FA+
Shop
3023
Views
Views
9
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Music / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Male
Size 120 x 96
File Size 9.52 MB
More from Daigo
Its been a long time since i did one of these so forgive me!
Is there an appropriate way to kill a franchise? lets discuss XD
Metal Gear Survive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3hjRKGrC40
Is there an appropriate way to kill a franchise? lets discuss XD
Metal Gear Survive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3hjRKGrC40
Category Music / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Male
Size 120 x 96px
File Size 9.52 MB
thats kinda hard to do isnt it? these are companies after all. I think metal gear died the best way possible in this particular way. as in , the creator didnt hand it off to some stupid successor so we know his vision for the game never really tainted it. so any MG game to come out is just ...a like. Not worth getting XD
well, I've never played the franchise before, but Konami will forever and always be absolute asstwats. I hated how they treated Kojima and that silent hils was cancelled because of Konami. I now have mad respect for Kojima now. Also, I hate it when some company kills a franchise. Look at spyro, banjo and conker. Spyro would always be my fave cause I grew up with him, playing my first ever Ps1 game when I was about 3 or 4 years old. Even though the franchise is dead, I still and always love and remember it. Especially Spyro. :3
Sorry if didn't say much about konami and the game trailer they've released.
#fuckonami
Sorry if didn't say much about konami and the game trailer they've released.
#fuckonami
it started early on if one looke dclosely, silent hill team was treatend like shit early on, another huge team left to create treasure (later returned to be commissioned to make gradius 5)
as for thseo otehr ips they sadly was aquierd by a big cooperations and they dont care of and never will for that matter about the creativety of a product only of milk it for as much there is worth, sad truth
as for thseo otehr ips they sadly was aquierd by a big cooperations and they dont care of and never will for that matter about the creativety of a product only of milk it for as much there is worth, sad truth
I think that people will be upset for the sheer lack of any thought or effort put into the game. I mean it looks like they just did a market study to find out 'What the kids are playing these days', found that there was a demand for another left-4-dead clone, and decided to go for it, and simply slapped the Metal Gear name on it for recognition value.
It seems to be a rather insulting cash grab to me, though I found it laughable as well as insulting when I first saw the trailer. I'm not a huge Metal Gear fan, but I respect the series for what it is, or was anyway. It left us with such a bad taste in our mouths, knowing that they had to cut the game short, resulting in a shitty ending (data miners found that there is evidence of at least 2 to 3 more missions that would have ended the story well, but were cut due to Konami kicking the game out unfinished after giving Kojima the boot), dumping Kojima like a bad habit, and even preventing him from accepting the award for his own game at the VGA's. And then the whole 'We are ditching games for gambling machines' left us certain that all their franchises were dead and that they were giving us fans the old middle finger salute. Now for them to try and come back and say 'Oh, we never left the AAA game market!' after ditching nearly all their development teams and game designers and throwing out... this... its almost worse then just not making a game at all for just how much it shits on the legacy of the series.
I honestly would LOVE to hear Kojima's opinion on the game.
It seems to be a rather insulting cash grab to me, though I found it laughable as well as insulting when I first saw the trailer. I'm not a huge Metal Gear fan, but I respect the series for what it is, or was anyway. It left us with such a bad taste in our mouths, knowing that they had to cut the game short, resulting in a shitty ending (data miners found that there is evidence of at least 2 to 3 more missions that would have ended the story well, but were cut due to Konami kicking the game out unfinished after giving Kojima the boot), dumping Kojima like a bad habit, and even preventing him from accepting the award for his own game at the VGA's. And then the whole 'We are ditching games for gambling machines' left us certain that all their franchises were dead and that they were giving us fans the old middle finger salute. Now for them to try and come back and say 'Oh, we never left the AAA game market!' after ditching nearly all their development teams and game designers and throwing out... this... its almost worse then just not making a game at all for just how much it shits on the legacy of the series.
I honestly would LOVE to hear Kojima's opinion on the game.
I understand the hate for Metal Gear Survive, but I've never really understood the hate towards Metroid: Federation Force. I think for a few reasons.
MGSurvive feels out of place in the MG world. It doesn't' fit and feels like something done out of a corporate knowledge of "Oh look, zombies are still kinda popular! And so is multiplayer!" where as Federation force feels like it belongs in a way. It looks like Metroid Prime meets Monster Hunter, and that sounds like it would be a lot of fun. On top of that, haiving a potential look at the Metroid universe from outside the visor of Samas would be a good way to expand upon lore and the like. (and I am a lore whore!)
