Journal Logs to Improve Other M Narration & Storytelling

[Zynux]

The narration in Metroid: Other M in many people's perspectives was a mixed bag. People felt that Samus' monotone voice was annoying and irritating, and that it made the game's story too expository and drawn out even to the point of boredom. Personally, I disliked Samus' narration because she explained a whole lot but in actuality said very little that impacted or affected the overall story (in a positive way, at least). However, because Samus' narration seemed to be the most dominant medium that expresses her characterization in this game (in my opinion, at least), I was thinking if there were other means of storytelling to maybe express Samus' inner character and feelings without the narration if possible.

It just so happened that I came across CapCom's “Lonely on Zebes” not too long ago which sparked an idea of similar storytelling. Like the Metroid Prime series with the logs and journals, what if the game implemented a mechanic where Samus will periodically write more personal and introspective journal logs on a variety topics, including her own feelings, observations and hardships on the mission, her personal research, random thoughts, and other interests of hers that are not extremely important to the story nor need to be represented in cutscenes and monologues, but still be of interest to the player and relevant to the game? Not only do I think this will possibly eliminate a lot of the (in my opinion) useless and boring monologue, but it can give the player the option to delve even deeper into the Metroid world and the Bounty Hunter Samus Aran if he/she so desires.

When I thought about this, I found that there were (like anything) pros and cons to this approach. The good I think it will deliver is that it will provide the player with yet another medium of Samus' characterization without it being too forceful or “in your face” about it. Cutscenes and the gameplay are all great ways to characterize a character, and I think personal journal logs will be a good way to compliment, not overshadow these types of characterization of the game. Another plus is that reading these logs will be completely optional. Not only that, but these logs should not include any super-important plot elements that you may miss if you decide not to read them. The main story of the game should be able to hold its own fine without them.

Of course, there are cons as well. The main problem I see is giving the player the incentive to even read them. Final Fantasy XIII comes to mind. In the very short time I played this game I recall the game had “Datalogs” that gave information about the world of Final Fantasy XIII. However, in my opinion the story was so boring and filled with such annoying characters that I didn't even bother to care about the datalogs. What's worse, players say that the datalogs really did contribute to the story but its awful story itself gave me little incentive to care. Another problem, as I stated earlier, is if the game's story does become too dependent on the journal logs. The cutscenes, the gameplay, the environment, Samus Aran's dialogue and actions should contribute to much of the story telling, not journals.

There are probably some things that I forgot but those are the main points. Please tell me what you think about this, and even come up with your own ideas of how to tell the Metroid story better without relying heavily on narrative monologues. Personally, I would love to see journal logs in future Metroid games if executed properly.

[rondus18]

There is an old dictum in storytelling: show don't tell. This is what was really wrong with Other M's story. Your idea would have added an extra dimension and made the narrative a little more interesting, but it wouldn't have fixed the main problem. Log books, journal entries, audio diaries, etc... are all great for offering more information and I love them in games. Whether we're talking about Doom 3's audio logs where the staff mention problems and oddities around the base in the lead up to hell breaking loose, Bioshock's audio diaries that allow you to get an understanding of how Rapture fell into chaos, or Prime's lore that gives you insight into the threat phazon represents, they are great for expanding on the world you're exploring. But in all these cases the information is secondary or tertiary to the story. I would argue that any character development of the main characters is too important to be conveyed in this manner. Good stories can be ruined by poor character development and bad stories can be saved by interesting characters. So, if you've got something to say about a character you'd better put front and center.

If you want to fix Other M's story you have to expand on Samus and Adam's relationship. I've heard a lot ideas, but I think my favorite is the com chatter idea. If they had spent a lot of time in game just chatting over the radio while the player was running down hallways, shooting minor enemies, and backtracking we could have gotten a good feel for their relationship. Imagine for a moment that the com chatter idea was implemented and executed properly in the game. Wouldn't it have been much more nerve racking when Adam stopped communicating with Samus while she had been tracking down the Deleter? There is a traitor that want's to kill Adam and Adam has gone radio silent. That could have been used to raise tension. What about when Adam sacrifices himself? Wouldn't his death have been more impactful on the player if the player had enjoyed the radio chatter and now realizes that they will never hear Adam again?

Had Other M flushed out Adam and Samus a lot more as characters I might have considered it my favorite Metroid game even though I find its gameplay and level design less engaging than most other Metroid games.

