• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Tanabe talked about his plans for Metroid Prime 4 in 2015. Let's revisit them.

Aostia

El Capitan Todd
Tanabe also brought up that that was Sylux's ship at the end of Prime 3. The post credits ending to Federation Force also has Sylux infiltrating a federation base and hatching a Metroid.

Tanabe's definitely been planning something.

Totally
Can see it being a RE3 Nemesis kind of antagonist, mabybe
 

Rodin

Member
What if he actually started back then since he had it all planned out? Does that mean we could see the game late next year?
 

Mariolee

Member
What if he actually started back then since he had it all planned out? Does that mean we could see the game late next year?

Unlikely, especially since Reggie made it clear we wouldn't see this game for awhile. I'm thinking Holiday 2019 or Spring 2020.
 

Golnei

Member
I think they could add some complexity to him without changing his "shape". That kind of thinking is why we have the mechanical mess that is the Bay Transformers designs or why the new Power Ranger's megazord looks like shit

They should use Sylux's blandness as a jumping-off point for a more malleable shape - they change form quite dramatically with the Lockjaw already, having them able to shift limbs or body parts into abstract shapes to attack with or manifest new limbs out of hard light could make them more of a distinctive enemy while keeping continuity with Hunters - going with the AI angle instead of it being a guy in a suit could also lend it to a game-wide progression of constantly adapting to Samus and modifying its base structure to more effectively counter her. In general, Dark Samus' movements and abilities grew increasingly distinct from Samus', while Sylux needs to be consciously differentiated from her to a greater extent.

In any case, there's plenty of ways they can use the blank slate of Sylux to create something worthwhile, but I'm not hugely confident that he's going to get any more compelling with a major role.
 

jufonuk

not tag worthy
Maybe instead of escaping a planet that's about to explode, we bounce back and forth between it existing and its destruction. One second there's a cavern, the next there's a cave-in.
4 will be the Majoras mask of metroid prime
 

Shiggy

Member
Unlikely, especially since Reggie made it clear we wouldn't see this game for awhile. I'm thinking Holiday 2019 or Spring 2020.

He didn't say that. He said they revealed it earlier from release than something like Mario Odyssey. Could still be their big game next holiday.
 

Rodin

Member
I think we'll see

Metroid 2 SAmu's return: 2017
Metroid Prime Trilogy HD: 2018
Metroid Prime 4: 2019

That wouldn't be bad at all
Yep, i'd be more than ok with that. HD Prime Trilogy with both standard and motion controls? Bring it.
 

RagnarokX

Member
Idk. I always took it to be supposition that because Metroids kept the X at bay that's why they were created/their sole purpose, when it could be just a way Metroids were used. Been a while since I played Fusion but I thought that they came to that conclusion just because X appeared after Metroids died out.

As to Tallon IV Chozo...I don't think we have the timeline for their leaving or for the introduction of Metroids to SR388.

Maybe that kind of information is in the manga or whatever?

...

I don't mind the "ancient star farers helping each other" line in Prime.

I do not like pretty much everything about the Federation in Prime 3.
Well, in addition, the Chozo are pretty spiritual anyway without the Tallon IV stuff. Remember that Samus powersuit requires her to be in constant concentration to keep it activated. And Samus had to complete a spiritual rite of passage to ease her mind and activate her fully powered suit.

And interesting enough, the idea that Samus' suit requires constant concentration dates back all the way to Super Metroid:

BytyPuO.jpg
.
NzBtjRV.jpg


Samus gets distracted thinking about the baby metroid and her lack of concentration allows a spike trap to penetrate her suit.
 

Mariolee

Member
He didn't say that. He said they revealed it earlier from release than something like Mario Odyssey. Could still be their big game next holiday.

It was heavily implied. Take a look at games where only a logo was revealed in an announcement trailer and what percentage of those released the next year.
 

takriel

Member
Imagine a concentration mechanic where you have to constantly monitor Samus' concentration level and make her concentrate more if necessary. Otherwise she loses the power of her suit, health starts degrading continually, and she has to make it back to a save location in order to repower her suit.
 

Shiggy

Member
It was heavily implied. Take a look at games where only a logo was revealed in an announcement trailer and what percentage of those released the next year.

Both FE and Pokémon don't have much more, but are both coming next year. This is Nintendo were talking about. They want to keep the focus on the game's they are selling this year and in Q1. They don't want people to get hyped over a holiday 2018 game and thus forget about Xenoblade or Yoshi.
 

RagnarokX

Member
Imagine a concentration mechanic where you have to constantly monitor Samus' concentration level and make her concentrate more if necessary. Otherwise she loses the power of her suit, health starts degrading continually, and she has to make it back to a save location in order to repower her suit.

