Metroid Prime: Federation Force

[Makο]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGu3Xe1uUUg

 

Trailer here. Produced by Next Level Games.

 

 

Basically, a co-op online shooter based in the Metroid Universe. Apparently has Monster Hunter elements?

 

So yeah, if you've even smelt the scent of a Nintendo game today, you've probably heard about this game and the incredible backlash its receiving.

 

Complaints basically boil down to:

• Doesn't look like a Metroid game (horrible chibi artstyle)

• Doesn't feel like a Metroid game (diverts from any known formula dramatically)

• 2006 graphics

• No mainline game announcement

• Doesn't do the Metroid Prime name justice.

 

There are other complaints, but they're mostly unfounded. Most everyone is just upset we haven't gotten a mainline Metroid game since 5 years ago, and we haven't had a good one in almost a decade.

 

As for me, I'm pretty upset about how this is going. But really, if they only made one of two little changes, I'd actually be fine with, or even excited for this game. Either if they removed the "Metroid Prime" from the title, or removed that terrible chibi artstyle to more fall in line with the rest of the Primes. Tbh, I've always wanted a Metroid game where you play as Federation Marines.

 

Just... not like this.

 

So discuss. This'll be an interesting experience, to say the least.

 

 

 

...Oh, there's also that soccer thing. Discuss that if you will.

[Βyakuya]

 

I'm trying not to dislike this one as much but given the many Wii U exclusives revealed in the direct, this one looks like crap while things like Animal Crossing and the Mario & Luigi/Paper Mario crossover were far more interesting.

 

The game just looks awful to stick the Metroid Prime name on like a bumper sticker. Despite aesthetic not being one thing I cannot just judge on, it doesn't do too much good getting old and new people re-familiarized with the Metroid franchise and instead gives us this thing which looks like a 3rd party published game. I think this all is just filler for the direct and was the most lackluster reveal out of them all. Even in the first reveal in the Nintendo World CHampionships as a surprise round I can feel the amount of "oh...." in everyone else's minds.

[Thar]

I, for one, am appalled by all the negative reactions to this. It may not look or feel exactly like a Metroid game, but who the funk are we to say what Metroid is? It was made by Nintendo, therefore it's canon. We can label something what we want based on what we're used to, but to be this disappointed in something just because it's not 100% what we expected is just... funking retarded.

[Flame Dragon]

Yea, I'm not a super big Metroid fan, but this was a massive miss for me. Its a Metroid game that Metroid fans don't want. As you said the art style/character designs, the total lack of Samus makes me think, everything is just a misfire and it just doesn't feel right. Saying the graphics look like something from 06 doesn't feel off since this is a game that had it come out then would have gone over fine with people.

 

Removing the Metroid name just leaves you with Nintendo doing a Space Marines which is w/e. Game can still end up being good, but the first impression was not a good one for me.

[Makο]

I, for one, am appalled by all the negative reactions to this. It may not look or feel exactly like a Metroid game, but who the f*** are we to say what Metroid is? It was made by Nintendo, therefore it's canon. We can label something what we want based on what we're used to, but to be this disappointed in something just because it's not 100% what we expected is just... f***ing retarded.

The problem with that comes in that we, the fans, are what keep games and franchises afloat by liking them. When they do something we don't like, we voice our disdain. If they refuse to listen to our complaints, we don't buy the game. The game tanks, they lose money, we don't have a Metroid game, and then no one is happy.

 

The fans aren't always right, no. Sometimes, the stuff they want or suggest are actually terrible, usually in hindsight. However, this is really damning. A lot of people say it looks like a Gameloft iOS game, in which I'm implied to agree.

 

I just feel bad for NLG like a lot of others do. They're a great studio, but this is a hell of a franchise to work with.

[Thar]

The problem with that comes in that we, the fans, are what keep games and franchises afloat by liking them. When they do something we don't like, we voice our disdain. If they refuse to listen to our complaints, we don't buy the game. The game tanks, they lose money, we don't have a Metroid game, and then no one is happy.

 

The fans are always right, no. Sometimes, the stuff they want or suggest are actually terrible, usually in hindsight. However, this is really damning. A lot of people say it looks like a Gameloft iOS game, in which I'm implied to agree.

 

I just feel bad for NLG like a lot of others do. They're a great studio, but this is a hell of a franchise to work with.

 

You're right about that...

