Metroid Prime 3 - More than one planet?

***Cosmonautical*** · 05-12-2007, 05:57 AM

So, Retro has been very clear in saying that Prime 3 will have more than one planet to explore, yes? This has the potential to be either very good or very bad for Metroid gamers. I don't want to see the series losing its backtracking and exploration. If they go at it the wrong way, and you can't go back and forth pretty much at will, the game will likely be very linear. The last thing I want to see incorporated in the Metroid series is a level system. I think that would be a major step backwards. I'd be excited, however, to hear that the system will allow for willfull travel and exploration of planets - leaving it up to how far you can go with your current abilities, as is tradition with Metroid.

Aside from that, they've also stated that they won't be tacking on any between-planet flying levels. I think that's good, because it lets them focus on the real meat of the game.

Share your thoughts/opinions?

**Valigarmander** · 05-12-2007, 09:43 AM

I pretty much agree with you. Multiple planets sounds cool, but if you aren't able to backtrack or explore, then you've lost one of the big things that makes Metroid such a good series.

***Cosmonautical*** · 05-14-2007, 04:44 AM

There was a time that I remember where developers seemed to think throwing in vehicles and the shooter level and so on would make every game better. They even did it with Super Mario Land. I know a lot of developers haven't gotten over it (with the FPS genre, it was like all of the sudden no one had ever heard of vehicles before, and it was some amazing feature to be giddy over - but those of us who played Starsiege: Tribes know better), but I like to think that Retro knows what they're doing. The only reason why anyone ever cared about vehicles in Halo, for instance, is because advertising and reviews focused on it as a strong selling point. I think a lot of people seem to like something just because they're told to.

Mushi · 05-14-2007, 07:20 PM

I can't really see you not being able to explore multiple planets at will, although a different system from Hunters would be interesting

Demonicus Prime · 05-14-2007, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gently, with a Chainsaw

The only reason why anyone ever cared about vehicles in Halo, for instance, is because advertising and reviews focused on it as a strong selling point. I think a lot of people seem to like something just because they're told to.

But running over retarded kids is fuuuunnnn......

PACMAN · 05-22-2007, 09:44 AM

I think, that would be cool.

The Willful Wanderer · 05-22-2007, 07:05 PM

I consider it highly probable that if they do include multiple planets, they will at some point include puzzles that *mandate* traveling between planets mid-puzzle. After all, I remember well the first Metroid Prime and having to backtrack to that first temple at least five times just to hit a couple buttons or grab something almost but not quite vital.

I would imagine that if they could find some way to partially restrict it (fuel-grabbing or something) that you could engage in while in the process of otherwise progressing through the game, that would be most ideal. That way if you suspect you need extra trips, you can go fuel-collecting, but you can't just go 'And all of a sudden, I'm somewhere else!' at will for no reason with no cost.

**Cravdraa** · 05-22-2007, 08:17 PM

I don't know...
I seem to remember them saying some time ago that Samus's ship will actually be a tool to use in puzzles. That she can control it remotely, and possibly call it to her to act as a stepping stone and such.

So picture this: there are multipal places on each planet that you can access your ship. Launch pads, if you will, that you can call it to remotely. In that case, the ship would function a lot like the elevators in other games. You reach a Launch pad, call your ship to you, and then you can access a "different area" or in this case different planet, much like taking the elevator from Brinstar to Norfair. After you have the coordinates of a launch pad you can always return to it, so this would allow you to swiftly and smoothly jump from planet to planet, area to area.
I think it could work quite well.

Perhaps you could even find new coordinates for places you haven't been to yet as you explore, or a ship upgrade or two that would let you land in places you couldn't before.

The Willful Wanderer · 05-22-2007, 09:38 PM

Me likey.

Mushi · 05-24-2007, 08:23 PM

Too bad he's not on the development team.

**Cravdraa** · 05-25-2007, 08:45 PM

That's what I keep telling them, but they won't listen.

***Cosmonautical*** · 05-27-2007, 03:25 AM

You need to tell them harder, is all. Try violence. That sounds like a reasonable solution.

**Cravdraa** · 09-02-2007, 10:17 AM

They stole my idea.

Rainbow Dash · 09-02-2007, 11:19 AM

So the ship works like elevators, then?

Demonicus Prime · 09-02-2007, 12:19 PM

Do they go sideways?

***Marilink*** · 09-02-2007, 02:00 PM

Crav was spot-on. Way to go, Crav.

And there's also something called the "Command Visor." You can look through it to activate launch pads, and call forth your ship to make a bomb run. There's another command or two, I just haven't unlocked them yet.

So far, this game rocks. Hard.

Rainbow Dash · 09-02-2007, 05:52 PM

Stop spoiling

***Marilink*** · 09-02-2007, 08:32 PM

Don't worry, you get both of those options really early on.

05-12-2007, 05:57 AM	#1
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Metroid Prime 3 - More than one planet? So, Retro has been very clear in saying that Prime 3 will have more than one planet to explore, yes? This has the potential to be either very good or very bad for Metroid gamers. I don't want to see the series losing its backtracking and exploration. If they go at it the wrong way, and you can't go back and forth pretty much at will, the game will likely be very linear. The last thing I want to see incorporated in the Metroid series is a level system. I think that would be a major step backwards. I'd be excited, however, to hear that the system will allow for willfull travel and exploration of planets - leaving it up to how far you can go with your current abilities, as is tradition with Metroid. Aside from that, they've also stated that they won't be tacking on any between-planet flying levels. I think that's good, because it lets them focus on the real meat of the game. Share your thoughts/opinions?

