Metroid Prime: Hunters Info (Nintendo DS)

[EvilBob46]

From ds-x2.com (http://www.ds-x2.com/index.php?id=4713) comes word that the latest issue of Gamepro Magazine has some new info on Metroid Prime: Hunters.


-Metroid Prime Hunters will have 5 different planets, and at least 25 different areas.
-Each bounty hunter will have his or her own ship. Designs will reflect similarities to the each bounty hunter's armor structure.
-The Metroid Prime Hunters single-player adventure will be extremely non-linear. You (as Samus) are trying to get the special Alimbic artifacts, but if a rival hunter gets there before you, you must get in your ship, force down to a planet, and take the artifact from him.

Metroid Prime: Hunters is expected to ship on March 20, 2006.

[Heretic Machine]

Sounds awesome. Let's hope that the execution is as great as the concept, because it'll take a lot of 'doing' to get both Metroid Prime Hunter and Oblivion in the same month...

[Nessus]

The single player looks so much better than I expected.

25 "areas". I wonder if that roughly translates to "levels". 5 levels per planet.

I was never that eager to fly her ship, but I'm all for them experimenting and trying new things.

[drakkarim]

too bad they didn't put it on gamecube as well, but yeah, since oblivion should be out in that time period, no reason to want to get anything else for a while anyway.

[jacob.armitage]

man, cant wait for this.

/me is a huge metroid fan.

[TrackZero]

I'm hopful but skeptical on this title. I hope it at least turns out as much fun as Metroid Pinball is.

[agentgray]

I cannot wait. But please, oh, please, put in a online game browser.

I'm getting so sick of entering WFC codes and of course, we all just cannot wait for Metroid code threads here at EA. ;)

[UnderHero5]

Awesome. I figured the single player would just be some tacket on "tutorial" type missions, or just simple deathmatch vs bots. Nice to hear they are actually giving it some work!

The multiplayer should prove to be very fun. I really enjoyed playing the demo against my friend. I agree with the need for a server browser for this game though. The friends list works well enough for Animal Crossing, but a server browser would be nice for Metroid. Or at least a similar setup as Mario Kart.

[AnthraxKitty]

Gamepro Magazine

Hahahahahaha

[Heretic Machine]

I cannot wait. But please, oh, please, put in a online game browser.

I'm getting so sick of entering WFC codes and of course, we all just cannot wait for Metroid code threads here at EA. ;)

Animal Crossing's friend code bullshit pisses me off to no end... I mean honestly, are we living in the stone age here? Might as well be entering IP addresses. It wouldn't even be that bad if you didn't BOTH have to have them, but you do. It makes running an always-on town into hell.

[Blade]

The whole friend code thing is BS. MKDS should have some sort of primitive browser.

Of course, they then might have to charge for it. But, then again on top of that... I paid $40 directly to Nintendo to send me a dongle.

They can afford it.

[JazGalaxy]

Much like most of Nintendo's franchises, Metroid has seriously lost it's way in terms of maximising the potential that the first games in the series set the ground for.

It's probably one of the better games out there in terms of being different, but I really wish they would really capitalize on the poetic themes of lonelyness, and wonder that the earlier games established.

[Mr_Snuffle]

Animal Crossing's friend code bullshit pisses me off to no end... I mean honestly, are we living in the stone age here? Might as well be entering IP addresses. It wouldn't even be that bad if you didn't BOTH have to have them, but you do. It makes running an always-on town into hell.

Nintendo wants to protect the kiddies, and privacy is a huge concern. Its kinda annoying, but I can see why they do it

[Heretic Machine]

Nintendo wants to protect the kiddies, and privacy is a huge concern. Its kinda annoying, but I can see why they do it

How does this protect kids though? All they do is go on to forums and spam their friend codes. Making it inconveniant to get into a game doesn't make it safer.

[Royal Fool]

It's probably one of the better games out there in terms of being different, but I really wish they would really capitalize on the poetic themes of lonelyness, and wonder that the earlier games established.

I thought the Metroid Prime games captured that feeling pretty well. Most of the time.

