Comments 603

Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl: Duel - Metroid Prime Hunters

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Metroid Prime Hunters is the best game in the Prime Series and in the overall Metroid Series.

What's not mentioned is that the western art is holographic and that the Japan art has a nice shine to it around light with the silver. Sure, it looks like quite a step down from the image above, but it doesn't do it justice. The Japan edition also comes with an absolutely gorgeous manual. I voted for the western box art in a close one as it features the other hunters, and I'm proud to own both of these in my collection.

Re: Feature: Our Gaming Predictions For 2023

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In spite of Dread's success, the fact that we've gone from a Metroid Prime Trilogy remaster to a Metroid Prime remaster is a sad situation....but the general fanbase seems perfectly fine with getting that kind of release and maybe they don't know what Nintendo did in 2009 and on the Wii U eShop in 2015. We're seeing Prime 4 this year though in the first general Direct following the release of TOTK, which probably is hopefully the one for E3 time.

I no longer care to buy and play Re-Boot Camp, but I am curious to see if Nintendo finally does release the game and do so before E3. I originally was going to get Re-Boot Camp and it would've been my introduction into Advance Wars. When they delayed, I bought the originals off of the Wii U eShop instead.

Re: Talking Point: What Game Do You Replay Every Year?

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Metroid Prime Hunters. It's my favorite game of all time and is no question the best Metroid game to replay. I put in ~260 hours into the game in 2022, one of my most played years since I've been on a system recording playtime, and it beat out my 2nd most played game (MK8DLX) by 4 times the amount of hours. I'm going to be playing the game plenty this year too as I'm trying to reach 100,000 hunters/Guardians killed on a file I began back in December 2021. I want to see that 6 digit rollover.

Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Pokémon Scarlet And Violet?

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I would say I'm at an 8/10, leaning 9/10 as I continue to play. The lack of polish has been very noticeable, but not distracting from what I've experienced. If the game did become polished through patches, Scarlet would be an easy 9/10 and 10/10 even wouldn't be out of question. Scarlet has been a blast so far outside of the game's tutorial stage.

Re: Feature: Every Metroid Prime Location, Ranked

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Does anyone else feel like gaining control of Samus after landing on Tallon IV and that sequence is a more iconic moment than gaining control of Samus heading into Frigate Orpheon? I also don't consider the Glacier One facility and the Artifact Temple as separate locations from Phendrana Drifts and Tallon Overworld respectively. If you play the game and look at the map, they fall within those regional maps. It's okay that Metroid Prime has 7 main locations.

Here's my list:
1. Tallon Overworld
2. Phendrana Drifts
3. Chozo Ruins
4. Magmoor Caverns
5. Phazon Mines
6. Frigate Orpheon
7. Impact Crater

Re: Pokémon Fans Vent Frustrations Online About Scarlet & Violet's Technical Issues

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As bad as the game's presentation can get, the gameplay may be the best of the mainline games now that I'm outside of the game's tedious tutorial stage. Design-wise, Pokemon and characters are still looking great too. In spite of the obvious flaws, they've still gotten me hooked in and I'm looking forward to my next session with the game.

Re: Best Metroid Games Of All Time

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Metroid Prime Hunters and Metroid Prime: Federation Force are the series’ two best games, and it isn’t close. By the way, not much love for Fusion yesterday. I guess it needed to have remaster misinformation to make the rounds and be hyped up like Prime had been leading into yesterday.

1. Metroid Prime Hunters
2. Metroid Prime: Federation Force
3. Super Metroid
4. Metroid Dread
5. Metroid: Other M

Re: Anniversary: Fans Celebrate As Metroid Prime Turns 20 Years Old

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Metroid Prime was my second Metroid Prime game after my experience with Metroid Prime Hunters, which also was my first Metroid game, and it sucked on the Gamecube. Besides the controls being very restrictive and unsatisfying, my first run through the game was cut short right before the Omega Pirate fight as my file corrupted. I did eventually beat the game on Gamecube on my next attempt, and didn't look back...no interest to replay or go for 100%. I then went to Echoes, and somehow it got even worse. I'm so glad the Metroid Prime Trilogy brought both Prime and Prime 2 to the Wii with controls that offered freedom and satisfaction moment to moment. That's when Metroid Prime, to me, became a great game.

Metroid Prime 4 also is the seventh entry in the Prime Series, and if Prime is so great I'm sure it has art for Samus that can be used for its articles as opposed to using art associated with Metroid Prime Hunters. I was told a lot after I joined the Metroid fandom on message boards in 2007 how much better Metroid Prime is compared to Hunters...Prime isn't even close regardless of platform.