 

But to make bullshit claims like "RIP Nintendo" or "Nintendo should just die" as soon as they see ONE mishap in the system? Hell, it's actually hilarious. Knowing what the company's tried and failed with, they're not even CLOSE to dying, especially nowadays where marketing is practically entry-level with social media.

[Agro]

I'm more disappointed that Next Level Games isnt working on something else. It's possible they're working on 2 games, but all rumors pointed to a wii u title from them. This looked 100% from the beginning like an indie game. Metroid doesnt sell as well as the other ninty franchises as it is.

 

it looks to be this gen's star fox assault. On the other hand, I think the complaints about the art style are silly.

[Makο]

You're right about that...

 

But to make bullshit claims like "RIP Nintendo" or "Nintendo should just die" as soon as they see ONE mishap in the system? Hell, it's actually hilarious. Knowing what the company's tried and failed with, they're not even CLOSE to dying, especially nowadays where marketing is practically entry-level with social media.

(edited my post. The fans aren't always right, I meant to say. D'oh.)

 

I haven't seen any claims like the former. No one thinks Nintendo is gonna rip off of this. What everyone IS worried about is, if I may steal from Gaf for a second, this:

 

"Mr. Iwata, the trailer for that Metroid spinoff has over 20,000 dislikes and there's even a cancellation petition."

 

"It seems our fans do not like Metroid and want us to allocate resources elsewhere. Cancel it."

 

"But sir, I'm not sure that's what they wa-"

 

"Metroid was a mistake..."

 

"Please sir..."

 

"It's nothing but trash"

 

"Sir do we have to resort to memes? It's bad enough when Reggie does this"

 

"NeoGaf is bashing Federation Force but says that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is severally underrated and one of the best 2D platformers ever. Get Retro on the phone. Tell them to cancel Prime 4 and put them on Donkey Kong Country Returns 3. Sony gave GAF what they wanted and so will we..."

I'm more disappointed that Next Level Games isnt working on something else. It's possible they're working on 2 games, but all rumors pointed to a wii u title from them. This looked 100% from the beginning like an indie game. Metroid doesnt sell as well as the other ninty franchises as it is.

 

it looks to be this gen's star fox assault. On the other hand, I think the complaints about the art style are silly.

Others are saying they're working on a Metroid title for the NX.

[Flame Dragon]

I, for one, am appalled by all the negative reactions to this. It may not look or feel exactly like a Metroid game, but who the funk are we to say what Metroid is? It was made by Nintendo, therefore it's canon. We can label something what we want based on what we're used to, but to be this disappointed in something just because it's not 100% what we expected is just... funking retarded.

We have every right to say what a Metroid game is. Metroid games have a very distinct design feel to them and when the game design doesn't match player expectations something has gone wrong. Its possible to that this can still hold true to that design feel, but what we got didn't really show it.

 

 

You're right about that...

 

But to make bullshit claims like "RIP Nintendo" or "Nintendo should just die" as soon as they see ONE mishap in the system? Hell, it's actually hilarious. Knowing what the company's tried and failed with, they're not even CLOSE to dying, especially nowadays where marketing is practically entry-level with social media.

Those people are idiots.

 

The tl;dr version of the issue is that little games like this is a good way to hold fans over between the large games in the franchise. When the first game in half a decade is a small thing without the main character your going to case people to be angry. Though changing the name to Nintendo Space Marines (the name I will be calling it from now on) would just get a collective shrug from people.

 

 

As I said, game could be cool, but I really don't care about Nintendo Space Marines.

[Thar]

it looks to be this gen's star fox assault. On the other hand, I think the complaints about the art style are silly.

 

See, this is my biggest gripe. Complaints about a game's appearance completely ruin the point of a game entirely. Hell, all I care about in a game is if it controls well enough to be played fluently. 2015? funk it, give me polygons and dull textures, just make it playable.

[VCR_CAT]

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the art-style. It looks like Metroid Infinity. That said, I did watch the Treehouse gameplay stream of it, and it honestly does looks like a really fun game. It looks like it has some solid multiplayer coop, and here's hoping it has some traditional deathmatch. It looks like a fun game, and even if the artstyle disappoints me a lot, this looks a lot more like just a little spinoff to tide over the fans while they work on a real installment. This looks like a Metroid take on a spinoff like Mariokart or Mario Party, and it honestly looks fun. I think people just need to give it a chance and swallow their artstyle gripes and not be overly entitled brats

[Makο]

See, this is my biggest gripe. Complaints about a game's appearance completely ruin the point of a game entirely. Hell, all I care about in a game is if it controls well enough to be played fluently. 2015? f*** it, give me polygons and dull textures, just make it playable.