[Lucid Flower]

Why improve other M, with all of these great ideas, when they could be used in a new game? Other M is over. If Nintendo were smart (and if they still give any kind of fuck about metroid) they would listen, read, and pay attention to what people are saying and implement some of the ideas in a new game. Other M may not have worked out 100% but at least it did a lot of interesting (good) things. I can honestly say I am not much a nintendo fan. I love their games, but I hate the way they have alienated the 20 year old fan base they had built up..........who knows, maybe I'm the only one who feels a bit betrayed?

I'm not too sure how to feel any more, I don't believe I will ever see the metroid i dream/think about, so I guess I just have to make the best with what I get.

I know exactly what I would do if I could make a metroid game, but it will never happen. Please don't take me the wrong way, i like hearing others ideas, it just upsets me that I do not think any of them will ever happen. So I guess I am just venting...........it feels hard to love something your whole life and never see it grow beyond someones idea of entertainment. I am a believer that video games are/can be art. Hopefully that explains my meaningless rant, sorry to interrupt

[Zynux]

There is an old dictum in storytelling: show don't tell. This is what was really wrong with Other M's story. Your idea would have added an extra dimension and made the narrative a little more interesting, but it wouldn't have fixed the main problem.

Oh, I definitely agree. Though it wouldn't of fixed the main problem, I think it would of helped, even if a tiny bit.

they are great for expanding on the world you're exploring. But in all these cases the information is secondary or tertiary to the story.

I guess this was my main problem with Samus' monologues; a lot of them felt secondary or tertiary to the story as a whole, which is why I would have fleshed them out in a different manner (i.e. Journal Logs). Oh, and I love your mention of audio logs! Many Sci-fi games (especially those more on the horror side like Doom and Dead Space) really benefit from them. Metroid games should adopt them as well.

I would argue that any character development of the main characters is too important to be conveyed in this manner. Good stories can be ruined by poor character development and bad stories can be saved by interesting characters. So, if you've got something to say about a character you'd better put front and center.

100% agree. While Journal Logs may be another method of medium to express Samus' internal struggles and thoughts, the majority of her (and other) character's development be implemented elsewhere (Mainly 'Show, don't tell')."

If you want to fix Other M's story you have to expand on Samus and Adam's relationship.

Why improve other M, with all of these great ideas, when they could be used in a new game? Other M is over.

Maybe the thread title and topic is a bit misleading, and if so I humbly apologize (I was really sleep deprived, and I still am), but I'm not in the boat of people who want to "fix" Metroid: Other M, for as Lucid Flower has stated, the game is over and done with. I was just merely observing that if they did implement this in the game, it probably would have saved them a little bit from the fire and flames, (though honestly not much). And I definitely hope that its implemented in future Metroid Titles.

I can honestly say I am not much a nintendo fan. I love their games, but I hate the way they have alienated the 20 year old fan base they had built up..........who knows, maybe I'm the only one who feels a bit betrayed?

Off-topic, but I really started to dislike Nintendo ever since the launch of the Gamecube, and more specifically, F-Zero GX. F-Zero GX will forever hold the title of best racing game I've ever played, and really had the potential to make a name for the franchise and for racing games in general.

But Nintendo (and Sega) really blew it. Not only did the game have a severe lack of content (and they didn't even try on the game's story), but the multiplayer, which could have the game's strong suits, was laughable at best. No LAN (I guess only Mario Kart: Double Dash is worthy of LAN, Nintendo?), no online play, and multiplayer only up to four players. Seriously? After playing Master Mode with 29 other racers, you think players won't notice that with multiplayer they're limited to only 3 other racers? See, I feel that if Nintendo wasn't seemingly so anti-online play during the gamecube's life-span (I will admit this is merely petty speculation, but from Nintendo's continue actions of all but ignoring online play [lol Wii's Wi-fi connection and inconvenient Friend codes] I can't help but think this. Also, from what I can recall, only four games on the gamecube could be played online) and allowed the players to play LAN or Online with at least up to 16 racers, than F-Zero GX would have sold way more. Sometimes I feel that if its not Mario or Zelda, they don't really give a damn about it (Again, petty speculation, and I hope someone proves me wrong, but I can't help but think this)

I'm not too sure how to feel any more, I don't believe I will ever see the metroid i dream/think about, so I guess I just have to make the best with what I get.

I know exactly what I would do if I could make a metroid game, but it will never happen. Please don't take me the wrong way, i like hearing others ideas, it just upsets me that I do not think any of them will ever happen.

Only time will tell. Metroid is far from dead or doomed, but we may have to wait a while for a new one. From lurking these forums for a while a lot of people have given badass ideas of where the series should go from here, but my main problem is that I don't think Nintendo takes the games all that seriously, so I doubt they will be implemented.

Anyways, thanks for the great replies.