When I look at Federation Force I see a unique presentation and side story to give us MORE universe. Is it the game I WANTED? No. But does it look like fun and seem like it will offer more to the overall franchise? Yeah, it does. I still have hope that Federation Force will leave us with more, so that when we step into the visor of Samas again, we can further appreciate the universe.
That's where MGSurvive fails. It's completely out of left field and looks like it will offer a DLC's amount of content for full price. It's a new game with MG tacked on to sell copies, and it drags the series down to do it. This feels like a business move, and a shallow one at that. That's what bothers me.
MGSurvive feels out of place in the MG world. It doesn't' fit and feels like something done out of a corporate knowledge of "Oh look, zombies are still kinda popular! And so is multiplayer!" where as Federation force feels like it belongs in a way. It looks like Metroid Prime meets Monster Hunter, and that sounds like it would be a lot of fun. On top of that, haiving a potential look at the Metroid universe from outside the visor of Samas would be a good way to expand upon lore and the like. (and I am a lore whore!)
When I look at Federation Force I see a unique presentation and side story to give us MORE universe. Is it the game I WANTED? No. But does it look like fun and seem like it will offer more to the overall franchise? Yeah, it does. I still have hope that Federation Force will leave us with more, so that when we step into the visor of Samas again, we can further appreciate the universe.
That's where MGSurvive fails. It's completely out of left field and looks like it will offer a DLC's amount of content for full price. It's a new game with MG tacked on to sell copies, and it drags the series down to do it. This feels like a business move, and a shallow one at that. That's what bothers me.
federation force did it right of show itself as a spinoff, that was a good thing, but issue is now as the one running meteoroid ip declared prime as non canon and other bs moves with has made many people with a bitter taste, even Nintendo themselves dint even acknowledge meteoroids 30th anaversery
Of course I agree, that I hate retconing. I am personally a Prime fan... PRIMEarely (Hate me all you want!). It's my favorite part of the franchise and I hate to see it retconed. Even if Federation Force is all they released this year, I'd like to see some acknowledgement of the series beyond just that.
Funny enough. there are plenty of similarities between the two that you could argue. so ill pick your brain with them a little bit.
MG survive is 4 player co op. Same as Federation force. you could use the same logic that nintendo is doing the same thing. Oh look 4 player survival is popular. Whos to say that Konami isnt doing the same boat. But because its nintendo they get a pass? Though to say it doesnt fit Metal gear. the MG series is notorious for being completely bonkers. Crazy super powers and abnormal realities is not uncommon. so fighting zombies isnt farfetched when even in the last game you were kinda fighting zombies in certain circumstances. And similar to Federation force, its through the eyes of Snakes subordinates. so a different perspective which you say is a good thing for federation force. So CLEARLY MG Survive is a "spin off" and therefore can be just as justified as federation force , but why does it get slack but you defend nintendo?
Federation force is doing the exact same thing . Its not a game anybody wanted or asked for. Especially the Metroid fanbase. Using your own words. its completely out of left field. its a new game with Metroid tacked onto it.
If you dont understand why Fans are mad at it. Ill give perhaps the best reason why. When a franchise dies or is dead , you don't make spinoffs to appease that audience. You do spinoffs when a franchise is alive and well. Ill use metroid for this "prime" example (get it?...im sorry...). Metroid prime Blew up the series with massive success. during that time we got Metroid Pinball. A flippin PINBALL game. Nobody was mad at that game. it was because Metroid Hunters was around the corner! that and Metroid Prime 3 was also in development. There was more metroid content that would continue to give the fans what they want. Actual REAL Metroid games. If metroid prime released and had no sequels...and then they come out with Metroid Pinball years down the line...Fans would be pissed because they arent getting a real metroid game. You see what im saying? Metroid is dead. Nintendo killed it with Other M. Not to mention that Nintendo will casually say its a spin off but this one is only a spin off in gameplay. not story. This games story is canonical to the series even though they once said Metroid prime was non canonical in game and story because Other M. This game is NOT a spin off and fans are pissed.