Re: Poll: What's The Best Piece Of Music In A Nintendo Game?

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Arcterra's first theme in Metroid Prime Hunters is my favorite. My second favorite track isn't even on here either, which is Colony 9 Night theme from Xenoblade Chronicles. Valak Mountain's day track is solid, but its night track too is better. My third favorite track is listed though so that's what I voted for, which is Dire, Dire Docks from Super Mario 64.

Re: Talking Point: What's Your Favourite Music Track From A Nintendo Game?

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Arcterra Theme 1 (Music Test 23) from Metroid Prime Hunters

How hollow the deaths were of Alimbic heroes against the threat of Gorea...While they are honored with emblems, the world of Arcterra is in a state of desolation. Metroid Prime Hunters arguably has the best atmospheric/tone tracks in the Metroid franchise, and this track is my favorite for how perfectly it captures Arcterra's tragic present and past.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRGKhw8GazM

Re: Random: Hideki Kamiya Echoes Every Nintendo Fan's Wishes For The Switch Successor

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If Nintendo abandons the portable gaming experience, which is Nintendo at its best, I do think they would have a disastrous situation on their hands. Silver lining to that would be that they would have to make more of an effort in their software beyond current releases. A failure wouldn't just have basic system features for instance. It would have Nintendo personality again.

I'm not ready for the next generation in spite of the Switch heading towards its 6 year anniversary next year. I don't feel satisfied with the 1st party output compared to what Nintendo delivered on 3DS/Wii U. At the earliest, I'm seeing a 2024 release...and hopefully it's more of the same, but with more power and Nintendo personality (very lacking this generation).

Re: Talking Point: What's The Worst Game That You Still Love For Some Reason?

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@sketchturner I was about to point that out. Nitpick might not be the right word for what was done, it felt more extreme than that. I think many read those lengthy articles/essays tearing the game apart, you know the "character assassination of Samus" breakdown, and ran with those points. I guess if it sounds intelligent, it must always be true. When I was defending Other M's story on another site back in late 2010-2011, I had the person I was debating with actually link me one such article as their points. I was amused, and still do feel when I see most Other M criticism now that it stems from those large negative takes.

I've read them and felt they were an interesting, negative alternative take on, mostly, the game's narrative. I actually played Other M a few times before reading them or hearing one of their points repeated to me. I knew that I had enjoyed my time with Other M prior to reading, so I didn't flip flop and never saw those negative articles as the narrative as many now do.

Re: Talking Point: What's The Worst Game That You Still Love For Some Reason?

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I don't think these games are "objectively bad" at all, but I've seen plenty of hate for Metroid Prime Hunters, Metroid: Other M and Metroid Prime: Federation Force. All 3 games are Top 5 games in the Metroid Series in my opinion, and I've got two of them as the series' best entries. While Hunters is my favorite game of all time, Federation Force is all extremes of underrated when compared to nearly every other Metroid game and I am referring to the game's single player experience contrary to how the game was marketed. I also haven't forgotten that this community at Nintendolife after Dread's release rated all three games as worse than both Metroid and Metroid II.

Re: Talking Point: What Did You Think Of The September 2022 Nintendo Direct?

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@Wexter It would have been great if they were even more secretive. If they didn't update their Twitter banner, I wouldn't have expected to see any footage of Prime 4 for this Direct or anything Metroid for that matter. It almost comes across as a lack of awareness on the attention that working on Prime 4 brings.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Jun. 15th, 2021), Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope (Jun. 12th, 2021) and Bayonetta 3 (Sept. 23rd, 2021)

Re: Talking Point: What Did You Think Of The September 2022 Nintendo Direct?

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@Wexter Both MonolithSoft and PlatinumGames have been involved with more than one project since January 2019. MonolithSoft has the entire remaster of Xenoblade Chronicles with Future Connected, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 with its DLC and has assisted on Splatoon 3. PlatinumGames has released Astral Chain and The Wonderful 101: Remastered, and will be releasing Bayonetta 3 in a little over a month. Retro Studios has had nothing to even show, let alone release, aside from a Twitter banner update in that same time. Breath of the Wild 2 had a trailer shown at E3 2019, so while Tears of the Kingdom has been in development for some time, the Zelda team still had something to show that soon. I don't think it's wrong at all to expect to see Prime 4 after more than 3.5 years since the announced restart in 2019, especially as that seems to be all that Retro Studios is working on.

Re: Talking Point: What Did You Think Of The September 2022 Nintendo Direct?

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There was nothing on the Metroid Prime front for this Direct, when the bar was so low. The rumors had gone from a remaster of the Metroid Prime Trilogy to only the first game coming to the Switch. The worst part is though that that kind of announcement would come with a Metroid Prime 4 update, I didn't actually want anything from the Trilogy besides the Trilogy itself. That didn't happen, so it all hits twice.

