Storyline?

2007-01-25 08:48:38 pm

twenty eight fifty

Quote from skunkobot:

Just because we haven't yet had a significant story in one of the games, doesn't mean that we (being those who do) should stop wanting it.

Samus all alone has worked thus far, but I would sure like to have a better sense of context as to the effect of her actions.

NO NO NO I JUST WANT TO BUST SKULLS WITH MY BADASS SKILLS

SCREW INTENTIONS AND STORIES AND CHOZO GOD DUDES, HOOK A BROTHER UP WITH A WAVE BEAM

BESIDES MY WORDS ARE MORE IMPORTANT CAUSE THEY'RE BIGGER

skunkobot

2007-01-25 11:51:42 pm

Quote from Skreemaster:

Quote from skunkobot:

I would sure like to have a better sense of context as to the effect of her actions.

isn't the catastrophic destruction of entire planets enough for you?
what do you want? interplanetary politics?!

I want to see proof that Samus is bad ass. I want to see those that aren't as cool. I want to see what she's like when she's not all alone in her power suit. I want to see what kind of food people in her universe eat.

You know, all that fun stuff.

Oh, and Transience...

STORY GOOD!!!

arkarian

2007-01-26 12:13:22 am

red chamber dream

In a Metroid game? Nah.

Yoshi348

2007-01-26 12:16:20 am

PAGE BREAKER

Ready and willing.

Okay, do I need to pass out sarcasm detectors?

13M13

2007-01-26 12:57:02 am

l'appel du vide

In my perfect world, no one would ever know the person inside the suit.

transience

2007-01-26 03:13:18 am

twenty eight fifty

Quote from skunkobot:

I want to see proof that Samus is bad ass. I want to see those that aren't as cool. I want to see what she's like when she's not all alone in her power suit. I want to see what kind of food people in her universe eat.

You know, all that fun stuff.

Oh, and Transcience...

STORY GOOD!!!

YOU WANT TO WATCH BADASS SPACE PIRATES SNACKING ON SOME FREAKING NACHOS? WHAT THE HELL?

AND THERE'S NO GOD DAMN SECOND C IN MY NAME

EDIT: OKAY IT'S THE FIRST C, I'M DRUNK

skunkobot

2007-01-26 03:22:10 am

Come to think on it, I guess we did see what that one pirate was eating in Metroid Prime.

Also, C? What C? *whistles innocently*

Zeku

2007-01-26 05:00:20 am

Actually I don't want to know too much about Samus. It's better to enjoy some things with the imagination. Especially things that are imaginary.

Zeke

2007-01-26 05:07:27 am

Time bomb set get out fast!

Zeku? Zeku?

Everybody thinks they can be me.

skunkobot

2007-01-26 05:58:30 am

Quote from Zeku:

Actually I don't want to know too much about Samus. It's better to enjoy some things with the imagination. Especially things that are imaginary.

I totally agree. I really don't understand why JK Rowling keeps writing those damned books. We can easily use our imaginations to finish it off.

Prime Hunter

2007-01-26 07:20:58 am

Because with Harry it was set that there would be SEVEN books, and SEVEN books only for his school years. (I believe that's what was decided upon way back when. I can't remember.)

transience

2007-01-26 07:57:48 am

twenty eight fifty

books are read for their storylines. i have old balls that automatically repel harry potter books, but i imagine people enjoy the storylines and can't wait to see the thrilling conclusion or something like that. video games, action games like metroid in particular, not so much. i would be a zillion times more interested in a new ability than i would storyline. the story is just there to add to the atmosphere of the game.

Zeku

2007-01-26 10:58:39 am

I guess what I was trying to say is that a big reason that Samus is interesting is because she's a female. When the half of our species that excels at gentleness or nurturing does things that would require superhuman courage, you want to know more about that person.

But a fictional female is not interesting, because you know they don't exist, and thus the atypical nature of the character becomes little more than a fetish of some kind. At least, it would be for me-a male's perspective. Perhaps a female would see fictional Samus as an example of what is possible, but I don't pretend to know about that.

