Tendo City

Quote:After much speculation over the authenticity of screenshots circulating forums across the internet, Nintendo has finally officially released the first screens of Metroid Prime 2, and have tacked on the subtitle 'Echoes.' This is hopefully still a tentative title and with any luck, it will be condensed before the official release. We've also been given a tidbit of the storyline:

"In this highly anticipated sequel to Metroid Prime, become the bounty hunter behind the visor once more and travel to a planet torn into light and darkness. Hunted by a mysterious entity and a warring race called the Ing, Samus Aran must explore the light and dark worlds of this doomed planet to discover secrets and augment her suit's weapons and abilities."

And they released some crystal-clear screenshots!

















Awesome!

N-Philes

Seen them before. Clear now, but to be honest it doesn't help as much as I thought it would... Where's the bump mapping? I thought they were adding bump mapping... Maybe I heard wrong...

I don't remember hearing anything about bump-mapping, but it's possible that these are some screenshots from an earlier build.

It looks just like MP, but still, that was a very nice looking game, so that's no so bad... cool!

Yeah, even if they used the same graphics engine as MP it would be a bad thing, because MP looked amazing. I think they will make it look better in some areas though, even if they don't use bump-mapping.

I think you mean 'wouldn't'. :D

And I'm sure they could improve MP's graphics... but they couldn't improve the style. I expect it'll just be better looking by degrees... but keeping the style is the most important part (and having the game live up in that respect to the first one!).

Awesome. The game looks great, I don't know what everyone was expecting. It's being done in just two years, so you shouldn't expect any major graphical upgrades. I'm sure the final build will be noticably better-looking than MP, with or without bump mapping.

I don't like that it's being called Metroid Prime 2, and I hope they just leave it as Metroid Echoes. Metroid Prime is technically Metroid 1.5, so the numbering is gonna get all messed up if they call it MP2.

Metroid Echoes would sound better, but really it doesn't matter to me which they decide to call it.

But it messes up the order!! AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!

*passes out*

I stopped worrying about The Order a long time ago...I WONDER WHOSE FAULT THAT IS?!?!

Marfintane's?

No, your's.

Your McClanahan? That guy is messed up.

Actually, it seems like Metroid Prime is NOW Metroid 1, because the ACTUAL Metroid 1 became Metroid Zero.

Metroid Echoes would sound a lot better though.

Honestly yeah Prime looked great anyway, I just remember hearing that the bumpyness would be added so I found it odd that it wasn't there. No matter really, so long as the art is solid.

Really, at this point graphics no longer impress me, and actually that's been the case for a while now. Not a single game since Wind Waker has wowed me, and actually Wind Waker was the first game since the first few Gamecube games I got that wowed me. Art is the only thing I can be impressed by any more. I know games like Squadren 3 were really supposed to be technically amazing, but I EXPECT that level of graphical stuff now, so I really wasn't impressed.

Since this story is happening right after Metroid Prime it should be called Metroid Prime: Echoes. The "Prime" should be used as a place card for '3-D' Metroid.

But Prime happened right after Zero Mission.. and now this is happening right after Prime... but before Metroid 2: Return of Samus (where she goes to SR388). So logically, the end of this game should give a vibe that her next mission is SR388.

...which would make the rumors of Nintendo releasing an updated version of Metroid 2: Return of Samus for GBA alot more likely.

DJ- I never heard anything about bump mapping being added to MP2, but whatever the case is it doesn't really matter. Also, Metroid 1 is still Metroid 1. Calling the beginning of the whole Metroid saga "0" is really dumb, even if it was the title of the remake. Truthfully I think Nintendo should just get rid of the numbers and name them like they do the Zelda series.

lazy- We don't know when Prime 2 takes place (or do we?). And most future Metroid games are going to be 3D, so calling all of them Prime sounds pretty stupid. They should be given unique titles like the 2D games, with maybe a number in the opening credits (like SM and MF).

MP2... I do find it annoying when they do that... (see: LA and the Dark Forces series!) but in this case I can see why. It's a follow-up to MP1, after all, and you can't call it 'Metroid 1 3/4' or something (assuming you want a number)!

The Zelda series was smart to leave off numbers after game two. :D

You could call it Metroid Echoes!

You could. But they want it more obviously a sequel to Prime...

It has Metroid in the title, that should be enough. They didn't name MM "Ocarina of Time 2: Majora's Mask".

But they could have.

Yes... and they would be been stupid.

Yeah, they could have... but only one Zelda has a number, while many Metroids do... :)

Well, almost secretly, really.

Metroid: Zero Mission and Metroid 2: Return of Samus both have numbers in the titles.

Metroid 2 is the only one with the actual number in the title. Zero Mission is just a cool name, it doesn't mean that Metroid 1 is now Metroid 0.

But is Metroid Metroid: Zero Mission? I mean, the games aren't quite the same... does ZM replace Metroid in the timeline? Alternate universes? :)

It's a remake, so it replaces the game. Like REbirth.

