Video: Are 2D Games Worth $60? Jon, Alex And Zion Share Their Own Thoughts

I don't see the problem. As along as the game is fun why does it matter if it is $60?

Back in the 90s, Street Fighter II for the SNES was easily 60 or more, which with inflation, is likely 80 or higher today.

Yes. 2D games are worth 60 dollars. How is this even an article?

@BloodNinja what do you mean by "stolen" im not the biggest metroid fan so is it copying another game?

@BloodNinja you didn’t see the video.

Oh, and you are fundamentally wrong. Or trolling.

And where’s the recycled content? If a game uses a model of a tree from a different game it’s recycled content and the price should drop? And what do you mean short playtime? (Alex answered that one, btw). And what do you mean ‘stolen game mechanics’? Which game mechanics are you talking about...? If a game uses jump, it’s stolen?

All your ‘problems’ with the game are prematurely and entirely based on merit alone. And in the mean time others aren’t allowed to look forward to the game based on merit?

That’s just bad arguing and very egocentric if you’d ask me. Wanting to make a point for the sake of making a point. Let others look forward to the game.

Edit: oh you edited your comment. All of a sudden it’s about not preordering... I would usually agree with you on that point but not on Metroid. Metroid is worth preordering! Especially the first new entry in the series (not a remake) after 19 years. That baby needs to be delivered to me in special edition form as soon as possible on the day of the release.

The market determines whether or not the game is worth it. If enough people are buying it at its base price that it becomes successful, then yes, it is worth $60.

This debate is an extension from the Link's Awakening remake. Predecessors and original versions seem to dramatically drop in price, at least digitally speaking, and then you have an improved version with a price tag that goes up against an even larger game of the same franchise.

Link's Awakening vs Breath of the Wild
Metroid Dread vs Metroid Prime 4

But when was this not expected? This is Nintendo we're talking about. Delivering great games, but making questionable marketing decisions (I still won't shut up about the Smash 4 and BotW DLCs). We have to learn to accept, not expect.

@Slowdive yep, they indeed were!

All I'll say is that it's fundamentally bizarre that a medium like video games, which typically offer about 8-20 hours of entertainment at the absolute minimum, is constantly subjected to this level of scrutiny when it comes to cost. Meanwhile, the price point of AAA games has remained static for nearly thirty years in spite of inflation, while the cost of producing said games has gone up. Yeah, they nickel and dime you in other places but at the end of the day, if you don't think something is worth paying for, then don't buy it.

IDK why just bc the game is bursting out the seems with Looks and open world content its not worth 60$? guess smash bros isn't worth it then.

@BloodNinja Sorry man hard disagree there, most if any of what you said made no sense.

$60 for 2.5 D = No for me.

At some occasion I got 3D Action platformer games (Ratchet& Clank) for $20 - $30.

@Anti-Matter can you elaborate your reasoning please, because as is thoroughly discussed in the video basing a price on in-game camera perspective and on game genre alone is absolute bullocks.

Yes.

Maybe if the game is for long hour fun gameplay then i dont mind $60

I'm all in. Wish it were dropping today! Take my money!

@Aurumonado 30 mins video, but your comment actually says it all.

@moodycat While you and I have different standards, I really appreciate the insight and line of reasoning you've provided. Wish it was more common in these types of discussions!

It will be worth $60 for me.

@Everyone
This is the stupidest, most baseless argument in the history of videogames. But props for the video that made me watch for 2 minutes and then post this. IMPRESSIONS!

If they take as long as a 3D adventure, but they very rarely do, and it would be slightly bizarre if they did.

@bloodninjaman
It’s at LEAST 2.79D, come ON!

I agree with Alex. I replay a Zelda or Metroids 2d titles at least once a year. The bigger games are much less frequently played by me.

To me, absolutely. It's ridiculous to me that the position of the camera dicates the price. Link's Awakening remake, DK Tropical Freeze, the Yoshi games, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and NSMBU are examples of 2D games that I believe are worth $60. Metroid Dread is shaping up to be another example. And I have no issue with spending $60.

Of course value is subjective and varies between people.

@Friendly
I have second handed of New Super Mario Bros U Wii U from my local game shop for around $20 and I played the game slowly as I felt pretty boring quickly after playing 3 stages as my interest with 2D games is very low (still have interest with certain 2D games but not as big as 3D games).
Yes, it was good game but not engaging for me for long time so I will not get really excited playing 2D games especially when I bought with $60.
$60 is a big money, I expect at least 3D, not 2D or 2.5D.
Cannot imagine how I felt wasting my money for 2D games with $60 price tag when my interest with 2D games is very low. And thus I bought New Super Mario Bros U Wii U second handed condition with price under $60 because spending $60 for brand new 2D games is not worthy for me as I can get 3rd party 3D platformer games with under $60.

@BloodNinja Guess you don't think Game series should be 60 dollars, or sequels, because series and sequels reuse assets and mechanics.

I would pay $100 for Link's Awakening Remake but I wouldn't pay $2 for Breath of the Wild. BotW is too long and ruined Zelda. I'm sure the same will go for Metroid. Dread looks perfect. Prime 2 and 3 sucked so not even looking forward to a 4.

I do think play time is a factor, just not the only one. If it's an amazing game but it's only an hour long, I think I'd still be a little disappointed if I had to spend $60 on it. (Not implying that Dread will be short, but I do hope it's got some meat to it)
Something also feels off to me that Metroid Prime 4 will end up (most likely) being the same price, even though the production cost is likely going to be significantly higher.
Would selling these two games at the same price end up discouraging the making of higher production games? I assume most of us are even more excited for Prime 4, but will it be worth it for the company if they can get away with making just 2D metroids?

I'm of the opinion that what makes a game is the content in said game, and the hours you spend playing the game, not the art style or the assets the game uses.

For example, games like Star Allies should really be 25 dollars, due to how shallow it is in terms of it's gameplay, and the amount of content you get isn't befitting for a 60 dollar game.

On the other hand, Octopath Traveler is 60 dollars, and it's well worth the price point, as you get over 100 hours of content.

Gonna watch the video later. To me it hinges on playtime and replay ability.
Fusion and zero mission were absolutely fantastic! But they were 10 hours max. And that was pretty much it. You could go for faster times, and hunting for the last tanks is always fun... But that isn't the main experience!

I think a platformer like shovel knight gives way more incentive to replay it because it doesn't rely on exploration and discovery.

Tldr: 45 for 10 hours is great, 60 for 20 hours I'm okay with too! 😂

@BloodNinja honestly, I'm getting tired of your hate for Metroid Dread just because of the developers MercurySteam. It's disheartening.

Also for anyone who doesn't think that Metroid Dread is worth $60.

You're probably the kind of person to wait for prices of games to decrease overtime anyways, so stop WHINING and just wait for the price to go down. Nobody wants to hear you cry over a price of a video game. Because nobody cares. Honestly.

Any game is worth $60 if it's quality. Any game is worth $50 if it's fun. Any game if it's $70 if it's a life-changing experience. If you don't think that, that's ok, but that doesn't mean that you should whine over a price of a game unless it's a port that has overvalued (or is equivalent to the price of) the original release.

Because fun fact: Games are supposed to be fun at the end of the day, weather they're 2D or 3D, 2.5D or overhead.

And I know that I'll get a lot of slack from this comment, but I am just putting out my opinion.

If it's good, it's worth 60 bucks.

The term value is heavily at play here, though.

I have paid 60 bucks for an N64 port, and if someone ports Quest 64 or Vexx, I will do it again.

@Anti-Matter to each their own. That’s the entire point of the video.

But saying a game is worth x amount because of video perspective is bullocks.

Super Mario World is still worth way more to a lot of people than Assassin’s Creed III, for example.

Let’s be real here, it’s not the genre, it’s the brand: Nintendo. They sold cardboard. They’ll sell any damn thing they want at $60, $70, $80 because that’s the brand.

Donkey Kong and Link's Awakening are not worth 50 pounds, to me. I got Link's Awakening for about 22 pounds and thought, while it is an amazing game, it does not hold the same value as BOTW. 22 pounds was a good deal. I am the biggest Metroid fan, so while I know that this game was much cheaper to produce than Red Dead Redemption 2, I want it more. I know it isn't worth 50 pounds. I have already got Metroid Dread reserved at my local shop for about 40 pounds at launch anyway. I would have paid 100 though, and after all the amiibo and stuff I will probably have spent that much.

