Making a Case for a Metroid RPG Part 2

It's time for Metroid to transcend, leave action platforming behind and embrace the action RPG genre.

In part one, Matt relived the history of the Metroid series setting the stage for why it's time Metroid becomes an RPG title. For part two of this story, Matt dives into how the pieces are there for an easy transition and looks at other games as precedence for the move.

A game that may actually stir the dark side in people

Before I continue I want to preface the rest of this piece by saying that I’m not acknowledging the abomination that is Metroid Prime: Federation Force. The game bears literally no connection to past Metroid titles and features a poorly made Rocket League clone in Blast Ball. It also doesn’t feature Samus Aran as a playable character. The fact that the Metroid name is brazenly attached to it makes me sick. The game itself looks terrible. Its also about as serious as a Rachet and Clank game. The box art looks like it was created by someone who partook in illicit drugs and then watched too many episodes of Voltron. I’ve even located a petition on Change.org calling for the cancellation of the game. Within a single day of its announcement the youtube trailer had a 90% dislike ratio. It’s become so bad that after the latest gameplay footage was released, Nintendo had to disable the like/dislike feature on the video.

Making a Case for a Metroid RPG Part 1

It's time for Metroid to transcend, leave action platforming behind and embrace the action RPG genre.

With Nintendo giving Samus Aran the cold shoulder, Matt Hauenstein of Nintendo Love Affair tells us why the next iteration of the Metroid series should be an RPG. For the first part of this two-part series, Matt relives the history of Metroid and lays a foundation for why it has the making for a perfect RPG. The time is right Nintendo.  

Meet Multivarious Games, an Ohio Indie Dev Company

Multivarious Games to put Columbus, Ohio on the map for independent game development

If you were to ask the average gamer what they thought of the Ohio indie developer scene, they probably wouldn’t have much to say.  In fact, they may just ask, “What Ohio indie dev scene?”  Chris Volpe, President of Multivarious Games, hopes to change all of that.  

Ken Griffey, Jr Presents Major League Baseball on SNES - Retro Review

This month in history, Ken Griffey, Jr. Presents Major League Baseball released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.

In March, 1994, Ken Griffey Jr. swung his way into our homes with a simple yet exciting baseball game on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  This is a very unique sports game in the sense that it is not fully licensed.  The developer, Software Creations, was able to secure a Major League Baseball license.  This enabled them to use real MLB parks and team names.  However, they could not get a Major League Baseball Player’s Association license.  Because of this, the rosters for each team are made up of fake names, except for Ken Griffey Jr. of course.  These fictional players do have the stats of the real players they stand in for.  Each team’s roster follows a different theme.  The Cleveland Indians, for example, are named after famous actresses such as A. Hepburn and M. Monroe.  The Seattle Mariners’ roster is filled with employees of Nintendo.   This quirky detail adds a lot of character to the game.

Star Fox on Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Retro Review

This month in history, Star Fox released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.  

On March 26, 1993, less than two years after the SNES launched in North America, Nintendo fans took to the stars to combat the evil Andross and his minions.  We were introduced to a motley crew of pilots fighting for the good planet Corneria.  Fox McCloud (the leader), Falco Lombardi (the mouth), Peppy Hare (the encourager), and Slippy Toad (the screw up) piloted their Arwing fighters across the Lylat system to combat the Evil Andross’ forces.  Players take control of Fox’s fighter from both a first person and third person perspective.  While the individual levels were on rails, players would have the option to choose from three different game paths, each a different difficulty level, which led to Planet Venom and the final battle with Andross.  

Grumpy Reaper on Wii U eShop - Preview

Mow Down Monsters and Save the Mortal Realm

While on vacation Death has lost his keys to the Underworld.  Apparently, he also forgot to lock the door as monsters have begun to escape.  Zombies, vampires, ghosts and more are now wandering around the mortal realm.  This is an especially irritating problem for Death since he is on holiday.  Rather than cleaning up the mess himself, Death hires Grog, the local graveyard gardener to retrieve the keys to the underworld.  Grog takes his lawn mower and proceeds to save the day, with the player’s help of course.

Hatch-It for iOS Review - Nintendo Love Affair

An Ohio developer's first title, egg-cellently done.

Gameplay

Hatch-It, by Multivarious Games, is a swiping puzzle adventure in which players explore five differently themed lands.  The player’s character is an adorable robot who was created by Dr. Tyrannosaurus in order to travel back in time and save the dinosaurs from a comet induced destruction.  This is no small task for the brave little robot who must successfully hatch dinosaur eggs in order for them to be collected.

