Metroid Prime 2 - Echoes Shows Multiplayer Action For GameCube

Thanks to Nintendo.com for its new info page officially revealing Metroid Prime 2: Echoes for GameCube, showing several impressive screenshots of "this highly anticipated sequel to Metroid Prime", as the first hints of setting are discussed: "Hunted by a mysterious entity and a warring race called the Ing, Samus Aran must explore the light and dark worlds of this doomed planet." The previously rumored multiplayer mode is also confirmed: "Up to four players can battle each other as they search for weapons, grapple across ceilings, and turn into Morph Balls to make their escapes."

Comments

Metroid Prime and multiplayer

[BigHungryJoe]

I loved Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime and Windwaker alone made the Gamecube worth the money.
Unfortunately, this is the kind of "multiplayer" I was hoping for.

Why is Nintendo so averse to doing providing a real online multiplayer service? I have a blast on XBox Live and I think that being "Live Enabled" drives the sale of many games.

It just seems like they're ignoring a potentially lucrative part of the market.

-BHJ

Re:Metroid Prime and multiplayer

[CuBeFReNZy]

Metroid Prime was an excellent game... and 2 will be even better. I'm so glad to see Nintendo bring back this franchise after so long.

As for the online... I think Nintendo doesn't see it as profitable yet. Because it really isn't. Out of the estimated 14 million + Xbox users, only 750,000 are subscribed to Live. So Live really isn't pulling that much for Xbox when you look at the general numbers. I love playing games online, and I think it would be great if Nintendo made more of their games online for the GameCube, but I think it's too late in the Cube's life for them to start something.

The Warp Pipe project is great It makes me look forward to LAN games alot more. I hope Nintendo realizes they can do that instead of having to start their own online service.

Re:Metroid Prime and multiplayer

[Guppy06]

"Why is Nintendo so averse to doing providing a real online multiplayer service?"

Because then they'd have to filter out all the assholes online.

Re:Metroid Prime and multiplayer

[Anonymous Coward]

Fine, but did you read the other AC's post closely enough?

According to that post, Mario Party 4 - a single-console (offline) multiplayer game - has performed better in the market than any Xbox Live game. And that is the point - that the sales of online multiplayer console games is nowhere near the perceived hype, not when compared to offline multiplayer games or (especially) single-player games.

Personally, I don't play online multiplayer games (other than slashdot). That's not because I have any sort of agenda, that's because the idea has never appealed to me, and every time I've tried it, the experience matches my low expectations. So, I specifically avoid games where the focus is mostly on online multiplayer. If a game's focus is on single-player mode and/or an offline multiplayer mode for playing with friends who are hanging out together, but it also features online multiplayer, then I don't mind. That's why I will readily buy games like this upcoming Metroid Prime sequel, but never an MMORPG or your typical modern FPS.

The breaking point for me will be when I can have the same experience playing a game against a friend online as I can playing against him or her in the same room. The Xbox Live and Sony SOCOM headsets don't cut it (I've played using both). I'm talking about natural conversation-style stuff, like being able to physically point at my screen and having my friends see and understand, seeing my friends' faces when I whoop on them, getting into foodfights while one person scrambles for the pause button, intangible things like that. Best solution I can think of for online multiplayer games is LAN-play in the same room, with multiple TVs and multiple consoles, but that's so impractical that impromptu multiplayer games become inconvenient, because it's a chore to set up.

In the meantime, my friends and I are good to go with offline games, and I think we'll be playing them for a long time while technology tries to catch up with what would be the most fun for us.

Re:Metroid Prime and multiplayer

[Salamande]

Interesting point. I think that's one of the prime (ahem) reasons why Nintendo is so skittish about going online.

When all is said and done, the image they're trying to project is one of a family company...which is quite different from a kiddy company, despite popular opinion. Making a game online capable requires such freedom of communication that it's impossible to censor it and not cripple the experience. Look at Phantasy Star Online: do you think you'd be able to bond with your buddies as well using only the Symbol Chat interface? And even then, they still managed to "dirty" it up...it seems you can make a lot of questionable images with those symbols.

Even if they stuck on a big, shiny sign covering half the retail box that said, "Hey, people on the net can be assholes, so we're not responsible for hurt feelings incurred playing online!" parents would still bitch the first time little Timmy was told to "fuck off n00b". I guess doing without that grief, and the resultant image shift, is worth the online sales. I disagree, but that may be part of the rationale.

What?!?

[jonbboy]

Slow? it can be beat in less than 2 hours!

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/2 9/ 2136259&mode=nested&tid=127&tid=186&tid=207&tid=21 3

"It is best described as "walk through hallway. Shoot door.
Walk through door. Shoot enemy. Repeat."

Bullsh1t!

Metroid Prime is filled with diverse puzzles and many enemies that require different battle tactics.

What specifically would you add/change to make it better? (besides add multiplayer). I would just add more of what it already has.

Re:Wasn't a fan of the first

[cbirdsong64]

Oh come on, man, you can sum up any game like that.

GTA: Walk around city, shoot at people, get in car, get out, repeat.

Mario: Enter level, jump around, jump on enemy, collect stuff, repeat.

Halo: Run around, shoot at enemies, drive a jeep, repeat.

I've said it before, I'll say it again,

[GaimeGuy]

People always need a reason to bitch about Nintendo.
"Nintendo is too traditional!"
"Nintendo should put multiplayer in Metroid!"

Now, it's:
"Nintendo is selling out!"
"What the hell is Nintendo thinking?! Putting multiplayer in Metroid. No one wanted that crap!"
People are ALWAYS criticizing nintendo for being too conservative and for not "changing with the times." Now that Nintendo is listening to these people, they're getting branded as sell-outs. Good god, people. If Nintendo wants to become #1 in the industry again, they're going to have to do stuff like this.

No, it doesn't mean that they're going to change the game formula at all! And no, it doesn't mean they're going to put less effort in their games! They're adding something which the fans asked for. And for the love of god, if anyone can pull off these types of things and still retain the feel of the franchise, it's Nintendo.
Now why don't you all wait until more about the game is revealed and until you can PLAY it before judging it?

Re:metroid + multiplayer

[Guppy06]

Two years ago you were saying the same thing about Metroid and FPS.

Battle is good...

[CylanR77]

But not all of the time. What I'd really like to see in this game is cooperative multiplayer.

Perhaps it's just me, but I've played games where the series or main focus of the game is based on single player mode, and the multiplayer "battle" modes were dull and simply not as fun as other games that were designed for multiplayer combat. On the other hand, I've had a blast playing games that include cooperative gameplay.

Granted, cooperative gameplay makes more sense in the adventure/puzzle genre, but that's mostly what Metroid is. I'd much rather have friend and I playing the game and accomplishing it together than having both of our progress slowed by each other.

Re:Wasn't a fan of the first

[SamSim]

Tetris: Make a line. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. REPEAT. REPEAT. REPEAT.