Topic: Retro Studios Had a Hard Time Deciding Between Making a New Donkey Kong or Metroid Title

[Steel Diver]

The ape beat out the bounty hunter.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/34554

Michael Kelbaugh from Retro Studios says that it was hard to decide between making a new Metroid or Donkey Kong game.

Revealed in a tweet by an ONM writer, Donkey Kong was chosen because Retro felt they had unfinished business with the franchise. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is one of this year's Wii U tent-pole games and a follow up to Retro's Donkey Kong Country Returns.

[Oblivion]

**** YOU RETRO

[Mop it up]

It'll probably be the unpopular opinion, but between these two, I feel they made the better choice. After three Prime games, I don't feel like there's anything more they could have done with Metroid.

[Oblivion]

They had a freaking Stinger at the end of Prime 3! They hinted at a fourth game! They liiiiiiiiied to me!!

[Pixelated Pixies]

Best first comment ever!
 
lol.
 
In all seriousness though, I'm disappointed that those were the only two options on the table. As much as I am a fan of both franchises, I had hoped that they might do something wholly original.

[ShyGuy]

Didn't they expand their staff? Why aren't they working on two titles?

[broodwars]

So they had the choice and went with the safe & easy option rather than something that would actually challenge them. Well, I'm disappointed, but Donkey Kong looks pretty good so it'll probably balance out in the end.

[PetariJ]

It'll probably be the unpopular opinion, but between these two, I feel they made the better choice. After three Prime games, I don't feel like there's anything more they could have done with Metroid.

What about giving them a crack at Metroid 5?

[Adrock]

So they had the choice and went with the safe & easy option rather than something that would actually challenge them. end.

Why would Metroid challenge Retro Studios more than Donkey Kong? Both would be relatively "safe and easy" considering they have blueprints froor what works for each. There are ways to make the choices more challenging. If Retro Studios ever handles Metroid again, I'd like to see what thu could do in third person. If they ever handle Donkey Kong after Tropical Freeze, I'd like to see what they could do in 3D.

[broodwars]

So they had the choice and went with the safe & easy option rather than something that would actually challenge them. end.

Why would Metroid challenge Retro Studios more than Donkey Kong? Both would be relatively "safe and easy" considering they have blueprints froor what works for each. There are ways to make the choices more challenging. If Retro Studios ever handles Metroid again, I'd like to see what thu could do in third person. If they ever handle Donkey Kong after Tropical Freeze, I'd like to see what they could do in 3D.

Because the people who made Metroid Prime are no longer with the company. The people there now have worked on THREE Donkey Kong Country games (DKCR, DKCR 3DS, DKCTF). Besides, aside from Dixie Kong I see little in that trailer that wasn't already done in the last DKC game.

[Enner]

If these were the only two choices given to or thought of by Retro Studios, that troubles me.


Still, Tropical Freeze looks great and will be a fine platformer.

[Caterkiller]

Better this than Metroid that's for sure.


I'm happy for DK I was just a little blind sided since they hinted at no sequel for at least a while.

[Mop it up]

The people there now have worked on THREE Donkey Kong Country games (DKCR, DKCR 3DS, DKCTF).

Retro didn't handle the 3DS port of DKCR, Monster Games did.

[ShyGuy]

I wish it was Star Tropical Freeze.

[NWR_insanolord]

If we're going to get another Metroid game (and I hope we do) I want it to be made by somebody other than Retro. We've seen what they can do with the franchise, and while it was amazing, I want to see someone else's take.

[ShyGuy]

If we're going to get another Metroid game (and I hope we do) I want it to be made by somebody other than Retro. We've seen what they can do with the franchise, and while it was amazing, I want to see someone else's take.

What about Team Ninja?

[Adrock]

Because the people who made Metroid Prime are no longer with the company.

Some left, some stayed. The company still has three games (four if you count Trilogy) worth of source code and art. Unless Retro Studios went in a completely different direction with a new Metroid, I don't think it would be as challenging as you're making it seem.

[NWR_insanolord]

If we're going to get another Metroid game (and I hope we do) I want it to be made by somebody other than Retro. We've seen what they can do with the franchise, and while it was amazing, I want to see someone else's take.

What about Team Ninja?

I would love to see them get another shot at the series if they could be given more autonomy and less interference from Sakamoto.

[Ian Sane]

So no matter what I was going to be let down.  Is this the corporate culture of Retro or Nintendo as a whole where you discuss "what do we do now?" and the idea of something creative or different or new does not even come into consideration?  I wonder if Iwata era Nintendo's cookie-cutter sequel approach has driven off the truly creative people and the only ones left are those that don't want to step out of their comfort zones.  At Nintendo you make safe generic product.  Creative people need not apply.

I guess I would have preferred Metroid because I like that series better and would like a comeback from Other M, but they have not done as much with DKC since it is only their second game so it's the more natural choice.  But then this is really the blueprint Rare laid down.  I never felt DKC Returns was really Retro's baby like Metroid Prime was.

I have no hope for Retro to ever do something truly new and thus I really don't have any interest in them anymore.  Like they make good games and all but I'm not fanatic about them like I was during the Metroid days.  Retro's next project after this will be either whatever generic sequel NCL assigns them or Retro chooses themselves.  Either way I see no encouragement of creativity or ambition and if you don't have that, I don't care.

[Stoeff.at]

retro, go bury yourself next to silicon knights and stop serving us yesterdays warmed up meal.

[NWR_insanolord]

Rare may have created Donkey Kong Country, but Retro's version blows theirs out of the water.

[Adrock]

So no matter what I was going to be let down.

You're Ian Sane. Why do you seem surprised by this?

[Khushrenada]

My only beef with these Donkey Kong Country games is that there are no Kremlings or King K. Rule. It doesn't feel like DKC anymore. Even DK King of Swing had them still. I guess it is like playing a Mario game but without Bowser or Koopa Troopa's in it. Maybe that would be considered a shot in the arm for the franchise but it's just part of what I consider a DKC element and just seems to like that arch-rival element like Mario vs Bowser, Sonic vs Robotnik, Link vs Ganondorf.

[MagicCow64]

My only beef with these Donkey Kong Country games is that there are no Kremlings or King K. Rule. It doesn't feel like DKC anymore. Even DK King of Swing had them still. I guess it is like playing a Mario game but without Bowser or Koopa Troopa's in it. Maybe that would be considered a shot in the arm for the franchise but it's just part of what I consider a DKC element and just seems to like that arch-rival element like Mario vs Bowser, Sonic vs Robotnik, Link vs Ganondorf.

I'm actually pretty surprised they put Dixie back in, much less Kremlings. What's the next surprise, EXpresso?

[Mop it up]

Maybe King K.Rool is in this one and we just haven't seen it yet?