The Metroid Matrix

By Rob Galbreath / Friday, 16 March 2007

What is the Metroid Matrix?

If you're a Nintendo fan, you likely know about Metroid, about bounty hunter Samus Aran and her space travels. The Matrix, as famously unveiled by the Wachowski brothers in 1999, exists as a simulated reality where people's projections (or avatars) of themselves interact. For those awaiting Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the Metroid Matrix is really about choosing the red or blue pill. It's about Samus staying solitary with her identity or discovering a new identity by mastering the Matrix. But is Samus really ready for online play? Plug yourself in and let's find out.

On one end of the spectrum stands a group of individuals I'll call Purists. These Metroid fans often carry strict ideas about what the franchise should and should not be about, and can even be hostile towards people who propose gameplay or scenario ideas that "don't fit" the Metroid mold. Purists are likely the ones holding a number of speed records and could probably recite the entire Metroid chronology by heart. When Nintendo revealed Samus' first 3D appearance in Metroid Prime would be in the first-person perspective, one can imagine many Purists cried foul. After the initial shock of a first-person perspective wore off and Prime's close ties to the classic Metroid ambience and gameplay became clear, many Purists accepted the series, even grew fond of it, and assimilated the changes into their viewpoints.

Purists may not have liked it Prime initially, but don't be
messin' with it now.

On the other side of the coin is another group of people I'll refer to as Fraggers. These individuals are FPS enthusiasts with a significant understanding of the genre, its mechanics and evolution. They live for the most hardcore challenges. Wii has the potential to imbue the genre with new energy, and Fraggers expect to see it. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is the biggest FPS on the horizon, and should serve as a zenith for the series, meaning Fraggers want to see some significant additions beyond Metroid Prime with prettier effects and mouse-like controls. Although Metriod can rack the brain, there's a limitation caused by a solidified design. Playing against other people, however, allows for potentially infinite challenge thanks to human creativity.

So on the Purist end, we have these primary arguments: (1) Metroid has always been about single-player exploration and survival, and Retro should focus on an incredible single-player campaign to send the Prime series out in style. (2) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes attempted to have multiplayer and came out of the oven rather flat and dull.

Meanwhile, the Fraggers argue: (1) Metroid Prime: Hunters proved that it's possible to incorporate online multiplayer into the Metroid experience. (2) Nintendo needs to set the example for how to build a solid FPS on Wii, not just in the controls department, but also with a successful online mode.

Now let's examine each argument in more detail.

Purist Claim 1: Metroid has always been about single-player exploration and survival, and and Retro should focus on an incredible single-player campaign to send the Prime series out in style.

Response: This argument would be considered greatly conservative, and understandably so. For the Purist, many wonderful experiences are tied to this franchise and its unique elements. In their view, Retro Studios managing to maintain the Metroid feel in the move to first-person may be thought of as a miracle, so tampering in other ways ignites some worry. Of course, a franchise that doesn't grow is as good as dead. Expanding the range of Samus' encounters and struggles, as well as her variety in gameplay, is necessary for survival on the market level.

The Prime series should, and almost undoubtedly will, end on a high note. All previous glimpses have shown that Retro Studios is utilizing the best Metroid elements (some purists were likely ecstatic to hear about the return of beam-stacking) in addition to new aspects only Wii can allow in order to create a bold, memorable experience.

It's the type of adventure more people should be exposed to, which begs the question: would online multiplayer entice more players to partake in the Metroid experience? Knowing one could play his/her friends in a deep, unique online mode could bring Metroid more of the attention it deserves, pool a greater assortment of ideas from the enlarged community, and (at the very least) keep the franchise growing.

Purist Claim 2: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes attempted to have multiplayer and came out of the oven rather flat and dull.

Response: Echoes' multiplayer was experimental and presented a few interesting mechanics while allowing Retro to get its feet wet in the multiplayer arena. Regardless, the mode was certainly rushed, and looked even more antiquated beside its much vaunted contemporary Halo 2 and its intricate online play.

