Just thinkin'

2004-03-24 10:12:59 pm

I was thinking about Metroid: Zero Mission. And Metroid: Prime. Then I read the Maru Mari thread. All this led into one thought:

Is it conceivable to port Metroid: Prime into a 2D medium?

I think it is.

I came up with a control scheme that would fit all the Prime techniques onto a GBA controller:
[All controls from Zero Mission apply, with the exception of Select switching weapons.]
Select+L, R: Switch beams (Regular, Wave, Ice, Plasma)
Select+Left, Right: Switch Visor (Combat, Scanner, Thermal, X-Ray)
Select+B: Switch weapons (Missiles, Grapple beam)
Morph ball, hold/release A: Boost ball
Morph Ball, hold L: Spider ball
Hold R, Press B: Charge/Fire beam/missile combos
...I think that's it. Forgive me if I'm forgetting anything, I havent played Prime in a very long time.

After that, it's just a matter of 1) Re-designing the world of Prime to fit into 2 dimensions, and 2) Completely redoing all the boss fights. Flaahgra, for instance, would not work at ALL in his current form.

So, uh, yeah. I don't really know why I posted all this, but I did. And now I'm done.

Thread title:

I was thinking about Metroid: Zero Mission. And Metroid: Prime. Then I read the Maru Mari thread. All this led into one thought:

Is it conceivable to port Metroid: Prime into a 2D medium?

I think it is.

I came up with a control scheme that would fit all the Prime techniques onto a GBA controller:
[All controls from Zero Mission apply, with the exception of Select switching weapons.]
Select+L, R: Switch beams (Regular, Wave, Ice, Plasma)
Select+Left, Right: Switch Visor (Combat, Scanner, Thermal, X-Ray)
Select+B: Switch weapons (Missiles, Grapple beam)
Morph ball, hold/release A: Boost ball
Morph Ball, hold L: Spider ball
Hold R, Press B: Charge/Fire beam/missile combos
...I think that's it. Forgive me if I'm forgetting anything, I havent played Prime in a very long time.

After that, it's just a matter of 1) Re-designing the world of Prime to fit into 2 dimensions, and 2) Completely redoing all the boss fights. Flaahgra, for instance, would not work at ALL in his current form.

So, uh, yeah. I don't really know why I posted all this, but I did. And now I'm done.

Toozin

2004-03-24 10:29:36 pm

Not impossible

just highly unlikely

That sounds okay in theory, but can you immagine actually using that control scheme in the heat of battle? Rapid-switching of beams is a very importiant feature in the game. Reaching down to select in the middle of a fight is no small thing. Think of how much more painful the OP fight would be with those controls. Or Prime. You'd have to stand still to change visors. :(

professor_scissors

2004-03-24 10:34:25 pm

Quote from Toozin:

That sounds okay in theory, but can you immagine actually using that control scheme in the heat of battle? Rapid-switching of beams is a very importiant feature in the game. Reaching down to select in the middle of a fight is no small thing. Think of how much more painful the OP fight would be with those controls. Or Prime. You'd have to stand still to change visors. :(

Yeah, maybe. I think you could get used to it, but it'd be hard as jeebus. If there were any way to, I'd still like to try this in action meself and see how un-adjust-to-able it is.

RoboBlob

2004-03-24 11:13:19 pm

What I want to know is, why would they ever do that? Prime is an example of metroid's maximum potential. Well anyway, I just think it would be a huge show of desperation if they were to make a 2-d game out of a 3-d one.

professor_scissors

2004-03-25 12:42:56 am

Quote from RoboBlob:

What I want to know is, why would they ever do that? Prime is an example of metroid's maximum potential. Well anyway, I just think it would be a huge show of desperation if they were to make a 2-d game out of a 3-d one.

I never said the would. It's just a thought excersize.

Xoc

2004-03-25 01:33:01 am

I would much rather see a 3D (or more accurately, "first-person") version of the original Metroid. For no other reason than the sheer novelty of it.

...Actually, as long as I'm fantasizing, make that a FPS version of Super.

trh

2004-03-25 07:49:45 am

So you would run in corridors all the time? :?

skynes

2004-03-25 09:09:49 am

If there was a GBA Prime there would be no visors. Beams would be cumulative (Ice + Wave + Plasma at same time) just like most other 2D Metroids.

Syl

2004-03-25 10:13:03 am

i think that switching beams could be something far simpler.

Hold R + direction

now, the visors would have to be done away with for the most part, and hitting select would toggle on/off missiles.

Charge + missile (toggled on) = beam combo.

otherwise, the controls would be exactly the same... I'm sure that putting some of the spider ball tracks in the background could make for some interesting puzzles.

I think they would have to add the speed booster back, just becuase its so much of a staple thing at this point, but that would make up for the lack of the 3 visors.

It wouldn't be the same game, nowhere near as much atmosphere, but it would definately be interesting.

The Last Metroid

2004-03-25 11:00:40 am

Things would become overcomplicated.

And, if Nintendo were interested in taking 3D classics and making them 2D, we'd already have an Ocarina of Time on the GBA.

