Metroid Database.com

Shmuplations, one of my favorite translation sites, has put up two new translations of interviews with Yoshio Sakamoto on Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission. There is some really interesting details in here, such as how the Fusion Suit redesign was something newer staff wanted to implement because "It's been the same way for too long." However, since changing such a famous character is very risky, Sakamoto told his staff to think about gameplay mechanics and if the mechanics warranted it, to redesign the suit based on those changes:

So rather than have them thinking about simply changing her design, I tried to get them thinking about new gameplay elements they could introduce, and the necessity of having a solid reason, in-game, for doing so.

With Zero Mission, the Zero Suit sequence followed up with the idea of reversal of fortune the team had from the beginning, but the idea of Samus losing her Power Suit didn't come about until almost the end of development. Sakamoto discusses the horror film influences, which at his GDC talk he stated were central to the pacing and tension of his Metroid games:

We thought the image of the armorless Samus, completely defenseless, would really excite players and make her situation feel real and threatening. It's like a scene out of a classic horror movie: an ugly, evil beast giving chase to its prey, whose weakness has now been exposed. I think being direct like that is the most effective way to raise the tension.

Pretty cool stuff! You can read the full interview here. While you're at it, Shmuplations has 147 other interviews as of this writing - primarily shooting games, but also some RPGs, Castlevania, and other classics.

Until next time...
Captain Commando