-person Metroid.
 
Originally posted by: R Nilla
Originally posted by: mchammer187
I wish they would release a 2D metroid on the console again

Super Metroid is still the best in my book
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: Agreed. I enjoyed Metroid Prime, and at some point I'll get the Trilogy and play the other two, but part of me will never fully accept a first-person Metroid.
Click to expand...

Next year you get your wish.
 
Have you seen the video of it? It's sort of a neat way they switch back and forth. It's sort of similar to Shadow Complex for anyone who's played it. It's on a 2D plane but you can aim into the background. Also, you can do some sort of "tighter aiming" or something and go into true first person.

Originally posted by: Aikouka
According to Wikipedia:

The game features both 2D and 3D gameplay in both first- and third-person perspectives.
Click to expand...

They even have a first-person screenshot 🙁.
Click to expand...

But the sentence after that says:
" also noted that the game would be a return to the style of the traditional series as opposed to the Prime series"
 
I hated it. I slogged through it pretty far, but it was so monotonous. I'd usually play at night, my roommate would watch if he wanted to be put to sleep, and I mean that literally, it was that boring.

edit: I stopped playing when I was looking for keys for something I think. There were like a million of them, and finding them was so horrendously boring...
 
I loved the side-scrolling Metroid games as much as the next person. When Metroid Prime came out I gave it an enthusiastic shot, but simply could not get the past the caged controls. If you make a first-person shooter/adventure game, you damn well better let people strafe.
 
Originally posted by: xboxist
I loved the side-scrolling Metroid games as much as the next person. When Metroid Prime came out I gave it an enthusiastic shot, but simply could not get the past the caged controls. If you make a first-person shooter/adventure game, you damn well better let people strafe.
Click to expand...

I think that's precisely why I like Metroid Prime. It wasn't a FPS. I hate console FPS games - give me a keyboard & mouse. However, MP3 on the Wii was great. The Wiimote/Nunchuck makes a great FPS controller in my opinion.

For Other M..... I definitely like going back to 2D. Having some 3D sections can be cool too. You don't have to completely ignore the third dimension, just have to know when to use it.
 
Originally posted by: RaiderJ
Originally posted by: xboxist
I loved the side-scrolling Metroid games as much as the next person. When Metroid Prime came out I gave it an enthusiastic shot, but simply could not get the past the caged controls. If you make a first-person shooter/adventure game, you damn well better let people strafe.
Click to expand...

I think that's precisely why I like Metroid Prime. It wasn't a FPS.
Click to expand...

That's a technicality. It's still a first-person perspective. And in those games, not being able to fully control your character's movements is very frustrating to me.

I get that's it's not supposed to be your standard FPS and they wanted to slow the pace and focus on exploration. But to purposefully omit strafing seems like an odd call to me. If I were in a Metroid Prime environment IRL (lol?), I'd totally be cautious, creeping around and strafing to get better sight angles around corners and such.
 
Originally posted by: xboxist
Originally posted by: RaiderJ
Originally posted by: xboxist
I loved the side-scrolling Metroid games as much as the next person. When Metroid Prime came out I gave it an enthusiastic shot, but simply could not get the past the caged controls. If you make a first-person shooter/adventure game, you damn well better let people strafe.
Click to expand...

I think that's precisely why I like Metroid Prime. It wasn't a FPS.
Click to expand...

That's a technicality. It's still a first-person perspective. And in those games, not being able to fully control your character's movements is very frustrating to me.

I get that's it's not supposed to be your standard FPS and they wanted to slow the pace and focus on exploration. But to purposefully omit strafing seems like an odd call to me. If I were in a Metroid Prime environment IRL (lol?), I'd totally be cautious, creeping around and strafing to get better sight angles around corners and such.
Click to expand...

What I liked is that you don't have to aim, just click the L button or whatever and just fire away. I might be wrong, but couldn't you hold down the "lock-on" button and strafe that way? Assuming you hadn't locked onto anything; if so then you'd circle around it.

So far I've heard people be very happy with the Wii version of Metroid Prime. The extra view and control scheme is supposed to be a big improvement.
 
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