Kotaku interviewed two of the men behind this ambitious project. Yoshio Sakamoto, long-time developer of Nintendos 2D Metroid titles, and Yousuke Hayashi, head of Team Ninja, sat down to discuss the title.
The first bit of detail about Other M is that it wont support Wii MotionPlus. The team, however, promises to deliver in two areas that Nintendo has typically not focused on in previous installments: stylishness and story.
"Our goal is to provide the most interesting gameplay and deliver the most cool Metroid ever," Sakamoto commented.
The interview elaborates that development of a new Metroid title for Wii commenced in 2006, when Sakamoto realized that his 2D Metroid needed an idea for a Metroid title on Wii that used in-game 3D graphics. Retro Studios, despite their highly-regarded work on the Metroid Prime series, was not an option when working on the first concepts. Sakamoto elaborates on this by saying "Retro has their own approach toward Metroid games. They had their own producer. Their approach to Metroid games has traditionally been the FPA first person adventure but my concept was kind of different than that and I was looking for a team that could bring my idea to life."
Thats when Team Ninja became part of the team. Hayashi explained that Team Ninja "is very fond of Samus as a character. We've all got huge soft spots for her."
Story will be one of the most important aspects of Other M. Sakamoto wants to tell more of Samus story, something that started in the 2D Metroid games such as Metroid Fusion on Gameboy Advance "With Fusion, that game was very story-driven. In that game, I believe I was able to explain Samus as a character, as a person, not just somebody in armor. And I was not only explaining Samus but the characters around her
with Super Metroid I showed, through her relationship with the baby Metroid, some of her maternal instincts. Between those two stories I feel I was able to explain Samus as a person. But because Metroid equals Samus, I'd like to develop her character further, as a soldier, as a human, also as a woman. That's what they're hoping to do with Other M."
Finally, both developers confirm that this new Metroid project will be one aimed directly at the fans, but hope that it offers enough to appeal to a new fanbase. "Our goal in developing Other M," Sakamoto comments, "Is to deliver the kind of Metroid that all fans want to play."
Samus Varia Suit and Ice Beam are in the game along with new abilities and a feeling of progression of the characters powers. Hayashi finished by saying that Metroid has definitely been one of those games where as the player progresses through the story you can really feel yourself powering up.
Hayashi explained that Team Ninja "is very fond of Samus as a character. We've all got huge soft spots for her."
Hayashi explained that Team Ninja "is very fond of Samus as a character. We've all got huge hard ons for her."
the first being Fatal Frame IV with the help of Grasshopper Manufacture
I must admit I am a little surprised that Nintendo didn't try to find a way to shoe-horn in Motion + in this title, despite there being no conceiveable place where it could have been well-used. I figured they'd include it as a feature anyway, just to promote the peripheral.
QuoteI must admit I am a little surprised that Nintendo didn't try to find a way to shoe-horn in Motion + in this title, despite there being no conceiveable place where it could have been well-used. I figured they'd include it as a feature anyway, just to promote the peripheral.
Kind of like how Nintendo is shoehorning voice chat in their games. Nintendo really does not shoe horn, they'll create a couple games that take advantage of the peripheral and for the most part let 3rd parties shoehorn to their hearts content.