It caused the Breath of the Wild 2 trailer to have less impact on me because I was watching the time and knew it was either Zelda or Metroid. All leakers involving anything other than what's already confirmed, Metroid Prime 4, have no credibility after today with regard to the Metroid Prime series. I want to get this out ahead of next year, someone predicting that there'll be news on Prime 4 in 2023 deserves no attention to the extent of making rounds on Nintendo sites and other related channels.

I would give today's Direct the highest grade I can give without any Metroid Prime related announcements/updates, that would be a C+. Pikmin 4 is the best of today, followed by Booster Course Pass Wave 3 (which slowly confirms the music datamine) and BotW: TotK.

Re: Best Mario Kart Games Of All Time

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The Coin item and Lakitu bring down MK8 DLX for me. At some point during the BCP, it could become my favorite. Mario Kart DS is my favorite, and I would say Double Dash!! has the best gameplay but lacks in content compared to more recent entries. Mario Kart 7 also has the best current track selection, even with Deluxe having twice as many tracks right now; however, it lacks single player VS...which is one of the worst omissions Nintendo has done for a game.

Re: Talking Point: What Was Your First Legend Of Zelda Game?

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My first Zelda game was Phantom Hourglass and is the only Zelda game I've beaten multiple times. It also is my favorite Zelda game. The Nintendo DS was the launching point for me branching out into more of Nintendo's franchises outside of Mario, Kirby and Pokemon. There was no hype really going into PH for me, I saw it at GameStop, knew I loved the DS, heard great things about the Zelda franchise and so asked my dad to purchase the game for me (or had gift money saved up at the time, I don't remember). I absolutely love just how much the Zelda team got out of the DS's features for Phantom Hourglass.

Re: Feature: Every Pokémon Game Narrative, Ranked From Best To Worst

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I think this is the first time that I overall agree with the rankings provided within an article here. Actually, when I went through the list, I was anticipating Gen. V not being #1. I expected to see what I would strongly disagree with. Generation V to me is the best generation of Pokemon, and the story certainly is a factor towards that.

Re: Random: We've Been Waiting Over Half A Decade For A "New" Mainline Zelda Game

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I don't think the gap between the release of Breath of the Wild and its sequel has been too long, but I do think potential has been somewhat wasted in not making original, traditional Zelda games in other forms. Add in Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks and A Link Between Worlds into the equation for the previous generations' release schedules, and the Switch definitely with Zelda has not really tapped in yet. I hope we don't go two console generations in a row without having an original Zelda exclusive for the existing platform.

Re: Talking Point: How Were You Introduced To Metroid?

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I actually lucked out when it came to my exposure to Metroid. The Nintendo DS happened to be a system I really wanted after loving the hours I spent playing the GBA, and Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt was provided as a pack-in. I still do like First Hunt, and it set the stage for what would be months of reading and re-reading issues of Nintendo Power in anticipation for the full game. I had so much hype for Metroid Prime Hunters going in, and when I got the game gifted to me for Easter in 2006 and played...I was blown away.

Since then, I've played and beaten every Metroid release and Metroid is my favorite Nintendo series. Metroid Prime Hunters is to me the best game in the franchise and it isn't close. My favorites behind Hunters would be, in order: Federation Force, Dread, Super and Other M for my Top 5. I've so far had the motivation and enjoyment to complete 7 Metroid games to 100%. Those would be my Top 5 and the next two I would rank just outside, being Prime at 6 and Samus Returns at 7.

Re: Best Mario Kart Games Of All Time

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DS and Double Dash have the best mechanics in the franchise; however, I do think there will be a point where 8 DLX surpasses them just purely through content (it's not there yet). 7 also currently has the best track selection of the series, but failed to capitalize on that with the omission of single player VS. Tour needs respect for laying down the foundation for the better half, by the end of 2023, of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's track selection.

Re: Poll: What's The Best Mario Kart Game?

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It's still Mario Kart DS. Mechanically, I think it and Mario Kart: Double Dash are the best from what I've played. The game is more skilled based compared to the last few entries, which I feel have become a little too luck based. I really enjoy the presentation of the tracks prior to the race when playing Grand Prix when the full extent of the DS's two screens are used to make each track feel even grander. It's a personalized experience too with the emblem, and has Desert Hills, Delfino Square, Waluigi Pinball and Shroom Ridge all in the same cup...Shroom Ridge, in my opinion, being the best track in current Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so DS gets the nod. That all said, if Mario Kart 7, which has the best track selection so far, had single player VS, 7 would have been the best Mario Kart game dethroning DS.

