Mercury Steam, the studio responsible for games like Metroid Samus Returns and Metroid Dread, is known to have many fans of the series among its team members. This love for Metroid likely played a role in Nintendo choosing to work with them. The team at Mercury Steam has found success with their Metroid games, indicating they understand what works well for Samus’ adventures. Creative Director José Luis Márquez recently spoke with Gamereactor and shared some insights into what makes a great Metroid game.
One key point Márquez made is the importance of Samus losing her powers at the beginning of a Metroid game. He believes this is necessary to prevent players from feeling dissatisfied with their progression. In Metroid Dread, Samus starts off strong on Planet ZDR, only to be quickly disarmed by the villain Raven Beak. While this may make Samus appear vulnerable and frustrate players, it aligns with the series’ tradition of challenging players and guiding them towards growth.
The concept of “physical amnesia,” where Samus loses her abilities at the start of a game, has been a consistent feature in the Metroid series. Some fans have criticized this trope, particularly in Metroid Prime, where Samus loses her powers due to a minor explosion. Márquez, however, supports the idea of Samus losing her abilities as a way to enhance the player experience.
Márquez also shared his views on game difficulty, expressing a preference for not making games overly challenging. While some players may find Metroid Dread to be tough, Márquez believes it doesn’t reach the same level of difficulty as games like Hollow Knight. He also mentioned his preference for shorter playtimes in Metroidvania games, citing the 5-10 hour range of Dread compared to the 15-30 hours of Hollow Knight.
Overall, Márquez’s insights shed light on the thought process behind creating a successful Metroid game. While opinions on elements like Samus losing her abilities and game difficulty may vary among fans, it’s clear that the developers at Mercury Steam have a vision for what makes a compelling Metroidvania experience.