Great video! I love to hear the three of you talk over these things. Keep up the good work!

@iuli if your only argument is ‘there are so many Nintendo fans here so it’s not fair arguing’ then lol...

The whole point of the video is that the price point is a value proposition.

And yes, to a lot of people on this forum, a new Metroid game is worth way more than another 2D indie metroidvania. Because of continuation of the story / saga alone already.

@garfreek I’d take 10 hours of absolutely amazing gameplay for 60 bucks over 20 hours of boredom for 45 though.

I am trying so hard to understand that some random criteria like camera perspective should dictate the price... but I just can't. I would have easily paid $60 for Shovel Knight or Steamworld Heist, and never thought twice. The sheer amount of fun I have had with both of those games would more than justify that. Same with Samus Returns on the 3ds! I can't wait for Metroid Dread.

Can you imagine using some pricing metric in a game like Wolfenstein, where number of nazis killed equals price??
"Well, the game developer only provided 600 nazis to slaughter in this game, rather than 1200. Should only be $30 max."

Or what about movies in the theater? Do Marvel movies get their own pricing structure compared to other movies due to the amount of special effects used?

Sometimes I think my fellow gamers are quite an entitled group...

Oh nintendolife. Posting more controversial crap that is the thoughts of Twitter users instead of your own. U got the clicks. Can we lock comments and move on? Thanks darling. Games are worth what people will pay. End of story.

Didn’t we roughly have the same discussion when Castlevania Symphony of the Night vs Castlevania 64?

Now granted I don’t think this one is worth the full $60 since I don’t really care for MercurySteam and how they develop games. If this were being developed by Wayforward or Yacht Club then I would be all over it.

@VoidofLight Majora's mask is like one of the greatest LOZ games ever, and it was made in a year, I wonder why that is LOL.

Short Answer: No, 2D games are not worth $60.

Long Answer: No game “license” is worth $60 or even $40. In the Good Old Days™ of cartridges and discs one could buy a medium containing a final version of a game, with the right to use it.

The game industry as a whole has failed far to long to create the infrastructure needed for access to content inaccessible from commercially available platforms, and instead opted to cry “pirates“ and build safeguards into new releases. Now, we think we buy a physical medium containing a video game, but get scammed instead. The actual playable version of the game has to be downloaded as a "day one“ update. Some games require registration, some are unplayable without authentication by a remote server, some even require a constant online connection.

If I am forced to pay the same $60 for a game that is either a download or a faulty game with a mandatory download to fix it, it will be in competition with download only games and second hand games not ever requiring downloads.

Currently, I'm willing to pay $30 for a game that is on record for being worth the money, either via a good demo or real people reviews (sorry nintendolife, paid reviews do not count).

No pre-orders. Ever.

@Snatcher I found that reusing assets for developers is often a good thing, since most of the time, they can spend more time and resources to the story and to the content of the game itself.

@ecco6t9 Even if it's developed by MercurySteam, it's still directed and supervised by Yoshio Sakamoto, the original creator of all the Metroid games. It's not going to be a disappointment like Lords of Shadow Castlevania games.

I paid 60$ for each of the two Ori games physically (I really thought that that was going to be a competitive price - damn the limited run mentality!)
And while that isn't what they cost new any more I think that was a great price for that game for how beautiful and deep the experience was. Metroid es lo mismo and I have every intention on spending 60$ for it

@iuli you said ‘you have no one here to provide a counter-argument’, which is just... an absolutely pathetic statement.

Also, you edit your comment left and right. And all of a sudden I’m therefore lying in my comment or something.

I think it is funny the first commentor refers to the game as having "stolen" game mechanics, when "Metroidvania" is probably the most bandied around term in videogaming.

As a university professor, I have trained myself to believe there is no such thing as a stupid question. But ... the title of this article....?

I mean, I would pose to the room, is a mobile game where you can spend hundreds of dollars on random pulls "worth" $400? Know what I mean?

Come to think of it, this article seems to be against the website's rules: knowingly voicing an unpopular opinion for the sake of creating arguments. (Paraphrased quote from a recent Mod's post).

@VoidofLight good argument if you’d ask me!

@iuli so you admit you edited your comment? And in my first reply I said ‘if’.

Where am I lying then?

just ask super smash bros ultimate over 20 million copies. New super mario bros.u at over 10 million copies. both 2d both on the switch. if you make a great game. 2d or 3d it is worth 60 bucks.

Most games shouldn't be $60. Games, while requiring more work, are also becoming much much more popular and therefore neither need to or should stay at $60. Higher demand will easily offset the lower revenue.

Super mario Odyssey is both 2D and 3D and should therefore be 100 dollars minimum.

Mario Kart 64 and Mario 64 had 2D sprites in the game and should therefore have been 100 dollars minimum.

Companies have every right to set a price that they feel will net a ROI and turn a profit. At the same token consumers can determine what price the are willing to pay by waiting for a sale, buying second hand (my least favorite option), buying full price/preordering or not buying at all.

A Game is worth whatever price the company sets it at. What a consumer is willing to pay (within the constraints of the system) is up to that consumer.

Personally all I ask for is decent stock so that scalpers don’t inflate the price by preventing actual consumers from buying from a retailer at MSRP. That is the one plus for digital. Scalpers bought everything? Eshop has infinite stock.

@VoidofLight IKR?

@BloodNinja Oh I'm gonna bother! Shutting yourself off from others responding isn't how discussions are done.

You have no idea what this game contains other than the information given by the trailer, TreeHouse Presentation, and the Metroid dread reports on Nintendo's website. It hasn't even come out yet!

You edited your comment adding in people should wait for the game to release to buy it instead of preordering and yet you're throwing around nothing but conjecture based on the limited information we know at this point. You're contradicting yourself and being hypocritical. Why should anyone listen to your bit on waiting to buy and avoid preordering if you're being hypocritical?!

But enough about that... Let's focus on the first part of your comment because it's stuff like this that spreads misinformation.

You talk about "recycled content" to which I respond "What recycled content?" How can you even refer to something being recycled when we know so little? If you're talking about the game engine or assets or animations being reused, this is done all the time in the industry and is nothing new! Heck, Kid Icarus and Metroid on the NES used the same engine and had similar assets. And all of this isn't even going into the concept of iterative design within gaming... Which is taking older ideas or mechanics and tweaking them to try and improve them.
Then you talk about "short play-time" and I have to ask, how would you even know this? The TreeHouse hardly scratched the surface of the game from what I saw, how could ANYONE ascertain the length of this game from anything currently known? This is pure conjecture here.
And finally "stolen game mechanics"... What!? This doesn't even make sense! Developers from all corners of the industry see what other developers are making and see things that inspire them to add the same or similar mechanics to their games all the time. There's no such thing as "stolen game mechanics". Once again, you should look into iterative design in the context of game mechanics. Now there can be coded information that can be directly lifted from one game and inserted into another (owned by another, unaffiliated company, of course) but that is 100% different.

Final note-
You seem like a user I saw on YouTube earlier when watching a TerminalMontage video: "Something About Super Metroid". They commented the following and I woundn't be surprised if it was you trying to spread unnecessary discourse:
"Metroid Dread is 2.5D. And no, it's not garbage because of it's side-scrolling perspective. It's garbage due to the redundant mechanics, the downright stolen mechanics from other games, the cut scenes that you can't skip, the EMMI robot insta-death scenes, to name a few things. What a freaking tool for assuming such idiocy."

I wouldn't be surprised if this is you because they're doing the same thing: providing nothing but conjecture and causing the spread of misinformation.

@BloodNinja I usually agree with your comments man, but that is all utter nonsense. You cannot know any of the things you've asserted until the game is released, and the fact you won't respond and have edited after the fact shows you know you're talking out your posterior. Ninja disapproved.

2d games are worth no less than 3d to me. I enjoy them as much if not more.

Over here switch games new are usually between 50-60 new, maybe 45 euro for lessor budget titles. Which is about at highest point 5er more than wii u was. So we have always been paying that much or more in the past here.

Playstation prices have gone up though alot recently
Ps5 new games rather than ports have increased dramatically is about 70- just seen farcry for 85. Ps4 went from about 50ish in first years to often 65 at launch in last few years.

Yes they are. Its crazy to think otherwise

@BloodNinja GO TOUCH GRASS

@OhNoItsMoe side note, but I never got the people who are like "This game has unskippable cutscenes, so it's bad" when it only really effects people who play multiple times through. On your first playthrough, would you not want to experience the story of the game?

