Speaking in a recently translated interview with Famitsu, Metroid producer and series veteran Yoshio Sakamoto discussed last year's Metroid Dread in detail, touching on a range of topics including how he hopes the game will inspire indie developers making the next generation of Metroidvanias.
As noted by Nintendo Enthusiast (via Nintendo Everything's translation of the entire interview, which was originally posted back in October), Sakamoto was asked to comment on the Metroidvania genre and its incredible growth in the time between GBA's Metroid Fusion and MercurySteam's entries in the 2D Metroid canon, which began with 2017's Metroid: Samus Returns.
Sakamoto had this to say when asked about the indie game Metroidvania trend:
Metroid-like action exploration is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the indie game scene. How do you feel about the trend?
It’s both interesting and an honor to think that a game we created 35 years ago is now being considered a genre, with so many different takes and interpretations. The genre will continue to remain popular if there’s still potential left in it, potential we want to show off. I hope that Metroid Dread will be a source of inspiration for indie game creators.
There's no denying that the genre has enjoyed an incredible boom over the last few years. As much as we like a damn fine Metroidvania (and we do), if it's not PR about a roguelike dropping in our inbox, it's PR about a Metroidvania. Or, indeed, a roguelike Metroidvania. There's an argument that we're approaching — or perhaps have already passed — saturation point with the genre, so we're all for seeing some innovation in the genre that mixes things up a bit.
Given the fact that there's such a wealth of competition out there, it's perhaps all the more remarkable how Dread arrived and managed to feel like such a breath of fresh air in genre that, as Sakamoto intimates, risks turning stale if developers don't mine that untapped 'potential'.
Elsewhere in the interview the veteran producer discussed the creation of the E.M.M.I., working with MercurySteam, the Spanish team's influence on the direction of Dread, and memories of his years with the series. Be sure to check out the full interview over at Nintendo Everything.
What elements of Metroid Dread do you feel 'show off' untapped potential in the genre? Let us know below?
- Further reading: Best Nintendo Switch Metroidvania Games
[source nintendoeverything.com, via nintendoenthusiast.com]
Comments 62
Dread is a good game. Still didn’t beat it though
Metroidvanias are probably one of the most popular genres with Indies, inspiring them probably isn't that hard.
That being said, there is genres out there that jave stagnated and still get churned out, reversely there is also genres with such great potential and simply die out. One major factor is what's considered "cool."
I think that if Dread introduced anything interesting to the already well-established genre, it would be cinematics. The cinematics in Dread are absolutely fantastic and I think it showcases what storytelling can look like in a metroidvania. The story itself in Dread isn't perfect, but I think the formula it uses is really, really good.
Got the collectors edition waiting to play/ finish past metroids first... I'm not particularly a huge fan of the genre since the market is oversaturated... But i definitely do get down on them... Roguelikes as well which I'm surprised have grown on me as much as they have ..and recently been digging the card game/boardgame/ strategy, turn based genre
It could be possible to make a MetroidVania game where you do not obtain upgrades at all and the game depends entirely on skill. You could progress and change the environment by flooding areas to allow you to reach high areas. Or gravity controls, turning on a bubble machine etc. I think this would be interesting to see
@moodycat Sir this is a Wendy's.
Edit: Moody, nobody was insulting you, yet you still deleted your comment lashing Metroid Dread. Why?
@moodycat THIS. Holy smokes. I’m very glad I borrowed Dread from my neighbor instead of buying it. Played 2 hours and it was a freaking slog. If anything, Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night should be all the inspiration people need.
@HotGoomba No this is a sushi place.
I'll be the odd one out here and say that I agree with this interview. Even though games like Metroid Dread, as a Metroidvania, only dips into shallow waters whereas games like Symphony of the Night and Hollow Knight set a standard for what people want to see from a Metroidvania game, I believe that Metroid Dread serves as a perfect inspiration for developers who want to bring simplicity into Metroidvanias, rather than the other way around.
More features doesn't necessarily mean more fun. Metroid Dread was solely focused on skill rather than having the player manage stats alongside of it. The learning curve ends up being different, catering more to those who want to pick up and play rather than those who like exploration.