[Busted_Astromech]

It's always easier to do loneliness and isolation, though, when you're working in a more minimal format. Metroid Prime was designed as a blockbuster game and so full of lights, colors, and explosions--things we have come to view as commonplace in games.

With the NES Metroid you have a black background and very minimal music. This made the caves feel extremely dark and bare. Metroid II, the Game Boy version, was just as lonely, with a terribly complicated level structure and desolate graphics. It was easy to get lost and that, more than anything else, contributed to the sense of loneliness.

But with Super Metroid you had a map and colors. Thing were not so dark, and the world was not so scary. Only when going into the crashed spaceship did I get that abandoned feeling I had in the first two games. And both Metroid Primes have only continued in this direction.

(As an interesting sidenote, though Metroid Fusion had someone who talked to you, it felt more desolate than the prime games because of the setting [a ravaged space station] and how well it was executed.)

So I think the Prime games are understandably less lonely. It's certainly something Retro Studios could work on in the future, but it'll require some major gameplay shifts to achieve it, I believe. Being lost was a huge part of the loneliness, but people would not accept the game without a map--there are no easy ways to get that old feeling back.

[JazGalaxy]

It's always easier to do loneliness and isolation, though, when you're working in a more minimal format. Metroid Prime was designed as a blockbuster game and so full of lights, colors, and explosions--things we have come to view as commonplace in games.

With the NES Metroid you have a black background and very minimal music. This made the caves feel extremely dark and bare. Metroid II, the Game Boy version, was just as lonely, with a terribly complicated level structure and desolate graphics. It was easy to get lost and that, more than anything else, contributed to the sense of loneliness.

But with Super Metroid you had a map and colors. Thing were not so dark, and the world was not so scary. Only when going into the crashed spaceship did I get that abandoned feeling I had in the first two games. And both Metroid Primes have only continued in this direction.

(As an interesting sidenote, though Metroid Fusion had someone who talked to you, it felt more desolate than the prime games because of the setting [a ravaged space station] and how well it was executed.)

So I think the Prime games are understandably less lonely. It's certainly something Retro Studios could work on in the future, but it'll require some major gameplay shifts to achieve it, I believe. Being lost was a huge part of the loneliness, but people would not accept the game without a map--there are no easy ways to get that old feeling back.

Couldn't have written that better myself. I agree 100%.

[agentgray]

Much like most of Nintendo's franchises, Metroid has seriously lost it's way in terms of maximising the potential that the first games in the series set the ground for.

It's probably one of the better games out there in terms of being different, but I really wish they would really capitalize on the poetic themes of lonelyness, and wonder that the earlier games established.
And they don't have the sales to prove it? I think each game has gotten better and better. A rarity in sequelization (is that a word?).

Other than Mario (IMO), I think Nintendo's franchises have gotten better. (ie Zelda) Disclaimer: I would not touch Pokemon or Kirby with a ten foot pole...may Kirby.

[Rangoth]

And they don't have the sales to prove it? I think each game has gotten better and better. A rarity in sequelization (is that a word?).

Other than Mario (IMO), I think Nintendo's franchises have gotten better. (ie Zelda) Disclaimer: I would not touch Pokemon or Kirby with a ten foot pole...may Kirby.

I think this is because Nintendo realizes something that few other companies have picked up upon. They don't put things out generally until its done. Blizzard, Bioware, id Software are well known for the 'It will ship when its done' philosophy or game design. So what if it misses christmas? Nintendo knows that gamers will buy a killer Zelda game no matter WHAT month they release in!

[Nessus]

I honestly think that so far the Metroid series has maintained the high standard of quality throughout.

I was worried about Metroid Prime Hunters initially, just as I was Metroid Prime. But like Prime they delayed it and now it's looking infinitely better.

Internet play, something it was just begging for before.

An actual single player game now with apparently 25 levels, even if they are not a single cohesive map like the previous games, I knew Hunters wasn't going to be like the other games.

I'll be the first to complain when I feel the quality starts to slip but they've done a surprisingly good job considering they've released 4 (5 if you count Metroid Prime Pinball) Metroid games since 2002 and have 2 more lined up.