I realize that a few of you have expressed (some less directly than others) that the story is largely irrelevant to you. No doubt for you, this is purely an action game. But as a result of the atmosphere, it also serves as an adventure game, and the story is a critical part of that adventure. The scans in Prime are proof that the developers agree, and that this is their intent.

And sorry Zeke, Zeku's just one of the names I use. If I keep posting a bunch I'll make a new one.

I guess what I was trying to say is that a big reason that Samus is interesting is because she's a female.  When the half of our species that excels at gentleness or nurturing does things that would require superhuman courage, you want to know more about that person.

But a fictional female is not interesting, because you know they don't exist, and thus the atypical nature of the character becomes little more than a fetish of some kind.  At least, it would be for me-a male's perspective.  Perhaps a female would see fictional Samus as an example of what is possible, but I don't pretend to know about that.

I realize that a few of you have expressed (some less directly than others) that the story is largely irrelevant to you.  No doubt for you, this is purely an action game.  But as a result of the atmosphere, it also serves as an adventure game, and the story is a critical part of that adventure.  The scans in Prime are proof that the developers agree, and that this is their intent.

And sorry Zeke, Zeku's just one of the names I use.  If I keep posting a bunch I'll make a new one.

Zeke

2007-01-26 11:56:04 am

Time bomb set get out fast!

Nah, I was kidding. I wouldn't want you changing your name on my account, I just thought it was funny.

Interesting perspective about Samus. I'd like to think her creators' intentions were innocent, but it's hard to argue that she hasn't become something of a fetish figure.

UchihaSasuke

2007-01-26 12:03:07 pm

my umbrella goes directly to Bankai

true dat

just look at that body with that blue spandex :O~~~~~

arkarian

2007-01-26 02:36:14 pm

red chamber dream

I agree with transience; story is not vital in a game (besides maybe a modern RPG); it's there as a pretty background. I also think that Zeku has the wrong idea about the story in Prime: Retro wanted to give some story but make it as subtle as possible, so players that wanted a little insight into the areas could get some, and plays that wanted to focus on the gameplay could ignore it all.. As the story was told completely through text, barely any of the experience was lost if you chose not to pay attention. This formula worked exceedingly well imo, and I feel that part of Echoze's mediocrity can be attributed to its forced story and boring cutscenes. Retro needs to shape up and give us back the gameplay.

Quote from Prime Hunter:

Because with Harry it was set that there would be SEVEN books, and SEVEN books only for his school years. (I believe that's what was decided upon way back when. I can't remember.)

Yep, that's what Rowling decided years before she wrote the first book. She promised seven, so that's what people expect. It's not like she's saying, "oh hey, I think I'll write another one just because."

I agree with transience; story is not vital in a game (besides maybe a modern RPG); it's there as a pretty background. I also think that Zeku has the wrong idea about the story in Prime: Retro wanted to give some story but make it as subtle as possible, so players that wanted a little insight into the areas could get some, and plays that wanted to focus on the gameplay could ignore it all.. As the story was told completely through text, barely any of the experience was lost if you chose not to pay attention. This formula worked exceedingly well imo, and I feel that part of Echoze's mediocrity can be attributed to its forced story and boring cutscenes. Retro needs to shape up and give us back the gameplay.

[quote="Prime Hunter"]Because with Harry it was set that there would be SEVEN books, and SEVEN books only for his school years. (I believe that's what was decided upon way back when. I can't remember.)[/quote]
Yep, that's what Rowling decided years before she wrote the first book. She promised seven, so that's what people expect. It's not like she's saying, "oh hey, I think I'll write another one just because."

JJAB91

(user is banned)

2007-01-26 03:23:09 pm

Quote:

I want to see proof that Samus is bad ass. I want to see those that aren't as cool. I want to see what she's like when she's not all alone in her power suit. I want to see what kind of food people in her universe eat.

You know, all that fun stuff.

Oh, and Transience...

STORY GOOD!!!

