Email: Metroid and “story”

I think the hubbub over Other M is funny, but isn’t some of it an example of the power of imagination that you keep talking about? True, none of the early really have what you could call a story, but people see to imagine that they do. I think it’s because the little surprise twists are so surprising that they stick with people and grow in their memories.

The thing is, though, that doing anything to expand on those moments ruins everything that made them special in the first place. More story will just make more noise. It’s like what Tolkien said about Lord of The Rings: “Part of the attraction of the L.R. is, I think due to the glimpses of a large history in the background: an attraction like that of viewing far off an unvisited island, or seeing the towers of a distant city gleaming in a sunlit mist. To go there is to destroy the magic, unless new unattainable vistas are again revealed.”

Man, it’s depressing thinking about how the Iwata Asks interview that will no doubt come about from Other M will not include Gunpei Yokoi. Not that I think he’s some kind of gaming god. He did, after all, make the Virtual Boy. It’s just that there will surely be a big chunk of the story missing.

You’re right about the power of imagination. This is why many companies put out trailers for their games well in advance. They get the imagination running and hype, hype, hype to pre-sell it. Then the unfortunate gamer goes home and discovers the game is a dud.

One of the big problems with Metroid: Other M is that it all exists in the imagination; no gameplay footage has been shown. We really don’t know how the game will play. So many people are thinking Other M will be Super Metroid 2. If they think this, they will become very disappointed.

This is one reason why I keep highlighting those Sakamoto quotes. Whatever is coming from Other M, it sure as hell won’t be Super Metroid 2. It is going to be different.