MG survive is 4 player co op. Same as Federation force. you could use the same logic that nintendo is doing the same thing. Oh look 4 player survival is popular. Whos to say that Konami isnt doing the same boat. But because its nintendo they get a pass? Though to say it doesnt fit Metal gear. the MG series is notorious for being completely bonkers. Crazy super powers and abnormal realities is not uncommon. so fighting zombies isnt farfetched when even in the last game you were kinda fighting zombies in certain circumstances. And similar to Federation force, its through the eyes of Snakes subordinates. so a different perspective which you say is a good thing for federation force. So CLEARLY MG Survive is a "spin off" and therefore can be just as justified as federation force , but why does it get slack but you defend nintendo?
Federation force is doing the exact same thing . Its not a game anybody wanted or asked for. Especially the Metroid fanbase. Using your own words. its completely out of left field. its a new game with Metroid tacked onto it.
If you dont understand why Fans are mad at it. Ill give perhaps the best reason why. When a franchise dies or is dead , you don't make spinoffs to appease that audience. You do spinoffs when a franchise is alive and well. Ill use metroid for this "prime" example (get it?...im sorry...). Metroid prime Blew up the series with massive success. during that time we got Metroid Pinball. A flippin PINBALL game. Nobody was mad at that game. it was because Metroid Hunters was around the corner! that and Metroid Prime 3 was also in development. There was more metroid content that would continue to give the fans what they want. Actual REAL Metroid games. If metroid prime released and had no sequels...and then they come out with Metroid Pinball years down the line...Fans would be pissed because they arent getting a real metroid game. You see what im saying? Metroid is dead. Nintendo killed it with Other M. Not to mention that Nintendo will casually say its a spin off but this one is only a spin off in gameplay. not story. This games story is canonical to the series even though they once said Metroid prime was non canonical in game and story because Other M. This game is NOT a spin off and fans are pissed.
I think my reasoning comes down to two different reasons.
1: (The simpler of the two) is that Federation force looks fun to me. I can understand why people are disappointed, but I don't get the hate as much as it looks like a fun game. A Metroid game where all the puzzling fighting and dungeoning is done with friends. Or maybe just Monster Hunter set in the Metroid universe. I like those ideas and I want to play with it.
MGSurvive just looks... bland. I'm tired of Zombie survivor games, I'm tired of the constant grey and brown the trailer shows off. If I want a game like that there are several with gameplay based on that type of game, as opposed to sticking the situation with gameplay made for intelligent, thinking enemies. (Also, if my time on Warframe has taught me anything, it's that stealth (I love to stealth) is impossible with friends. You always have that one guy who demands guns be ablaze.
2: (And I know you will disagree with me on this but it's just how I've seen things) I never considered Metroid dead. Yeah it's been gone for a while and it's last game sucked, but so what? Nintendo has been making moves to revive once thought dead franchises as of late. Starfox was thought dead, but Zero came out and we see that the game is not just going to be remake after remake. (And love or hate the game, they went all out making it look great, and even if you don't like the controls, they certainly worked hard on them) It was not half assed, even if the franchise was seen as dead, outside of remakes. I'm still in the mindset that another Metroid is coming. But after the fuck up and backlash of Other M I'd be a bit timid to take another step out with the franchise too. And personally I don't often listen to the internet when it comes to what games "Killed" their franchise.
MG I have considered dead since they started removing Kojima's name. So it's harder to see this as a spin off than a slap in the face, as unlike Metroid, I do see MG as a dead franchise being paraded around.
And kinda a third point, but more just to add on the last one, The developers do determine who I give a pass too. With Federation force, coming from Nintendo, I know that I can expect some fun and some detail to be paid to legacy. I know it's not the game I wanted, but I also know that they are going to put time effort and care into the experience. Sure they are known for fucking up just as much as the next guy, and when they do so, they do so pretty royaly. But even in there worst games there is a sense of love and fun in it. Like watching an old Ed woods film, sure it's horrid, and you won't want to play it again, eager to turn it in for cash. But you can still tell the people cared, and there is some value in that.
Konami on the other hand... well given their recent track record it's clear legacy is very cheap. A commodity to be traded. We have seen it in their pachinko machines, their treatment of staff, their desire to see a man's name removed and forgotten by the industry as a whole if they could have managed it. Every good from Metal Gear was a Kojima Game, not a Konami game.
That's why when I see Federation Force, I see a, not fully wanted, but still potentially fun game, and when I see MGSurvive, I see a business deal, a money grab.
