E3: Metroid Prime 2

[OB1]

During the next few days, post new E3 pics and info from various games that are shown with "E3:" before the title of the game for future reference. Makes it easier searching through the archive down the line. :)

To start things off here's a first look at the MP2 booth at E3, and as you can see the title is official. Ah well, at least the logo looks cool.

[A Black Falcon]

Yes, it does...

[OB1]

Look at those logos in the background, the one on the way left and the one right under Four Swords. The one on the left looks like it says Donkey Kong... maybe for the GBA port of DKC2. The right one... I can't tell. And see that crane-type thing on wheels? That must be the DS! WOO!

[A Black Falcon]

Umm, and you know this how... :)

[OB1]

No, I mean the actual crane on wheels is the DS. It's no pansy pocket-sized handheld, that's for certain!

[A Black Falcon]

Ah... :)

[OB1]

It's the new ROB!

[Great Rumbler]

I see the Geist logo in the background too.

[OB1]

Yes.

[OB1]

Another booth pic, this time with what looks like a Zelda logo (maybe Minish Cap or WW2?) and Donkey Kong... Jungle... Mix... maybe (Donkey Konga renamed, I'm sure). But what's that big thing in the middle?

[OB1]

Some more:



Could someone use photoshop for the above pic to see what's being shown on the small monitors in the way back?

[Great Rumbler]

I tried to find out what it says, but it's just too small.

[OB1]

Only... one... day... LEFT!

[Great Rumbler]

Woo!!!

[OB1]

A better pic of the logo, as well as Samus' cool, albeit slight redesign.

[Great Rumbler]

Cool logo.

[A Black Falcon]

Yes, cool logo...

[A Black Falcon]

http://cube.ign.com/articles/513/513329p1.html

[OB1]

What an incredible trailer. GOTY 2004 WOO!!

[A Black Falcon]

The trailer does look cool, but it still looks just like the first game, and seems to play like it too... oh well, MP is a pretty good game to copy. :)

[OB1]

Why the hell would you complain about something like that?

[OB1]

Oh and I forgot to mention that the screw attack has returned!

[A Black Falcon]

Yes, it says so in the preview I linked... :)

[OB1]

Yeah I saw it during the live conference stream but forgot to mention it. You didn't either.

[A Black Falcon]

Instead I linked the preview. I didn't read it all though, but zooming out is obviously the right choice. Some people would get sick if every jump you spun quickly in circles... :) (and it'd be hard to aim jumps, too...)

[OB1]

Yes.

[Great Rumbler]

but it still looks just like the first game, and seems to play like it too...

That's not a bad thing!

Oh and I forgot to mention that the screw attack has returned!

Alright!

[OB1]

IGN has a MP2 intereview up, and here are some of the more interesting quotes:

May 12, 2004 - We're smack-dab in the middle of the Electronics Entertainment Expo 2004. A full level of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is playable at Nintendo's booth. We meet the game's producer Kensuke Tanabe shortly after lunch and he brings us up to date on the first-person adventure sequel.

In case you're wondering, Tanabe joined Nintendo Japan in 1986 and worked for the company's Entertainment, Analysis and Development (EAD) group up until last year. He directed Super Mario 2 on the Nintendo Entertainment System and then worked on A Link to the Past on Super NES. He later worked on Star Wars Shadows of the Empire on Nintendo 64. He oversaw the production of Metroid Prime and is currently entrenched in the creation of the sequel.
Following, our interview:

IGN: Are you based in Texas now or do you work out of NCL in Japan?

Kensuke Tanabe: At NCL in Japan.

IGN: What is the goal of Metroid Prime 2? What is the game really about?

Kensuke Tanabe: Our obvious goal is to build another game for people who enjoyed Metroid Prime -- just an enjoyable game to play for people who loved the franchise.

IGN: Why is the game called Metroid Prime 2: Echoes? Does this relate to the new visor mode that lets you see sound?

