Individual Entry
The Other "Big 2"
Uh, not Half-Life 2. I am getting an estimate on a machine done now, so if all goes well I'll be able to play that in the new year. Until then I'm going to have to take every one else's word.
No. The other "2" is Metroid Prime 2. I've managed to find a couple of hours -- somehow -- between work and multiplayer Halo 2 to play this and get some general impressions of the first bit of the game.
The main point is: this game is gorgeous. I don't mean this in terms of polygons pushed or dynamic lighting and shadow or bump-mapping or any other technical stats that uber PC-nerds get wet dreams over. Other games (though not many!) do those things better, but very, very few can claim to have the environmental richness that Metroid Prime 2 has. Every area you enter is different, fresh and feels alive -- Bungie's level designers take note.
A few other things that caught my eye (and ear):
- I like the updated scanning system. Instead of the weird "floating block" thing in Prime you get whole objects lighting up. In a colour coded way. So it's hard to miss them, and it's easy to see what types of object they are before (you can easily skip everything except red trigger items, pretty much), and it's easy to see if you have already scanned something, which is good as the scanning process is still, unfortunately, kinda slow.
- the motion design / overall design of the title screen is still real good (though not as good). It's a stupidly minor thing, but I notice things like that.
- the menu interface is inconceivably annoying. It's got this weird floating 3D molecule interface that makes picking anything a chore. It's like something from a online hipster-wanker's circa-2000 flash site. Ugh.
- music is cool. Still.
- Echoes doesn't seem to be particularly sequence-breakable, but they said the same thing about Prime when it first came out.
The game's good, but it's nothing new. If you absolutely hated the original, you're going to hate this. If not, and you want to see more, then you'll probably like it. That's not to say that's bad -- it certainly is the flavour of the season this year, "more of the same" -- just not super stellar.
My only hope is that Retro Studios gets to work on a truly original IP next. It'd be a shame to see them rehash Metroid. As good as it is, the series needs an extended break.
November 22, 2004. Gaming.Comments (7)
But isn't HL2 multiplayer == Counter Strike? Seems like a complete box to me...
November 23, 2004 07:52 PM. Posted by: nowak.JP: Not going to be playing Halo 2 multiplayer until December (too busy playing HL2--and later MGS3--and preparing for other stuff), but my gamertag's 'LUDONAUT'. Add me. :)
I understand that Counter Strike: Source offers a few new strategies, given the physics system, but I can't wait to see some multiplayer maps that really take advantage of it.
Nice to hear about the improvements to the scanning system, although I don't think I can play a 3-D Metroid until they improve the control scheme. As for the creative direction and taking a break: do you think the Prime series can remain viable much longer without making some fairly radical changes to the Metroid template?
November 24, 2004 12:11 AM. Posted by: Walter.Walter: I would, but I have neither Halo 2 or Xbox Live :/ I've just played a bit and been generally impressed with all the work they did on the MP - much moreso than with CS: Source, which is just the same old CS with the same big design issues. Kind of a no-brainer for Valve, though. I am eager to see what the community does with the new physics and engine features, though.
I agree that Retro deserves the chance to work on something of their own. They did a good job with the first Prime. It's interesting about the control scheme... they made a good high-level decision with the auto-targeting, and then messed up a lot of nuts and bolts things. At the end of the day it's a frustrating game to control. *sigh*
Actually, lemme amend my earlier bit of wishful thinking: I want a game with Halo 2's crazily robust multiplayer, and a story mode with Half-Life 2's polish and fine grasp of immersion, set in Metroid Prime 2's big seamless nonlinear world. Mnyeah. Can you get going on that, BungieValveRetro?
November 24, 2004 10:59 AM. Posted by: JP.Dilution of the series is what I worry about, and a diluted product isn't a viable one. What they did with Prime was astounding -- reinventing a classic series for the new age. Prime 2 is just slightly improved Prime. And with Hunters and Zero Mission (as great as it was) and Fusion, the Metroid series is really getting into been there, seen that territory.
When the series' primary focus is on exploration, that's territory you don't want to enter.
November 25, 2004 03:21 PM. Posted by: nowak.I vote they stick the franchise back in cryogenic storage and bring it out 8-10 years hence in some reinvented-yet-true-to-legacy form. Kinda like Valve did (unintentionally) with Half-Life.
November 26, 2004 06:01 PM. Posted by: JP.I have to ask why you think of the Metroid system as being flawed. I find its unique- the only thing about manual targeting is that you've lost health before you even find an enemy. The jumping is impeccable- I find bouncing round the room jumping attacks flawless. I admite it is better after you get the space jump boots so thank Retro you get them so early in the game this time. Dual-Analogue is frustrating so that would have ruined the game, not the auto-targeting. And saying it is getting old is a laugh; Halo doesn't manage to incorparate the platforming side of the game. Giving Retro Metroid is NOT regretable and they have modernised the series in a very different way.
January 4, 2005 09:50 AM. Posted by: Rob M.
"I don't mean this in terms of polygons pushed or dynamic lighting and shadow or bump-mapping or any other technical stats that uber PC-nerds get wet dreams over."
Heh, nice. Always good to hear a reaffirmation that art fidelity != art quality.
Half-Life 2 is, I feel, easily the best crop out of this Year o' Sequels: very nicely executed if not ground-breaking. Now, if only Halo 2's multiplayer and HL2's story mode were somehow being sold in the same box...
November 23, 2004 01:11 PM. Posted by: JP.