(OH and PS. I am a Nintendo fan so I'm a bit Biased admittedly. That being said I'm still genuinely kinda excited for Federation Force just as it's own thing. Dismiss me as a Fan boy or whatever, I don't care, I still had fun discussing.)
1: (The simpler of the two) is that Federation force looks fun to me. I can understand why people are disappointed, but I don't get the hate as much as it looks like a fun game. A Metroid game where all the puzzling fighting and dungeoning is done with friends. Or maybe just Monster Hunter set in the Metroid universe. I like those ideas and I want to play with it.
MGSurvive just looks... bland. I'm tired of Zombie survivor games, I'm tired of the constant grey and brown the trailer shows off. If I want a game like that there are several with gameplay based on that type of game, as opposed to sticking the situation with gameplay made for intelligent, thinking enemies. (Also, if my time on Warframe has taught me anything, it's that stealth (I love to stealth) is impossible with friends. You always have that one guy who demands guns be ablaze.
2: (And I know you will disagree with me on this but it's just how I've seen things) I never considered Metroid dead. Yeah it's been gone for a while and it's last game sucked, but so what? Nintendo has been making moves to revive once thought dead franchises as of late. Starfox was thought dead, but Zero came out and we see that the game is not just going to be remake after remake. (And love or hate the game, they went all out making it look great, and even if you don't like the controls, they certainly worked hard on them) It was not half assed, even if the franchise was seen as dead, outside of remakes. I'm still in the mindset that another Metroid is coming. But after the fuck up and backlash of Other M I'd be a bit timid to take another step out with the franchise too. And personally I don't often listen to the internet when it comes to what games "Killed" their franchise.
MG I have considered dead since they started removing Kojima's name. So it's harder to see this as a spin off than a slap in the face, as unlike Metroid, I do see MG as a dead franchise being paraded around.
And kinda a third point, but more just to add on the last one, The developers do determine who I give a pass too. With Federation force, coming from Nintendo, I know that I can expect some fun and some detail to be paid to legacy. I know it's not the game I wanted, but I also know that they are going to put time effort and care into the experience. Sure they are known for fucking up just as much as the next guy, and when they do so, they do so pretty royaly. But even in there worst games there is a sense of love and fun in it. Like watching an old Ed woods film, sure it's horrid, and you won't want to play it again, eager to turn it in for cash. But you can still tell the people cared, and there is some value in that.
Konami on the other hand... well given their recent track record it's clear legacy is very cheap. A commodity to be traded. We have seen it in their pachinko machines, their treatment of staff, their desire to see a man's name removed and forgotten by the industry as a whole if they could have managed it. Every good from Metal Gear was a Kojima Game, not a Konami game.
That's why when I see Federation Force, I see a, not fully wanted, but still potentially fun game, and when I see MGSurvive, I see a business deal, a money grab.
(OH and PS. I am a Nintendo fan so I'm a bit Biased admittedly. That being said I'm still genuinely kinda excited for Federation Force just as it's own thing. Dismiss me as a Fan boy or whatever, I don't care, I still had fun discussing.)
I get that Konami is trying something new, but they didn't have to go the zombie route. They could of been captured soldiers from the old mother base during the time it was being destroyed. Then taken into the prison camp within ground zeroes to figure out where Big Boss was taken. Later on, the player breaks free along with any other surviving members from the prison camp some how and goes on a man hunt for big Boss since Diamond Dogs was slowly building up at the time. But using a worm hole to have a shitty excuse with crystal like zombies doesn't seem all that appealing.
On top of that, All Metal Gear Online game play is known to laggy as hell. Good evidence of this the recent Metal Gear Online 3 network issues it still has. It has improved since Metal Gear Online 2, but the same problems persist every time some decides to play the online version of MGO.
If they wanted to please the MGS fans, the 3rd chapter should of been released as a free DLC option in order to explain where Eli was headed towards as well as giving us some hidden cut scenes that was shown in the premier trailers (Venom Snake screaming upwards on what appears to be a burned down village of some sort).
But so long as Konami continues to use MGS lore for pachinko machines and wild spin offs like these, I don't see this series recovering from this kind of public hatred. Metal Gear Solid 5 might have sold well around the world, though I would end up arguing that the series is slowly coming to an end financial wise.
Maybe the game might be mindless fun with friends... Or maybe it might crash and burn. Only time, will tell...