Kensuke Tanabe: There is going to be an Echo Visor and you're right that it does let you see sound in certain ways, but that is not where the name came from. The name itself refers to the two planets existing simultaneously and that each one is an echo of the other.

IGN: Will there be any link functionality between Metroid Prime 2 and the Nintendo DS Metroid Prime Hunters?

Kensuke Tanabe: No, there's no plan to have any connectivity between the DS and GameCube.

IGN: Speaking of the screw attack, how does it work and can you execute it any time you want?

Kensuke Tanabe: Once you get the item that allows you to do the screw attack you can do it wherever you want. But it's designed to allow you to wall-jump up chasms and things like that.

IGN: Can it also used as a weapon?

Kensuke Tanabe: It's not one-hundred percent finalized yet, but our feeling now is that it's not really designed to be a weapon, but more of an exploratory device.

IGN: We came across 'hacking mode' in the multiplayer demo, but we didn't have time to figure out what it's use was. What's it for?

Kensuke Tanabe: That's a multiplayer feature. In multiplayer mode there's really no place to use the visor, but they really wanted to so this was their solution. Through scanning you can infect your opponent with the virus and that makes the character take damage.

IGN: How will the game's storyline be delivered? Will there be more cut-scenes or voice work?

Kensuke Tanabe: We don't have any voice or narrative planned. However, I believe there are more cut-scenes in this game than in the previous game. But the scan visor is used to drive the story elements as well.

IGN: We take it that Dark Samus will be a prominent figure in the game, always hunting Samus.

Kensuke Tanabe: [Laughs] I've had that question a bunch, actually. In the video we released, Dark Samus is featured really prominently, but in the game not as much as the video suggests. The role of Dark Samus is not limited to a hunter or the hunted. It's more mysterious than that.

IGN: How big would you say the game is overall?

Kensuke Tanabe: I haven't played it from beginning to end, so I can't give you a definitive answer. But I think it's pretty close to the first one -- roughly the same amount of gameplay.

IGN: Have you focused at all on Samus Aran's bounty hunter aspect? Have you implemented anything in the game which spotlights this particular side of the character?

Kensuke Tanabe: We didn't really focus on anything to do with Samus as a bounty hunter more than we have in other games. Other than that she's a hired gun and she comes to the planet for a reason. People looking for the bounty hunter aspect should probably look at the Nintendo DS title Metroid Prime Hunters.

IGN: Who is developing the DS game?

Kensuke Tanabe: It's not Retro. They obviously have some Retro assets though. If Mr. Iwata says okay, then I can tell you.

[Editor's note: IGN has learned that Hideki Konno, deputy manager at EAD and producer of Metroid Prime Hunters, is also working with N-Space on Geist. It's therefore possible that N-Space could also be the developer of Metroid Prime Hunters. We have not yet been able to confirm that possibility.]

Cool, looks like the multiplayer will be more than just straight-up deathmatch. And those are some very interesting comments regarding Dark Samus. I'm definitely looking forward to finding out what that is all about.

It's interesting that he said that you should look forward to the DS game for a bounty hunting aspect, so perhaps the single-player game will be more non-linear than regular Metroid titles? I'd love that, to fly around from planet to planet, collecting bounties and stuff.

And N-Space working on Hunters... interesting.

[OB1]

New screens:





















Simply gorgeous:

[OB1]

If there's one thing I hope they change with MP2, it's the blaster sound effect. It sounded too airgun-ish, and I much prefer the Super Metroid/Fusion/ZM blaster effects.

[A Black Falcon]

Screw Attack not a weapon? Huh?

[Sacred Jellybean]

From what he said, I'm sure it can be used as a weapon, but it's mainly for exploration. That's basically what the screw attack in Super Metroid did, right? It allowed Samus to hover vertically.

[Great Rumbler]

Yeah, it wasn't really used as a weapon that much in SM.

[OB1]

That's the space jump. The screw attack is... an attack. The crazy lightning buzzing screw thingy.