[Achilles]

A non-linear shooter with different characters and planets? That's way better than what I thought it would be. I'll pick this one up for sure.

[JazGalaxy]

A non-linear shooter with different characters and planets? That's way better than what I thought it would be. I'll pick this one up for sure.

On a more interesting note, apparenlty if you're going after a power like say wavebeam, it's entirely possible for another bouty hunter (the other charachters they were talking about) to just, like, show up, manhandle you, take your wavebeam, and be on his way. Then you have to track him around the galaxy to get it back.

They are, apparently, autonomous and have AI to make them behave like other human players are playing the game.

[divinechaos]

Ah, another Metroid i'll never finish. Sure, im happy about th single player non-linear story, but whats really cool about this game is the WiFi frag fest.

[Kamalot]

Nintendo wants to protect the kiddies, and privacy is a huge concern. Its kinda annoying, but I can see why they do it

I was reading that the Japanese are very 'fearful' of playing online. They want to make sure they aren't in games with rude people who try to ruin the game. The whole culture of playing online is, apparently, very different in Japan.

While some people may find it difficult to trade freind codes, I believe they are the minority of overall users. I don't see how it is difficult to send a 10 digit code to my friend or to enter a 10 digit code from them. I've sent codes via email, phone and SMS. When playing Mario Kart, if I don't want to play with friends, there are several ways to play online.

Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is. I've never played a game of Mario Kart or Animal Crossing online and said to myself, "damn, if only I could browse games." The system takes care of hooking you up with other players that have a decent ping. What's the big deal?

Just because it isn't like the PC or it isn't like Live (where you pay for a peer-to-peer network?!?!) does not make it bad, just different.

[Heretic Machine]

Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is. I've never played a game of Mario Kart or Animal Crossing online and said to myself, "damn, if only I could browse games." The system takes care of hooking you up with other players that have a decent ping. What's the big deal?

Well, I have. Hell, with Animal Crossing I'd settle for a Mario Kart style system. Instead, I have to go to forums and make a post about my friend code, and then wait for people to type it in, and then I have to type theirs in, and then one of us has to open our gates while the other waits. Then MAYBE, one of us will be able to join the other, assuming one of the many kinks in the system doesn't prevent them from coming.

Did you know that if anyone in the town is having a conversation while someone else is joining, then they won't be able to join? This includes shopping at Nook's. It just seems like Nintendo tacked the online play on, just to say that they did, and left it at that.

[Kamalot]

Maybe playing with strangers isn't the best solution for Animal Corssing. I use friend codes to play with friends. We communicate outside of the game to coordinate when and where we will play. I couldn't imagine pasting my friend code here to invite people into my town willy-nilly.

I had someone at a coffee shop once come into my town. They ran over my flowers, dug up my red turnip and changed my town tune. What an ass! I can't imagine what some anonymous bastard on the Internet would do.

Animal crossing isn't a good tool to meet new people online. It is a fun game that is even more fun with played with FRIENDS online. For that, the friend code system works great.

[Kamalot]

Did you know that if anyone in the town is having a conversation while someone else is joining, then they won't be able to join? This includes shopping at Nook's.
Conversations and shopping interactions usually last less than 30 seconds in Animal Crossing. Would you rather the system kick you out of such interaction for the sake of having someone come into your town?

If you are trying to connect to someone's town and it says they are busy, give it 15-30 seconds and try again. It's not that difficult and certainly not a show stopper.

Compare playing online with the DS to playing online with the PSP. PSP is a nightmare of configuration settings (http://www.gametab.com/forums/showthread.php?t=485) and the worlds shittiest onscreen keyboard that actually takes MORE clicks to enter the same message than if they had just put all the letters on the screen at once.

I still submit that while playing online on the DS is not the most configurable experience, it works effortlessly. Most importantly, it is fun.

[Mr.Green]

Other than Mario (IMO), I think Nintendo's franchises have gotten better. (ie Zelda) Disclaimer: I would not touch Pokemon or Kirby with a ten foot pole...may Kirby.
Simply saying that Zelda got better would have saved you a bit of time. ;)

[Nessus]

Kirby on DS is good. Don't really care about the other recent Kirby games, though Kirby's Adventure on NES ruled.