:/
On top of that, All Metal Gear Online game play is known to laggy as hell. Good evidence of this the recent Metal Gear Online 3 network issues it still has. It has improved since Metal Gear Online 2, but the same problems persist every time some decides to play the online version of MGO.
If they wanted to please the MGS fans, the 3rd chapter should of been released as a free DLC option in order to explain where Eli was headed towards as well as giving us some hidden cut scenes that was shown in the premier trailers (Venom Snake screaming upwards on what appears to be a burned down village of some sort).
But so long as Konami continues to use MGS lore for pachinko machines and wild spin offs like these, I don't see this series recovering from this kind of public hatred. Metal Gear Solid 5 might have sold well around the world, though I would end up arguing that the series is slowly coming to an end financial wise.
Maybe the game might be mindless fun with friends... Or maybe it might crash and burn. Only time, will tell...
:/
Ehhh. Honestly, if you're right, and most people didn't want the series to die... I think that's where the problem lies.
I, for one, like it when a franchise dies on its feet. Anyone remember when MGS4 was looked at as fucking alien to the previous entries in the franchise? ... and then everyone just got over it and then MGS5?? ... and we just learned to live. Now this new thing comes out, and you can really appreciate the distance gaps. That happens to everything. Degradation. Everything brakes down. Rather it comes off in a whole clump or painfully, piece by piece. People who cling to the hopes that something will be good again are ultimately why it was left to be bad in the first place.
I'm not going to go into any more details, because people have polarizing views on what "was good and is now bad" and "was good and is still good" and "was always bad." Things like LoTLA/LoK, Zelda... etc. etc.
But yah. I don't like to see something jump the shark, and then people dive into the water, pull its dead body out of the water, slap it back on another motorcycle, this time with rockets and fireworks, and shoot it off again. People learn to just let the things they love stay dead. Resurrecting always takes its toll, even if it doesn't look like much, at first.
One thing I do have to note, though - Konami is solely responsible for Metal Gear's development. Nintendo is a much bigger house, however, and almost all of their recent Metriod projects have been handled, at least in part, by other companies: Team Ninja, Retro Studios... but really, before that, Metriod was dead in the water after Super ... and... honestly, that was fine for me. Do I regret Prime? Not really. Fusion? Hell no. But here we are, talking about the name being drug through the dirt for no apparent reason... so. ... meh.
I, for one, like it when a franchise dies on its feet. Anyone remember when MGS4 was looked at as fucking alien to the previous entries in the franchise? ... and then everyone just got over it and then MGS5?? ... and we just learned to live. Now this new thing comes out, and you can really appreciate the distance gaps. That happens to everything. Degradation. Everything brakes down. Rather it comes off in a whole clump or painfully, piece by piece. People who cling to the hopes that something will be good again are ultimately why it was left to be bad in the first place.
I'm not going to go into any more details, because people have polarizing views on what "was good and is now bad" and "was good and is still good" and "was always bad." Things like LoTLA/LoK, Zelda... etc. etc.
But yah. I don't like to see something jump the shark, and then people dive into the water, pull its dead body out of the water, slap it back on another motorcycle, this time with rockets and fireworks, and shoot it off again. People learn to just let the things they love stay dead. Resurrecting always takes its toll, even if it doesn't look like much, at first.
One thing I do have to note, though - Konami is solely responsible for Metal Gear's development. Nintendo is a much bigger house, however, and almost all of their recent Metriod projects have been handled, at least in part, by other companies: Team Ninja, Retro Studios... but really, before that, Metriod was dead in the water after Super ... and... honestly, that was fine for me. Do I regret Prime? Not really. Fusion? Hell no. But here we are, talking about the name being drug through the dirt for no apparent reason... so. ... meh.
Eeeh I can agree with the top statements. Dying strong is good! MGS4 was pretty crazy but i liked it.
Though kinda have to disagree with the sentiment that reviving a franchise is bad. Sure Super Metroid was a great game that metroid ended on for a long while. But Ill be damned if I say that metroid prime didnt revive the game in a spectacular fashion. One of my favorite games of all time and the sequels were relatively strong games that didnt hurt the series any. we started getting more metroid games because of it . Though with the revive came stupid moronic changes that ULTIMATELY led to what a disgrace Other M was. Samus looking like a bimbo and now this. Hmmmm....
