I-n-j-i-n

I think most true gamers know that such games haven't lived up to their hype. However, a lot of 360 games have (or in Gears of War's case, totally surpassed the hype) and that made a world of difference. And Wii games, honestly, just come and are sold as is because there really are no hype for them, positive or negative. A lot of PS2 games used to be like that. Other than truly AAA titles like the re-remade Ninja Gaiden Sigma, there really aren't games that are actually worth $60 on it. In addendum, they did have a really good title in Resistance but that's like one game. I still think PS3 will get its due later on, but it sure is taking a while.

Metroid Prime games are pretty linear too though. Backtracking? You do that in every FPS games under the sun. Though MP at least attempts to make level-sized puzzles and pathways, it's still an FPS game. The entire "FPA" thing sounds disingenuous to me. Even Bioshock or Farcry with their relatively open ended gameplay are still definitely FPS games. If you want true "FPA" type of game, I'd say Mercenary games comes close. You shoot a lot, kill a lot, but it's a true adventure since you actually trek without knowing what's out there and there are absolutely no paths to go through. But they're 3rd person. And more people call them 'sandbox' games.

Sorry, but I'm not insane.

I think it's because the singleplayer isn't too lengthy and it just leaves you wanting for more. But personally, I feel the game was rushed on a few points and guns/enemies could have been a LOT better. Including the excessive hacking. Oh, and the bug-eyed, protuding heads of characters are pretty ugly in retrospect even if the entire game looked great nontheless. Also, the guns are some of the weakest and almost irrelevant a lot of the times compared to Plasmids which is a bad thing since the game aims for balance of the two and Plasmids are almost always limited in use because the power runs out so quickly. And while the music is great, it is often too sparsely played. And the modification is more than not just confusing or totally unnecessary or unimpressive (really fun/ingenious gun modification is still a lofty ideal for FPS games. Bioshock is no exception). It's somewhere between an 8.5/10 type of a game for me. There was so much potential to be touched upon even when the game is still great. I think they pretty much need to do some sort of a sequel to do the entire potential justice.

It was a great offer even when it cost $49.

The twist was good if at least for that moment. That's all I'll spoil.

I'm still not entirely sold that people buy them for their stories. I mean for the fans, the story is important because it sheds new light under scrutiny, but does it really matter that much in the end? Other than the atmosphere and the progression of the games themselves, but both franchises still aren't entirely about the story. Maybe except for some of the more involving moments in Zelda games in the last few years, but the stories are somewhat fleeting and not the center of attention (with Zelda games, it's usually the very beginning and the very end that has the real amount of storylines. As it should be for Zelda games). It's almost like how it is with strategy games now with how their campaigns strive to have an ambitious story behind them, and yet they are still strategy games in their core and it's still their biggest selling point. Even a lot of FPS games are like that nowadays but in the end, the FPS gameplay is what people come for. I agree that Metroid Prime 3 specifically is more about the story, but then again, the gameplay is more shoot-em-up friendly than even the past MP games. You say it's about the balance and I agree. I didn't exactly mean to say that everyone buys it for the game first, story second. But I seriously think people simply buy them with the basic gameplay in mind perhaps subconsciously with these franchises. Because they know what to expect. Expecting something totally new, as much as all hardcore gamers want, isn't really all that crucial as I see it.

One of the most memorable soundtracks for me. For some reason, I don't care too much for the recent C&C games though they are all technically great. The first one just has a charm about it.

Phoenix Wright is great, but I think most people are over its initial shock factor of it being a lawyer game. And typical Capcom, it's insanely repetitive now.

There is nothing wrong with buying Zelda for hack and slash alone. The atmosphere of the game is great and yes, the story was actually sorta good with Twilight Princess, but it still is more of the same. Like most franchises, that is both a good thing and bad. Mostly good with Zelda games though. As for Metroid, if another Metroid game that comes out with ZERO story and ZERO dialogue, it'd still be a Metroid game that millions will play and enjoy regardless.

Um..... Games never were in any trouble from lack of creativity. I think there's almost too much of it now with games being too ambitious for their own good. Also, I'm somewhat split with the Prime games. They were a really well done, experimental trilogy of sorts, but the 2D is definitely where all the best Metroid games were. Also Metroid with a plot is almost like defeating the purpose of solitude of the games, though MP games really are like that except for a few hunter excursions here and allusions of the Federation there. Even with Zelda games, who really cares about the story? You just go through dungeons and kill things. That is where most of the fun is.

Samus saying a few sentences doesn't mean much though. I was horrified at the cute animals when I first met them. Just running across the screen. I thought it was something worse than SA-X.

It's one thing to play Zork. It's another thing to actually go to a store to buy a Zork or Ultima or King's Quest then play it. While paying $50 a pop.

I guess I'm old enough to be a parent generation...

Nobody really plays Metroid games for their story, but I thought Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion were the best in that aspect since they had the most things actually developing unlike in most other Metroid games. Too bad Fusion was too short because it was the one game where we listen in on Samus's actual thoughts in a Metroid game.

Actually the game is definitely easier than the old version. Less encounters, less power and speed of enemies. And only a few optional bosses are any real challenge. Though the worst sin of the game is that the GBA simply can't handle SNES-like sounds.

A lot of the enemies were in quasi 3D. And they weren't even animated well. Even DKC did it better 10 years ago. Also, I see no reasons why a 2D Mario would actually look worse than a slapped on 3D version. If the system can handle the 3D sprites and workload, I think they should go for it. But the way it's being done on the DS, it's mostly a gimmick and a half. Even Pokemon Diamond/Pearl didn't need it in favor of the old sprites IMO.

Even if it is made, I really, really, really hope it's sprite graphics. The ugly, pixelated 3D on the DS doesn't need to continue. On another note, the Dread news could really be Hunters 2. PS- I guess the news wasn't 100% verified just yet but there shouldn't be a reason for them to lie about it. I'm still looking for the messages since I skimped on almost all of them the first playthrough.

One of the biggest things about this game isn't about the game at all: Possible hint at DS Metroid

I think they rushed the game out a bit rather than making it even bigger and ambitious than it already was. No multiplayer, and the story felt like four chapters of a whole book.

I wouldn't trust that demo whole heartedly personally. For one, they crammed every useless skills and put you in middle of nowhere in the story. Just not a good way to start it off, IMO. Eternal Sonata was just simple and straightforward in a good way. One path, one boss. Blue Dragon was all over the place in the demo.

I agree. Also, Halo had a pretty robust singleplayer campaign for its time. And didn't Metroid Prime 1 get a lot of 9.5 types of scores? That's pretty high for a game with inherently little replayablity after a few playthrus. And MP2, with all its problems and item-collection-fests and "go back the same corridor a dozen times" gameplay, got high ratings too. IMO MP2 just got too much credit for essentially being a clumsy sequel.

Just like the old Playstation days.

Believe it or not, this game was actually easier than the first two MP games. Even the boss battles... At least they took the original atmosphere and streamlined it a bit, though I still say the first Metroid Prime always will be the best balance of action and discovery and wonder. MP3 is probably the best in terms of action flow, but they went a bit overboard with the Phazon story.

I hear the characters and battles and everything are a bit bland in the first disc, then it starts getting intriguing on second and third discs. I'll probably have to buy it. Can't rent a 40+hour game for me. The demo really did make it seem like some of the battles were a bit too easy.