There in the same universe as us. Possibly even the same galaxy.

arkarian

2007-01-26 03:25:50 pm

red chamber dream

I don't think he literally meant "universe" but more "in the Metroid universe" as a collective term.

Rox

2007-01-26 05:38:12 pm

Mm, yes. Universe as in world. Except nowdays, everything's so big we can't refer to fictional places as worlds anymore because they're so much bigger.

Ah, imagine if we could still use expressions like... "In the Lord of the Rings world"...

Also, depending on which type of science you "believe in", there can only be one single universe. So of course it's the same all the time. I mean, universe really does mean "everything that exists"...

A'ight, I desperately need sleep...

Chanoire

2007-01-26 08:41:58 pm

Quote from Zeku:

I guess what I was trying to say is that a big reason that Samus is interesting is because she's a female. When the half of our species that excels at gentleness or nurturing does things that would require superhuman courage, you want to know more about that person.

Nurturing and courage are not in the least mutually exclusive. Real-world stories of mothers doing incredible things to protect their children abound.

Quote:

Perhaps a female would see fictional Samus as an example of what is possible, but I don't pretend to know about that.

The possibility I see is that of opening minds and breaking down gender stereotypes and limitations. A courageous woman shouldn't be seen as a dancing bear. ("The amazing thing about a dancing bear is not how well it dances but that it dances at all.") Of course, Samus indicates nothing of the possibility of a woman of unremarkable appearance doing remarkable things, but it's a start.

And indeed, perhaps in her world/universe/era female bounty hunters are just as common as males and her uniqueness is primarily a function of her personal history.

[quote="Zeku"]I guess what I was trying to say is that a big reason that Samus is interesting is because she's a female.  When the half of our species that excels at gentleness or nurturing does things that would require superhuman courage, you want to know more about that person.[/quote]
Nurturing and courage are not in the least mutually exclusive.  Real-world stories of mothers doing incredible things to protect their children abound.
[quote]Perhaps a female would see fictional Samus as an example of what is possible, but I don't pretend to know about that.[/quote]
The possibility I see is that of opening minds and breaking down gender stereotypes and limitations.  A courageous woman [i]shouldn't[/i] be seen as a dancing bear.  ("The amazing thing about a dancing bear is not how well it dances but that it dances at all.")  Of course, Samus indicates nothing of the possibility of a woman of unremarkable appearance doing remarkable things, but it's a start.

And indeed, perhaps in her world/universe/era female bounty hunters are just as common as males and her uniqueness is primarily a function of her personal history.

Zeku

2007-01-26 09:21:17 pm

I guess I just never thought of Metroid Prime as an action game. The primary reason is the interface. There's no mouse, I can't instantly face in any directionlike in a FPS. (And this is a FPS-you can't just say that it isn't, after you've said you're playing it for the action.)

Now, if you're playing it for speedbreaking, I wouldn't call that action, though you may disagree. I would argue If you're only looking at the terrain, and not the story, you really do care about the story. The terrain, visual details, and music are all part of the 'story.' In fact, I think they're the most important parts.

arkarian

2007-01-26 11:46:39 pm

red chamber dream

Well, I don't really consider Metroid an action game/series. It's not an FPS because it doesn't generally revolve around tearing through waves and waves of mindless enemies. SM gets criticised for not having enough enemies, and that is part of the charm of the series. It's hard, but not because you're always fighting; you have to figure out how to use your items to reach new places.

13M13

2007-01-27 12:58:33 am

l'appel du vide

Because the FPS genre must only consist of games that revolve around tearing through waves and waves of mindless enemies...gotcha...

Super metroid fan

2007-01-27 01:18:19 am

Well as FPS stands for First Person Shooter (as i'm sure you're all aware of) and it's first person and you have a gun I call it a first person shooter... But that's just my opinion.

skunkobot

2007-01-27 03:55:38 am

First person, yes.

Shooter, no.

Shooter is a specific type of game that revolves around... shooting things.

Metroid revolves around puzzles and platforming.

It's a FPPA.

Fippah!

First Person Platforming Adventure.