[Sacred Jellybean]

But doesn't it also allow you to hover vertically? With the space jump, you'd have to get a running start and quickly kneel if you wanted to jump high. If I remember correctly (it's been years), the screw attack allowed you to hover upwards without that running start, which could only be performed in nice, long corridors.

[OB1]

No the space jump is the one that allowed you to flip and continuously jump vertically without touching any platform, and the screw attack is similar to that but easier to perform and you also kill enemies with an electrical shock.

[lazyfatbum]

The screw attack simply electrifies Samus Aran as she somersaults. Making your entire body a weapon. No increased jumping abilities.

The Space Jump let Samus somersault indefinetly so that you're essentially flying. (In MP, the Space Jump just let you jump twice while in the air). But if you only used the Space Jump upgrade, you could be knocked out of the air easily with a single enemy hit. Using the Screw Attack along with the Space Jump basically made you impervious. In fact it's a great move to have when fighting a boss as it gives you the ability to become invincible (but cannot use missiles or beam weapons) and destroy any smaller creatures or projectiles around you.

It sounds to me like they're refering to the Space Jump/Screw combo that will let Samus get to extremely high platforms and burst through special cielings and walls.

I'd also like to see the Speed Booster come back, that would be insane. The Speed Booster was originally intended to let Samus run through certain walls and make huge jumps off of ramps, and make huge jumps that are ladden with obsticals (as long you had the Screw Attack). But the Speed Booster allowed you to do a secret move; the Shine Spark Jump :D And in Fusion and Zero Mission, you need to understand Shine Sparking in order to get 100% but also just to get to later areas. If we could Shine Spark in 3-D... *fills pants*

[OB1]

New info from ign! Echoes takes place in between Prime and Metroid 2, so essentially it's Metroid 1.75. There will be plenty of morph ball sections and puzzles, and there are more cinematics this time around. Dark Samus isn't the same thing as SA-X as you hunt her in some parts as well, but there's a far greater mystery to her and I think anyone who got the good ending in Prime knows what part of that is. The story sounds interesting and the multiplayer sounds great, you guys should read some of those E3 impressions.

Gonna be an amazing game!

[N_A]

Its kind of cliche that the Dark World is automatically the bad guys, hehe. Maybe the plot will have some twists to them.

Damned it, even after they are implementing multiplayer as a shooter, according to Gamerfeed, freaking Nintendo still won't adopt the FPS control scheme to make the game more ergonomic... what the hell ? Thats the one thing that distracted from Metroid Prime being absolutely flawless.

Because its Metroid they say ? I think they're just being needlessly obstinate on some fine points.

[Great Rumbler]

I think the MP control scheme worked perfectly.

[OB1]

The Prime control scheme was flawless for the type of game it was. If you want a FPS go play Halo.

[A Black Falcon]

Yes, I agree. It worked great for Metroid, and the game isn't an FPS. I wouldn't want them to change it. Though giving the choice might be a good idea for complainers like N_A here... and I always like the option to remap controls...

[Dark Jaguar]

It's cliche, but it's also instinctual. In the dark, you can't see, so if there's something there, you can't defend yourself. In the light, you can see, so if there's something there, you CAN defend yourself. To see this sort of thing in action, you need only go to Africa and listen to the lore many of the traditional and... I suppose "untainted" is the only word I can think of, tribes have about night time. It's generally considered a bad time, while day is a time of hope and good.

Anyway, if they ever decided to make the dark the good side and the light the evil side, it would just be the same thing, only it would be that sort of fake "innovation" that insults your intelligence. The sort of thing any 10 year old would think up to be clever. However, it may just be that the light and dark sides have nothing to do with good and evil. That would certainly be an option. Reversing it though would just be stupid. The reason no one does it these days is BECAUSE all the story writers realize how stupid it is.