 

 

It's a combination of the extremely low-res graphics and the dumb chibi artstyle. The latter is completely antithetical to Metroid as a franchise, and as for the former? Metroid Prime, a game that came out in 2002, looks waaaaaaay better than this. We know what the 3DS is capable of. Clearly, more than what's been made.

[Thar]

It's a combination of the extremely low-res graphics and the dumb chibi artstyle. The latter is completely antithetical to Metroid as a franchise, and as for the former? Metroid Prime, a game that came out in 2002, looks waaaaaaay better than this. We know what the 3DS is capable of. Clearly, more than what's been made.

 

I don't care what anything is capable of. I'm not gonna complain about something just because it ain't something else.

[Flame Dragon]

See, this is my biggest gripe. Complaints about a game's appearance completely ruin the point of a game entirely. Hell, all I care about in a game is if it controls well enough to be played fluently. 2015? funk it, give me polygons and dull textures, just make it playable.

Not really. One of the reason I have such a strong distaste for the shooting genre is my experience with them (I know this could easily not be the case) is that they are all the same murky gray with a mix of other dull colors. Appearance is important. I am in no way saying graphical power is important but the art direction certainly is. Personally, the chibi designs of the Space Marines doesn't jell with me. Rest looks a little dated, but that could be due to it being a video and that the actual game will look better when played on the 3DS.

 

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the art-style. It looks like Metroid Infinity. That said, I did watch the Treehouse gameplay stream of it, and it honestly does looks like a really fun game. It looks like it has some solid multiplayer coop, and here's hoping it has some traditional deathmatch. It looks like a fun game, and even if the artstyle disappoints me a lot, this looks a lot more like just a little spinoff to tide over the fans while they work on a real installment. This looks like a Metroid take on a spinoff like Mariokart or Mario Party, and it honestly looks fun. I think people just need to give it a chance and swallow their artstyle gripes and not be overly entitled brats

This is totally fair. The game can easily be good, but using this to hold us over works better when the time gap between main games is 2 or 3 years not 5 or 6.

[Makο]

I don't care what anything is capable of. I'm not gonna complain about something just because it ain't something else.

(Damn mobile)

 

Normally, I'm all for the "graphics don't matter" line of thought, but this is Metroid Prime. Immersion means a great deal in this franchise. And terrible graphics makes that extremely difficult. Instead of thinking "what a beautiful vista!", you're thinking "why does this tree have a poly count of like 6?"

[Thar]

Not really. One of the reason I have such a strong distaste for the shooting genre is my experience with them (I know this could easily not be the case) is that they are all the same murky gray with a mix of other dull colors. Appearance is important. I am in no way saying graphical power is important but the art direction certainly is. Personally, the chibi designs of the Space Marines doesn't jell with me. Rest looks a little dated, but that could be due to it being a video and that the actual game will look better when played on the 3DS.

 

Of course. The game doesn't release for another year or so, which can only mean it's about to get added onto.

 

I will say, though, that while I too aren't too fond of shooters, Metroid Prime, Halo, and Timesplitters were exceptions. Hell, I had a blast playing Goldeneye 007 and I still do. Sure, it's dated, but it's fun and an HD remake would be amazing, but I'll only play it for the entertainment factor and not the graphics.

 

Normally, I'm all for the "graphics don't matter" line of thought, but this is Metroid Prime. Immersion means a great deal in this franchise. And terrible graphics makes that extremely difficult. Instead of thinking "what a beautiful vista!", you're thinking "why does this tree have a poly count of like 6?"

 

Here's the thing, though: I never really focused on the environment in Metroid Prime. All I really cared about was shooting and killing what would hurt me if I didn't.

[VCR_CAT]

...they already did the HD remake of Golden Eye (look it up)...

[Flame Dragon]

(Damn mobile)

 

Normally, I'm all for the "graphics don't matter" line of thought, but this is Metroid Prime. Immersion means a great deal in this franchise. And terrible graphics makes that extremely difficult. Instead of thinking "what a beautiful vista!", you're thinking "why does this tree have a poly count of like 6?"