Retro makes 3-D Metroid games. Nintendo makes 2-D Metroid games. You need something in the title to make it obvious that one is traditional and one is 3-D. the title of 'Prime' would be a good word to use for the 3-D titles. The numbering system (Metroid Fusion had the title of Metroid 4 in the title screen) would be a good way to show people that it's a continuation of the main story and that it's a traditional Metroid game (2-D). While the 3-D games focus on back and side stories while translating the 2-D gameplay in to 3-D.

Zelda gets away with it because the 3-D and 2-D Zelda games were all made by the same company (except for the Oracle series, which has it's own... series...)

Also, Nintendo released news that it's a different planet in Prime 2 where you fight against a new race of creature which is related to the Chozo. Like a spin-off of the Chozo that never evolved beyond their war-like ways. That's why Samus is fighting what seems to be a Chozo in that one picture. But I have a feeling that Phazon will be a part of the story.

Retro is not a different company. They are a first-party just like Intelligent Systems is, so all of the Metroid games come from the same company. Just like Zelda. And who said that Retro's Metroid games are all going to be side-stories? Metroid Prime wasn't a side story, it was as much a regular entry into the series as Fusion was.

All metroid games (2-D) have a singular time line (Zero to 4). The 3-D ones, so far, have taken place in other time lines, or like I said, I side story.

Intelligent Systems IS Nintendo. Retro is a company that Nintendo bought to use right now, they could drop retro studios next year. But Intelligent Systems is actually a part of Nintendo's in-house development.

Quote:All metroid games (2-D) have a singular time line (Zero to 4). The 3-D ones, so far, have taken place in other time lines, or like I said, I side story.

It's 1-4, unless you think that Metroid 1 takes place after Metroid ZM. The Metroid timeline is not set in stone, they only started to really care about the story starting with Metroid Fusion. Metroid 2 is the only game with the number in the official title, while Super and Fusion had them in the opening credits. I wouldn't be surprised if the sequel to Fusion dropped the number. And you say "3-D ones" when we don't know when Prime 2 is supposed to take place. Right now I believe the developers are trying to piece the whole puzzle together and have the story make sense, with the 3-D games helping with that rather than just telling side stories.

Also, if DJ is correct and Nintendo does want Metroid 1 considered as Metroid 0 from now on, and Metroid Prime as Metroid 1, then your whole side-story theory is completely wrong. Like I said, it looks like Nintendo is trying to fit the pieces together right now, and they could be changing the numbers or completely eliminating them in the process.

Quote:Intelligent Systems IS Nintendo. Retro is a company that Nintendo bought to use right now, they could drop retro studios next year. But Intelligent Systems is actually a part of Nintendo's in-house development.

Nintendo could just as easily dump IS as they could Retro. They are both first-party development studios, as much a part of Nintendo as EAD is. Retro is not a second-party like Rare or SK was, they are 100% a part of Nintendo. Iwata said so himself just a little while ago.

I didn't see that Iwata said that. That's good news.

Metroid Zero Mission replaces Metroid 1, so "Metroid" no longer exists, it begins with Zero Mission and ends on Metroid Fusion. Prime 2 takes place right after Prime. Prime took place after Zero Mission but before Metroid 2. Get it now?

I get what you're saying but you don't have all of the facts. None of us do. Of course Zero Mission replaces Metroid 1, but if what you and DJ suggest is true and ZM is actually Metroid 0, then that would make Metroid Prime Metroid 1. And again, we do not know exactly when Prime 2 takes place. It looks like Nintendo is reorganizing the timeline, and I wouldn't be surprised if we eventually see a remake of Metroid 2 with the number dropped or changed.

It would actually make a lot more sense to call Majora's Mask OoT 2 since that actually is a Zelda side-story, while Metroid Prime 2 is more of a full sequel.

It's just that, you know, prime makes me think too hard and results in "hey, 1 is a prime number, metroid prime might be considered metroid 1 now...".

All of them have numbers in their titles, even if 3 and 4 only show that part of the title when you turn the game on, it's still part of the title. I consider Metroid 3 to be "Metroid 3: Super Metroid" with the standard title being more of a subtitle. It's also the only SNES game with "super" in the title outside of the Mario games where Super actually FITS the story of the game, what with a major part of the story being an ACTUAL super metroid.

I think Majora's Mask might end up a lot more important down the line if my theory is correct, and the original Link was consumed by the demon mask at the end of the game, thus the Link of winds may need to face him and free him from it, and maybe "Wind Waker 2" involves just that, with Link of Time being the final enemy. Wow that would be sweet...

Quote:It's just that, you know, prime makes me think too hard and results in "hey, 1 is a prime number, metroid prime might be considered metroid 1 now...".

All of them have numbers in their titles, even if 3 and 4 only show that part of the title when you turn the game on, it's still part of the title. I consider Metroid 3 to be "Metroid 3: Super Metroid" with the standard title being more of a subtitle. It's also the only SNES game with "super" in the title outside of the Mario games where Super actually FITS the story of the game, what with a major part of the story being an ACTUAL super metroid.

