Metroid and the Thrill of the New

The adventure begins!

I admit it. I'm a modern gamer. I am acutely aware that video games have become easier with time, thanks in part to the improvement in technology. Sometimes I am discouraged by this. Am I not a true gamer because the original Legend of Zelda on NES bores me?!

In a deeply personal and eye-opening way, the game Metroid for the NES has answered this question and more. Have I beaten it? No. Will I ever? Maybe not. I just couldn't resist expressing my excitement about it here on my blog.

In a comparison of controls between Metroid and Super Mario Bros. (NES), Metroid wins. In a comparison of the drive to keep exploring between Metroid and The Legend of Zelda, Metroid wins. And this is coming from a huge fan of both the Zelda and Super Mario Bros. series. The original Metroid seamlessly combined the great aspects of both series into one polished game. It's a shame my older siblings didn't see the value of Metroid back in the NES era! I can see where I'd be now...I'd have gotten all the entries in the Metroid Prime series and then some.

I'll get to that point some day, but for now, I only have the original (thanks to the Wii system's Virtual Console Feature, of course!). Before I move on, I must say that before I bought Metroid, the extent of my exposure to the series stretched only to screenshots. I had never played a single entry before. That said, my perspective was quite fresh. Also, it was a new experience, which is always a beautiful thing.

Anyway, Metroid is truly great, even by today's standards! The controls are spot-on; I can adjust every jump to perfection. There's no need to open menus repeatedly in order to equip items, yet Samus can obtain and utilize a surprising variety of abilities and equipment. The idea of exploring to my heart's content keeps me coming back for more, even though I haven't reached any sort of benchmark to indicate that I've actually accomplished something (i.e. a boss). I can wander from room to room to corridor to room and so on and not find a single thing! But I know that if I keep searching, I'll find something worthwhile. For example, today I randomly happened across a whole new area with new music and new enemies...the thrill of discovery! Maybe it's just me, but Metroid is an incredible game!

Addressing the Concerns Over Nintendo 3DS

When you're a fanatic about something, it's hard to be realistic. I really like the Harry Potter movie series. I went to the midnight showing of the sixth adaptation and absolutely loved it! Or so I thought at the time. Probably about the third time I watched it, a nagging feeling began to take root inside of me...this really isn't all that great of a movie, is it? Eventually, I was able to admit to myself that I don't like the sixth Potter movie very much.

That's the key, isn't it? To finally admit it to yourself. That's when the burden eases. Early complaints came from Japan about the 3-D visuals of the Nintendo 3DS; not that they weren't hefty enough, but that they were hard on the eyes. Eye soreness, disorientation, and headaches are a few reported side effects. The latest episode of Infendo Radio contains an extensive early review on the brand-new gadget. Some concerns and my own thoughts follow:

Do the 3-D visuals ask too much of the gamer? One good point made in the podcast is that video gamers don't want to have to work to enjoy their hobby. And the Nintendo 3DS takes a little bit of work. This is characterized by the need for little adjustments here and there, not to mention the negative side effects mentioned above. I worried about this myself, but isn't that just what the 3-D depth slider is for? I don't think Nintendo will ever release a system that does not guarantee it will offer a quality experience. The 3-D depth slider is the answer to the great question "what if full, stereoscopic 3-D visuals don't treat my eyes well?"

Given the above, is the $250 price tag too much? I'll agree with what was said in the podcast: it depends! It depends on how much money potential buyers have to plunk down on a little handheld game system. It depends on how big a Nintendo fan potential buyers are. It depends on how satisfied potential buyers are with their current supply of gadgetry. I haven't experienced the 3DS myself, but I know for a fact that $250 is a lot to spend on any video game system, handheld or not.

The moral of the story? Think and research before you buy (this applies to anything, not just Nintendo 3DS). Like the podcast points out, though, this is just the beginning. We have yet to see whether the Nintendo 3DS sinks or swims in the long run.