[Achilles]

On a more interesting note, apparenlty if you're going after a power like say wavebeam, it's entirely possible for another bouty hunter (the other charachters they were talking about) to just, like, show up, manhandle you, take your wavebeam, and be on his way. Then you have to track him around the galaxy to get it back.

They are, apparently, autonomous and have AI to make them behave like other human players are playing the game.That sounds a lot like what they said they were going to do with Fable (but never did). Very cool. I especially like that they could have spin-offs involving these other characters. Samus isn't really that interesting to me. She hardly ever talks, she seems to have no personality. I think they could do a lot more to expand the universe through the actions of a different character. It would also give them the opp to make dramatically different weapons and gameplay mechanics.

[Heretic Machine]

Conversations and shopping interactions usually last less than 30 seconds in Animal Crossing. Would you rather the system kick you out of such interaction for the sake of having someone come into your town?

If you are trying to connect to someone's town and it says they are busy, give it 15-30 seconds and try again. It's not that difficult and certainly not a show stopper.

Compare playing online with the DS to playing online with the PSP. PSP is a nightmare of configuration settings (http://www.gametab.com/forums/showthread.php?t=485) and the worlds shittiest onscreen keyboard that actually takes MORE clicks to enter the same message than if they had just put all the letters on the screen at once.

I still submit that while playing online on the DS is not the most configurable experience, it works effortlessly. Most importantly, it is fun.

The PSP being a crappy online device does not give a pass for the DS, nor does it make it better. We judge things based on the best, not the worst examples. So when I look at Animal Crossing, I compare it to things like Neverwinter Nights. I take into account the fact that NWN runs on a PC, but honestly, how much of an advantage is that? Compare the two and you will see that something is very wrong with the way they have designed AC:WW's online play, and Mario Kart DS is only marignally better.

And if you don't want to play with people online, DON'T... They could of easily put an optional password feature in, or even allowed for "Friends Only" sort of stuff. But instead, they killed a lot of the fun I was going to have with the game.

It's still a fun game, but it has some SERIOUS flaws when it comes to online play. Flaws that could of easily been avoided by simply following the path others have laid out for this sort of thing over the past fifteen years.

[31 Flavas]

So just go play on Live or the PC if it bothers you so much. WFC is fine how it is.

[Heretic Machine]

So just go play on Live or the PC if it bothers you so much. WFC is fine how it is.

Well, if Animal Crossing: Wild World worked on Live, then I would play it on Live. WFC is not fine the way it is.

[31 Flavas]

considering the number of copies and number of systems sold. I'd say WFC is doing just fine, except to curmudgeons like you. Just talk to a few people, you'll survive.

[Rangoth]

Well, if Animal Crossing: Wild World worked on Live, then I would play it on Live. WFC is not fine the way it is.

Well then don't play Animal Crossing: Wild World on WFC. That way you do not have to whine and bitch anymore about how "WFC is not fine the way it is" and I can go back to kicking butt at Mario Kart :D

[Kamalot]

The PSP being a crappy online device does not give a pass for the DS, nor does it make it better. We judge things based on the best, not the worst examples. So when I look at Animal Crossing, I compare it to things like Neverwinter Nights. I take into account the fact that NWN runs on a PC, but honestly, how much of an advantage is that? Compare the two and you will see that something is very wrong with the way they have designed AC:WW's online play, and Mario Kart DS is only marignally better.
You do make some good points, but Animal Crossing is not a game I could ever imagine needing an online game browser for. If I want to go out, I know where I am going. If I want to invite people, I know who is coming over. I can't imagine it any other way. If strange people from the Internet were allowed in my town, I'd never play online.

I hope the Metroid Prime: Hunters is set up similiar to Mario Kart. There are only a few options necessary to enjoy online gaming and I appreciate that Nintendo can boil it down to a simple, elegant solution.