Kirby Super Star Saga Ultra on Nintendo DS - Retrospective Review

Kirby might suck, but this game does not.

Gameplay

Kirby Super Star Saga Ultra for the Nintendo DS is Nintendo’s attempt to bring the SNES platforming classic to the dual screen handheld.  Super Star Saga Ultra comes packed with more game options including Revenge of King Dedede, Meta Knightmare Ultra, Helper to Hero, True Arena,  and three new mini games that use the touch screen functionality.  

Star Ghost for Wii U eShop Review - Nintendo Love Affair

Introduction

Star Ghost challenges the player to patrol 12 rendered star systems, navigating the fragments of exploding planets, surviving intense asteroid fields and dogfighting deadly Sentinel ships in an attempt to save the galaxy from the Metagon empire.

Review copy provided by Squarehead Studios, an independent game developer founded in 2014 by former Nintendo developer, Rhys Lewis.

Power of the Pokemon Community

Building Relationships, Self Confidence, and How Pokemon Made It Happen

Guest Contributor Peter Ortiz (@Shellshock929) tells his story of how Pokemon helped him get through some tough times, build self esteem, and become a leader in his community.

I grew up with Pokémon since it launched in 1998 in North America. I found out about it when my brother was watching the episode where Ash caught Caterpie and Pidgeotto. Once Ash fought Team Rocket (and won) in a Pokémon battle, I was hooked. Not long after, I got to try out a friend’s copy of Pokémon Red Version in school, and I couldn’t put it down.

Gamerz Tek SNES Clone Review

Good, but not great.

Looking for a way to play your Super Nintendo cartridges?  Although I have been playing my original SNES since 1992, the day will come when my classic console dies.  It may be best to have a backup plan as classic consoles continue to get more difficult to find.  What is a good back up you ask? We may have the answer for you!  Check out this review for the SNES Gamerz Tek Clone brought to you by StopDrop&Retro.  Don’t have time for the video?  Check out the notes below.

First Look: The Night Air for Wii U eShop

The Ohio Indie Game Scene, A New Metroid-Inspired Action Game Set in Cleveland, and Love for Nintendo

Jarrod Rizor has dreamed of having his own games on a Nintendo platform since he was young.  Describing his childhood as completely inundated by the Nintendo universe, Jarrod was destined to become a game developer. It comes as no surprise that his current project, The Night Air, is heavily inspired by Metroid.   Tara, The Night Air’s main character, will not be fighting space pirates in the farthest reaches of the galaxy though.  This female protagonist will be taking on alien invaders that have set up camp on planet Earth, right in Jarrod’s backyard of Cleveland Ohio.  

Retro Gaming Magazine Gets Physical

What Is Retro Gaming, The Future of the Retro Industry & The Coleco Chameleon

We sit down with Retro Gaming Magazine’s Carl Williams to explore the retro gaming genre.

We here at Nintendo Love Affair have covered the Coleco Chameleon Saga (patent pending) extensively over the past couple of months.  With purported involvement from companies like Piko Interactive, Collectorvision and Interworks I began this adventure as a potential early adopter for Retro Video Game Systems.  I, like many, let the nostalgia bug bite me hard. The idea of purchasing new and classic games for a cartridge based system excited me.  That sensation of hearing the satisfying click of the cart being locked into place is a tactile reward that, I argue, makes the 3DS such a timeless system for every generation of gamer.

Pokemon Sun & Moon Points Toward NX Handheld

Pokemon Sun & Moon, Historical Precedence, and What It All Means for the Nintendo NX

There are many theories and rumors surrounding the upcoming platform, NX. Nobody knows for sure what it will be but for now let’s stick to the traditional handheld/home console theory. Nintendo Love Affair posted an article that said Pokemon Sun and Moon on the 3DS almost confirms that the NX will “in fact” be a home console. However, that statement could possibly be wrong. Remember when Black and White came out (on the DS) in 2010. The 3DS, which it was anticipated to come out on, came out in 2011. Sun and Moon will come out Holiday 2016. If my theory is correct, and the NX is a handheld, it will come out sometime in the second half of 2017, at least 6 months after Sun and Moon.

Collectorvision Reveals Sydney Hunter and The Curse of the Mayans

CollectorVision, Sydney Hunter, and Coleco Chameleon

We sit down for an exclusive interview with Jean-Francois Dupuis, the Project Lead and Game/Graphic Designer, as well as the founder of CollectorVision Games. We discuss the upcoming Sydney Hunter as well as CollectorVision’s involvement with Retro Video Game Systems and the Coleco Chameleon.  Interested in more ‘new games on old platforms’?  Check out our interview with Piko Interactive!