Like BananaBoy640, the game's overall fun factor, value, and such are subjective between people. If it's fun to them, then the price tag doesn't usually matter.

@BloodNinja I know you aren't going to respond, but honest question: why does it bother you so much if other people get excited for a game you aren't excited for? You're welcome to hold your opinion, but that doesn't mean you can enforce it on others and expect everyone to follow the same beliefs you do. I don't comment often, but I've seen you say this same thing on every single Metroid Dread article and I don't understand the anger towards others who are looking forward to what is, at the end of the day, a video game meant for entertainment. It doesn't hurt anyone if others choose to buy a game that they think looks high quality and worth the money (which, in my case, I personally think Dread looks fantastic). People can choose to disagree respectfully, I don't understand the hate that gets thrown around over such trivial matters.

I wanted to purchase Metroid Dread at $90, but scalpers making it very difficult to order the Special Edition has made me stop caring about picking that up. I'll have to settle for paying $60. Metroid games aren't long, drawn out games, they're great, relatively short experiences that tend to be worth replaying. It doesn't matter what form a Metroid game is in, they usually meet their value and then some in the long run. That's why it's my favorite series and an easy day one pick up.

Lol hell no especially not for a ring and the rosie game.

@VoidofLight You make a good point! Because I would agree!

But I don't know where that YouTube comment was getting THAT idea from. Samus Returns had skippable cutscenes. The intro wasn't skippable but it scrolled by so fast it's hardly a bother on other playthroughs. And ever since the Prime Games, you can skip certain cutscenes. Granted I don't quite remember if you could skip cutscenes in Other M... but I think you can if you die and respawn at the very least? Don't take my word for that!

The point is, they know being able to skip a cutscene is important to some for replaying the game. Samus Returns did it, I see no reason why they won't carry it over to Dread... and if it wasn't in the TreeHouse build, it likely will be there for the final release.

I'd rather pay $60 for a 2D game with good gameplay than for Sony's interactive movies. I haven't spent a single dime on any of Sony's "AAA" "Games", but I sure as hell am going to buy Dread Day one.

Asking if 2D games are worth the same as 3D games is like asking if Traditional animated films are less worthy than CG movies. And I'd take a Studio Ghibli film over any crap Dreamworks ***** out on a yearly basis.

@sleepinglion Right. This has helped put things in perspective for me. I am pretty sure Mario RPG retailed for $80.

Edit: Sears Christmas Catalog 1996 lists it for $74.99.

I think this debate can get insensitive towards people with lower incomes, especially when people aggressively defend high game prices. I'm not shaming or virtue signalling, just saying it is something to consider. For many, £50 is not worth it, I'd say it isn't worth it for most parents. I would never consider spending £50 on anything at all when I was 14 and I probably only had that kind of money at Christmas. Minimum wage for a British 18yr old is £6.56 if you take off the 20% tax on this income it is about a fiver. So 10 hours of working in a minimum wage job, not including transport cost or lunch money. Now I can afford £50 for this game but I am fully aware that it is very expensive for what it is and when I was the target age group I certainly could not afford it and wouldn't buy it. People who say "getting this day 1" are either 45yrs old or very wealthy teenagers, much wealthier than the majority of people in their early twenties. Or maybe they are crazy Metroid fans like me, going mental about the sequel to fusion.

@OhNoItsMoe Agreed. It honestly just wouldn't make sense for them to forego a quality of life feature that the other releases had.

69 bucks is the limit for a barebone game with no DLC or addons, so yeah, I'm fine with the price since I won't get the Amiibos.

@Moistnado Agreed! At least Metroid Dread is a new game and not a port.

I'd probably pay $120 for a new 2D Turrican game

Wow, this is at least the 2nd article on this topic in a couple of weeks - NL is pushing this hard. I will say what I said in the earlier topic - why not wait till the game's release to form an opinion?

@Friendly you said "an absolutely pathetic statement" to someone who had previously mentioned "prices are not tailored to my country’s economy".

Insensitive.

New Switch games drop down to £35-£40 retail in the UK around release anyway and I try and avoid the £49.99 price as I personally think that's a bit high for most games (especially something like Mario Golf: Super Rush).

Whether or not something is 2D, 2.5D or 3D doesn't bother me at all. All about the gameplay and entertainment value for me.

Nintendo should be wary of their prices creeping up because they rely on the family market and they could price a fair few people out of investing in the console if they go too much higher.

If Sword Shield is worth $60, most games should cost 90+. I paid like $15 for Dead Cells and have had ~400 hours in it, talk about endless entertainment.

A game is worth what people are willing to pay for it, if a game bombs, then people did not see the value in it, simple.

@tatchy,

So true, most games come down nearer to release.

For me it comes down to 3 things...

1. What were the production costs of the game compared to games like Odyssey and BotW? How big were the teams etc? Are these costs reflected in their relative prices?

2. How much content is there in the game? Does the game balance out its lack of complex 3D worlds with a wealth of content?

3. How does the content and quality compare to all of the wonderful £15-£25 2D indie games?

I don’t understand this discussion. From a business side of the coin it’s a good price point for delivering a game with quality high ( expectation) standards. Most Nintendo games supported by Nintendo have high quality standards to deliver games that keeps the audience pleased and also to support the dev’s on this game to bring more games. From a consumer perspective I would gladly pay for this game 60 dollars because I know I get a quality game wich I’m pleased with. The only thing I’m against is the special edition , I don’t think it’s worth a 30 more dollars for what it’s worth.

Funny how we're having a discussion about whether a brand new 2D game is worth full price when Nintendo are about to launch a 10 year old Wii game at full price with virtually nothing done to improve it

Nevertheless that we are talking about a game that I am sure its worth the money, I can say that I feel bittersweet about it.

My issue is that such a major cult franchise should be given a budget that subpasses Legend of Zelda Series by far.

I know that Metroid Prime 4 would be this case but i feel that in 2021 a 2D Metroid cant touch me / scare me / make feel that I am playing a hostile environment. At 90's, yes a 2D perspective was all that we had and it was doing its job fine. But now... meh. It would be a fine game to play but IT WILL NOT FEEL like a Metroid. The game that makes you feel scared what the next door will show, it will miss the atmosphere that a 3D environment can offer.

Isn't Smash Bros worth 60?? New Super Mario? The last Donkey Kongs? Zelda Link's Awakening?

Of course it's worth 60! It's a new game that looks AMAZING! And it seems to have so much content. Why wouldn't it be worth it?

Now, if we talk about the remaster of Zelda SS or the remake of the Advance Wars, then it's another story... Those ones should be 40, IMO.
But hey, let's complain more for a brand new game of one of the best sagas ever!

I've preordered the Special Edition and can't flippin' wait.

@BloodNinja …..just to let you know the circus is in town and they are always looking for clowns.

>Are 2D Games Worth $60? Jon, Alex And Zion Share Their Own Thoughts

> "YES!"

...that is great anti-clickbait.

@VIIIAxel because they're a troll, if you read through many of their comments they constantly contradict themselves about what they play, what they like, what they don’t like. It’s all very sad and shows a huge immaturity, their posts are school ground stuff.

I mean, we don’t know the amount of time, money and effort that goes into making games.
Even when games are ported, your paying for the work that goes into the port, plus the work that went into the original

"No Man's Sky costs $60 and let's your explore 18 billion entire planets. By comparison, Breath of the Wild 2 only lets you explore Hyrule and it's surrounding lands - therefore, it isn't worth $60."

^ Same reasoning and logic.

wonder how much $$$ nintendo pay nl to write these dumb articles

@westman98 lol .

Every game should indeed only cost a couple of cents maximum with this comparison.

@Moistnado someone who edited his/her comment though.

I only pay $60 for games I can resell for $30-40. Nintendo's pricing makes that possible. For playstation games, I just won't buy them until 6 months after release and they'll be $20-30. That's why I prefer physical. I would NEVER pay $60 for a digital game.

Didn't watch the video but the answer is definitely 'NO'

Eh, the camera perspective doesn't automatically change the price. What matters more is the quality, gameplay, design, length.

That said, for 2D games in much, much more inclined to pay more for games with a unique and beautiful art style, particularly with amazing, hand-drawn animation. Odin Sphere, for example, would've been worth it for $60. Both Ori games too.

This game's art style really isn't doing anything for me, so I'll wait for a sale.