Well, the way concentration has played a role in the series:

In Zero Mission Samus gets shot down as she tries to escape Zebes. This breaks her concentration and she's unable to will her powersuit into existence until she completes the rite of passage and regains her composure.

In Other M her suit malfunctions when she has her PTSD episode and it fails to fully protect her when Adam shoots her while she's distracted by a baby Metroid. Also there's a concentration mechanic where Samus can concentrate to refill missile ammo and energy.
 

Cerium

Member
Both FE and Pokémon don't have much more, but are both coming next year. This is Nintendo were talking about. They want to keep the focus on the game's they are selling this year and in Q1. They don't want people to get hyped over a holiday 2018 game and thus forget about Xenoblade or Yoshi.

Pokemon is probably 2019.
 

MoonFrog

Member
Well, in addition, the Chozo are pretty spiritual anyway without the Tallon IV stuff. Remember that Samus powersuit requires her to be in constant concentration to keep it activated. And Samus had to complete a spiritual rite of passage to ease her mind and activate her fully powered suit.

And interesting enough, the idea that Samus' suit requires constant concentration dates back all the way to Super Metroid:

BytyPuO.jpg
.
NzBtjRV.jpg


Samus gets distracted thinking about the baby metroid and her lack of concentration allows a spike trap to penetrate her suit.
Yeah I really want a game that connects the power suit and the Metroids and Chozo spiritualism. IDK. It is what got in my head playing the games.

I also took the Chozo of Tallon IV to be taking an extreme path in reaction to events that had happened with the Chozo wrt technology elsewhere.

And I felt those events would be a perfect fit if they touched on an intersection of Chozo spirituality and Chozo technology, which could feed into your suit, the Metroids, and whatever else and somehow touch on where the Chozo have gone.

I feel you could make this sort of story incredibly personal to Samus as well as tie Metroids in, which is something the 2D series is very interested in, with Fusion in particular.

Idk. It's a half baked fan idea/dream that has seemed so obvious to me since I first played Prime.
 
The single planet with time shifting elements sounds cool, but everything else he said has me concerned.

I don't want to see the galactic federation in this game, or any other bounty hunters. Less MP3 more MP1.

Oh and I really don't want to see sexy zero suit Samus in this game.
 

Mr Swine

Banned
For the love of god, no Ridley in this. Give us Kraid and Mother Brain in full 3D glory! It's time both of em return to finish of what they started in Super Metroid!
 
Metroid Prime Hunters' story didn't interest me in the least, but I liked the Hunters. They made the universe feel more fleshed out. And while Sylux doesn't have much to him currently, I think there's room for an interesting character there. While I hope it's not too linear and has a feeling of isolation, I'm certainly not opposed to him being a driving force in the plot.
 

LordZagry

Neo Member
Since the Aramis Stilton's Mansion in Dishonored 2 I'm okay with timeshift mechanics, let's hope it will be as good as in D2 in MP4, the level-design possibilities are huge.
 

WhatNXt

Member
Since the Aramis Stilton's Mansion in Dishonored 2 I'm okay with timeshift mechanics, let's hope it will be as good as in D2 in MP4, the level-design possibilities are huge.

I haven't played that but I'd definitely like to..

I recently played through Titanfall 2 and Effects and Cause was such a fantastic chapter. Lots of cool things can be done with time and level design. I hope if they do anything like that it's firmly justified.

I'm hoping isolation is still a focus, if they're going to incorporate Sylux and the Federation.
 

TheMoon

Member
Unless they aren't together anymore, I'd like the original Prime team to continue the series. I have little faith that a Japanese dev, (even Nintendo in house) would do it justice.

To clarify, the feel of the art direction from the original series would be too different.

The original prime team hasn't been "together" since 2009/2010.
 
Tanabe, just leave more creative people make the ideas and you only oversee them.
Like this types of things is what makes me less confident of MP4. He fucked up a galactic federation spin off forever because of a horrible execution, the time travel idea in a planet, if he doesnt givw it a massive spin, is trite for Nintendo games, something I have seen too many times already.
I hope im wrong and the game turns great, I really really do, and I will be really happy with Tamabe if he tries a second time and this time gets a home run, but I would prefer if Tanabe stays at what he does best when I read his interviews, oversee foreing studios make great games.

For the love of god, no Ridley in this. Give us Kraid and Mother Brain in full 3D glory! It's time both of em return to finish of what they started in Super Metroid!
"Mother brain" appeared in 3d as the final boss of MP3.
Not with the glass or godzilla like body, but it was the same type of super computers themed like a giant brain.

