The freedom to explore is fine, that“s what made me play the game in the first place. But I don“t like having to face a Boss that“s so difficult that you die again and again, and get no help nomatter how many walkthroughs you consult. I am not a hardcoregamer as such, but could be taken for one if they didn“t look carefully. But I do know the hardcoregamers, and I do know the casual gamers. My point is simply that Retro should avoid making the next Metroid game as difficult as this sequel is.
The first one was perfectly balanced in difficulty and learning curve. But I still recall having big issues with the buttons, when I had to perform various maneuvers in boss battles. I sometimes felt like my fingers were being twisted slowly, for simply having to cross my fingers to do the required actions. Still, I could juuust make it, and finish the game! But I NEVER expected that the much anticipated sequel would be harder.
I feel that the sales numbers for that first GCN Metroid game, speaks for themselves too. A lot of people liked to play through it. But when you felt you took a punishment in certain important sections playing that first game, you feel it“s torture to go through a sequel which has been made MORE difficult. So while I don“t want to insult the people who really feel it“s a great sequel, I still am compelled to ask the question WHY they increased the difficulty? Do they realize how many casual gamer may be put off by the increased difficulty? THere will be scroes of people who will complain. I recall they did with the second last Boss in MP1. I did too, and it took me 30 attempts to finish it and move on to the final Boss.
I certainly can“t be the only player who is dissapointed in Metroid Prime 2.