That's just my personal opinion, so maybe the usual big N defence squad and peanut gallery could refrain from labeling it as whining while whining about someone daring to have a different opinion than them.

Cya
Raziel-chan

@fiben1002 All games played on a console or PC are digital. Digital isn't the opposite of physical. A cartridge or disc is still a medium that contains the game in a digital form. (A lot of 1s and 0s)

I don’t think it’s a case of 2D being worth x as a whole the camera perspective isn’t the only factor(although it can indicate a smaller dev team compared to a big 3D game so dev costs are less).I think you need to look at the individual case though, to me on appearance alone this game does not look as good as a number of metroidvanias released over the last few years which are a fraction of the cost. I don’t have a particularly affinity with the franchise so I see little value in what I saw in that trailer.

Are Nintendo games worth the price they decided to put on them, is a more realistic question. No, not always.

Nintendo may think they are to games what Apple is to Smartphones, but in reality not even Apple is what some people perceive them to be, there are phones out there that are just as good.

Metroid 5 could well be heading towards Mario Golf territory, a game that should have been much better, being full price, and getting average reviews.

If Nintendo quality checked their games Mario Golf would have been put back a few month for a refit.

Not really surprised to see a Nintendo exclusive being attacked about its quality before its release. We all know where these attacks come from. And in the end it does'nt even hurt Nintendo, it hurts small developers like Mercury Steam, Atlus or Platinum games. Boycott Sony in retaliation.

@BloodNinja I had the same issue with New Super Mario Bros U. Good game with a decent amount of content, but £30 would have been a fairer price given how much of it relied on things we'd seen before.

@Chocobo_Shepherd @SeaCarp @KryptoniteKrunch It's not a stupid or ridiculous question. 2D games are generally significantly cheaper to develop than 3D games so there's an argument to be had about whether they should cost less to buy than something like Breath of the Wild.

Good games are worth the full price, doesn't matter if they are 2D or 3D.

I pay happily 100€ for the special edition. It's Metroid, hello???

@Clyde_Radcliffe So we should start pricing games based on framerate? Lines of dialogue? Voice acting? Hours of gameplay? Resolution of textures? Number of polygons per character model?

... no thanks.

@BloodNinja Of course it's worth it, Metroid Dread is the exact game a significant majority of Metroid fans have wanted for 19 years. This isn't a soulless spinoff like Federation Force, this is what the fans want.

What a stupid question!!! The value of entertainment is measured by how much it entertains the person willing to pay the asking price. Everything else is arbitrary crap.

I am willing to pay 60 bucks for Silksong if that were the asking price and the same goes for Metroid Dread.

Unless it's on sale I'll buy a 2D game.

I tend to regard games as being very good value if it works out at about £1 for every hour I play, so if I'm paying £60 I'd hope for around £60 of playtime (over a lifetime of owning it, not necessarily 1 playthrough).
That being said, if the game is shorter than that, but of a higher quality (i.e. more memorable/enjoyable than average), then I'd say that adds value to it as well.
The style of the game doesn't really matter beyond this I guess, as long as the consumer feels they're getting out at least as much as they put in then I'd say the price is justified

Interestingly, many people here who criticize Metroid, which is a brand new game, for costing $60, support that fact that Skyward Sword, a port of a 15 year old game with basic improvements, costs $60. "Ah, but it's longer!" I don't care, man. From that point of view, Clubhouse Games should cost $300 because it's an infinite experience if you don't get tired of it. It's your opinion, nothing more than that. Stop trying to stick your opinion down people's throats.

I do hope Dread sells a lot and that more Metroid games come out more frequently. I deserve it!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

@BloodNinja thanks for saying that. It's simply not worth 60bucks. I know it's a nintendo thing but still it's not worth that amount. At best 35bucks for being exclusive.

@SortingHat yes something happened.

@Moistnado I don't think it's insensitive towards lower incomes; I mean if you debating whether to get a £50 game then you've likely already spent £250+ buying a Switch. Games/consoles are luxury items and in real terms cheaper than they've ever been, but it's still not exactly a cheap hobby.

I guess buying habits for those of us that grew up with games are different now; we likely have a bit more cash to spend, but my kids' buying habits are no different to mine back in the day - having to save for every game or waiting until a birthday or Christmas. They both have a Switch - My daughter bought hers after saving Birthday and Christmas money and has about 3 or 4 games which have all been Birthday/Christmas gifts. My son is a keen gamer, he bought a Switch day one - not because he's a wealthy teenageer or because his (certainly not) wealthy parents bought him one - he saved any money he got as gifts and sold some stuff he no longer wanted to pay for it.

Video games have become so much more mainstream in the last few years that the target audience is no longer kids/teens, but rather those adults that likely grew up with games like Metroid and now have all that lovely disposable income to spend. I doubt the average 18yo even knows that much about the Metroid franchise TBH since it's been a while since the last game - probably recognise Samus from Smash if anything.

As for whether Metroid Dread is worth £50/$60 is upto the individual I suppose. I'll probably get it at some point, but I definitely won't pay £50 - not because I don't think it's worth that, but even pre-ordering you can already pick it up for around 15% off RRP. Unless your purchase options are limited to the eshop, then it's unlikely anyone will 'need' to pay full price for it anyway.

@SortingHat okay check this article, caused a lot of controversies, hence the banning & removal of some comments deemed offensive.
https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/best-lgbtqplus-switch-games#comment6408670

@SortingHat Did you skip the part where I said “willing to pay the asking price”? Some people will pay and some will not. It’s a personal decision made by the consumer. Again: everything else is arbitrary crap.

@Moistnado "I think this debate can get insensitive towards people with lower incomes, especially when people aggressively defend high game prices. People who say "getting this day 1" are either 45yrs old or very wealthy teenagers, much wealthier than the majority of people in their early twenties. Or maybe they are crazy Metroid fans like me, going mental about the sequel to fusion."

I fit more in the third bracket of potential buyers you mentioned (excited Metroid fan), but yeah, I do think sometimes alternative points of view aren't always considered. It is just assumed that everyone has the moolah for it.

Me personally, I can afford the game no problem, and I will be buying at launch, but Nintendo (EDIT: and maybe SEGA/Atlus) are probably the only ones who can convince me to do this; most games I typically wait on as most games I don't think are genuinely worth the asking price, so I wait for them. At least with Metroid Dread though, the game is brand new... remasters/ports like Skyward Sword on the other hand are being sold at full price, and are even more expensive than the original games were at launch, for little-to-no improvements. I like Nintendo, but not that much to reward such little effort. It will be like other games where I wait for a good deal before picking up.

@SortingHat Not 100%, but the moderating in general has felt very trigger happy recently. I've seen quite a few comments from other articles which whilst sounding negative, have been respectful and well-worded. I know they say the community rules are easily accessible, but despite re-reading them and acknowledging that they say it is within their right to judge if something is in poor taste, what they deem acceptable is not clear.

@MS7000,

Not sure where peoples circumstance or income comes into all this, the games are priced at a rate Nintendo deems acceptable.

For example a new Ferrari car has a retail price far above my individual means, but this is by no means unfair as that's it's cost, weather or not people can afford this is a totally different issue.

I do understand however there is no need for people on higher incomes to be rude to people, who do not have the same means.

It’s a Switch release, not 3DS, so Nintendo has priced it accordingly and now it’s up to their devs to make Dread fun and memorable enough to justify that price point.
A product’s worth is such a relative question, though! It varies widely by person. Given this is a Nintendo-published Metroid title, there are a lot of dedicated fans betting this release will be worth it.

I’ll be among them, sincerely hoping it is!

Anyone who implies a game is not worth $60 because it is 2D (or 2.5D) is also implying that any game in 3D is worth $60 which is just plain wrong.

Like any game, wait for the reviews and feedback from other gamers then make your own decision. It's your money, spend it how you like.

@johnvboy "the games are priced at a rate Nintendo deems acceptable."

Correct, Nintendo does deem the price acceptable, hence why that is what they are asking. However, that is not why we are here today; the question is "Are 2D games worth $60"?

My fault for assuming if incorrect, but my understanding is we are asking the question from the point of view of the consumer. At that point, income and circumstances certainly do come into it because not all consumers will be able to afford full price, or if they can, probably don't think it is worth that much despite being able to buy it because of alternative games that in their circumstances offer more content for the same price, or perhaps the same content for a lower price.

Ultimately, value is subjective. No definitive answer is available for this question. But value can vary depending on personal circumstance.

