27th April 2015, 1:05 PM
Thread RESURRECTION!
This got pretty heated didn't it? Well, my opinions on Other M haven't really changed over the years, except that I've grown to dislike the game play as much as GR did. Funny how I recommend Arkham City as a palette cleanser, considering it's got sexist elements too. The best I can say is at least those sexist elements are just slightly more subtle, and the female characters are at least interesting and generally adults (if damaged adults). That's right, the Batman game's portrayal of women is more progressive than Samus' portrayal in Other M.
I've started thinking about the "big reveal" that Samus was a woman at the end of the first Metroid. Now, that was a good move on Nintendo's part, and it was as important as any female lead in video games at the time. However, should that REALLY have shocked us? Think about what it said of the gamers at the time. Some might see that ending and say "oh, so that's what she looks like", but all too many were so utterly shocked that a GIRL could do all those amazing things that it's still considered something utterly amazing. The reason it was such a shock was because it shouldn't have been a shock. That's kinda weird, right? We're talking about the 80's, when cartoons were trying to teach kids that the genders were equals (in some pretty lame ways at times), while other cartoons were pretty much screwing that message up entirely. Frankly, I'm glad I wasn't one of the "shocked" ones, and SJ should feel fortunate as well.
Anyway, never mind about all that for a moment.
Axiom Verge
The best new Metroid game to come out in years, and it's only on PS4 (and later this year, PC). Much like Symphony of the Night scratching that itch during Metroid's absense in the N64/PS1 era, if you want a good Metroid style game, this is what I'd recommend. Considering that Konami seems content to just stop trying to make Castlevania games ever since the lukewarm reception to Lords of Shadow 2, it's a good thing these indie developers are around to keep the dream alive. This game is, so far, very impressive. They also stuck in some familiar elements from Castlevania and even Zelda II. One thing I've got to note is that they solved the "low life beep" problem. Oh, you know that problem. Low life? Beep beep beep beep beep beep... Useful way to let players know they're really in danger, but annoying. Some games have tried making the sound "softer", gentler perhaps, but then people don't pay attention. How'd Axiom Verge do it? They made the beeps an additional back beat for the music. It plays to the beat of the music, changing it's tempo with the change in the music, and even cutting out for brief moments when the music does. Yes, still loud, but I just LOVE this. It's how every single Zelda game from now on should work, and even as a purist I can say that if they altered the older Zelda games with such a system in place (which would, admittedly, take some work), they'd be better for it.
This got pretty heated didn't it? Well, my opinions on Other M haven't really changed over the years, except that I've grown to dislike the game play as much as GR did. Funny how I recommend Arkham City as a palette cleanser, considering it's got sexist elements too. The best I can say is at least those sexist elements are just slightly more subtle, and the female characters are at least interesting and generally adults (if damaged adults). That's right, the Batman game's portrayal of women is more progressive than Samus' portrayal in Other M.
I've started thinking about the "big reveal" that Samus was a woman at the end of the first Metroid. Now, that was a good move on Nintendo's part, and it was as important as any female lead in video games at the time. However, should that REALLY have shocked us? Think about what it said of the gamers at the time. Some might see that ending and say "oh, so that's what she looks like", but all too many were so utterly shocked that a GIRL could do all those amazing things that it's still considered something utterly amazing. The reason it was such a shock was because it shouldn't have been a shock. That's kinda weird, right? We're talking about the 80's, when cartoons were trying to teach kids that the genders were equals (in some pretty lame ways at times), while other cartoons were pretty much screwing that message up entirely. Frankly, I'm glad I wasn't one of the "shocked" ones, and SJ should feel fortunate as well.
Anyway, never mind about all that for a moment.
Axiom Verge
The best new Metroid game to come out in years, and it's only on PS4 (and later this year, PC). Much like Symphony of the Night scratching that itch during Metroid's absense in the N64/PS1 era, if you want a good Metroid style game, this is what I'd recommend. Considering that Konami seems content to just stop trying to make Castlevania games ever since the lukewarm reception to Lords of Shadow 2, it's a good thing these indie developers are around to keep the dream alive. This game is, so far, very impressive. They also stuck in some familiar elements from Castlevania and even Zelda II. One thing I've got to note is that they solved the "low life beep" problem. Oh, you know that problem. Low life? Beep beep beep beep beep beep... Useful way to let players know they're really in danger, but annoying. Some games have tried making the sound "softer", gentler perhaps, but then people don't pay attention. How'd Axiom Verge do it? They made the beeps an additional back beat for the music. It plays to the beat of the music, changing it's tempo with the change in the music, and even cutting out for brief moments when the music does. Yes, still loud, but I just LOVE this. It's how every single Zelda game from now on should work, and even as a purist I can say that if they altered the older Zelda games with such a system in place (which would, admittedly, take some work), they'd be better for it.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)