Play with friends
Play with people close to me
Play with people anywhere
Play with rivals (those os a similiar skill level)

Why do we need to know what people's ping is? If the ping is good enough to play, then lets play. If not, then find someone else. This isn't rocket science.

Here's how I see it.
When I play games at home, I do it with friends. My sofa holds 4 players quite nicely around the projector. If you aren't invited you aren't playing. Playing online is the same way. If I wouldn't invite you over to play in my rec room on my huge screen, then I don't want you in my game online.

Edit:
Oh, and playing Neverwinter Nights was something I always did with friends over LAN and Internet. We'd make big parties of it, but always people I knew. No strangers here.

[Heretic Machine]

considering the number of copies and number of systems sold. I'd say WFC is doing just fine, except to curmudgeons like you. Just talk to a few people, you'll survive.

Ya, because EVERYONE who bought Animal Crossing is happy with the way WFC works. I mean, I bought it and... oh wait, I'm not happy with the way WFC works. I guess Sales =/= Perfection, huh?

Well then don't play Animal Crossing: Wild World on WFC. That way you do not have to whine and bitch anymore about how "WFC is not fine the way it is" and I can go back to kicking butt at Mario Kart

Well then don't read Evil Avatar on the internet. That way you do not have to whine and bitch anymore about how "WFC is just fine the way it is" and I can go back to kicking butt at kicking your newbie ass.

[Heretic Machine]

You do make some good points, but Animal Crossing is not a game I could ever imagine needing an online game browser for. If I want to go out, I know where I am going. If I want to invite people, I know who is coming over. I can't imagine it any other way. If strange people from the Internet were allowed in my town, I'd never play online.

I hope the Metroid Prime: Hunters is set up similiar to Mario Kart. There are only a few options necessary to enjoy online gaming and I appreciate that Nintendo can boil it down to a simple, elegant solution.

Play with friends
Play with people close to me
Play with people anywhere
Play with rivals (those os a similiar skill level)

Why do we need to know what people's ping is? If the ping is good enough to play, then lets play. If not, then find someone else. This isn't rocket science.

Here's how I see it.
When I play games at home, I do it with friends. My sofa holds 4 players quite nicely around the projector. If you aren't invited you aren't playing. Playing online is the same way. If I wouldn't invite you over to play in my rec room on my huge screen, then I don't want you in my game online.

Edit:
Oh, and playing Neverwinter Nights was something I always did with friends over LAN and Internet. We'd make big parties of it, but always people I knew. No strangers here.

That's fine if you know a bunch of people who own the game, and the equipment needed to play. Unfortunetly, MOST people don't own the game, or the equipment. SOME own one or the other. A FEW own both. I know a COUPLE. So I end up going to forums, and trying to hook up with random people there, in a very akward way. Just because Nintendo didn't put any effort into their online plan.

They could of easily supported both styles of play. Instead, the excluded me and people like me because it's much easier to just slap something like this onto the game and tell people it's got fully functional online play.

[Rangoth]

Maybe Nintendo put plans into the online play of Animal Crossing: WW. Oh My God! A game that requires someone to, shockingly enough, make real friends without going online!

[31 Flavas]

Ya, because EVERYONE who bought Animal Crossing is happy with the way WFC works. I mean, I bought it and... oh wait, I'm not happy with the way WFC works. I guess Sales =/= Perfection, huh?You know... there are such thing that some people call "reviews" they introduce you to the game, how it works, and any other features in the game. Typically there are "editorials" in these so called "reviews". They let you know the what the 'reviewer' personally thought of the game and of game features. Also, just so you know, these "reviews" sometimes are also known as "previews". Both types are generally available around or even before the release date of most every video game. The latter is usually available well in advance of the video games release date.

If you are disappointed with the video game you have bought, I suggest you consult one (or more) of these "reviews" or "previews" before you purchase your next game. I can honestly tell you, they help quite a lot in weeding out good games from bad games.

Now... on a more personal note. If WFC in AC:WW was such a kludge and just 'tacked on' don't you think exponetially less copies of the game would have sold? Word of mouth and bad "reviews" travel fast and can be quite a damper on sales. For AC:WW to sell over 1 million copies means either A LOT of people like the game or their was an enormous Sony style mis-information campaign and likely collusion between Nintendo and almost every reviewer.