@Moonlessky I'm going out on a limb and assume he means it's stolen because it looks similar to Samus Returns on the 3DS (which was made by the same devs as Dread)

@Longondo

What a bizarrely inspirational phrase that was!

Yes.

This sentence only exists because apparently one-word answers aren't allowed.

I would rather spend $60 on Bubsy 2D than Bubsy 3D….

When the dust settles on this game a month or two after release I don’t expect it to be pretty, we almost certainly aren’t getting another Super Metroid with what we’ve seen so far and what we have seen so far is rooted in the baggage of Metroid Fusion, forced stealth sections with death as a failstate unless you pass a glorified QTE is a big no to me.

In the end a game is worth as much as people are willing to pay for it. Prices are optimised by the company's analysts for max profits.

£60 is not even "full price" any more in the UK. £70 is the new full price. Nintendo luckily hasn't switched to the new pricing yet and sell most of their games at £50 (like Dread). I assume it is similar in the US as well.

Personally I have been waiting for a new sidescroller metroid for a very long time. I find them far superior to the Prime series (which is still good, just not nearly as great). So I got no problems with the price.

In the end this is Nintendo. They have sold many games at £50+ I wouldn't consider them worth the price, so it is not like this is a surprise. Some I can think out of the top of my head: 1-2 Switch, ARMS, MK8D, Pokken, Sushi Striker (£40, still a joke), FE/Hyrule Warriors, DK:TF, TLoZ:LA, all Pokemon games on Switch so far, Advance Wars Bootcamp, Mario Party/Tennis/Golf/All Stars, Animal Crossing, Famicom Detective Club. So not sure why everyone is suddenly so surprised.

Didn't stop most of them selling a lot though, which is the goal of a corporation.

@dmcc0 it seems like everyone is getting everything day one. If your kids are getting 4 games a year, selling things and looking for sales, that seems less extravagant and something I can relate to. Just pointing out that £50 is a lot of money for the average teen, average parent, probably most people. Aggressively defending this price point should not diminish this legitimate and objective view that $50 is a lot, to most people. I think the game is going to be amazing and I've already ordered it for less than $50 at retail. Im not saying everyone is insensitive but when people are told that their views are "pathetic" or when we start saying they can borrow it off a wealthier friend it becomes a bit condescending. There is that middle ground where people objectively see games like 1-2 switch as requiring less time coding or 2D games requiring less man hours modelling environments. These are legitimate views.

@BananaBoy640 I don't see the problem. As along as the game is fun why does it matter if it is $60?

As long as the small burger is good why does it matter if it costs the same as a steak?

Creating 3D level designs is a much more complex and laborious task than designing flat 2D worlds. So yes, I think that 2D games should be cheaper than 3D games.

I doubt many games on the Switch are worth the full price...

I'll wait for the reviews.
I dont really mind the 2(.5)D (Rayman Origins/Legends have taught me that lesson)...but I am not having much faith in Sakamoto.
If it's great I might buy it later...not like the new Prime game is just around the corner.

Value is subjective to each person. I don't think Call of Duty is worth $60 each year, literally the same game with a slightly different touch of paint. But millions of people enjoy it.

I will say that at the end of the day, how much you enjoy something is the factor. 2D vs 3D, 10 hours vs. 30 hours is irrelevant. It's a matter of quality, and how much fun you think you will have. I have played many 10-15 hour games that were way more fun than 50 hours slogs.

A game should be full price only if it is obvious that it is of a high budget, with significant money and time put into it. No obvious shortcuts taken that dampen the experience, like poor audio or visual quality, weak level design due to a lack of budget, or cheap recycled stock voice clips because you couldn’t bother to record new voices. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 set the standard for what customers should expect from a full priced game.

I consider a game like Sonic Unleashed to be worth full price because it has high production values and a good amount of content. Ratchet is £70 but it’s undeniable that Insomniac went all in on the production quality with cutting edge visuals and yes, high quality 3D environments.

A game like Mario Golf COULD be worth full price (I think World Tour and Toadstool Tour are worth full price) but Super Rush has such obvious cut corners and a low budget that i feel like it should be a discounted release. If Mario Sports games are going to be £70 in the future then Nintendo should start giving the games bigger development teams and more funding...MUCH more funding.

As for Metroid...the 2D perspective dampens it’s value as 2D games are simply easier to make than 3D games and are more plentiful. They did nice work on the presentation though, better than Super Rush.

Context matter a lot. $60 for a Madden roster update is stupid to me (yet, people pay it yearly). Same for CoD and other annualized games. Metroid Dread looks interesting, but I will wait for reviews to see if it is worth it. From what I’ve seen, it looks like a GBA game with updated graphics and not worth it.

I love Link’s Awakening, and it was one of my favorite GB games, but it wasn’t worth $60 for the remake. $40 or less was about right and I purchased it when that was the price. Nintendo is free to ask whatever price they want, and we decide if it is worth it. Enough of us disagree and the price will either drop, or more they will assume it was a bad game and kill the series. The issue is that Nintendo never stops to ask if the price was the problem or put games on sale often enough to test the theory.

It's pretty subjective. If I buy a grand, 100 hours long 3D game, then I got a great experience for my $60. But I'm very unlikely to put that kind of time into it again.
If I buy a 2D that's wicked fun for $60, but only takes me 10 hours to beat....that one play through may not have been worth the $60, but I will replay it for years, likely getting more playtime in it than the grand 3D game. If anything, I'll get more fun playtime out of a shorter 2D game.

@Darknyht

I am not a COD fan...but Activision has 3 studios working on the IP rotating through the different titles.
So development time per title is more 3 years than 1 year which is a relatively healthy development timeline in todays industry.

Another great discussion & video guys.
I agree with the 3 of you!

@Moistnado Sure, £50 is a lot of money for a game, but it's not like games have drastically risen in price - they've always been around £50, despite development costs being way more now than they were back in the day. I guess I've just accepted that's how much they cost and I'll do what I can to reduce it - either by shopping around, waiting for sales, buying used etc. As an example, I rarely buy games at release, but made an exception for Mario Golf as it just happened to coincide with an ebay voucher and I used some Nectar Points - got it down to around £26 in the end.

Also bear in mind this is a Nintendo fan site, so I doubt there are many 'average teens' or indeed 'average parents' here so there will be a disproportionate amount of folk buying day 1 compared to the average as well as buying more games in general than the average person (whatever that is).

Games like Hollow Knight and Ori would say yes. Metroid Dread doesn't look nearly as aesthetically or technically impressive.

Considering that other platforms are starting to charge $70 for their AAA titles, I don’t see much of a problem with a $60 price tag for something like this. My problem lies more with the fact that Nintendo is terrible about re-pricing their older games when those other platforms are slapping discounts on everything mere months after their release.

For example, the announcement of Dread had me start eyeing Samus Returns on the 3DS, but that nearly five-year-old game is still asking a full $40?? Ridiculous in my opinion. On top of that, Nintendo’s seem to have all but forgotten about Nintendo Selects, which is a real kick in the nethers for someone such as myself who is in college and has to wait quite awhile for discounts on games, instead on buying them on day one.

Yes, and anyone who says otherwise is a snob. 2D does not automatically equal inferior quality. 3D is not automatically superior. Its the effort they put into it, and the fun we get out of it.

Now granted, I don't want games to climb to higher prices, and it would be lovely if they were cheaper more often. I do buy a lot of used games and wait on sales. But let's face it, gaming has never been a cheap hobby.

@jingounchained That's very true.

@sleepinglion Here's your $25 reality check:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114873524613?epid=5155&hash=item1abefee185:g:OQYAAOSwwCVg3VVQ&LH_BIN=1

@MS7000,

Income does still not dictate the value of something, there are lots of things people can't afford, but this does not make them poor value, only the fact they can't afford them, which was my point in the first place.

The question asked, is if a game worth X amount of money, has nothing to do with a persons individual circumstances, the item is either deemed good value or not, and even then this is a highly subjective topic.

Not having a go at your original post by the way, but things being affordable is a totally different debate.

@BloodNinja If you aren't going to explain what your comment means, could one of the people who upvoted it explain what they think it means? I'm completely baffled.

@Ghost_of_Hasashi I liked the original Lords of Shadows.

@BloodNinja "Stop pre-ordering games, wait for reviews, and be smarter about giving these corporations your hard-earned money."

