Why don't enough people like Metroid?

[ChozoGal]

I think that would scare me more than anything else. Metroid is pretty creepy at times.

[DM-92]

Yeah i'd love it to be creepier.
Can you imagine how much more epic battles could be?

[Apothem]

M-rate the series how exactly? Violence? Language? Sexual content? An M rating has a broad scope of material, most of which can be done within the confines of a T rating, and making the series more mature isn't quite what the brand needs. Metroid was never billed as a mature natured game and even though most gamers don't see much of a difference between the ratings, statistically speaking, T rated games have a greater aptitude for reaching a broader audience than M rated games, so slapping an M rating on a Metroid game would most probably detriment it's sales. Rather than an arbitrary "M" rating it would be better to properly "mature" the series, restore and emphasize the puzzle aspects from the Prime series, reinstate the scan visor to further immerse players in the world, or worlds, of the series and tell a story through subtle context and environment instead of bland, and on the part of the player, demeaning exposition and monologue. The series has plenty of violence, and a few minor swear words here or there are fine, but this isn't Halo, or Gears of War, and even standouts like Mass Effect go places due to their M rating that Metroid simply needn't follow.

[Connex]

Hm? M-rated Metroid? Well, I suppose having Samus or any other character exploding into a bunch of bloody chunks, or having an alcohol/drug problem all of a sudden, or cursing like a sailor, would really add to the Metroid franchise. *blinks* Oh wait, no it wouldn't.

[DM-92]

Hmmm... I see your points.
Kinda like the Bourne movies, they dont intend to be unrealistically violent or anything so they're 12+ rated. Metroid is usually exploration and adventure before action (which i think is the best approach).
I just thought it could be made creepier and possibly more crazy in terms of an epically more scary feel with an 18+ Rating.
Although if they did do that, it would have to be done really well, and not bad horror movie style, but i definitely see where you guys are coming from...

[Troid]

Silent Hill (most recent Wii example) was rated M and it featured no excessive blood and guts, swearing, "alcohol/drug problems all of a sudden," or sexuality. It was just creepy. Lots of body horror, and creepy.

I'd die of happiness if a Metroid was made with Silent Hill/Dead Space-level creepiness surrounding Prime-style action/exploration.

[Connex]

Silent Hill (most recent Wii example) was rated M and it featured no excessive blood and guts, swearing, "alcohol/drug problems all of a sudden," or sexuality. It was just creepy. Lots of body horror, and creepy.

I'd die of happiness if a Metroid was made with Silent Hill/Dead Space-level creepiness surrounding Prime-style action/exploration.

So, less subtle and more overt? So it sacks you over the head with its creepiness as opposed to sneaking up with it via fridge-horror?
Eh, I don't see it.

[DM-92]

Silent Hill (most recent Wii example) was rated M and it featured no excessive blood and guts, swearing, "alcohol/drug problems all of a sudden," or sexuality. It was just creepy. Lots of body horror, and creepy.

I'd die of happiness if a Metroid was made with Silent Hill/Dead Space-level creepiness surrounding Prime-style action/exploration.

You might wanna call up Nintendo with that idea, cause it's a good'un.

[LesserChozo]

Silent Hill (most recent Wii example) was rated M and it featured no excessive blood and guts, swearing, "alcohol/drug problems all of a sudden," or sexuality. It was just creepy. Lots of body horror, and creepy.

I'd die of happiness if a Metroid was made with Silent Hill/Dead Space-level creepiness surrounding Prime-style action/exploration.

There was implied sex as well as other sexual themes, though not overt. There was also alcohol usage, though no drug or alcohol abuse. Implications are often enough to warrant an M rating, though they might have gotten away with a Teen. However, the presentation, as a kind of psychological analysis of the player, sets everything in a somewhat more mature light.

I'm only speculating, of course.

[R9WiLdShOt]

I just realized, people don't really like Metroid since it has no online multiplayer to pwn other players and seek out a quest to be number one in the world at. You can very well screw human cooperation and friendship, it's all about the COMPETITION. and Nintendo sucks at anything to do with the internet.