I love and always loved Metroidvanias, and I don't see myself getting enough of the genre in the foreseeable future. I think we might have passed the saturation point of the genre but, honestly, it's saturated with ok and so-so games. Only a few are great metroidvanias
@moodycat I‘ll meet you halfway and say I loved Metroid Dread but also got the impression it was now just one of many faces in the genre it was once THE face of. Executed phenomenally well in my opinion but also an extremely rote experience.
I very much enjoyed Dread but having played Samus Returns, Fusion, and Zero Mission all for the first time right before it came out I can't really see much new it actually did. Kind of just struck me as just kind of more of the same of a winning formula.
Removed - spam; user is banned
"Metroidvania" 😆😆😆
I am not sure what more they can do for the genre to be honest, other than just do it bigger and better. Games like Metroid Dread and Hollow Knight are near perfect as far as metroidvanias go.
@Lizuka, I feel that was what was relatively fresh about it. As someone pointed out earlier, what Dread does exceptionally well is build strong combat and flow. It is excellent for pick up and play sessions and builds in small, subtle hints to constantly direct the player where games like Symphony of the Night, Hollow Knight and Bloodstained can have you stuck at a part for hours trying to figure out something obtuse. It is seamless in guiding progression and incentivizes the player to explore and progress through level design and flow. While being memed to oblivion, the "Jaffe Room" has been picked apart on just how amazingly designed it is.
let's also not forget the amount of sequence breaking and high-level play. This game goes out of its way to reward sequence breaking with new and interesting discoveries that leave players coming back for more.
I'm not a huge fan of the genre as I hate how obtuse it can get. I adore Bloodstained, but when I put down the game and went back to it... I got instantly stuck. Where has Metroid Dread I can leave the game down for months at a time and come back to it and immediately get back into the driver's seat. I adore this game, coming from someone who struggles with the genre.
@StarPoint I really didn't care much about the cinematics personally, but they certainly add to the AAA feel. I think that's what it did that hasn't been done before in the genre... simply the fact that it's a Metroidvania game with an actual budget. Most of them are crafted on a shoestring budget. Of course some are still great, but a game of this caliber was lacking in the genre, and now it exists.
I'm not big on the genre, so that's probably why I mostly stick to Metroid. It's something I know I'll enjoy despite its shortcomings.
Now that I think about it, I think the main reason I play Metroid is for its lore and characters. Of course I also do it for the gameplay, but probably not as much for that reason as other series like, say, Mario or Kirby.
Maybe I'll try Hollow Knight one day, though.
@Troll_Decimator Good point. That is interesting to think about, that most metroidvanias are made by small indie teams. I think that is another thing that helps to differentiate Dread, the fact that it does have that AAA feel and look.
Metroid Dread fails as a Metroid game because the atmosphere and exploration that make a Metroid game just aren't there (Hidden goodies just blatantly showing up on the minimap with no way of being able to turn it off is pretty telling on how much they value the exploration), meanwhile a whole lot more focus was put into high octane action, cinematics and freaking QTEs of all things, things which are not what I believe Metroid is about.
Credit where it's due they nailed the movement but that's about it, as long as Mercury Steam has the series on a chokehold it will be nothing more than an action game, those guys just don't have any sort of artistic vision whatsoever.
But if other M is anything to go by clearly Sakamoto's vision for the series is just that, a cinematic action game.
@HammerGalladeBro To this day, Hollow Knight is still the best Metroidvania I've ever played. If you're cautious about the genre, I think this is a great game to start off with, since it's pretty cheap compared to a lot of other games in the genre.
@Expa0 You are confusing your owner personal nitpicks with what makes a game with a Metroidvania and that's a bit much. The genre is much broader than the ideal version of it in your own definition.
Also, Other M is vastly underrated.
I loved Metroid Dread and beat it in a reasonable time, but had absolutely no desire to play it again. Whereas starting a new game of Super Metroid is always exciting. I don't know. It just felt like "Metroidvania by numbers", with challenging fights and great visuals, but that's it. I can't see anything inspirational about it for other devs. That's quite a pretentious thing to say, actually...