And yet here you are valuing this game and saying that it is not worth $60 without waiting for a review.

@BloodNinja Yes, demand isn't what it was 30 years ago. Your point?

@johnvboy "The question asked, is if a game worth X amount of money, has nothing to do with a persons individual circumstances, the item is either deemed good value or not, and even then this is a highly subjective topic."

That is also correct. The collective and agreed upon value is not decided by any one person(or their income). But people's personal value of somethings worth is normally influenced by their own finances. I probably should of been more clear to emphasise personal value.

"Not having a go at your original post by the way, but things being affordable is a totally different debate."

That's okay, I didn't think that was your intention.

Will happily spend £40 on it if it's an excellent game, I never preorder any game, only make my mind up after I've read several reviews.

@iuli Friendly is a known troll, but what you are saying about the arbitrary rules the moderators are hiding behind is true, 100%. That article from yesterday that went down the tubes really is an indication that, while they want to encourage discussion, it has to be the right discussion or you get deleted and/or banned. Pretty self defeating, if you ask me.

@sleepinglion Your point was that you were claiming that Street Fighter II should be worth $80, or did you fire and forget, like most users here do? And are you missing some of the articles about scalpers buying things out? That should teach you that demand is skyrocketing for gaming stuff right now.

@HeHateMii I said to stop buying games based on merit, and to wait for reviews. Different topic than price.

I think the people who think it can't be £50 or $60 are the single biggest thing that stifling the industry. It's devaluing games like this that lead to many genres becoming unviable anymore, (outside of tiny budget indie games).

It also prevents the developers of even the most successful indie games from affording to move to full scale production unless backed by a very big publisher.

The exact same names are releasing all the AAA games nowadays. Why? they got to that point by selling 2D games for $60(or full price) and were actually allowed to grow.

The idea that if Metroid Dread is as popular as as a 3D game that it has to be cheaper and shouldn't be allowed to be as financially successful...What's the goal? Killing off non-indie 2D platformers?

BOTW is a really good deal at $60. Include the DLC cost and it is still not overpriced.

@MS7000,

thanks for that, to be honest I am just like you where money for these games is not an issue, although one thing that's rarely touched upon in these comment sections, is the evergreen value of most Nintendo first party games, you can pretty much buy a game and get your money back, as long as you go physical.

It’s worth it. Is it worth it for you is another question.

@Dr_Lugae For many people, $60 takes a long time to earn. They aren’t stifling the industry because they choose not to pay more than half their days wage on an unnecessary item.

@Rpg-lover You’re welcome. I’m always willing to stand in the face of shrieking fanboyism.

@Meteoroid The last Metroid game that came out was on the 3DS. You’re a fan, you should know that nobody has made you wait 20 years for a Metroid game, when we just had one 4 years ago. I can’t believe people are buying into that hype and false advertising. Saying that somebody is undeserving of something is actually privileged. I know people like to throw that term around, but based on what you stated it makes sense to point that out.

@Yorumi,

Don't forget the brand, people will always pay more for the genuine article. as long as the game is good,

@NEStalgia Word

@BloodNinja Some people may choose that, but the videogame industry wouldn't be around in its current form if people didn't think a 2D game could ever be worth $60.

I just think the recent devaluing of genres is basically raising the drawbridge after all the big publishers got rich.

@Yorumi,

Fair enough.

@Dr_Lugae None of what you are saying is making any sense.

@Yorumi It has nothing to do with Nintendo, they could give Metroid Dread away for free and they'd still be profitable.

I think as many genres as possible should be able to succeed at full price so the AAA market isn't dominated by a small number of genres.

@BloodNinja What are you even arguing about? Decades ago no one scoffed at a pricey 2D title. Metroid will debut at a lower price point than some of our cart titles did in the 1990s. Whether or not a game is 2D should have no impact on whether it's worthy of regular price tag. I'm sure you have other members to go after today, I'm out

@BloodNinja Millions or even 10's of millions bought 2D games in the past for $60(or more), those companies who sold them got rich and became today's big publishers.

It doesn't make sense when you say that "some people choose not to buy games at $60" as an excuse. Because millions did choose to.

Retroactively acting like certain genres can't be $60 is metaphorically like lifting a drawbridge. It's preventing new games in the same genres today, seeing the level of success they could in the past.

Man, this thread is getting good. Kudos to nintendolife for running with this. Turned a non-issue into a war.

Ps
Spend your money, your way

Metroid is one of my favorite series. I wouldn't mind paying 200$/€ for a new 2d metroid. Are 2d games worth 60$/€? Most of them are not. Are 2d nintendo games worth 60$/€? Yes, atleast a good bunch of them.

@BloodNinja That's a distinction without difference.

You are telling people to not make a purchasing decision for a game that has not yet been reviewed — and then in the very same post say that you have made a decision to not purchase a game that has not yet been reviewed.

@PhhhCough,

All for the clicks, and they certainly know their audience.

The price of a game should reflect the cost of development

For Nintendo 2D games, YES! Nintendo always gives me my money's worth.

@Dr_Lugae You know what could make genres other than AAA competitive? Setting prices in line with the budget requirements of the game, so the game is a better value, and reaches a wider audience. Yes, we know TLoU2 cost over $100M to make featuring thousands of in and outsource employees all over the globe to make it and "$60 is a bargain" if what you value is extreme production values more than anything else.

Metroid Dread didn't cost over $100M to make or require thousands of in and outsource employees all over the globe to make, yet it's asking the same price, while being an aged, niche IP - it doesn't even have significant brand appeal compared to other franchises, though it does have it's audience. But the Nintendo logo is becoming like the Apple logo, same as Sony, and a certain population will throw money at it regardless of value.

The idea of games not priced based on that game's value and budget, and instead a fixed fee for all games, where games that don't sustain that fixed fee just won't be made - that's the idea that's stifling the industry.

Most industries have arrays of products at a variety of price points to appeal to a variety of consumers across the spectrum. Only the gaming industry is hellbent on making every single product a premium priced status icon.

I paid £80.00 for Super Street Fighter 2 in '94. it's hard to believe this is even a topic of discussion for a Metroid game.

@NEStalgia I'm not arguing for a fixed price of $60. I'm saying they should able to price at $60 without gamers turning their nose up at the very prospect.

They'd be allowed to charge $5,$10,$20 or whatever if they feel that's best for the game. But a low-mid budget game should be allowed to charge $60 if they really feel the quality reflects the price. The budget shouldn't dominate the value of the game.

@BloodNinja Now you're shaming people for liking Metroid? Okay Ninja, this has gone on for too long. I think many people have lost respect for you because of these comments of yours.

Ninja disappointed!

@Ziondood, @JonComms, @AlexOlney - Not that it changes any of your points, but 1-2 Switch launched at $50, not $60.

@YANDMAN god bless my parents' wallets in 1994 - final fantasy 3, super metroid and donkey kong all in short amount of time, plus the street fighter titles from those years. I too am shocked this is even an argument

@Yorumi Sounds more like you don't. The idea of creating a new product is to create value.

The amount of value you create isn't necessarily proportional to the amount you spent on it. Thus at times inexpensive to product with a good enough idea behind it can become more valuable than a more expensive to produce products.

Something like the original gameboy had humongous profit margins. But it's not wrong for it to have done so.

So I don't see why a low budget game couldn't also justify premium pricing. (On the basis of the strength of the concept if the idea is strong enough)

@HotGoomba Troll elsewhere. Change your bad behavior and replace it with good. You can disagree with people without literally making things up to sound more dramatic. I don’t think anybody is here for respect. Common decency, perhaps, but I’m not here expecting respect for my internet comments.

@BananaBoy640 market forces... It's it's good and fun = people will pay $60.

If it's bad and not fun = bargain bin and best buy.

@BloodNinja So I guess I can't be annoyed by your actions? Apparently I'm the troll? You're clearly blind to your absolute disrespect to people who just want to have fun with Nintendo games.

Also, you're making this pricing thing a bigger deal than it really is, so who's the dramatic one again?

Also on the internet, if you're seen as a jerk, you'll be treated as a jerk. I know plenty of people who has disrespected others for their opinion and doing almost exactly what you're doing, and everyone started seeing them as awful people, people trying to ruin others' fun on the internet.

Insulting people for what they like is awful, BloodNinja, and if you don't change that attitude, you'll be pushed out of this community. I know, because I've watched others getting pushed out.

