Sakamoto reflects on original Metroid’s development, has wanted to make a 2D Metroid for 4-5 years
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News | 10 Comments
Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto’s involvement with the series go all the way back to the original game. He wasn’t initially assigned to the project, but that all changed when the team encountered some issues during the latter stages of development.
Speaking with Game Informer, Sakamoto reflected on the first Metroid’s creation:
“My boss told me that the Metroid team was having a very hard time, and as someone who had experience on building video game projects could I go and somehow help this game progress to release? In short, I was forcefully asked to participate. By his tone, I really smelled danger. And as I joined the project and looked around, I realized that the release date was right around the corner but the project had nothing there. Even with our limited resources and time, I figured out how we could leverage the existing components of the game to create variation and an exciting experience.”
“Metroid was one of my first experiences on a pretty big video game project, but I wasn’t sure if players would enjoy the game. I thought that it was a special game, and even then, I believed that it could be a special franchise, something that I would like to continue. Through the development of Metroid 1, I really grasped the possibilities and potential of a video game.”
More: interview, Metroid, top, Yoshio Sakamoto
Sakamoto on Metroid dev approach, Samus’ Returns amiibo support, series’ future, Rhythm Heaven not dead
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News | 23 Comments
Eurogamer published a meaty interview with longtime Metroid developer Yoshio Sakamoto. There was plenty of talk about Samus Returns, including the amiibo support and two different hard modes. Sakamoto also weighed in on the series’ future and more. Elsewhere, he also seemed to shoot down recent rumors that the Rhythm Heaven franchise is dead.
We’ve rounded up the notable comments from Sakamoto below. You can find even more on Eurogamer here.
Sakamoto wants to make another 2D Metroid if given the opportunity and fans are interested
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 63 Comments
Metroid: Samus Returns isn’t entirely new, but it’s still technically the first 2D entry in the series we’ve had in years. Before the 3DS remake, it wasn’t until Metroid: Zero Mission on the Game Boy Advance that Nintendo revisited the 2D gameplay.
Fans will be happy to hear that series producer Yoshio Sakamoto still wants to work on the series going forward. In this month’s issue of Game Informer, Sakamoto said that he’d love to make another 2D Metroid so long as the opportunity presents itself and the fans show interest. Part of this seems to be based on Samus Returns’ reception – and the amount of people purchasing the game.
Sakamoto said:
“Through the development of Metroid: Samus Returns, I was able to really grasp the possibility and fun of a 2D Metroid. Like when I finished the first game, if there is another opportunity to make another Metroid, that is something that I would love to do. Of course, that really depends on how much people really want to buy a 2D Metroid.”
More: interview, Metroid, top, Yoshio Sakamoto
Sakamoto on Metroid: Samus Returns – melee counter, MercurySteam collaboration, bringing it to life, more action
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 2 Comments
Yet another Metroid: Samus Returns interview has appeared online with Yoshio Sakamoto. In a talk with CGMagazine, Sakamoto commented on the game’s new melee counter, working with MercurySteam, how the game was brought to life, heavier action focus, and more.
We’ve highlighted notable excerpts from the interview below. You can read the full discussion here.
Sakamoto on Chozo inspiration, MercurySteam’s understanding of Metroid, remaking Metroid II
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 0 comments
Metroid: Samus Returns producer and series co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto has been fielding media interviews since the title’s initial showing at E3 last month. This includes TIME, who has some choice words from Sakamoto.
Among his remarks, Sakamoto touched on what inspired Chozo and the overall aesthetic. And for Samus Returns specifically, he discussed working with MercurySteam and the studio’s true understanding of the franchise. Sakamoto also further commented on why it’s the right time to remake Metroid II.
Find these excerpts from Sakamoto below. You can read TIME’s full piece here for a few more comments.
Metroid: Samus Returns development complete, Sakamoto on the wait for 2D Metroid, Other M criticism, more
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii | 61 Comments
Kotaku was one of several outlets that went hands-on with Metroid: Samus Returns at E3 last week. The site also spoke with some of the people involved with the game.
According to Tim O’Leary from Nintendo Treehouse, development is complete. Perhaps that not massively surprisingly given how it’s due out in just a few months. Still, it’s pretty interesting to hear.
Kotaku also shares some new comments from producer Yoshio Sakamoto. Sakamoto was asked why Samus Returns is on 3DS rather than Switch, why it’s taken so long for a new 2D Metroid, criticism of Metroid: Other M, and how the 2D / 3D Metroids are handled at Nintendo.
Continue on below for Sakamoto’s comments. You can find a few more on Kotaku here.
Metroid: Samus Returns devs on decision to remake Metroid II, bringing back 2D Metroid, more
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments
Game Informer caught up with two of the developers working on Metroid: Samus Returns at this year’s E3. The site spoke with Nintendo producer Yoshio Sakamoto and José Luis Márquez of MercurySteam.
During the conversations, there was talk about why Metroid II is being remade and bringing back 2D Metroid. Sakamoto was also asked to clarify the story of making Samus female at the end of the original Metroid.
Continue on below for some excerpts from the interview. The full talk is over at Game Informer.
Nintendo heard about AM2R after Metroid: Samus Returns development started, creator not bitter
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 32 Comments
After working on the project for several years, DoctorM64 published his fan project Another Metroid 2 Remake (AM2R) online last year. But soon after it was released, he was given a DMCA from Nintendo.
What’s makes the whole story interesting is that Nintendo unveiled Metroid: Samus Returns for 3DS at E3 this week. It just so happens that the company was working on its own remake of the Game Boy title.
One of the more prominent developers involved with Metroid was actually aware of AM2R. Although he hasn’t seen it personally, game producer Yoshio Sakamoto told Kotaku:
“We heard about it first after we had already started development. We know it exists, the fact that a fan is out there and really likes the series this much.”
Metroid: Samus Returns devs on how MercurySteam came on board, art style, possibility of 2D Metroid on Switch
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch | 17 Comments
This information comes from Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto and MercurySteam’s Jose Luis Márquez…
On whether Nintendo reached out to MercurySteam or the other way around…
There was a very fateful meeting, so we’ll tell you that to start off with.
I just wanted to start out by saying I’ve been wanting to make a 2D Metroid game with today’s technology for quite a long time. It wasn’t only my personal desire, but also because I know there are a lot of people out there in the world who have been clamoring for a 2D Metroid game.
For myself, I’ve been wanting to revisit that fundamental, basic, core essence of Metroid, that 2D gameplay, and I was considering ways to go about taking on that challenge. That was more than two years ago.
Sakamoto on Metroid: Samus Returns – what’s new, no ties to Metroid Dread or Prime 4, started 2 years ago
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch | 33 Comments
This information comes from Nintendo’s Yoshio Sakamoto…
“It’s the same game. … All of the fundamental design is the same … in that the basic map structure is all based off the Metroid II map. Basically what we’ve done is we’ve used this new technology that we have at our fingertips to just polish up what was already there and to improve upon it. Maybe the thing that felt so different was that it was in full color.”
On whether Samus Returns is getting the same expansion as Zero Mission…
“I believe that yes you can go ahead and look forward to some of those same experiences that you had with Zero Mission.”
On whether we’ll get an additional layer of back story like Zero Mission…
“[In] this game there’s a lot of background, there’s a lot of lore involved in this title. But it’s not like a novel or something. It incorporates the lore, but it’s not integral to the gameplay experience. It’s in the background more than in the foreground. There is definitely information for the players to get that revolves around sort of the larger storyline.”