I mean, from what I’ve played of Dread so far, it doesn’t do anything revolutionary outside of the stealth sections. It’s just kind of Nintendo going, “Hey, we make good video games!” that was kind of the motto for Nintendo throughout the Wii U and 3DS era.
Is it just me or is the comments section on this site becoming increasingly edgy and contrarian? Every time I wade into an article about an apparently beloved game I see it frontloaded with such comments.
Wow, that's cool to hear. Sakamoto seems like a chill guy.
I wonder if the creators of the genre are ever inspired by those they inspired. When does the student become the teacher and the teacher the student?
@mr_somewhere That's the vibe I get too. This comment section would have climbed over themselves throughout the Wii U generation to play a game like Dread. Where now, it just feels like they got what they wanted and now feel the need to tear it apart. Dread is probably one of the best-designed games I've ever played (which is a lot considering I've been gaming since the SNES/N64). The level design and combat are on point and excellent! The story finally ties up Metroid Fusion and opens the door to a new world for Metroid.
I love this game, but the comments here make me question if we played the same one...
@Wexter I get that feeling as well, but, to each their own if that's how they feel about it. Just a little saddened about the changing vibe I get from this place. It's entirely possible it was like this before and I missed it.
@mr_somewhere that is true you cannot force someone to like the same game as you.
@mr_somewhere @Wexter
I, wholeheartedly, agree with you.
I am glad that Sakamoto is talking Metroid! With the success of Dread I am Hopeful that they have more incentive to make the next 2d/2.5d Metroid game quickly. I always have room for more Metroid in my life.
What I hope indies take away from this is that accessibility and difficulty are not mutually exclusive. Cinematics are also nice.
Dread was not a good game and i got rid of it and got my money back. Mercurysteam also treats it's workers like trash so i will never buy another game from them again.. Now if you liked the game ...that's great but me i hated the trash and have no regrets
@Wexter I disagree with you the game was not a good metroid game... The game was such a borefest i took it back after 24 hours.. If people want to play a really good Metroid game play super metroid.... That is a true metroid game... Dread was a paste and play game. I put dread right up there with Other M.
@Expa0 Agreed.. They do not know how to make a good metroid game and you will have fans out there that will defend this game no matter what ... me i hated the game and will not miss it
@StarPoint Hollow Knight is incredibly well made as a metroidvania, but idk, i just dont rank it personally as a top tier mv. there is no way it is better than Super Metroid. I rate contemporary metroidvanias like Cathedral and Momodora as better for some reason
@NWC Mercury Steam never got the 'feel' or metroid down imo. They feel like something different with the metroid IP pasted onto it.
I finished the game in a few consecutive sittings which is extremely rare, so it must have done something right. I liked Fusion and this game had a similar cadence
@noobish_hat I say that there's nothing wrong with being old fashioned and the familiar. To where Bloodstained, Ori, and Hollow Knight, surpass it with the Metroid games in terms of stuffing it with..everything and there's nothing wrong with that. But if you forget it's inspiration, then you risk going overboard. Heck, even on Dread, you can be inspired on how good (or bad) it did its music, combat, etc.
Where's my indie successor to Other M, dang it!
@Scapetti Probably make so either choose whether getting the upgrades is worth the added gameplay difficulty/time. Example (I could continue sneaking around the area avoiding the tougher enemies but I need that missle upgrade though I need to defeat that boss guarding that.)
Good idea.
@smithyo This is what happens when Nintendo lets third parties make their games.. some are good like some from ubisoft while others like the dread mess was a total let down
Metroid Dread is fantastic but personally I had more fun with Astalon Tears of the Earth last year. Much better flow to the exploration and more satisfying overall.
Hollow Knight is easily the best Metroid style game, IMO, and I've played several dozen of them. Silksong is the only game I can imagine topping it.
@StarPoint Ori and the Will of the Wisps did a very good job with that too. In fact, I think it did a better job with story than Dread. That game is pure magic, from the art style, gameplay, music, atmosphere, to story.. it hits all the notes!
I hope they don't
Dread was the least Metroidvania game I've played in a long time.
I enjoyed Hollow Knight and the Ori games way more than Dread.