I'm not trying to pose you as a villain. I'm trying to sway you out of that. And if you keep this up, by the time you realize that you need to change things up, it'll be too late.

Please, go back to the BloodNinja pre-Dread, stop taunting others for their opinions, and get it together.

@Yorumi You are 100% correct on all counts. Stick it to the fanboys, who mindlessly buy Nintendo products and drive down the quality of the brand with their actions.

You understand, but I think others forget. We teach Nintendo what we like with the way we spend. They only look at sales figures, so if it sold well they repeat their actions, even if the quality of the product isn’t at a level that justifies the high price. With this in mind, it hurts the quality of the brand in the long run, because people “see Nintendo, buy Nintendo.” This makes N think we want that garbage.

@Danrenfroe2016 You forgot "If it's bad and not fun, is incomplete, or broken, but carries a designer label or has purchased sufficient media/influencer promotion = people will pay $60+". That's gaming in 2021.

@BloodNinja let's tone it down a bit

@Eel Copy that.

@HotGoomba Not interested at this time.

Is a game worth $XX? How can you answer that. It's different for everyone. A game mighthave 1 level that a person plays over and over and that game will have more value than a person that plays it once and moves on to the next thing. Are 2D games worth full price. Some are. some aren't. Unfortunately that will never be a definite list because it will vary upon the person.

I'm sure collectors cry more about it than anyone else as they feel like they have to buy everything.

"Cyberpunk 2077 costs $60 and was produced on a $300 million budget. By comparison, Breath of the Wild 2 was only produced on a $75 million budget - therefore, it isn't worth $60."

^ Same reasoning and logic.

I remember I payed 70 pounds for virtua racing on the mega drive in 94, and got my money’s worth even tho technically I saw the whole game in about 15 minutes xx I think a Metroid game today is worth full price xx

Not sure where all that ‘hate’ is coming from these days… about price AND the game itself…
Back in the days in the super nintendo era, games also did cost quit a lot more then the game boy versions…
Remember paying 130,- GermanMarks for Super Metroid… comparing to +- 50 or 60,- German Marks for a GameBoy game. (would be something like 130 = 60 / 70 euros? ) Spend some time to work for and gather all that money together. Question is more, what do you get for that amount of money?
And btw, all that discussion about the recycled content, making this game worth ‘less’… I believe it is actually the other way around. In the light of the new Metroid Dread, I think, Samus’ Return was ‘just’ one big giant pitch to prove Nintendo, they can pull that off. (Despite some critics of my own, overal I think they did a very good job)
And now we are getting the full meat here. Without, hopefully, recycled music, storyline etc. One could argue that in fact Samus Return was more expensive, because it was a remake, we got same music, same storyline, same enemies. etc etc etc.
Anyways, looking very much forward for a NEW 2d entry since the year 2000'sh.

you have no one here to provide a counter-argument. NL has a core of Nintendo fans living in countries with high economies... and they don’t even pretend to care about people barely making a living in far less rich countries.

@iuli First, I will agree without reservation that video games are targeted primarily at First World countries, with even Second World countries being an after-thought. Given that fact, and the wage suppression that has been occurring for decades even in rich countries, I find the arguments that higher-priced games are "cheap" quite absurd.

NL made up some ridiculous notions such as “speaking against the current is trolling” which works good on sensitive subjects but frankly nowhere else

I don't know what your experience with the moderators has been, but I'd like to share mine.

I have argued openly with several mods in various threads, including recently, and I have "gone against the current" too often to count. (Some people seem to comment only for that purpose!) There was a thread weeks ago where some people decided to attack the entire Metroid fan community, and I argued loudly over that one. NL still hasn't deleted those comments.

In other instances, I disagreed with some actions by the mods - to the point where I am comfortable calling them arbitrary - but I have found there is definitely room for argument. Be as respectful as you can, and stick to your guns!

Personally, I strongly doubt that Metroid Dread will have the same value as BOTW, and I think Dread should be priced lower than that phenomenal title. (Friendly and I have disagreed about that one before.) How much lower? That depends on the gameplay, length, story etc. Also, I'd like to ask you something of you. Please don't assume that no one here cares about poorer countries or is oblivious to them. Remember that many people living in richer countries come from poorer ones, and there are plenty of people born in N. America or Europe who don't forget the rest of the planet...

I mean if we count 2.5D games as 2D, that is games made in 3D but presented from a 2D side perspective where you don't move with depth but rather only traverse from the left to right side of the screen or vice versa, like Metroid Dread here is, then so too is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. And is anyone going to try and argue that Ultimate isn't worth $60? Cuz yeah, I'm not gonna agree to that.

Only the gaming industry is hellbent on making every single product a premium priced status icon.

@NEStalgia You know that this is exaggeration. Surely you don't need me to provide counter-examples here.

If I revisit why I think the price is high is because Metroid Prime IV will be the same price. Obviously the price is going to be what the company is going to price it at and what people will pay for it. It's $60 but to the point in the video, we can wait for a sale, still think 50 would've been sweet. Hope some tie in exists with MP4 to add some extra value to it

@NEStalgia lol! So true!

I would place @BloodNinja on your ignore user list if you're bothered by him in these articles. He's a Super Metroid fanboy that had a meltdown when I criticized Super Metroid to show how hypocritical some of his criticisms of Metroid Dread currently are. I'm sure he's been arguing how Metroid Dread is a rehash while tiptoeing the line of insulting other users that are looking forward to Dread.

@HalloHerrNoob they release yearly and generally little more than recycled corridors with new bitmaps applied with plots that generally involve around you mass murdering an infinite number of faceless soldiers while claiming you’re one of the “good guys”. They could have twenty studios making them, but they innovate little and mostly are annualized like Madden.

No. Sprite games are never worth 60 dollars. Metroid Dread is not a 2D game unless you're say all games are 2d games(flat screen tv). The price of $60 should be base on 3d models. I'm looking at Octopath Traveler and thinking it should be 40 and under.

People have mental budgets associates to different needs. The fun/entertainment is one of them, and in deppendence on how passionate you are about fun/entertainment products, you choose what percentage of your wealth you assign that budget.

As an easy market rule, that gives a somehow "objective value" of that entertaiment/fun, we have movie theaters. For about 10 euros you can enjoy 1 hour and a half of entertainment (not replayable). So if a game lasts about 2 h and it offers you an equal level of fentertainment/fun as a "good movie" (that is, one you dont regret paying for after you have watched it) then the game "can" cost at least 10 euros. Lowering that price will make it more competitive, but that choice will depend on the sellers. If the game offers you a lot more fun than a good movie then it "could" charge you more.

All of this oviously deppends on the willingness of people to pay for it, and most of the time the problem is that instead of taking into account how much the hour and quality of fun will cost you, they take into account how much the alternatives/competitors charge you for it.

That said, if 2d game are not your thing, then the game will not offer you that fun and it wont make sense to paid that much for it.

But there is no rule that says that 3d games are more fun than 2d games, or that big budget games (or movies) are more fun and entertaining than the low budget ones. That oviously will deppend on what you like.

So for 2d platformer exploration lovers, if the game last 20 hours, you could pay up to 100 euros or more.

BoW is long and entertainig, but I had tons of more fun with ocarina, majorask and Skyward. So i qould still pay more for those games than for BoW.

Concluding: for me a good game (good fun for me) can cost about 5 euros per hour, a very good game can cost 10, and an exelent game maybe 15 or 20. (And i am basically talking about campaign games here, multiplayers can never end, so the logic is a bit different).

In any case, is it worth 50 bucks?? Well, the answer is simple... Nobody can know yet. Until we play the game or see reviews and more videos it is impossible to say.

Once qe have that info, if enough people pay the 60 euros to cover game cost and expected return for Nintendo, then yeah, the game is worth 60 because the market to which it is caterdd is willing to pay it.

If only 10 people in the world are willing to pay 60, then it is not worth it, because it qont achieve nintendo sells expectations, even if for you it is worth 300 euros.

I want my tight platformers and Metroidvanias in 2D!!!

Yes, it can be done in 3d. But some things are just better in 2D.
(I also play VR games and it is awesome, not to think I am living in the past)

@CammyUnofficial Yep, this is nothing new to the world, just another example of cry babies, crying. It simply boils down to choice, you don't want to pay the price, you don't have to. I have been waiting for a new Metroid game like this for longer than I care to remember. Anyone who appreciates the franchise, as in the people that will actually be buying it will have no problem I'm sure. Again, if you do, don't buy it. Next it will be, well it wasn't twenty hours long, I feel robbed.