The Nintendo Way (continued)

5.       Nintendo Power magazine has been my constant companion since March 2006. There’s not a source I trust more for Nintendo news, previews, and reviews. NP has broadened my horizons, letting me in on games that are a perfect match for me, but that I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. A great example is the rhythm game Samba de Amigo for Wii. At a mere $20, this easily makes my list of the top five best values. The game-play revolves around the idea that Wii remotes can be used much like maracas. I can’t go into detail, but I love this game. It also opened my eyes to the fact that the rhythm genre of video games extends beyond Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Imagine that!

4.      Nintendo’s vast history is more accessible now than ever before through Wii. That’s right; number four is all about old-school! Thanks to the Wii system’s Virtual Console, I own games like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Mario Party 2, Donkey Kong Country (numbers one, two, and three), Star Fox 64, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Metroid. I put Metroid at the end for a reason: this is how the Virtual Console feature has really impacted me as a gamer. The Metroid series is one of the big Nintendo juggernauts. It was only a few months ago that I decided I wanted to be a part of this series. I spent a whopping five bucks on the NES original. Boy was I impressed! I never thought I could enjoy NES classics like I enjoy Metroid.

3.       The Super Smash Bros. series highlights another great Nintendo feat: that is, the gargantuan roster of characters and all the fantastic worlds they inhabit. It just so happens that each Super Smash Bros. game thus far has managed what seemed impossible: to bring this enormous number of characters together in a most perfect way. The Nintendo “family” includes such figures as sweet, innocent Kirby, charismatic Captain Falcon, determined Pokemon Trainer, sweet-but-sassy Princess Peach, and slightly dorky Ness, to name a few.

2.      Creativity and originality are indispensible traits in video games. (Or at least they should be.) Nintendo titles and systems have them in spades. Take the most basic series in Nintendo history: Super Mario Bros. Let’s see, there is a Mushroom Kingdom, pipes that warp the player to different locations, enemies with names like Goomba, Koopa, and Shy Guy, a plumber as a protagonist, a dinosaur/turtle…thing as a villain, and a kidnapped princess. Do you see where I’m going with this? How do all these wacky elements combine to create the best-known, most widely-played video game series of all time? Who knows? But it’s great, isn’t it? Nintendo has demonstrated again and again the willingness to try new things.

1.      From casual to hard core, from age 7 to 77, Nintendo games cater to every player’s needs. Do video games get more casual than Wii Sports? I’ve got friends, who had never touched a video game before, to play Wii Sports back in the day (or back in 2007 anyway). It seems it’s becoming the fashion now-a-days to consider an M-rated, explosion-littered, kill-everything-in-sight game to be “hard core”. Well here’s my idea of a hard core game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. A plot with depth, characters with motives, music with thought, a spot-on control scheme that includes the perfect balance of motion-controls to button presses, and cleverly-designed dungeons…the story is driven by emotionally-charged cut scenes; the characters bring the player to wonder who the true enemies and allies are (*cough*Midna*cough*). It easily takes 30-50 hours to complete this game, depending on the time spent pursuing optional, but extensive side quests. Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are just two examples of the variety offered by Nintendo.

That concludes my list of the top ten reasons to love Nintendo. So join me as I offer my opinions on Nintendo games, embark on the journey of the Metroid series, and ponder on all the joys and hardships that come with being a gamer.

First Nintendo 3DS TV Spot for North America

I just finished viewing the first official TV Spot for the Nintendo 3DS. I myself am waiting for the release of Nintendo's new handheld with great excitement.

The spot begins with a bit of Steel Diver content, which gives way to a demonstration of the augmented reality feature of the system. For those of you who don't know, augmented reality will allow the owner of a Nintendo 3DS system to play games right on their own table, counter, desk, or other flat surface (in my case, I can't wait to see a game come to life on the circulation counter of the library where I work). Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is the final game to be showcased in the ad.

