Metroid: Other M may scare me, but that's not because I'm sure the game will be bad. It's just hard to know if something so different will live up to Metroid's illustrious history. That's probably why I find Minitroid so comforting. It's a Metroid 2-influenced game with new gameplay mechanics and super-low resolution graphics. While every game since the first Metroid has worked to give Samus an increasingly realistic look, Minitroid goes the other way, and it pays off big time. This is Metroid by way of Cave Story, and I'm loving it.
The project is clearly ready to play, but I haven't found a playable build of it anywhere. It's been in the works for a little while, as proven by this older video of the game in action, so I know it's out there. We just need the game's developer, someone named Tokinsom, to let us have it. If you're reading this Tokinsom, I could help you get this game done. If you need a Spartan-suit Mario, Anthony Burch, Robocop, or Edgar Wright sprite sheet, I've already got you covered.
Jonathan Holmes is the most lovable Associate Editor on Destructoid. Catch him on videos, original editorials, and on back episodes of the Destructoid Show and MTV's Road Rules. Jonathan is a retro gamer's gamer.
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Mega Man 2, Resident Evil, Katamari Damacy, Bit.Trip, Metal Slug 3
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Am I the only one who's tired of indie games with NES-level graphics? I would like to see more independent developers go to the trouble of creating graphics that actually look, you know, good. The 8-bit route is a tad lazy.
Wow I came to watch a Metroid video and read the musings of J.Holmes but you know I suddenly feel like buying some Summer clothes as I haven't had any for the past 2 months. Finally I can wear clothes that are both fitting, functional and that apparently will make me more attractive.
Hell I can even wear these new wonder clothes with a sense of satisfaction, along with a possible erection, that the Vietnamese children that made my clothes probably weren't paid and my new sexier self is already better than than all of their asses.
HAHAHA is how I will laugh, and possibly orgasm, at the thought of those crying, unpaid, overworked and starving children as I strut around getting laid left, right and center. Who cares if it's going to be autumn in like 2-3 weeks when you're getting all the sweet sweet pussy you could want!
@sprldr Nope, you are definitely not the only one, personally I think good spritework can be better looking than 3D, and as Dustforce confirmed for me recently, quality animaiton can make decent graphics look amazing. So yeah, too much 8-bit being done when it isn't necessary is really missing out on a lot (also, 8-bit has no real nostalgia factor for me as I didn't get into gaming until the Genesis).
@ GoldenGamerXero- I think you're gong for a "comment of the week", and I think you deserve one.
@ sprldr and ICLHStudios- I think it all depends on the game. Some games look best with a low-res style, some don't. I guess that goes without saying.
As for laziness, "lazy" is not a word that I'd throw around. There is nothing lazy about making a videogame by yourself, like Tokinsom is reportedly doing with Minitroid. You may not like low-res sprites, and I can understand why, but that doesn't mean laziness is part of the equation. "Low-res sprites" may equal "artistic decision" or "limited resources" or even "not good at higher-res sprite art", but they do not equal "lazy"
@ Bigmoose85- Yep, it's hard to go wrong with stealing art from Nintendo. As for comparing the two, I like them both in different ways, but there is something more important for looks; actually getting finished.
I have the feeling that Minitroid has a lot better chance of eventually seeing release. How long have all those teams been working on the Metroid 2 remakes? I think the one you showed us has been in production since 2008.
Anyone who says that doing something like this in 8bit style graphics is lazy doesn't know how hard it is to make something look good with the restraints it puts on you.
More so if you're trying to make it look fluid and clean.
The 8-bit to 16-bit style is harder than you'd think.
I think this looks awesome as is. Why are most of the comments negative? I think this looks cute and fun to play, even if it is a bit simplistic. Hope it gets released.
I love new 8 bit attempts.
There is a lot to be said about pixel per pixel decisions vs the clean strokes you see in flash animations.
They are two Very different artistic endeavors.
Personally, I think 8 bit works well for people that are OCD. It provides the sharp corners and perpetually aligned edges that perfectionists prefer. It certainly caters to a niche audience, but I think we see so many of them because the people that make 8 bit games are making them first and foremost for themselves. And as creative people, they make up a much denser percentage of people with OCD than may really exist as consumers.
Other M is already looking quite like a PS2 game. I'll take pixels over polygons any day.
As much as I love Metal Slug levels of pixel graphics, it takes AT LEAST a team of a few artists to accomplish something that awesome, unless you're Paul Robertson or on meth.
That said, I'd love to play me some mini-Samus. Bring it on!
