Metroid: The Most Influential Shooter Ever

"With such evolving gameplay elements within the Metroid series, it would be impossible to deny that the series is innovative, revolutionary, and influential. "

[Blaze929]

Never really was a fan of the metroid series.

[Agent-86]

The Metroid series may well be a great series of games, maybe even excellent. However, it is an overly exaggerated statement to say its the "most influential shooter ever". To be influential, that means it has to influence other developers to adopt/copy designs into their own games. Name a game that was influenced by Metroid? How did it change shooters so much that everyone copied them? Want an example of a shooter that influenced others: Battlefield 2. See, BF2 started the trend of stat tracking, ranking up, and weapon unlocks. Now, just about every modern shooter uses those game designs. That's what you call influential. Others would be: Half-Life, COD, even the original Doom. Metroid? Not so much.

[swice]

Shadow Complex? Kid Icarus NES? Castlevania?
It also influenced developers to include females in their games. Such as Lara Croft and Chun-Li

[SpoonyRedMage]

The Prime games influenced Star Wars: Republic Commando, Geist, Dementium, Moon, The Conduit and Red Steel 2.

In a way you could argue they influenced the Call of Duty games too because the DS versions built on Hunters' controls.

[Wh15ky]

The only Metroid game I've played is Metroid Prime 3 on wii. That game set the standards for FPS controls on Wii.

[smash-brother-10]

swice got it pretty much spot on. To say it hasn't influenced anything is quite a silly thing to say lol

[Active Reload]

You need only look at the recent affairs of the Prime Series to see a lot of influences. The Space Pirates have been duplicated to this very day. The creature design was unparalleled until I seen the Locust and to a slightly lesser degree, the Chimera. Even the Pingers from Crysis 2 look a LOT like Metroid Prime Space Pirates.

[Agent-86]

OK, I didn't mean to imply that Metroid didn't influence other games. I just meant that it doesn't match the title as "the most influential shooter EVER". Please notice that word EVER, like no other shooter comes close. That is a completely over exaggerated statement, but I guess that's what get hits at N4G: overly provocative titles. Sorry Metroid fans, let me restate. Metroid was an influential game, but its not the most influential shooter ever. Is that better?

[swice]

Now you see why you have to be precise with what you say on this site. Nobody here is forgiving (it's the nature of the site). But thank you for rewording; nicely done

[DarkBlade4658]

Absolutely loved the metroid series, but never got into the 3D ones, but loved the 2d exploration ones. Gonna keep a lookout on Other M though, looks sick.

[Blaine]

apparently Castlevania SotN was heavily influenced by them. I guess so I guess I owe the series a debt because I love the hell out of SotN!

But those are the 2D series we're talking about. Can't say that I know of any shooters that were inspired by Metroid.

[Myze]

Well, SotN is one of my favorite games and it definitely took some of the parts of Metroid, at least the 2D versions. Honestly, I would say SotN is better than any Metroid game (that's a major praise of SotN, not a knock to the M series), but it still borrowed from the gameplay. Also, while it did take a lot from Metroid, SotN also still retained a lot from previous Castlevania games (actually most of the RPG elements that are said to come from Metroid, could also be considered to come from Simon's Quest instead, but the gameplay/playstyle is definitely reminiscent of Metroid).

While I love Metroid, I always felt Metroid 1 and 2 and Super Metroid were better than the Metroid Prime games (although they are really good too, they didn't have the same feel or fluidity). I'm VERY much looking forward to the new game for that very reason.

[El_Colombiano]

Metroid Prime is a game that will forever be considered a masterpiece in my heart. Everything about that game was absolutely perfect.

[Active Reload]

Yup, and its the only game that I've ever played were I strongly feel it was PERFECT and I've played every "big" franchise this gen. And to add onto the perfection, there were no glitches, bugs, or anything like that. Nintendo's seal of quality could be showcased through that game.