This TV commercial is impactful in at least two ways. First and foremost, it emphasizes the single most exciting feature of the 3DS: its ability to immerse gamers through full, stereoscopic 3-D graphics. The Steel Diver segment shows the player's reflection within the game, as if he is truly at the controls of a submarine. The same goes for Street Fighter, during which the player is seen in the background, controlling the game while watching the fight unfold. The augmented reality portion hints at the second reason why the spot strikes me: the constant feeling of motion. This corresponds with the motion-sensing capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS system. It's also what makes the TV spot really exciting. The transitions among and within the three main attractions are smooth and pleasing to the eyes.

Overall it's a great advertisement. It hits on the very best features of the 3DS system in 30 short seconds, creating a lasting impression.

The Nintendo Way

Hey. My name is Holly, and I really like video games. Actually, I really like Nintendo. Get that straight right now, because I’ve essentially never been exposed to Xbox or PlayStation.

It’s great to be a Nintendo fan. Nintendo’s got Shigeru Miyamoto, for one. What’s that? Never heard of Shigeru Miyamoto?! He’s only a legend in the video game world! Here’s a clue: he designed both the Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda series. He developed the games that set the golden standard for all video games to come. Seriously, he’s like, my idol.

But back to Nintendo in general. Nintendo is bold! Nintendo bravely leapt into the world of 3-D graphics back in the nineties with Super Mario 64. Nintendo reigns over the handheld gaming market with the mega-popular Nintendo DS system. Nintendo proved to the world that the idea of motion-based gaming could be more than just a gimmick. More than that, Nintendo has captured the heart (not to mention the time and money) of this young gamer. So here are my top ten reasons to love Nintendo:

10.       This is a minor point, but it’s important to the average gamer (that would be me)…Nintendo hardware is built tough. It gets crazy around my house sometimes, with a nine-year-old, a thirteen-year-old, a seventeen-year-old, and me living there. So it’s pretty obvious our Wii has gone through some rough moments. It’s been knocked over aplenty. Even when a game disc is in the system and running, knocking the console over doesn’t affect it at all. Our neighbor, on the other hand, knocked over an Xbox 360 while playing—irreversible damage to the disc made it completely worthless.

9.         Nintendo keeps its franchises close to its heart. When was the last time anyone saw a movie based on The Legend of Zelda or Super Mario Bros.? A TV show? There have been attempts—attempts that were so disastrous, every Nintendo fan on the planet just pretends they never happened. Nintendo is very protective of its property. Some may question why this is a good thing. Well, for one, a movie/TV show would detract from the experience of simply playing the games. Secondly, who knows how badly filmmakers would demolish the core principles that make these games so special? No, Nintendo is better off maintaining boundaries and keeping movie studios and TV networks away.

8.         Any product Nintendo puts out there is just saturated by the care and effort that was put into it. The developers involved love what they do and that comes through. I don’t believe the company would release any product, game, or system that they didn’t think was a quality, polished final product. Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii experienced two setbacks in release before finally making it into the hands of eager fans.

7.         Nintendo music dominates number 7 on this list! In fact, as I sit at my desk writing at this moment, I’m listening to the song Dark World from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. My love of music combines with my love of Nintendo to create…a love of Nintendo music! Music in video games can be truly beautiful and truly terrifying, truly funky or truly traditional. The reason I emphasize the word ‘truly’ is that people, even gamers, tend to overlook the role music plays in video games. It adds to the experience like movie soundtracks add to their respective films, possibly even more so in games.

6.         Club Nintendo and the general way in which the company treats its consumers is really genuine. I’m not well-known, by any means, but I feel like I belong to this enormous community of gamers (possibly in part due to the fact that I comment and leave feedback on game trailers and such on YouTube). I’ve gotten at least five free items from Club Nintendo, all of which I have put to use spectacularly. The sense of unity among Nintendo and all its fans is something special.

Up next on “Nintendo Lifeline”…hey, this list isn’t finished yet! Check back soon to find out the final five best reasons to love Nintendo!