05-14-2007, 07:20 PM	#4
Mushi Derp Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Looking at you. I can read your mind. Gender: Posts: 6,982 Thanks: 179 Thanked 351 Times in 271 Posts	I can't really see you not being able to explore multiple planets at will, although a different system from Hunters would be interesting __________________

05-22-2007, 07:05 PM	#7
The Willful Wanderer Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Aisle 12, between the kumquats and the radicchio. Gender: Posts: 2,325 Thanks: 168 Thanked 137 Times in 90 Posts	Well, as long as we're discussing the whole backtracking thing... I consider it highly probable that if they do include multiple planets, they will at some point include puzzles that mandate traveling between planets mid-puzzle. After all, I remember well the first Metroid Prime and having to backtrack to that first temple at least five times just to hit a couple buttons or grab something almost but not quite vital. I would imagine that if they could find some way to partially restrict it (fuel-grabbing or something) that you could engage in while in the process of otherwise progressing through the game, that would be most ideal. That way if you suspect you need extra trips, you can go fuel-collecting, but you can't just go 'And all of a sudden, I'm somewhere else!' at will for no reason with no cost.

05-22-2007, 09:38 PM	#9
The Willful Wanderer Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Aisle 12, between the kumquats and the radicchio. Gender: Posts: 2,325 Thanks: 168 Thanked 137 Times in 90 Posts	Sound thinking, Crav. Me likey.

05-24-2007, 08:23 PM	#10
Mushi Derp Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Looking at you. I can read your mind. Gender: Posts: 6,982 Thanks: 179 Thanked 351 Times in 271 Posts	Too bad he's not on the development team. __________________

05-12-2007, 09:43 AM	#2
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I pretty much agree with you. Multiple planets sounds cool, but if you aren't able to backtrack or explore, then you've lost one of the big things that makes Metroid such a good series.

05-14-2007, 04:44 AM	#3
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	There was a time that I remember where developers seemed to think throwing in vehicles and the shooter level and so on would make every game better. They even did it with Super Mario Land. I know a lot of developers haven't gotten over it (with the FPS genre, it was like all of the sudden no one had ever heard of vehicles before, and it was some amazing feature to be giddy over - but those of us who played Starsiege: Tribes know better), but I like to think that Retro knows what they're doing. The only reason why anyone ever cared about vehicles in Halo, for instance, is because advertising and reviews focused on it as a strong selling point. I think a lot of people seem to like something just because they're told to.

05-22-2007, 09:44 AM	#6
PACMAN Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Gender: Posts: 2,314 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I think, that would be cool.

05-22-2007, 08:17 PM	#8
Cravdraa VGF RPG Mod Join Date: May 2001 Location: It's Round on the sides and high in the middle. Gender: Posts: 8,470 Thanks: 171 Thanked 661 Times in 403 Posts	I don't know... I seem to remember them saying some time ago that Samus's ship will actually be a tool to use in puzzles. That she can control it remotely, and possibly call it to her to act as a stepping stone and such. So picture this: there are multipal places on each planet that you can access your ship. Launch pads, if you will, that you can call it to remotely. In that case, the ship would function a lot like the elevators in other games. You reach a Launch pad, call your ship to you, and then you can access a "different area" or in this case different planet, much like taking the elevator from Brinstar to Norfair. After you have the coordinates of a launch pad you can always return to it, so this would allow you to swiftly and smoothly jump from planet to planet, area to area. I think it could work quite well. Perhaps you could even find new coordinates for places you haven't been to yet as you explore, or a ship upgrade or two that would let you land in places you couldn't before.

05-25-2007, 08:45 PM	#11
Cravdraa VGF RPG Mod Join Date: May 2001 Location: It's Round on the sides and high in the middle. Gender: Posts: 8,470 Thanks: 171 Thanked 661 Times in 403 Posts	That's what I keep telling them, but they won't listen.

05-27-2007, 03:25 AM	#12
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	You need to tell them harder, is all. Try violence. That sounds like a reasonable solution.

09-02-2007, 10:17 AM	#13
Cravdraa VGF RPG Mod Join Date: May 2001 Location: It's Round on the sides and high in the middle. Gender: Posts: 8,470 Thanks: 171 Thanked 661 Times in 403 Posts	They stole my idea.

09-02-2007, 11:19 AM	#14
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,398 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	So the ship works like elevators, then?

09-02-2007, 12:19 PM	#15
Demonicus Prime Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: I Pity The Fool Who Confuses Me With Someone Other Than YoshiFreak. Gender: Posts: 3,108 Thanks: 648 Thanked 129 Times in 87 Posts	Do they go sideways?

09-02-2007, 02:00 PM	#16
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	Crav was spot-on. Way to go, Crav. And there's also something called the "Command Visor." You can look through it to activate launch pads, and call forth your ship to make a bomb run. There's another command or two, I just haven't unlocked them yet. So far, this game rocks. Hard.

09-02-2007, 05:52 PM	#17
Rainbow Dash been dreamin', i've been waitin' Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: a bomb-ass cloud house bachelorette pad Gender: Posts: 24,398 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,179 Times in 716 Posts	Stop spoiling

09-02-2007, 08:32 PM	#18
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,822 Times in 1,007 Posts	Don't worry, you get both of those options really early on.