[Zeta101]

Ah, yes the M rating. I was sure when Other M was coming that it would be. Unfortunatly some recent statistics I've seen of sales suggest that M rated games actually sell the least.I guess it's usually the hardcore people? I wouldn't call myself a hardcore player but I did like games like Bioshock or Deadspace which did have some exploring and scary stuff, difference there is in those games you were just a normal (or slightly special) person. In metroid you're a super powered woman in this nearly invincible power suit.

Idk I would love to see blood and guts in more games, but if the world doesn't what can you do?

[mehe]

I think it's cause of that giant gap from Super. I mean none of the other franchises like Kirby or zelda suddenly stopped with a huge gap without any games and that's probably why Metroid must be the most unknown of Nintendo's Franchise. And that's the truth outside of the forums. More people know Donkey Kong and school than Samus. And it's a real shame cause Metroid is a really deserving work of art in terms of gameplay, concept, art, and Samus herself. I mean who would've thought of combining a robot with an orange football player with a women and make it all look aesthetically awesome. Nobody but Metroid.
The only way I'd think to accelerate the popularity of Metroid and not wait FOREVER until it does is creating an awesome online multiplayer+huge advertising+a great campaign. I mean I'd hate to keep Metroid in the shadows.

[mowan259]

I think the Metroid formula is just not that appealing to the greater mass market. Modern gamers feel immersed in a game that lets them do fun/cool stuff while they move from set piece to set piece, until they beat the game. If it's not that, then it's usually multiplayer.

Metroid leaves you alone (so multiplayer is already a secondary focus) on an alien planet with no instructions, a blank map, multiple paths, and no clear indication of which way to go. One path could lead to a dead end. The next could lead to a room so hot it constantly damages you. The next could have an illusionary floor that drops you into a pit of quicksand. Metroid requires a certain amount of self-motivation, curiosity and perseverance to complete. I think a lot of people consider that too much work in a video game.

The problem with Other M in particular IMHO is that Sakamoto ATTEMPTED to make Metroid more appealing to the mass market, but arguably came up short; leaving both new and hardcore fans feeling (at least a little bit) let down.

[Trishbot]

I think the Metroid formula is just not that appealing to the greater mass market. Modern gamers feel immersed in a game that lets them do fun/cool stuff while they move from set piece to set piece, until they beat the game. If it's not that, then it's usually multiplayer.

Metroid leaves you alone (so multiplayer is already a secondary focus) on an alien planet with no instructions, a blank map, multiple paths, and no clear indication of which way to go. One path could lead to a dead end. The next could lead to a room so hot it constantly damages you. The next could have an illusionary floor that drops you into a pit of quicksand. Metroid requires a certain amount of self-motivation, curiosity and perseverance to complete. I think a lot of people consider that too much work in a video game.

The problem with Other M in particular IMHO is that Sakamoto ATTEMPTED to make Metroid more appealing to the mass market, but arguably came up short; leaving both new and hardcore fans feeling (at least a little bit) let down.

I'd disagree. There's a huge market for big, wide, open-ended exploratory games like that.

Games like Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Red Dead Redemption, Fallout 3, Borderlands, and many others thrive and succeed on a formula based entirely around open-ended gameplay with minimal setpieces and linearity. You're free to explore to your heart's content, anywhere you choose, hindered only by locales with traps and enemies too dangerous for you until you level up.

Batman: Arkham Asylum was a game that sold plenty based entirely off of the Metroid formula of exploration, self-discovery, equipment upgrades, and a very big open-ended game playground to have fun in.

Metroid's "openness" isn't a problem. Metroid Prime remains one of the most open-ended and best-selling games of all time. When it deviated FROM that exploration and openness, that's when things started to get muddled and the sales began to dip.

[KingBroly]

Perhaps the next Metroid evolution should fully embrace the open world? While bosses could be beaten early on with no equipment, the more equipment you get the easier it gets. There'd be a "preferred progression" of course, but you could do anything you wanted when you wanted. Of course, that'd probably cut down on the more awesome speed runs, but it'd be a lot more fun.

Personally, I see Metroid just being Zelda in space. You could interchange Link and Samus and no one would be able to tell the difference.