I love how you've tried to use 1-2 Switch to justify how low cost games can be price at whatever the publisher wants, while then having to concede that it doesn't actually justify anything.

1) "Publishers should be able to charge what they want". "but 1-2Switch should have been a packaged game"

2) "if a publisher over prices their games then don't buy it and wait for a sale". "although Nintendo don't drop the prices of their games or really do proper sales"

3) "if a game is over priced, don't buy it. I didn't buy 1-2 Switch". "but 1-2 Switch did sell like 3 million copies and was a success".

4) "Nintendo games sell loads and stay pricey" which is a might makes right. Just because this happens doesn't mean it should.

These are all such bad justifications for why you are OK paying $60 for a game.

If you personally would pay $60 for 2D Metroid, then just say so. We have idiots that pay $100 for a game and then still throw money at the game through microtransactions and justify it by saying "devs gotta eat". What you would pay is fine, it's your money.

You aren't making an argument for why the game should be $60, you're just making an excuse for when you put down that money.

How about we talk about game budgets?, and how a game like 1-2 Switch or cheap and quick Wii U ports clearly would not have the same budget as a 2D Metroid game, and how a 2D Metroid game wouldn't have the budget of a full blown Mario or Metroid Prime game.

If 1-2 Switch and low budget games are worth full price then no game, even Breath of the Wild, plus all the DLC isn't worth $80 or whatever it is, the pokemon games, and anything else that has a price above $60, isnt worth that price, because you've made the distinction that the budget, and the size of the development that went in to making of the game, doesn't matter.

This is the kind of discussion you only find in gaming 🤷‍♂️😅

No matter the "argument" anyone could provide on this, the fact, that is an actual topic wins out on the Spock'ian Fascinating!-scale.

@r0mer0 I'm so tired of seeing this stance. Games back before the internet were shipped in a "final" state with glitches that would just never be fixed, or if they were it was via the old cartridges running out and new versions being put on the shelf. Now we have the internet and can fix glitches on the fly. It's a much better scenario for the typical consumer for the game to be able to be fixed.

Isn't it a bit obnoxious to tell others how they should feel about a price? If someone thinks it's too much then it is.

@Yorumi yeah, that's not the same thing or applicable. A piece of machinery in it's technological infancy is not the same thing as a moving piece of art crafted over many years by many people.

@Frobodobo Yep, they also don't have to buy it. If the price offends you simply move on, moaning about it to people who don't care on the internet also isn't going to lower that price.

@Ralek85 Agreed.

@Nateisawesomeo Metroid Dread is 2.5D, that's quite obvious to see. The best thing about your comments on price is that nobody who actually makes the games cares about it. It's quite simple, just don't buy anything that has a price tag that offends you. The end.

@BloodNinja I've pre-ordered 35 copies and i don't even like Metroid.

@HotGoomba Why does anyone care even???

Does it really matter about games that aren't high budget 3D games, especially when it comes to 2D games? If we are getting a high budget 2D game from a company like Nintendo, of course it will cost 60 bucks.

100% yes.
If done right it deserves yhe price tag.
Metroid is a gem, and by the look of what i saw at E3. Hel yeah, i wont even look for cheaper price tags lol. Day one buy from me.

@YANDMAN 2.5d? Is that really a thing or is it head canon? It's a side scroller presented in 3d. BTW, I bought OPT second hand for under 40. The way it should have been priced.

@BloodNinja friendly is a known troll because I’m what, not agreeing with your stupid reasoning why metroid shouldn’t be worth 60 bucks?

It’s literally the only argument we ever had on this website.

Grow up.

@iuli tagged because @bloodninja tagged you.

@sleepinglion Actually, it'd be $115 today. And some SNES games were $80+ like Chrono Trigger, Earthbound and more.

@Nateisawesomeo Octopath Traveler is a huge game that probably cost more to make than Metroid Dread. Also, it's 3D. Obviously the characters aren't, but the world is just as 3D as Dread's is.

@NEStalgia "The idea of games not priced based on that game's value and budget, and instead a fixed fee for all games, where games that don't sustain that fixed fee just won't be made - that's the idea that's stifling the industry"

The part of the argument you're not making though is that $60 is a fair price for something like Metroid Dread. It's not a comparatively fair price for a game like TLOU2, because we should be charged ten times as much. The fact that we get charged less, though, is the only reason the game can exist. If a game cost hundreds of millions to make and then cost consumers hundreds or thousands of dollars (which could be economically justifiable), then only the 1% would play AAA titles.

The games industry survives on wildly under priced games the same way that big budget movies do. They have to draw in an absolutely astoundingly large audience to make up for it. And if they down, they can be on a razor's edge and out of business if they lose too much.

While a game like Metroid Dread isn't as dangerous a financial proposition, it's also not going to sell 30 million copies. If Nintendo couldn't charge $60 for a game like Metroid Dread and still hope to sell at least a few million units, they'd never make it in the first place because the profit margins are still fairly thin.

The fixed price of retail AAA titles is what allows developers to make something and expect a reasonable enough return to justify the creation of the game in the first place. And if the fans are willing to pay it and get what they wanted, all the better.

@Nateisawesomeo Is it a thing? Yes of course it is a thing. a game with side view but that also has 3D edges to platforms, backgrounds etc is 2.5D.

This is literally just a bait article to generate clicks and revenue (which is becoming more common on NL recently) and I fall for it everytime.

In order to assess if a game is "worth" the RRP you really need to look at other games in its genre and compare game stats as well as retail price.
Simply compare price points of every 2d metroidvania over the last five years and see how it fits up with Nintendo's pricing for Metroid.
People look at Hollow Knight and say "well its made by 3 people so it shouldn't cost the same as a AAA title". To that I'm going to say, how much work would those 3 people have put in to turn out such a well crafter game? Less staff just means more man hours per person as well as a wider skill set (they had to multi task after all), does that work mean less just because they didn't have a big publisher throwing money at them to secure a larger team?

Nintendo fans have gotten so used to being scalped by the company they have started actively defending the practice - its effectivly gaming stockholm syndrome.
This is also why I don't feel any remorse buying up limited edition Nintendo pre orders just to sell at an inflated price - if its ok for Nintendo to do this, its definitely OK for me.

@Lyricana Thank you for looking up the inflation cost, I was wondering about it. I'd forgotten about the cost of Earthbound and CT, and those are still two of my favorites

@Lyricana You're entire argument, though I understand the validity in the completely broken industry model is accurate, revolves basically around the notion that a niche audience for a game like Metroid is used to subsidize big blockbuster games, like the American ISP model of the people that only check email subsidizing the gamers downloading terabytes. I'm not not very keen on overpaying for the product I'm interested in, Dread, to subsidize people that want something over budget and bloated like mp4.

If small independent studios weren't producing similar games in the same genre that are as good or better for a fraction of the money and still turning a profit there would be more meaning to that debate. But there are. There's no reason for that price beyond because they can because it's a designer label, and to subsidize other products at the expense of a small dedicated market.

This is where ds, 3ds, psp shined. Smaller cheaper to make games with riskier or more niche premise that sell standard at lower prices. Nintendo has traditionally always had two price tiers, and games like this sat at that lower tier for a reason.

This is now just gouging because they can get away with it.

I’d argue 2D can be tons more work to get right compared to 3D.

@NEStalgia I don't entirely disagree. They definitely price it this way because they can, but that's basically how every industry in the world works. Indie developers would charge more (and do) when they can get away with it. It's also not a cut and dry debate between 2D and 3D. Many 2D games can be hugely deep and costly to make. It's not like 3D suddenly makes a game definitively more expensive. It's a case by case basis.

And it's not a straight budgetary debate. Like almost any luxury good, you pay for the brand, but you also pay for the exceptional talent. I wouldn't say that all AAA developers have talent worth the premium that customers are paying, but I think Nintendo does. Besides, I think Metroid Dread is likely to be significantly better and a higher budget than most or of its indie game contemporaries. Most indie games aren't Hollow Knight and Stardew Valley. A lot more of them are games like Away: Journey to the Unexpected, which is a despicably buggy mess. While a lot of the AAA developers are becoming less reliable with their boated, over budget titles.. Nintendo hasn't disappointed me with any of the Switch titles I've bought so I'm not quick to feel like I'm overpaying.

@Yorumi yeah tell that to inflation.

did Jon really just say HAX!!!