Or people are just really stupid and are buying this game for no real reason at all. Personally, i'm leaning twords the former. But it could be a combination of all three though....

edit: removed an extranious word to make the sentanace more comprehendable

[31 Flavas]

That's fine if you know a bunch of people who own the game, and the equipment needed to play. Unfortunetly, MOST people don't own the game, or the equipment. SOME own one or the other. A FEW own both.Uhm... This is not FF : CC. You won't own the game if you don't have a DS. And if your friends are not interested in the game or do that have the DS or internet for that matter... It's a simple matter of find one of the many video game websites with "Forums" and introducing yourself. You'll be entered in friends DS's and have their friend codes in no time at all.

I know a COUPLE. So I end up going to forums, and trying to hook up with random people there, in a very akward way. Just because Nintendo didn't put any effort into their online plan.So how would having a game browser make this any different, you'd still be meeting random people who you have no relationship with. The WFC system for AC:WW means you have to figure out how to do relationships, in real life. (but the use of the internet means you don't personally have to get involved like AC1 or FF : CC required) This is very relavent to Animal Crossing. It is, after all, a very relationship based game. It is not competition based like FPS or Racing games. Which is why Metroid Hunters will use a system very similar to MK : DS, since the game is more about "I just need random opponents to frag." Knowing who they are is irrelavent since all you are looking for is competition.

edit: added a sentance for clairification

[Heretic Machine]

You know what I love about these dickheads? They like to pretend that a video game is either perfect, or crap. They like to pretend that I didn't know what to expect with WFC from reading Animal Crossing boards a year in advance of it's release. See, with their mindset, either I love Animal Crossing or I hate it, all of it. I can't say, "Well, this is a fun game, but it should of been much better judging from the standard that has been set by previous games." No, in their minds I have to either love it to the point of fanboism, or hate it. Neither is the case.

You guys can go back to sucking Nintendo's cock now.

[Kamalot]

You guys can go back to sucking Nintendo's cock now.
You know, I was all for having a civilized discussion before this came out.

I agree, there are things that could be improved with the Wi-Fi interface with Animal Crossing Wild World. I would liken the changes to having power locks on your car. You can do without, but it does not affect the performance of the vehicle one way or another.

Edit: I'll also say, Animal Crossing Wild World is the only game my mom can play online due to the simplicity of the interface. She lives over an hour away and we meet online frequently. If only Animal Crossing would keep my inlaws from showing up. ;-)

[31 Flavas]

You know what I love about these dickheads? They like to pretend that a video game is either perfect, or crap. They like to pretend that I didn't know what to expect with WFC from reading Animal Crossing boards a year in advance of it's release. See, with their mindset, either I love Animal Crossing or I hate it, all of it. I can't say, "Well, this is a fun game, but it should of been much better judging from the standard that has been set by previous games." No, in their minds I have to either love it to the point of fanboism, or hate it. Neither is the case.

You guys can go back to sucking Nintendo's cock now.Godforbid Nintendo enforces some real life game play on you, relavent to the game. How dare they make me make friends with actual people in order to play online in this particular game about relations and friendship. That's just rude!

edit: Oh and just to give you advanced/fair warning... I'd expect similar online functionality as found in AC : WW to show up in Pokemon Diamond/Perl. I don't think it would necessarly have to be as restrictive as AC : WW, but in any case, don't expect a game browser.

[Rangoth]

Godforbid Nintendo enforces some real life game play on you, relavent to the game. How dare they make me make friends with actual people in order to play online in this particular game about relations and friendship. That's just rude!

edit: Oh and just to give you advanced/fair warning... I'd expect similar online functionality as found in AC : WW to show up in Pokemon Diamond/Perl. I don't think it would necessarly have to be as restrictive as AC : WW, but in any case, don't expect a game browser.
The nerve! Forcing people to make friends with real people! That is almost as criminal as forcing poor little gaming losers outside into the sun to game, thankfully no bastard would ever do tha...never mind. :P