Creating a game from the ground up -- designing the game itself and designing and implementing an engine, followed by gathering all the assets necessary, getting the whole thing running, making sure everything works, getting the details taken care of -- none of that is easy. To take a project of this level of complexity -- a fully interactive game with a well-defined progression and consistent mechanics -- to completion takes skill, talent, and no small amount of dedication.
Asking the author to be an artist too is a little bit disingenuous. The "8-bit style" is something that can be pulled off by just about anyone due to the low resolution of the sprites; when you get into higher resolutions and larger pallets you can no longer brute force a solution and must instead be ready to create things that have artistic merit. Some guys are talented enough to be able to do this, too, but asking for it like you're "tired" of guys who are only great at other things is inane.
Saying you're "tired" of indie games having an "8-bit style" is much akin to saying you're tired of indie games not having voice acting. Think about that.
Lazy? You guys have never tried to make a half decent looking NES style game. Seriously, the graphic limitations require A LOT of skill and imagination. I have a much easier time doing bigger, more colorful sprites than tiny, 3-colored NES style sprites.
Does anybody know whatever happened to Von Richter and his Metroid game? The games name was SR388, and the last thing that I ever heard from that fantastic remake was somewhere around 2 years ago. Soon after the website was started it all turned to nothing.
Hey Jonathan, any chance you could do a piece on my hack I released last week? http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Infinitys+End/mdbtroid-one-hack-to-rule-them-all--181677.phtml
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Contest:
7:00 AM on 08.22.2010
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Hell I can even wear these new wonder clothes with a sense of satisfaction, along with a possible erection, that the Vietnamese children that made my clothes probably weren't paid and my new sexier self is already better than than all of their asses.
HAHAHA is how I will laugh, and possibly orgasm, at the thought of those crying, unpaid, overworked and starving children as I strut around getting laid left, right and center. Who cares if it's going to be autumn in like 2-3 weeks when you're getting all the sweet sweet pussy you could want!
Thank you fhrthfgh! You've changed my life!
@ sprldr and ICLHStudios- I think it all depends on the game. Some games look best with a low-res style, some don't. I guess that goes without saying.
As for laziness, "lazy" is not a word that I'd throw around. There is nothing lazy about making a videogame by yourself, like Tokinsom is reportedly doing with Minitroid. You may not like low-res sprites, and I can understand why, but that doesn't mean laziness is part of the equation. "Low-res sprites" may equal "artistic decision" or "limited resources" or even "not good at higher-res sprite art", but they do not equal "lazy"
A game with all new artwork though? Not lazy, not ever.
I have the feeling that Minitroid has a lot better chance of eventually seeing release. How long have all those teams been working on the Metroid 2 remakes? I think the one you showed us has been in production since 2008.
More so if you're trying to make it look fluid and clean.
The 8-bit to 16-bit style is harder than you'd think.
Try it.
There is a lot to be said about pixel per pixel decisions vs the clean strokes you see in flash animations.
They are two Very different artistic endeavors.
Personally, I think 8 bit works well for people that are OCD. It provides the sharp corners and perpetually aligned edges that perfectionists prefer. It certainly caters to a niche audience, but I think we see so many of them because the people that make 8 bit games are making them first and foremost for themselves. And as creative people, they make up a much denser percentage of people with OCD than may really exist as consumers.
Now don't go blaming the artists at LJN for the programmers not being able to make the games good.
As much as I love Metal Slug levels of pixel graphics, it takes AT LEAST a team of a few artists to accomplish something that awesome, unless you're Paul Robertson or on meth.
That said, I'd love to play me some mini-Samus. Bring it on!
Creating a game from the ground up -- designing the game itself and designing and implementing an engine, followed by gathering all the assets necessary, getting the whole thing running, making sure everything works, getting the details taken care of -- none of that is easy. To take a project of this level of complexity -- a fully interactive game with a well-defined progression and consistent mechanics -- to completion takes skill, talent, and no small amount of dedication.
Asking the author to be an artist too is a little bit disingenuous. The "8-bit style" is something that can be pulled off by just about anyone due to the low resolution of the sprites; when you get into higher resolutions and larger pallets you can no longer brute force a solution and must instead be ready to create things that have artistic merit. Some guys are talented enough to be able to do this, too, but asking for it like you're "tired" of guys who are only great at other things is inane.
Saying you're "tired" of indie games having an "8-bit style" is much akin to saying you're tired of indie games not having voice acting. Think about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz-Sfw91A6A
I have like six of them at my house.
/end sarcasm....
You realize it doesn't take a ps2 dev kit to create a PC game with ps2-level graphics, right?