All of them have numbers in their titles? What about Prime? What about Zero Mission? If you consider Prime 1 and Zero Mission 0, then what does that make Prime 2? 1-2?

Quote:I think Majora's Mask might end up a lot more important down the line if my theory is correct, and the original Link was consumed by the demon mask at the end of the game, thus the Link of winds may need to face him and free him from it, and maybe "Wind Waker 2" involves just that, with Link of Time being the final enemy. Wow that would be sweet...

That would be interesting, and with Aonuma in charge of the series now I can see him doing something like that, but I don't want to get my hopes up. And I don't know if Nintendo would like the hero of the N64 games to be a bad guy.

Prime 2 is totally messing it up, THAT'S what it's number is. They work to get the numbering right, then screw it up with games in the middle of the story, if Prime 2 is in fact in the middle. No matter really though.

About Zelda: Anyway, that's exactly my thinking on that, the developer being the same as with Majora. However, they already made Link evil in MM anyway, by making him resort to the evil fierce diety mask, a mask with darkness even greater than Majora, in order to defeat him. Well, yeah you don't HAVE to, but that option is right there if they take the story that way. Plus, where did Link of Time go when Ganon emerged shortly after his imprisonment? Remember, he emerged once long ago before Wind Waker, according to the WW storyline, and the original Link was no where to be found to save the day. There's gotta be a reason for that. He DID return to Hyrule after all, not stay in Termina, and as far as I know he didn't give up the Fierce Diety Mask (which is called the Oni, or demon, mask in the Japanese version). It could now be his "precious", and let's face it, it wouldn't be the first time Zelda copied off of Lord of the Rings. I'm not saying they WILL do it, and if they do, I have a feeling I already know the ending would HAVE to have Link of Time saved from the mask and returned to the light, just that they COULD and that it would be AWESOME. Link vs Link would also make for a great battle, as it always has in the past fighting "shadow Links", which may I remind you are the dark side of the Links who fought them incarnate, proving that Link has never been completely devoid of evil thought.

Quote:Prime 2 is totally messing it up, THAT'S what it's number is. They work to get the numbering right, then screw it up with games in the middle of the story, if Prime 2 is in fact in the middle. No matter really though.

That's what I said...

Quote:About Zelda: Anyway, that's exactly my thinking on that, the developer being the same as with Majora. However, they already made Link evil in MM anyway, by making him resort to the evil fierce diety mask, a mask with darkness even greater than Majora, in order to defeat him. Well, yeah you don't HAVE to, but that option is right there if they take the story that way. Plus, where did Link of Time go when Ganon emerged shortly after his imprisonment? Remember, he emerged once long ago before Wind Waker, according to the WW storyline, and the original Link was no where to be found to save the day. There's gotta be a reason for that. He DID return to Hyrule after all, not stay in Termina, and as far as I know he didn't give up the Fierce Diety Mask (which is called the Oni, or demon, mask in the Japanese version). It could now be his "precious", and let's face it, it wouldn't be the first time Zelda copied off of Lord of the Rings. I'm not saying they WILL do it, and if they do, I have a feeling I already know the ending would HAVE to have Link of Time saved from the mask and returned to the light, just that they COULD and that it would be AWESOME. Link vs Link would also make for a great battle, as it always has in the past fighting "shadow Links", which may I remind you are the dark side of the Links who fought them incarnate, proving that Link has never been completely devoid of evil thought.

That could make for a very cool Zelda storyline, but I'm not quite convinced Nintendo has the balls to do something like that.

NST is first-party too... on that topic, what has NST been doing recently?

Um... playing cards?

I wondered because I couldn't remember the last game they made... and, as I've said before, they made Bionic Commando: Elite Forces for GBC and that game is really, really good.

Didn't they make 1080 2?

I think so.

It wasn't that great. Good, just not great.

I think it's awesome, especially the Rocket board. The graphics are a huge overhaul when compared to the first 1080 and that's really important in a racing game where speed isn't the most important factor.

Of course it looked better than 1080, but it shouldn't be compared with that game. It should have looked and played better than SSX3, which was its real competition, not 1080.

I never liked the SSX (or whatever it's called) series. It was way too shallow.

Hmm, have you played SSX3? I must admit I never played it, because I've never been into sports games, or extreme sports games, but I've heard the general consensus is that it blows all the previous games as well all other snow boarding games, Avalanche included, out of the snow.

I think I did try that one but it didn't have the awesome organic course structure like I think Avalanche has. In Avalanche you can really feel the cold and it actually feels like you're racing down a mountain even when it gets really surreal like the last level. I think I like it because it does it's best to mix old school stuff with realistic graphics, even the first 1080 didn't really have that.

I dunno, I just liked it more than SSX. But I also liked Snowboard Kids more than SSX, so you can judge my opinion based on that. :D

If SSX were developed by Nintendo and 1080 by EA, would you still prefer 1080? And I mean that if the games were still the same exact games, just that they would have had different developers.