Rox

2004-03-26 05:27:01 am

I've had the same idea. Actually, I've been pondering making a simplified 2D conversion of Prime. But, I decided it'd be too huge for me to handle... so, I'll stick to my idea of making a platformer of Halo. I hope I can get working on that soon.

SABERinBLUE

2004-03-27 04:28:03 pm

Cook of the Sea

Yeah, I like switchable beams. I've liked them better tha the layered beam ever since Fusion really messed up the final beam, not counting the Ice Beam. It looked cool, but not like something that could really causedamage, you know what I'm saying?

PhazonMetroid

2004-03-27 11:45:43 pm

Quote from Toozin:

That sounds okay in theory, but can you immagine actually using that control scheme in the heat of battle? Rapid-switching of beams is a very importiant feature in the game. Reaching down to select in the middle of a fight is no small thing. Think of how much more painful the OP fight would be with those controls. Or Prime. You'd have to stand still to change visors. :(

Actually, if you have a Gameboy Player, It wouldn't be so bad. Because the select button is used on Y or X. Which helps me alot on Zero Mission :).

Syl

2004-03-28 12:13:48 am

whats complex about the system i just mentioned? it would require you stopping for a second to switch beams, but otherwise it would be flawless and simple.

SABERinBLUE

2004-03-28 02:42:17 pm

Cook of the Sea

Hmmm, that's a good idea, Syl. That would make things more fluid. I really wish that the GBA had more than 2 action buttons, though. I hope that the DS has more.

professor_scissors

2004-03-28 02:44:09 pm

Quote from Saber in Blue:

Hmmm, that's a good idea, Syl. That would make things more fluid. I really wish that the GBA had more than 2 action buttons, though. I hope that the DS has more.

The button run-down on the DS I've heard is A B L R and maybe X Y.

SABERinBLUE

2004-03-28 02:46:51 pm

Cook of the Sea

Oh good. Just having A and B on the GBa is really a weakness at times in game control. I mean, you have to shunt action moves onto L and R. Strong kick and punch was L and R in DBZ Taiketsu! I mean, come on! Of course, that game sucked anyway...

Toozin

2004-03-28 02:48:50 pm

Not impossible

just highly unlikely

You can pretty much assume any DBZ game is going to suck, unless it's Hyper Dimension which was pretty good.

SABERinBLUE

2004-03-28 02:54:43 pm

Cook of the Sea

I also loved Legendary Super Warriors for the GBC. It was amazingly harb to get into, and the learning curve... well, there was no learning curve. It was a learning cliff. A tall one. But once it clicked, and you actually started winning battles, that was one of the deepest turn-based combat systems I have ever seen. The stakes are high, and the CPUs are very smart. Since a well-placed attack can take off 1/4 to 1/2 HP, a decision you make on one turn can decide the entire match. Very fun, very challenging, and it's the only DBZ game I've ever seen that went through the whole entire show.

The Last Metroid

2004-03-28 07:07:43 pm

A DBZ RPG would kick ass. Like, a real, good, epic one along the lines of KOTOR, where you make a new character and stuff.

SABERinBLUE

2004-03-29 06:40:05 pm

Cook of the Sea

Oh, man I've been passonately wanting DBZ turn-based where you create your own comepletely original character for years. It would be so cool... TLM, your post count is stuck, do you know that?

Edit: Wait, never mind, I thought you had just posted that a second ago.

professor_scissors

2004-03-29 08:08:16 pm

Quote from Syl:

i think that switching beams could be something far simpler.

Hold R + direction

now, the visors would have to be done away with for the most part, and hitting select would toggle on/off missiles.

Charge + missile (toggled on) = beam combo.

otherwise, the controls would be exactly the same... I'm sure that putting some of the spider ball tracks in the background could make for some interesting puzzles.

I think they would have to add the speed booster back, just becuase its so much of a staple thing at this point, but that would make up for the lack of the 3 visors.

It wouldn't be the same game, nowhere near as much atmosphere, but it would definately be interesting.

Ah HA! I found the flaw:
Under your system, you can't fire missiles while running or moving to the sides.

Syl

2004-03-29 08:35:58 pm

Quote from professor_scissors:

Quote from Syl:

i think that switching beams could be something far simpler.

Hold R + direction

now, the visors would have to be done away with for the most part, and hitting select would toggle on/off missiles.

Charge + missile (toggled on) = beam combo.

otherwise, the controls would be exactly the same... I'm sure that putting some of the spider ball tracks in the background could make for some interesting puzzles.

I think they would have to add the speed booster back, just becuase its so much of a staple thing at this point, but that would make up for the lack of the 3 visors.

It wouldn't be the same game, nowhere near as much atmosphere, but it would definately be interesting.

Ah HA! I found the flaw:
Under your system, you can't fire missiles while running or moving to the sides.

..why not?
select TOGGLES missiles, once you hit it, you have missiles activated till you hit select again.

professor_scissors

2004-03-29 10:33:41 pm

Ah. never mind.

Syl

2004-03-30 07:16:14 am

this is actually the control scheme i want for a remake of metroid 2, and considering how many missiles you have to use against metroids in that title, a toggle seems far more efficient in my mind.