Though kinda have to disagree with the sentiment that reviving a franchise is bad. Sure Super Metroid was a great game that metroid ended on for a long while. But Ill be damned if I say that metroid prime didnt revive the game in a spectacular fashion. One of my favorite games of all time and the sequels were relatively strong games that didnt hurt the series any. we started getting more metroid games because of it . Though with the revive came stupid moronic changes that ULTIMATELY led to what a disgrace Other M was. Samus looking like a bimbo and now this. Hmmmm....
gonna say to end a franchise, I think you need to do it big, maybe yo dont have the good gamplay but need a climax who ends to all, so thats my point of view.
About the pseudo Metal Gear... is not interesting I think is gonna be like a "zombie mode" for CoD but with "stealth" realy I might try the game just for trying to see how bad they do the game but I dont gonna buy it.
For the ne metroid prime federation force, gonna be honest I gonna buy it, maybe is a little bland but I want to see a side story of what suppouse are doing the federation.
For last there are to much franchise need to end but they are other they need a proper ending, so that's my thougths see ya.
About the pseudo Metal Gear... is not interesting I think is gonna be like a "zombie mode" for CoD but with "stealth" realy I might try the game just for trying to see how bad they do the game but I dont gonna buy it.
For the ne metroid prime federation force, gonna be honest I gonna buy it, maybe is a little bland but I want to see a side story of what suppouse are doing the federation.
For last there are to much franchise need to end but they are other they need a proper ending, so that's my thougths see ya.
See, the question is what defines a dead franchise. Is it dead when the head leaves/loses all enjoyment (Metal gear solid 2 - 5)? Does a franchise die when the people working on it are replaced? (E.g. all developers being fired after a game) Who's the true head behind a franchise, how important are they? (The roles of Kojima or Kamiya vs Inafune)
In regards to Metroid, I feel like it's not exactly Sakamoto's fault. Nintendo is so dead set on the family friendly stuff that I think they simply don't wanna let him. And the reaction to Other M was so bad because the writing in combination with the presentation was so fucked up and misguided and turned the whole bad-ass character that is Samus inside out into someone who's clearly and so jarringly not the character most people grew accustomed to.
The Metroid games before that told their story through gameplay and exposition. Other M on the other hand tried so hard in tying Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion together with far too much cutscenes and superfluous monologues. The gameplay itself wasn't half as bad, what actually broke a lot of the experience was trying to reinvent the wheel. To a certain extend the Metroid games are heavily about exploration and backtracking. You find new equipment that allows you to go to new places you weren't able to before. In Other M however only one or two equipment pieces are actually found, the rest all gets "authorized" and that's even more stupid than Samus somehow losing everything between every game by circumstances unknown to anybody. But still you didn't care about it once you started playing and got into it because it felt right at home and in line with the series' basic formula that made it fun in the first place.
Now we have a game without Samus at all and a focus on multiplayer. I get Nintendo's trying to get this Internet thing but I feel it's trying in places that are uncalled-for and using Metroid to serve as a guinea pig while they try to figure out what the heck to do with the franchise at all.
I'm almost willing to assume Nintendo will, at some point, try to justify it like "Oh, Metroid didn't do so well in the past years and when we tried people hated it, so we guess it's past its prime" (pun unintended). IMHO they should've never outsourced the franchise to a studio that's unfamiliar with serious story telling and cooperates with yet another studio on its cutscenes that has a distinct background in cinematics.
I would sooo love to see a game in the Metroid series that actually takes place after Fusion because I feel the space between the prequels is becoming rather cramped. You can only so much put more backstory into a franchise to connect the dots. Too much and it'll become ridiculous and incomprehensible, even to fans who know the lore inside-out.
~~~
In regards to Metal Gear Solid, I personally feel with the absence of Kojima the series will probably go down a similar path as Metroid. The only difference being that MGS now lacks proper guidance due to the loss of its leading figure. Konami's choice to suddenly include zombies also feels more like a cash-in than a design choice. "Hey, people are really into zombie games. Also, we have this cash cow named Metal Gear. BAM — put 'em together!"
As with Silent Hill being reduced to a friggin' Pachinko machine it doesn't help much keeping anybody's hopes up. At this point Konami couldn't have driven in the nail into the coffin more forcefully than slapping zombies into a franchise that didn't need them. And while on the topic: MGS already was about "survival" in MGS3 so I dunno what they were thinking when they came up with that title. Do they even know their own franchises anymore? I do wonder, indeed.