[Venoxn4g]

all metroid games are perfect in one or in other way!!! :) I've finished SNES super metroid not a long ago and now I am playin' GBA Metroid: zero mission..and I love Prime series and waitin' for Other M.. play it people you won't regret it! :)

[Miraak82]

I always wanted to play the Primes series but never really owned a nintendo system past the snes,,, Metroid 2 and Super Metroid were master pieces in my eyes

[rekof]

Metroid was always tight,.. Most influential,.. hard to say ,..

@DarkBlade4658 ,.. give them a shot, if you or some of your friends have a Wii.. They are really good,.. I don't know why I never never finished 3 ,.. ( o batteries ran out :)) ,.. and to many games to play ) ,.. must get back into it,.. Really good game,..

[BannedForNineYears]

Erm, most influential is MW 2. It influences kids to be lil' douche bags to people online. >_>
And those kids would call Metroid lame. ~_~

[swice]

That is why we have our generation and they have theirs

[Caspel]

LMAO. I approve original message.

[Allowen]

I was only a fan of Metroid Prime that is a FPS/adventure.

I will give it a shot and try this semi 2D Metroid : other M and see what happens.
It will be a good game to me but I still preffer a FPS Metroid style.

[ChronoJoe]

Metroids better elements aren't aspects of the shooter genre. The shooting gameplay in all metroid games, and FPS gunplay in Prime, was average.

Where metroid shines is in it's influence of the adventure genre. A lot of games are described as 'metroid like' in the way that they cause you to explore the world in a non-linear fashion. Opening up new areas, of the existing world, as you find new items whilst you explore.

[dmixwell]

what retro studios did for the metroid series was great. but simply put it was NOT METROID . they tried to do a back story and got a lil lossed . other m looks like they are back on track . ok i will put it this way what if square enix took street fighter and made it an rpg? im sure it would turn out great and maybe even have a better story (not very hard ,rite?) but it will never be what street fighter is all about.

[El_Colombiano]

Are you trying to say Prime had a bad story line? Really? *Really*???

[dmixwell]

nope im just saying Metroid Prime is not what metroid is about its like taking a fighting game and making it something else .metroid is far from being a fps but nevertheless it was a good game. it needs to go back to its roots to be GREAT!!

[ChickeyCantor]

"etroid is far from being a fps"

Thats why its called a FPA instead.

The shooting is there but thats not really what the game wants to focus on completely. Scanning objects is one of the best things in metroid prime games.

Prime series compliment the 2D series.
Its metroid alright.

[gamerben]

I still don't know why people are saying "Wow Other M looks EXACTLY like an old metroid game". That's not true. I'm not saying the game is bad. But the game is still a 3D metroid. In original metroid you couldn't walk in 4 directions, go into first person. ect.

[ChickeyCantor]

Its true that you can walk in different directions, but most of the time the camera pans left and right.
Thats why people agree to say its a 2D metroid.

[TheDesperadoLives]

all time and BLAH BLAH BLAH I LOVE NINTENDO!!!!"

Get over yourselves, Nintendroids. Okami is better than Zelda, Mario controls like slippery slop (waaaay too much weight) and Metroid is rubbish compared to Portal, Half-Life, Doom, Quake, System Shock etc. in terms of influential shooters.

[El_Colombiano]

No...just, simply and straight forwardly...no.

[gamerben]

Heh, hate to tell you this, but Okami-dan is gonna be for DS. The original one was remade on wii.

Mario controls are fine.

And Metroid isn't anything like any of those games, which proves you never played it.

Don't call me a fanboy, I play other games to, you know. You should be brave and try it yourself.

[ChickeyCantor]

"Get over yourselves, Nintendroids"

I think you need to get over yourself.

[Gxgear]

I don't think of Metroid as shooter, it's more of an action adventure franchise. And even then Mega Man precedes it in terms of how influential they are.

[barefootgamer]

Do I lose gamer cred for admitting I've never played Metroid?

[rezznik]

Unfortunately, we're going to have to revoke your gaming license and your systems. Have a nice day :).

[athmaus]

it is a great game! i love it :)

[DemonStration]

Great series but most influential? What have they influenced exactly?