[Megadrive1988]

gah!


CUBE EUROPE
http://www.cube-europe.com/special.php?sid=qa


quote:
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Q: chris why must you torment me so. Just when i thought that a possibly legendary game, raven blade, was cancelled, you bring up rumors that it could exist, to break my heart once again. The characters and graphics with the demo of raven blade was simply, in my eyes, unbeleivable. I was seriously excited. i convinced two cube haters, on seeing that demo, to buy cubes because of it. luckily prime saved my ass. could you expand on your rumor if possible. - from tommy t 31

A: OK, here we go. Apparently Metroid Prime 2 is now being developed for the N5 as Nintendo want a Metroid game to launch with the successor to the Gamecube in the US. The new issue of Cube Magazine (UK publication which is out today) seems to back me up on this. Raven Blade apparently has been said to be in development alongside Metroid 2 and is set for a release this year. If I am telling the truth look out for an announcement at the E3 show in May. I tried to get Retro Studios to comment on this but they haven't responded to the e-mail I sent them.

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[Cyborg]

Its cube europe, last place i would be looking if i wanted to hear rumors. Especially when you have Perrin Kaplan saying "Metroid's coming along well" just yesterday.

Why would retro waste a graphic engine they worked on for so long just for a game? Why would they waste all the time they've put on MP2 since MP's completion to move it on NES5, that likely wont see launch until a good 2 years and a half? Nintendo will have a conference call on the 27th and one of the suggested questions that will be answered is if Metroid Zero mission will connect with metroid prime 2. I would think that if MP2 was a no no for gamecube, nintendo wouldnt even bother to give an answer to that question.

Aint gonna happen. I hope they revived Ravenblade though, wouldnt mind having that in 2k5 or at N5's launch.

[cthellis42]

Odd to see this on page two, then:

Q: Is there going to be a metrod prime 2, if there is then tell me. - from Sopulisipuli

A: We have heard a rumour that Retro Studios are developing two titles that are set to be released this year. The first is the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 2 and the second is supposedly Raven Blade.

[Rodéric]

What I can tell you for sure is that production of next generation console titles have started already.

I don't know if Metroid Prime 2 (is that really going to be the title ?) is for N5 or NGC...

[Qroach]

what? this sounds like a bogus rumor. metroid prime 2 is being developed for the gamecube.

[Blade]

I hope it is. As much as an N5 MP2 intrigues me, I can't wait that long.

I'd also hate to see a SFA-like situation, where the game is nearly finished for GCN and they port it (half-ass) to N5.

[Magnum PI]

still from cube-europe

News: Metroid 2 still for the Cube!

http://www.cube-europe.com/news.php?nid=6001

[LisaJoy]

I highly doubt this, MP2 has been worked on for almost a year already, and being its been said they are using the same engine, I highly doubt it will take 2 more years to complete it.

[cthellis42]

Yes, but if it's important enough to want one as a major launch title, and there's no way they could get to Metroid 3 in time, they certainly could decide on stalling and upgrading it--no matter what they have complete currently. The Cube's launch didn't come with any single driving title--no Halo--and considering how well Metroid was received, it would certainly fit the bill.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by cthellis42

Yes, but if it's important enough to want one as a major launch title, and there's no way they could get to Metroid 3 in time, they certainly could decide on stalling and upgrading it--no matter what they have complete currently. The Cube's launch didn't come with any single driving title--no Halo--and considering how well Metroid was received, it would certainly fit the bill.

Well do you think Xbox2 will be launching with halo 3 ? Or PS2 with GT5 ?

Everyone is in the same situation, the next generation is coming too fast, but at the sametime you cant let competition have an headstart. Dropping gamecube of all AAA titles would also be moronic, gamers' impressions of gamecube's game lineup and support in the last years will be the main factor of if they buy the next nintendo console. If they would cancel a AAA title that was going to be released in 2k4, what would that tell you about the 2k5 lineup and up to 2k6 when the next gen consoles would be released? not much right? So it wont happen.

Having a killer launch lineup is all nice and dandy but not a requirement, most initial buyers are hardcore gamers who buy the console either way. Thats where a good last years impression on gamecube will affect more the sales of nintendo's next gen console than any marketing or launch titles could ever do. PS2 had a big launch, not due to the games, but because gamers were expecting a continuation of the playstation brand, just like N64 had the biggest launch of its time because gamers purchased it thinking it was SNES 2.0. Dropping support of gamecube for N5 would only make nintendo lose even more fans and give doubts to gamecube owners whether they'll buy the next gen console or not.

[cthellis42]

How would shifting back ONE AAA title be "dropping GameCube of all"? They still have the usual gang of titles in development. Heck, perhaps if they see the Xbox2 as not able to launch with a premiere title like Halo and PS3 not having a well-known insta-sell game at launch, they want much more to ENSURE themselves of having the best-suited one to launch with? PS2 didn't launch with with a truly premiere title, but it also had a long time to get them finalized and build up their library in general. What with next gen all trying to aim for a similar window, I imagine they'd put much consideration into how to take the most advantage they can right at the starting blocks.

[Cyborg]

Well they have their new tokyo division at work for next gen launch titles, WHY sacrifice a game that had been in work for a year with a graphic engine already tailored made for the hardware and the type of game?

Its not going to N5 anyway, so its pointless to argue. MP2 will be on GC.

[cthellis42]

I just don't discount anything and know next gen's launch is going to be a very tricky period for all the players, and that we may get a lot weirder before the end. :P

Meanwhile, as per your last comment, has that actually been specifically stated and reassured somewhere to give you such conviction? Obviously circumstances can change.