Re: Former Metroid Prime Dev Calls Cancelled 'Project X' A "Frustrating Experience"

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This doesn't seem like it ever really developed, because it sounds like "Project X" was in between Corruption in 2007 and MPT in 2009 as well as DKCR in 2010. They were able to get back to something more positively engaging quickly to wrap up their releases of the Wii generation. I'm more curious on Retro Studios' history between Tropical Freeze and picking up Prime 4 development though. That's nearly 5 years of nothing from the developer.

Re: Random: Retro Studios Clashed With Metroid Producer On Halo Influences

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There's only one battle against Dark Samus in Prime 3 and it's before the finale against Aurora Unit 313 on Phaaze. I'm assuming Tozour meant Metroid Prime 2 when talking about the Dark Samus battle, which is one of my favorite parts in the game.

Metroid Prime 3 in my opinion wasn't influenced enough by Halo, as it doesn't share the multiplayer progression of the releases around it. Prime 2, Pinball, Hunters and Federation Force all have a multiplayer mode, so Prime 3 is an odd one. Considering Prime 2's local multiplayer and then Hunters' online multiplayer less than two years later, one would think that Corruption would've had an online multiplayer at least as good as Hunters. It's a missed opportunity that I think harmed the series for the rest of the Wii era and into the 3DS/Wii U generation. Hopefully, Prime 4 delivers.

Re: Poll: Do You Think We'll Get A Nintendo Direct Next Week?

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I hope so. We should get a Direct as that's the expectation...I think new tracks for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will drop after the Direct, and I really hope we see footage of Metroid Prime 4 after Retro Studios did a tease with their twitter banner. If not for that, I wouldn't expect to see Prime 4...and then there's the Prime remake or Trilogy HD floating around. Personally, I want to see Prime Trilogy HD announced and released this year.

Re: Feature: 10 Famous Franchises That Would Make Great Warriors Games

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Samus, Kanden, Spire, Trace, Noxus, Sylux, Weavel, Anthony Higgs, U-Mos, General Alex Miles, Fleet Admiral Castor Dane, Commander Mauk, Damara, Joey Apronika, Kreatz and Diesel...Plenty of Metroid characters for a Metroid Warriors game, Samus hasn't been the only character for nearly 20 years now, but I would rather have a Xenoblade Warriors. Each Xenoblade game could have its own Warriors game.

Re: Feature: Will We Finally See These Games In The Not-E3 Nintendo Direct?

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I never thought a Direct would happen so close before an upcoming release, which would be Strikers this week...but after, I think that's possible. I've been thinking next week would be the Direct, either Tuesday the 14th or Thursday the 16th. I would like to see Metroid Prime 4 since Retro teased with their updated banner, but after whatever is being done with previous entries in the Prime Series...whether that be just Prime remade or a remaster of the Trilogy.

Re: Video: Just What Is The Best Super Mario Game Of All Time?

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I would say Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros. are my favorites respectively for 3D and 2D. Runner-ups, respectively, would be Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Land 2. While it has its bad moments, I can vividly remember Sunshine's episodes and locations. I cannot for games like Galaxy, 3D World and Odyssey, at least not as well as I can with Sunshine...so I'm giving it the nod today for runner-up.

Re: Reggie Thought Metroid: Other M Would Be A 'Defining Moment' For The Franchise

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Other M is one of my favorites, certainly within my Top 5 for the series. I may even end up putting Other M over Dread in the long run. I've recently done a 100% run of Other M before returning to Dread for a Hard Mode run. I think I might have enjoyed Other M slightly more then. It definitely is too disliked in certain aspects, but I'm glad it's able to generate plenty of attention and discussion over a decade later. In most cases, a Metroid game comes out, its praises get sung and then the begging and speculation begins for the next game.

Re: Video: Is Nintendo Switch Sports Really That Bad?

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Switch Sports launched as a fun 6, but can easily be a 9 with the right updates. Additional sports are not enough to make the game feel more complete. It needs feature additions and improvements. Progression and customization really need attention much sooner than the Golf update. It's disappointing that Nintendo releases their sports games in this state during this generation. Within a year, Switch Sports could be one of my favorites on the Switch from Nintendo, but it should've released at that state rather than get there with post-release updates. Currently, it's the foundation of what could become a great game.

@Anti-Matter I received my Go Vacation order the same day as Switch Sports' release, and have been thoroughly enjoying the game. The motion controls don't feel as accurate, but there is so much to do within that game. I'm surprised it's not talked about more. The travel between activities is currently the most fun I've had with the game, doing tricks on the ATV or Marine Bike.