Does that unfortunate circumstance mean Retro Studios can't establish a deep, engaging online mode, or that online multiplayer wouldn't work for a console Metroid? I'd say no. Creating a fulfilling single-player campaign in addition to an equally fulfilling multiplayer mode is no doubt difficult, but the Halo and Half-Life franchises pulled it off - why not Metroid?
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Fragger Claim 1: Metroid Prime: Hunters proved that it's possible to incorporate online multiplayer into the Metroid experience.

Response: Like Hunters, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is expected to feature various other bounty hunters, and I expect the Wii Remote would simulate a PC mouse even better than the DS touch screen, allowing the fast-paced and precise movement needed in competitive FPS online modes.

Metroid Prime: Hunters' multiplayer, despite its flaws, worked in part because of a lacking emphasis on single-player. Given we have no real knowledge of how complete Metroid Prime 3 was prior to its announced delay to 2007, incorporating a worthwhile online multiplayer before the game releases later this year could have a negative impact on the single-player many fans expect to be near perfect. This is more applicable if the delay came at least partly in response to technical problems rather than just Nintendo staggering its largest titles. Would Retro Studios be willing to sacrifice some work on single-player to dedicate a full effort to multiplayer? The employees will if they want to get paid, although they will surely strive for the best balance they can achieve.

Fragger Claim 2: Nintendo needs to set the example for how to build a solid FPS on Wii, not just in the controls department, but also with a successful online mode.

Response: Certainly there are other developers with more experience in the FPS genre and with online play. If they've got projects planned, why force a multiplayer mode on Metroid when another game may infuse it more naturally, or simply make it better?

After all, one of Nintendo's biggest struggles with developer support is the competition between first-party and third-party software on a Nintendo system, where first-party games tend to get more attention. Letting a third-party developer craft the title that sets the online standard would, in theory, not only bestow more attention upon third-party efforts but also minimize Nintendo's risk of botching one of its biggest Wii games by trying to add an online component.

Samus: "Red pill...or blue pill...
wait, won't I suffocate if I take my helmet off to chew it?"

Both Fraggers and Purists share the question of "what would Retro Studios need all the extra time for, when the game was supposed to release in November 2006?" Games are delayed for any multitude of reasons. The most likely one is that Nintendo didn't want to place Zelda and Metroid, two of the company's biggest franchises, next to one another at launch. The fact that we're seeing this extensive staggering of other first-party titles throughout 2007 backs up that argument. Other reasons could be that Retro Studios ran into a serious development problem that needed a good deal of time to fix, or that they didn't think the game complete enough to warrant AAA stature. Or, of course, that Nintendo decided online multiplayer would make a worthwhile addition.

Beyond all these claims, I'll quickly add this point: the matter isn't worth devaluing one another over. To claim Purists are elitists that hold the franchise back or that Fraggers will compromise the respect and nature of the franchise just so they can shoot other people online because they don't have "real-world" friends is ridiculous.

Perhaps the online battle is not one for Samus to win - at least where Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is concerned. Commentary from Nintendo isn't the most enlightening, as the company has moved from a strict "no multiplayer" stance back in mid-2006 to at best remaining vague about the subject when questioned.

True, Metroid has seen a significant delay, which might encourage thoughts of online play. However, Super Mario Galaxy has been in development for an equal, if not greater duration. Miyamoto even said in May 2006 that the title would appear within six months of Wii's launch - it's clear now that that won't happen. The point is that while Nintendo is allowing its developers more time to perfect those big software titles, delays may be more a matter of staggering than incorporating significant additions like online multiplayer. There's also nothing stopping Nintendo from using the time Metroid floats in limbo to speak with third parties about their ideas for large-scale FPS titles that could set the Wi-Fi train on its way. In that way, Nintendo would know whether or not it needs to risk spending the extra resources to tweak one of its premiere titles.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will very likely become a staple in the Wii library. Under the guiding hand of Retro Studios, Samus Aran will embark on an exciting new adventure, doing what a bounty hunter does best: move forever onward as a silent legend to wherever the wind blows. She'll never ask you to come along, but you'll always have the choice to go or stay, of red pill or blue pill. They both may lead to the same contentment, and in that one can find respect for all other circumstances.