Kraid, i would love to be in the game, although maybe omit would be a creatire of the same spexoes and not Zebes kraid.
 

sfried

Member
PBR has nothing to do with a realistic art style. Infact, many Nintendo are afaik using PBR such as Mario Kart 8, Mario Odysee, Zelda BOTW, ARMS and many more... So a job posting for experienced PBR programmers means aside from NLG developing HD Nintendo games, nothing.

Wait, Mario Kart (DX) and ARMS were using PBR all along? I still find it hard to believe Zelda is, though, given its graphical style. Even Mario Odyssey looks like its running on an enhanced SM3DW engine. The only thing I can see that remotely uses PBR is Ubisoft's Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and that's only because they're using the Snowdrop engine (and boy does it look veeeery pretty).

Which begs the question how a PBR Metroid Prime entry would look like. I could easily see another team tackling the next installment while Retro all this time has been gearing up for a Metroid Prime Trilogy HD remaster/rerelease with fully overhauled assets and a brand spanking new engine to take advantage of the modern architecture.
 

takriel

Member
Well, the way concentration has played a role in the series:

In Zero Mission Samus gets shot down as she tries to escape Zebes. This breaks her concentration and she's unable to will her powersuit into existence until she completes the rite of passage and regains her composure.

In Other M her suit malfunctions when she has her PTSD episode and it fails to fully protect her when Adam shoots her while she's distracted by a baby Metroid. Also there's a concentration mechanic where Samus can concentrate to refill missile ammo and energy.

This is super interesting. I wasn't aware that they implemented the concentration angle into the games, as well. In fact, today is the first time that I even heard about this.
 

WhyMe6

Member
He's nothing. Fans just feel obligated to act like he matters because there aren't really any other NPCs.

I'm a huge Metroid fan and that's definitely not why I like him. He was always my favourite from Hunters and I mained him in that because his electric bombs were so much fun to use.
 

Jotthah

Member
I kind of hope they go for a mix between Prime 3 and Prime 2. Basically the atmosphere of Prime 2 with the storytelling/cutscenes from 3.
And maybe the difficulty and relic hunt structure of 3 because the relic hunts in 2 and 1 were too much for my pleb skills.


So with all the talk about, NLG heading the next Metroid Prime game I looked at their website again,because I too think, that they are developing it.

Wanted to check if they had HD experience and noticed something (which could very well be known to anyone but me) but they don't acknowledge Fedration Force on the site.
The listed games are

  • Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon
  • Captain America- Super Soldier
  • Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
  • Transformers Cybertron Adventures
  • Doc Louis's Punch Out // PunchOut
  • Jungle Speed
  • Ticket To Ride
  • Spiderman Friend Or Foe
  • Mario Strikers Charged
  • Super Mario Strikers
  • NHL Hitz Pro

Out of those, the Spiderman and Captain America games were HD (X360 & PS3 respectivley), so there is some experience but not much. Those games probably were made on a shoestring budget.

They also have a couple of job openings. I don't know if this is due to them expanding or if a couple of people left. Althoughthe Producer/Project Manager Openings seems kinda weird.

  • Rendering Programmer
  • Technical Character Artist
  • Material Artist
  • Producer
  • Presentation Animator
  • Project Manager
  • Gameplay Animator
 

TheMoon

Member
There's also the chance that it's a project split across two studios. One doing the major design work, another doing more grunt work/assistance.

Like, say, how Monster Games assisted Retro on Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze. Iirc that was not just assets but also minor design support.

So maybe they have NLG + another new kid on the Nintendo block. Or the other way around. Or not.
 

Servbot24

Banned
They should use Sylux's blandness as a jumping-off point for a more malleable shape - they change form quite dramatically with the Lockjaw already, having them able to shift limbs or body parts into abstract shapes to attack with or manifest new limbs out of hard light could make them more of a distinctive enemy while keeping continuity with Hunters - going with the AI angle instead of it being a guy in a suit could also lend it to a game-wide progression of constantly adapting to Samus and modifying its base structure to more effectively counter her. In general, Dark Samus' movements and abilities grew increasingly distinct from Samus', while Sylux needs to be consciously differentiated from her to a greater extent.

In any case, there's plenty of ways they can use the blank slate of Sylux to create something worthwhile, but I'm not hugely confident that he's going to get any more compelling with a major role.
I still don't get the fixation on him at all. Why are we insisting on doing all these gymnastics just to force him into a role in the series, instead of making something that works naturally. "Hmm, you're bland, have no character and have a bad design. Let's make you the new driving force of the series!" Yeah, theoretically you can make him better. Theoretically you can put a Goomba in Metroid and have it be the main villain - surely there is some way to possibly make that work. But the question is why would you? The only thing he has going for him is that he exists. I get that if you ask a fan what they want, they won't be able to imagine anything other than "bring back this" or "redo this". But it's completely absurd thinking. Making new creations is not hard - in fact it actually would be hard to create someone more boring than Sylux, even if you tried.

