Does the manga spoil the illusion for you?

Where is everybody getting the idea that the manga is canonical?

Personally, I've gotten that idea from the legions of posters and admins on MDB who chant "Its canon! Its canon!" whenever someone asks if its canon.

[ChozoBoy]

There is the fact that canon games heavily draw from and reference elements in it. (And a few of the other comics...)

There is the fact that canon games heavily draw from and reference elements in it. (And a few of the other comics...)

They do?

Aside from Adam's physical appearance in the Other M trailer, I can't think of any examples. Hell, there hasn't even BEEN a metroid game released since the manga came out besides Corruption.

[Will Keaton]

Uh dude? That manga came out in 2004. Slightly BEFORE Zero mission. Which explains why Samus' ship looks identical in both.

[CapCom]

N/M. Thank god Wikipedia sometimes lists accurate sources:

http://www.metroid.jp/metroid_version1/ ... index.html

That fourth line of Japanese text below the logo? Says Yoshio Sakamoto is the editorial supervisor/general editor for the manga. Doesn't explain why he's not listed in the credits in the manga though, but sounds like it may have been a similar job to his overseeing of Metroid Prime.

So forget the earlier post I made.

[Antiquity]

Um, well,

There are a couple of things that I really don't like about the manga, including its portrayal of the main character, but really the bottom line is that the manga aren't even consistent with the games, not even Zero Mission itself, which the manga is supposedly based on. Several important examples include:

1. The way the suit works. It is not a metaphor for Samus' confidence, but a piece of highly advanced weapon and armor technology. If it were confidence, then there would be a very different mechanic that would cause it to break off in the game than running out of power that is stored in (acquirable) energy tanks.

2. The simple facts about the backstory. Samus' origins and identity are shrouded in mystery; the MZM manual even says so. Very few people can know who she really is, or anything else about her. The manga has her in public shifting in and out of her armor, and appearing without her armor often. Again, this just isn't consistent with the games, including the manuals. Adam might know who Samus really is, as might the Chairman of the Council, and maybe a few close friends (if Samus has any), but when she is not in her suit, her identity is secret.

3. Samus' behavior on missions. We all know Samus carries out missions with an extreme degree of competence, and a realistic assessment of her abilities (and weaknesses). This is brought out in the dialogue of Fusion, and in Samus' own narration in Zero Mission. She isn't reckless the way she is in the manga.

*

On the other hand, I don't see why Samus could have friends like Keatz and Mauk, who might even be privy to her secrets. As for a romantic relationship between Samus and Adam, Adam almost has to be old enough to be Samus' father - you could make the case that he is her foster-foster-family (and, of course, he gets killed too). Now, I did write a short fic at one point that implied that Samus and Adam would get married, but that was after they had both died and then been reconstituted as young adults by the Light of Aether!

[CapCom]

Good points.

Regarding the suit, this is how Sakamoto has said the suit functions. It only does this in MZM. A game where the player has to monitor Samus' tension and concentration would create an entirely new set of gameplay mechanics that could be interesting, but would be very different from our standard Metroid. I think it's more there for story and concept than demonstration and yet another example of how a game made in the 80s that now becomes a series given new explanation that often conflicts with traditional game mechanics.

Samus' backstory is another thing altogether. Her history is a mystery to everyone who doesn't know who she is. Because we as the audience have seen where she came from, it is no longer a mystery to us. The idea of Samus as an enigma was more behind the design of the original Metroid and isn't really as applicable anymore for the audience. I think a lot of people are complaining about MOM because it will be fleshing out more of her character and backstory. These people are afraid of what Sakamoto might write, even though he is the captain of the series with a long history of scenario writing. I feel many of them will grudgingly admit they enjoy it or else refuse to even pick up the game.

As for Samus' behavior, you have to remember these were early missions. She acts with much greater confidence (as do Mauk and Keatz) in the final chapters when they are much older and more experienced. Essentially, not everyone starts off as a well-chiseled master of the arts. See You Next Mission is a good fanfic that explores this very idea. As for how she fits in with them... Well, Samus is an outsider, and these two seem like they are as well. She grew up without friends, so perhaps it was natural for her to seek out companions.

[mental]

A game where the player has to monitor Samus' tension and concentration would create an entirely new set of gameplay mechanics that could be interesting, but would be very different from our standard Metroid.

A use for the Wii Vitality Sensor, perhaps?

[Opium]

I've never paid too much attention to the manga. I basically go by what's presented in the games themselves. To me, the writers of the manga don't dictate what's what in the games. They come up with a story to tell because the manga is supposed to tell a story, whereas the games are about action/gameplay and any pieces of story that come up contribute to the immersion factor, but aren't even required for the game to be awesome.

I'd say that to me, the manga is about as significant to metroid as the zelda cd-i games are to zelda. They're just some quirky thing on the side that has little or no significance at all.

[sharonlover]

I've never paid too much attention to the manga. I basically go by what's presented in the games themselves. To me, the writers of the manga don't dictate what's what in the games.

Didn't Sakamoto assist or write the manga? He had some hand in it and to me, if he's got a hand in it, and it's an official Nintendo publication, then it has to be something Nintendo wants fans to know about.