As I see it, the japanese gaming industry in general has somewhat lost focus. This becomes all the more clear when you also look at other franchises from Square Enix for example that have "fallen from grace": Final Fantasy XIII did break so notoriously heavy with franchise traditions it left a nasty taste in every long running fan's mouth — Kingdom Hearts is a convoluted mess of a story in its entirety, nobody can make sense from it and it's strewn about so many different platforms you can miss out so easily on what has been going on by simply not having the money to support the franchise even if you wanted to.
The Metroid games before that told their story through gameplay and exposition. Other M on the other hand tried so hard in tying Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion together with far too much cutscenes and superfluous monologues. The gameplay itself wasn't half as bad, what actually broke a lot of the experience was trying to reinvent the wheel. To a certain extend the Metroid games are heavily about exploration and backtracking. You find new equipment that allows you to go to new places you weren't able to before. In Other M however only one or two equipment pieces are actually found, the rest all gets "authorized" and that's even more stupid than Samus somehow losing everything between every game by circumstances unknown to anybody. But still you didn't care about it once you started playing and got into it because it felt right at home and in line with the series' basic formula that made it fun in the first place.
Now we have a game without Samus at all and a focus on multiplayer. I get Nintendo's trying to get this Internet thing but I feel it's trying in places that are uncalled-for and using Metroid to serve as a guinea pig while they try to figure out what the heck to do with the franchise at all.
I'm almost willing to assume Nintendo will, at some point, try to justify it like "Oh, Metroid didn't do so well in the past years and when we tried people hated it, so we guess it's past its prime" (pun unintended). IMHO they should've never outsourced the franchise to a studio that's unfamiliar with serious story telling and cooperates with yet another studio on its cutscenes that has a distinct background in cinematics.
I would sooo love to see a game in the Metroid series that actually takes place after Fusion because I feel the space between the prequels is becoming rather cramped. You can only so much put more backstory into a franchise to connect the dots. Too much and it'll become ridiculous and incomprehensible, even to fans who know the lore inside-out.
~~~
In regards to Metal Gear Solid, I personally feel with the absence of Kojima the series will probably go down a similar path as Metroid. The only difference being that MGS now lacks proper guidance due to the loss of its leading figure. Konami's choice to suddenly include zombies also feels more like a cash-in than a design choice. "Hey, people are really into zombie games. Also, we have this cash cow named Metal Gear. BAM — put 'em together!"
As with Silent Hill being reduced to a friggin' Pachinko machine it doesn't help much keeping anybody's hopes up. At this point Konami couldn't have driven in the nail into the coffin more forcefully than slapping zombies into a franchise that didn't need them. And while on the topic: MGS already was about "survival" in MGS3 so I dunno what they were thinking when they came up with that title. Do they even know their own franchises anymore? I do wonder, indeed.
As I see it, the japanese gaming industry in general has somewhat lost focus. This becomes all the more clear when you also look at other franchises from Square Enix for example that have "fallen from grace": Final Fantasy XIII did break so notoriously heavy with franchise traditions it left a nasty taste in every long running fan's mouth — Kingdom Hearts is a convoluted mess of a story in its entirety, nobody can make sense from it and it's strewn about so many different platforms you can miss out so easily on what has been going on by simply not having the money to support the franchise even if you wanted to.
I was on the train until you said Sakamoto knows how to make a Metroid game. Its strange because this is the same guy who worked on Super Metroid too! I just consider Other M a bad Metroid game, but it was an alright game in general.
This whole scenario reminds me of Gears of War right now. Cliff Blieszinski that had Gears that was his baby for the first three games then Judgement came out and he wasn't on that one and it did showed, but now with Gears 4 they have a new guy there named Rod Fergusson who's been there since the beginning so you feel that the series is in good hands.
That's what Konami should do, maybe they are doing it and we don't know it yet. All I know is that this isn't the first spin-off game the Metal Gear series has, the best one being Rising of course.
This whole scenario reminds me of Gears of War right now. Cliff Blieszinski that had Gears that was his baby for the first three games then Judgement came out and he wasn't on that one and it did showed, but now with Gears 4 they have a new guy there named Rod Fergusson who's been there since the beginning so you feel that the series is in good hands.
That's what Konami should do, maybe they are doing it and we don't know it yet. All I know is that this isn't the first spin-off game the Metal Gear series has, the best one being Rising of course.
Comments