Anyway, the screw attack is certainly something I'll look forward to seeing in action. I imagine it'll let you demolish walls. lazy, I have to say that while that amazing attack did basically let me wander through a LOT of places killing everything I touched, I was still vulnerable enough to anything as strong as I was to say I didn't feel completely invincible.

[Smoke]

Nothing wrong with MP's controls but I agree with ABF, fully customizable controls are never a bad thing.

[A Black Falcon]

Nintendo seems to hate them though. I can't remember one Nintendo game with customizable controls... not too smart, IMO.

[Dark Jaguar]

There are a lot of games that lack customizable controls though. Some Nintendo games have them, such as Metroid 3, but most just don't because it's not really needed. What sort of change could one ask for in Super Mario Bros for instance? Nothing that would justify the effort spent in programming in the ability to change the controls to that at any rate. Mega Man too doesn't really need much in the way of customizing. In fact, the first 2D one I can think of that allowed even an alternate control MODE (ala the lock-on mode in OOT), was Megaman Zero and the various ways to use secondary weapons.

Speaking of, one small change would be nice for both GBA Metroid games. They shoudl give the same option MMZ had for secondary fire. Either mode a, where one holds the missile button to fire missiles. Or, mode b, where one presses the missile button to go into missile firing mode, then presses it again to revert. No holding there. I MUCH prefer mode b most of the time. Just a minor gripe really, it's just annoying to have to hold down the missile button throughout all boss battles.

[OB1]

You guys have to see the new movies IGN put up, they show a bit of the Echo visor (very very cool) and the screw attack. The music in the Echo visor movie is incredible, kinda like the credits to Metroid Prime (by far the best track in the game IMO).

[lazyfatbum]

Yeah, the first Metroid's scheme of pressing select to enter missile mode was awesome.

The question begs to be asked with all this talk of Space Jumping and Screw Attacking; How do you recreate Samus Aran's trademark somersault in a first person game? if it stays first person, we'll all get sick. So maybe it will go to third person. But that theory wouldn't work because Samus somersaults to activate the Space Jump and Screw Attack, so the game wont go 3rd person every time you jump, right? It could have designated areas that go 3rd person, telling you "you need to use the Screw Attack here and see what you're doing" while any other time you use it, it stays in the first person mode and makes you sick.

In Metroid Prime, Samus never somersaulted except in cut scenes. In first person, she only jumped straight up and at angles, never somersaulting (while jumping, you could always use your beam weapons). If they do that, with a "bzzz bzzz bzzz" sound effect and maybe some flashy lights it would get the point across and you could do it while in first person mode. But to me, I would rather see her actually somersaulting. Space Jumping/Screw Attacking and still be able to shoot? Crazy talk.

Here's an idea they could use to get it done;

Using the control stick and the jump button you jump as you did in Metroid Prime (straight up).

Using the control stick, while holding a 'run' button, then pressing jump will send Samus in to a somersault (briefly make you sick, but get more distance in your jump).

Once you get the Space Jump/Screw Attack combo and perform a somersault 3 times in mid air, the game automatically goes to 3rd person directly behind Samus. As soon as you land, it reverts to first person.

Kinda clunky, but it would work. Once you acquire the Space Jump/Screw Attack you would just hold the run button and tap the jump button 3 times quickly and boom, you're 3rd person, which would only last while you're in the air to reach a high platform, etc.

An alternative would be that the Space Jump/Screw Attack has to be activated just like the Morph Ball. You tap X for Morphball mode, press and hold X to enter Space Jump/Screw Attack mode, in both modes it becomes 3rd person and does not go back to first person until the mode is deactivated. Now when you jump, you can ONLY somersault and you cannot use beam or missile weapons, instead relying on the screw attack to destroy enemies and the Space Jump to reach previousely unobtainable items or reach extremely high platforms. This method would work rather well I think as it would give the player full control and would bring the "acrobatics" feel from the traditional games to Metroid in 3-D.

What do you guys think?

[OB1]

Your answer is right here.

[Sacred Jellybean]

... ... ...

Fucking awesome.