[Cyborg]

Well Perrin Kaplan for one, the site itself mentioning that its a bogus rumor and Qroach above who irrc knows peoples working at Retro studios.

[Fox5]

I hope Metroid Prime 2 comes out for gamecube, I wanna see how far they can push the system.

[LisaJoy]

IGN last night says its a bogus rumor.

[Guden Oden]

Fox5:

Yeah, I agree. MP was an awesome tour-de-force of GC power and gameplay, I can't wait for the follow-up. In perspective, I haven't bought Rogue Leader 2 yet, the overcommercialized Star Wars universe doesn't hold a candle to old Chozo ruins and Space Pirate installations.

[LisaJoy]

they say MP2 will have multiplay, I dont know how I feel about that...
I can imagine the games weapon system working in a multiplayer deathmatch type game.. and coop? well.. that would be fun I guess but I just dont see it working well with this particular story.

[PC-Engine]

I don't understand the logic why MP3 has to be a launch tile for N5. It's not like Nintendo doesn't have other franchises that will sell extremely well during N5's launch.

[Fox5]

Originally Posted by Guden Oden

Fox5:

Yeah, I agree. MP was an awesome tour-de-force of GC power and gameplay, I can't wait for the follow-up. In perspective, I haven't bought Rogue Leader 2 yet, the overcommercialized Star Wars universe doesn't hold a candle to old Chozo ruins and Space Pirate installations.

Exactly, Rogue Leader 2 is a nice show off of GameCube's bump mapping, but it just doesn't have the same impact on me that Metroid Prime did. Metroid Prime in progressive scan is one of the most beautiful fpses I've ever played(and it's not bad in interlaced either), it's just so smooth and detailed. IMO, blows Halo and Unreal 2(this game may have been technically impressive but it seemed so blah to me, what has happened to unreal since the original and UT?) and countless other games out of the water.

[Guden Oden]

Metroid Prime has such atmosphere. It's quite remarkable really. I guess that's because it's NOT crawling with enemies (though there could well be A BIT more of those), and the music and the graphics is so well-made and so fitting.

I love it when you come to a totally beautiful room that has nothing in it but beams of sunlight from the broken ceiling and dust in the air, and there's these slow ambient tones playing. The Chozo Ruins level in particular is good in that regard.

[cthellis42]

Originally Posted by PC-Engine

I don't understand the logic why MP3 has to be a launch tile for N5. It's not like Nintendo doesn't have other franchises that will sell extremely well during N5's launch.

Of course it doesn't have to, but it's their newest and best-received resurgence. It hasn't had a billion iterations, it doesn't scream "old school," and it's probably the best game to make people think of Nintendo in a new light. Offhand, I think it appeals to a broader audience than a platformer (both more gamers and skewing older), and so a really refined version with many options (multi-player modes, online capacity, etc.) would be rather optimal. "Yet another Mario/Zelda" are expected, and of course updates of all their regulars and most popular licences will be expected, but launching with--say--another Metroid Prime and perhaps Eternal Darkness gives them excellent titles that scream new, enlarge their demographic, and would likely start them off on better footing to the competition. (The Mario and Zelda fans will be buying in regardless, after all. )

[jvd]

For a great launch they need a fighting game , a full line up of sports tittles , an adventure game , a racing game and a rpg .

I don't really see the need for mp but hey it can't hurt .

Hopefully we see a new smash bros , a mario game , a mario kart of fzero and a final fantsy at launch. It be a good day to be a nintendo fan

[cthellis42]

Metroid Prime is "new image," and while all those are popular they are also "old image." That's one thing that's been holding them back, and would help to counter, since the people wanting Mario games, more Smash Melee, FF fans... They'll all be along regardless. It would be great to ALSO have those games at launch, but I think it would be better to not launch with a mass of NES-to-N64-originated licenses. It would be better to have at least one figurehead title at launch to lean on that does not epitomize "what they always make." (Or at least "what people have grown to expect.") A new F-Zero would be good as well, but wouldn't have the impact of a game like Metroid Prime taken to all new levels. Heck, an all NEW title that could acheive what MP did when it launched would be great too--possibly even better--only it wouldn't have the built-up title nor be as sure a title to bank on.

[Guden Oden]

Jvd, a full line-up would be nice, but unlikely. Developing titles takes time, especially when a console is new and the dev-tools are in their infancy. It's also a bit predictable, don't you think? We have one of those, and one of those and one of those. Same as every other console, what's there for Nintendo to distinguish themselves with there? Nothing!

Instead, maybe they should try a different approach, do what Nintendo has always done best. Doing their own thing, being different, original, inventive. Sony and MS in particular have followed Nintendo's success only by exploiting particular genres, they have no particular talent in game creation of themselves. One might say, the only way MS can find talent is if it can be bought with dollar bills...

Instead of going the predictable route with a standard launch line-up with a bunch of EA sports titles (which look and play the same as on other contemporary consoles), I think Nintendo should look in a new direction. Do their own thing, as they're so good at doing. Maybe update another of its classics for N5 launch, such as Ice Climber (launch title/pack-in game in Europe! Yay!) Or why not Kid Icarus?

Think of the awesome environments we could have, if the game kept the same basic gameplay. Marble pillars and architecture mixed with clouds and stuff, that would be soo cool. Not saying it would copy the gameplay to the point of dying if one fell out of the bottom of the screen of course, but it would be cool with a bit of old-school vertical levels, climbing, that sort of thing.

Who knows, maybe the kids of today would be astounded by this new incredible gameplay Nintendo just invented?

It's funny... People still remember Kid Icarus fondly, despite the game's been languishing on the NES ever since it was created... That's the power of Nintendo design - people REMEMBER!