Make a new creature villain that actually has character.

Anyways I've gone on about this enough, lol
 

Rodin

Member
Wait, Mario Kart (DX) and ARMS were using PBR all along? I still find it hard to believe Zelda is, though, given its graphical style. Even Mario Odyssey looks like its running on an enhanced SM3DW engine. The only thing I can see that remotely uses PBR is Ubisoft's Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and that's only because they're using the Snowdrop engine (and boy does it look veeeery pretty).

Which begs the question how a PBR Metroid Prime entry would look like. I could easily see another team tackling the next installment while Retro all this time has been gearing up for a Metroid Prime Trilogy HD remaster/rerelease with fully overhauled assets and a brand spanking new engine to take advantage of the modern architecture.
3D World had many characterics of PBR though (how materials interact with light depending on them being dielectrics or not, fresnel effect, etc), i don't know if it actually used that or a similar approximation, but yeah. Odyssey works even better. Same goes for Mario Kart and i think ARMS, although about the latter i haven't really thought about those things while playing the testpunch so my memory can deceive me. Zelda doesn't use it, but hopefully the next title will. Mario+Rabbids definitely uses it.

Also job postings on the NLG site ask for experience with Physically Based Rendering which is used almost exclusively for realistic art styles, and for complex character rigs which implies nonhuman enemies with lots of limbs.

The latter could be anything but there are really not that many Nintendo franchises that would call for PBR.

Where did you pull this from? Not that i don't already have an idea.
 

deleted

Member
You know how the basic 'loose all your powers and reacquire them' feature is somewhat played out?

How about an indirect time travel ability though? Like reliving a past event through memories?
We could have her jumping back in time when she was first in the area without her fully upgraded suit, trying to get something and then we replay the section with her full suit while there are changes to the area due to some event.

Not sure how you could mix that up without it becoming really repetitive though.

That being said, I look forward to MP4. Quite interested in what a Japanese studio makes of the formula - and what it is that Retro is working on.
 
I only want Sylux as the main villain if we get a bunch of good firefight boss fights with him. The Dark Samus fights in Prime 2 were brilliant.
 
I'm a huge Metroid fan and that's definitely not why I like him. He was always my favourite from Hunters and I mained him in that because his electric bombs were so much fun to use.

Yeap, Sylux was well liked because his bombs that let you just fly in certain places. Dat infinite bomb jump in low-grav areas.
 
I wonder why Sylux hates Samus and the Federation so much... I'm sure such a background will definitely lead to some very original and inspired plot twist.
Yep.
 
Sylux, Galactic Federation and no Dark/Phazon elements all sounds really really promising. Basically everything I had on my checklist for a new and interesting Prime.
 
Don't need or want Sylux. Please leave him/her/it behind. Galactic Federation can get lost as well.

Alien planet with its own unique lore is all I need.

Gameplay wise, the time shift stuff sounds fine.
 

Garlador

Member
Don't need or want Sylux. Please leave him/her/it behind. Galactic Federation can get lost as well.

Alien planet with its own unique lore is all I need.

Gameplay wise, the time shift stuff sounds fine.
I wonder why Sylux hates Samus and the Federation so much... I'm sure such a background will definitely lead to some very original and inspired plot twist.
Yep.

I really don't get the cynicism around Sylux. Apparently Sylux has some pretty valid reasons for despising the Federation, and Samus's loyalty to them, and as we learn in future games the Federation isn't exactly as altruistic as Samus initially believes and, coincidentally enough, by the end of Fusion she's a fugitive against the law, just the same as Sylux.

It makes me wonder if the Federation didn't screw over Sylux or someone important to them and Sylux's actions might have more validity than just "I hate authority" - especially since Sylux's actions seem very personally driven.
 

VDenter

Banned
That time mechanic sounds interesting as does using only one planet this time around. However shoving Sylux is a terrible idea i did not care for Hunters and especially Federation Force. Even in Hunters his design seemed like the blandest of the bunch. So his inclusion seems like the worst possible outcome. Just make something new. One of the things the Prime games had over the 2D installments was actually introducing new concepts to the franchise. Instead of just recycling Kraid, Mother Brain, Cloned Metroids ...etc The Prime games falling into the same pitfall would be a shame.
 
Top Bottom