Indies, do what you do best and let Mercury Steam do what they don't do best.
I'm glad others enjoyed Dread but I'm with BloodNinja on this one.
Played the demo and then tried ori. Payed ten less for both ori games and had way more fun then with dread. The metroidvania scene is doing just fine.
@StarPoint
Hollow knight is great but the difficulty might be a bit much for beginners. Ori and the blind forest might be better. Will of the wisps if you are okay with playing them out of order. Doesn’t really change much though
They way she moves is amazing. Wish the game was a bit longer though.
@blindsquarel I love Hollow Knight but yes it is very hard. On Switch I'm stuck forever on Nightmare King Grimm. On PC I used mods and was able to beat the game by cheating but even then I couldn't comprehend how to do it legit.
@StarPoint I really love the details in the background. There are several youtube videos that point a lot of em out and it's amazing.
@BloodNinja
Agreed, I was hyped for this game as I'm a sucker for metroidvanias but finally it turned out to be a big disappointment. I'm not sure if I'm able to point to a particular flaw, it just did not click with me.
Off topic: I just got my beautiful Sanwa parts tonight (a stick, buttons and an 8-way gate). So tomorrow morning I'm doing my first mod on the 8bitdo arcade stick. It's super exciting! Thanks for your hints and encouragement, again!
@Wexter “It is excellent for pick up and play sessions and builds in small, subtle hints to constantly direct the player where games like Symphony of the Night, Hollow Knight and Bloodstained can have you stuck at a part for hours trying to figure out something obtuse.”
This is what I think Dread does so well. My first play through was a delight and the fun never stopped. Where these other games, which I played and enjoyed, I would get lost for hours and start getting fatigue. I’m not saying these games should be more like Dread, because they’re clearly enjoyed by a lot of people. I’m perfectly happy playing Metroidvanias with different experiences.
I'm hoping the Metroidvania games from the past decade will give the Metroid devs more inspiration in their direction with the Metroid series
There's not really any exploration in Dread? Fun action game, but basically a hallway. Weird that we still call them Metroidvanias when the Metroids and the Vanias aren't really great examples of the genre anymore. I guess there's still hope that Prime 4 will be a strong showing.
@BloodNinja Wrong. It's an Italian restaurant.
Dread is a good game. I've been enjoying myself.
@Tempestryke Ah yes, my mistake.
@Bydlak Hell yeah! I look forward to hearing the end result! Take your time; it will pay off
@NWC Considering your view on the game is it's "trash," and you did not finish (or even play that far into your own words), you have no real basis for your argument. There are tons of built-in sequence breaks that allow you to go off the beaten path once the game provides you with the skills you need to do it. Once you get the hang of the advanced mechanics, the game opens up about as much as Super Metroid. And even Super Metroid is the same way as you cannot do half the cool things the game lets you do until you've played it a few times and get the grips on the mechanics. I can respect you disliking the game, but your arguments are trash.
I cannot speak on what's going on with indies. I haven't played Hollow Knight, Axiom Verge or the Ori games, but with regard to specifically Metroid, I think Super Metroid is the only Metroid game that is better at implementing the "Metroidvania" formula than Dread. They're both so good at the formula that for a Metroid game to be better, they're better off not following the formula to a tee. Metroid has been 50/50 in that regard for me. I consider both Hunters and Federation Force better games, but Other M and Pinball as worse. I enjoy both Other M and Prime Pinball, but they to me are not better as games in what they do than the best implementations of the traditional Metroid formula.
@BloodNinja
So I got this baby up and running! The upgrade went totally smooth, it was easier than I thought. And boy, it was worth it! The Sanwa stick feels so much better, more stiff and precise than the original 8bitdo one. And it's fun and a satisfaction to have upgraded it myself. So there's a long marathon of playing my favourite arcade games from the early eighties waiting for me. I think I'll kick off with finishing Commando for the first time. Cheers, mate!
@Bydlak That’s fantastic! glad you got it up and running. Good choice with Commando! Have fun
All Metroids have inspired my game development for sure. Can't wait to show people in a couple years.
@moodycat I disagree but respect your opinion 👍
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