 

I think we need to see more before we can say that. I don't think its going to look so bad its going to take you out of the world though. As I said it could look better when your playing it.

 

Of course. The game doesn't release for another year or so, which can only mean it's about to get added onto.

 

I will say, though, that while I too aren't too fond of shooters, Metroid Prime, Halo, and Timesplitters were exceptions. Hell, I had a blast playing Goldeneye 007 and I still do. Sure, it's dated, but it's fun and an HD remake would be amazing, but I'll only play it for the entertainment factor and not the graphics.

One of the best things about Prime is its use of environment. You feel like your exploring a totally alien world. Not to mention, while it doesn't have a bright color palette it does make use of a bunch of colors. I don't know much about Halo, but I'm pretty sure it does the same thing creating vibrant worlds. I know nothing about Timesplitters though. My complaint about shooters is stuff like Battlefront and COD, which to my untrained eye, all feel samey.

 

 

Also, on the note of environment it looks like this game is trying to hit that at least with both an ice and desert world being shown.

[Thar]

One of the best things about Prime is its use of environment. You feel like your exploring a totally alien world. Not to mention, while it doesn't have a bright color palette it does make use of a bunch of colors. I don't know much about Halo, but I'm pretty sure it does the same thing creating vibrant worlds. I know nothing about Timesplitters though. My complaint about shooters is stuff like Battlefront and COD, which to my untrained eye, all feel samey.

 

Also, on the note of environment it looks like this game is trying to hit that at least with both an ice and desert world being shown.

 

One of the biggest factors of immersion for me is the music, which Prime had. I will say it did that much, but graphics or the environment were never a big deal to me. If anything, the soundtrack went so well with the environment that I didn't even need to look at it to appreciate what I was exploring.

[Makο]

 

Here's the thing, though: I never really focused on the environment in Metroid Prime. All I really cared about was shooting and killing what would hurt me if I didn't.

You are part of an outlier group. The vast majority of the people playing adored the atmosphere and environment. That's why this matters so much to us.

[Legend Zero]

Not sure how applicable this is, but my first thought to this was comparing it to the Project Spark/Conker assets thing from last year. Except worse, because it wasn't called Conker's Project Spark.

 

Metroid is by far my favorite Nintendo IP, but these do not look worth a purchase. Even if you did play as a relevant character, its just not looking like my cup of tea.

[Tentacruel]

Looks pretty meh, but holy sheet people are salty.

 

Just ignore the Metroid Prime title and suddenly it becomes much easier to not care about. 

 

Since people are saying they hope the game gets canceled and/or Nintendo goes out of business because of this, no, I don't think it's too harsh for me to say that I hope we never get another Metroid game. The fanbase doesn't deserve one.  

[Flame Dragon]

Looks pretty meh, but holy sheet people are salty.

 

Just ignore the Metroid Prime title and suddenly it becomes much easier to not care about. 

 

Since people are saying they hope the game gets canceled and/or Nintendo goes out of business because of this, no, I don't think it's too harsh for me to say that I hope we never get another Metroid game. The fanbase doesn't deserve one.

Which is why I have dubbed it Nintendo Space Marines.

 

And while I do think that is a bit harsh, yea that is an EXTREME overreaction. At least we are getting A GAME in the universe unlike poor F-Zero which is becoming fused with Mario Kart.

[Makο]

Just ignore the Metroid Prime title and suddenly it becomes much easier to not care about.

Unfortunately, I'm under the impression that the future of the Prime series of Metroid is tied to this based solely on the inclusion of this title. It can't be simply ignored.

 

 

Since people are saying they hope the game gets canceled and/or Nintendo goes out of business because of this, no, I don't think it's too harsh for me to say that I hope we never get another Metroid game. The fanbase doesn't deserve one.  

 

I'll be dammed honest. Yeah, the fanbase reacted in a horrible way. However, it was a day 1 reaction to something no one liked, so yeah, everyone overreacted. That's just the internet.

 

If something like this happened to any other franchise, that fanbase would, in all probability, react in the same way. This s*** is f***ing par for the course.

 

So get off your high horse for a moment.

 

I'm just salt at you saying the fanbase doesn't deserve one. I SERVED MY TIME GOSH DANGIT

[Thar]

Unfortunately, I'm under the impression that the future of the Prime series of Metroid is tied to this based solely on the inclusion of this title. It can't be simply ignored.

 

Considering it looks nothing like the franchise, apparently it can be, right?