With the manga, I look at it this way. Not everyone knows there is a manga, especially our American gamers being that the manga was never published in America (only a couple of scanlations exist and one complete one ). Anyhow, maybe Nintendo is going to flesh out these back stories and add some more to those who never picked up the manga or knew it existed?

As a note, I believe it was Samus' will power to keep the suit on versus her confidence. Two different things, one is likely to overcome then the other. Her will to fight is what causes the suit to materialize, hell just thinking about fighting may be enough will power to do so, we don't know, it's still a mechanic of the suit we are not too familiar with.

Being an anime/manga fan. Samus' behavior is pretty typical of your 'battle girl' scenario. I can't say I like it or don't because I think in that iteration it fits her well. She has to have a medium to express emotion besides facial drawings and with the manga she could have that. I wouldn't mind that same personality moving on to other games either.

As for her identity. I'd say something along the lines that CC was going with.

[Antiquity]

A game where the player has to monitor Samus' tension and concentration would create an entirely new set of gameplay mechanics that could be interesting, but would be very different from our standard Metroid. I think it's more there for story and concept than demonstration and yet another example of how a game made in the 80s that now becomes a series given new explanation that often conflicts with traditional game mechanics.

Well, the problem with that is this: it is abundantly clear in the dialogue and elsewhere in the Metroid universe that Samus' life is at grave risk in her missions. If she runs out of energy and her suit disintigrates, she will die. This isn't a confidence issue, because if it were, she shouldn't be vulnerable to anything, not even the SA-X's Ice beam. And yet, Adam the computer - who ought to also know how Samus' suit works at least well enough to know what weaknesses she has, seeing as this is Adam after all - is quite certain that Samus will die if she faces the SA-X even with the Varia, before she has the Plasma beam.

Samus' backstory is another thing altogether. Her history is a mystery to everyone who doesn't know who she is. Because we as the audience have seen where she came from, it is no longer a mystery to us.

It isn't, but I would like to see Samus' backstory being still unknown to most of the people in the GF. Anything that explores her personal life, say, should clearly indicate that she either (1) shares her personal life with a select few people, or (2) she has a secret identity that most people don't realize whom they are meeting when they encounter her. Given that Samus does appear to drink in bars or walk in cities or parks, I would suggest (2).

As for Samus' behavior, you have to remember these were early missions. She acts with much greater confidence (as do Mauk and Keatz) in the final chapters when they are much older and more experienced.

It's the segment that tells the story of Zero Mission itself that bothers me the most - that together with Samus' behavior in front of the council (because she shouldn't be that well-known). But I would imagine that the Chozo would make sure she's less reckless when they let her loose in the galaxy. Inexperienced yes, but trained, so reckless no.

[Opium]

I've never paid too much attention to the manga. I basically go by what's presented in the games themselves. To me, the writers of the manga don't dictate what's what in the games.

Didn't Sakamoto assist or write the manga? He had some hand in it and to me, if he's got a hand in it, and it's an official Nintendo publication, then it has to be something Nintendo wants fans to know about.

With the manga, I look at it this way. Not everyone knows there is a manga, especially our American gamers being that the manga was never published in America (only a couple of scanlations exist and one complete one ). Anyhow, maybe Nintendo is going to flesh out these back stories and add some more to those who never picked up the manga or knew it existed?

The fact that the manga is practically unknown in the market where metroid is most popular is testament to it's insignificance.

Besides, the translation into engrish makes the whole thing come off quite odd and consequently cheesifies metroid, imo.

I really prefer samus to be silent and mysterious anyways. It looks like MoM will be the biggest thing yet to demystify her personality, and this makes me nervous. I'm staying open-minded about it though and won't draw any conclusions until after I actually play it.

[sharonlover]

Besides, the translation into engrish makes the whole thing come off quite odd and consequently cheesifies metroid, imo.

You found a lot of Engrish in that? I went page by page and attempted to proof it to make sure it didn't sound too off. Can you give me an example? I'd like to see the engrish so I don't make a mistake next time.

As for M:OM, if they do flash backs or detail her past, I would expect them to follow what is already in the manga. That would solidify the manga as a good source of Samus' past and I would love to see a retelling of it in game as well.

[-ChozoChild-]

As for M:OM, if they do flash backs or detail her past, I would expect them to follow what is already in the manga. That would solidify the manga as a good source of Samus' past and I would love to see a retelling of it in game as well.

That why I'm thrilled about Other M.
We know what happens to her in the manga, but will they show the same actions in this game?
Will they also give of more of a background and depth to what happened at the ending of Super Metroid? I can't wait to play!

[sharonlover]

That why I'm thrilled about Other M.
We know what happens to her in the manga, but will they show the same actions in this game?
Will they also give of more of a background and depth to what happened at the ending of Super Metroid? I can't wait to play!

I want to see Samus explaining the whole planet exploding to the GF. That would be fun I think and seeing the Federation start to question hiring a bounty hunter to do just that, maybe it would be the plot point in the series where the GF decides to shaft her in Fusion