I just finished AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake), a fan remake of the classic GameBoy title. It’s amazing and you should play it. But finding it might prove difficult.
First, let me give my two cents on the game. Here’s a big confession as someone who professes to be a huge Metroid fan on a regular basis on Gaming Uncensored – I’ve never actually played the original Metroid 2.
I know, how can I call myself a huge fan of the franchise? Well, I’ve played basically every other Metroid game (even the most recent Wii title that was pretty lame). But my problem was that I never got into the GameBoy. Maybe I was a gaming snob when I was young, but the monochrome of the original GameBoy was a total put off. So to be fair, I’ve played basically nothing on the GameBoy, including Metroid 2.
So imagine my delight when, just a few days ago, I heard about a remake of Metroid 2 done in the Super Metroid style (or more accurately, the Metroid: Zero Mission style). Super Metroid is one of my all-time favorite games, so I was immediately on board.
Then I was immediately disappointed. Soon after the release of AM2R, Nintendo sent a cease and desist. I luckily grabbed a copy off of the official website before it got pulled down. Fret not, though – you can find the game easily enough with a little help from the Google.
As a Metroid fan, the game is phenomenal. If you’re not into the franchise, I’m not sure that it’ll do much for you. But if you’ve played previous titles and enjoy the 2D iterations (e.g. Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, Zero Mission), then you’ll love it. The developer, who goes by the pseudonym DoctorM64, spent years working on the project and actually learned to program in part through his efforts on the game.
It’s both nostalgic and fresh. You have the exploration, back-tracking, item gathering, and character progression that you expect from Metroid. The boss battles, while solid, aren’t quite as epic as the other 2D Metroids, but the rest of the game makes up for it.
What’s difficult about the whole thing is that Nintendo put the kibosh on the game immediately upon its release. I understand Nintendo wanting to protect its IP, and DoctorM64 was incredibly gracious in his response, which you can read here, but I think Nintendo is missing an opportunity.
Far be it from me to suggest how Nintendo should handle their business, but here I go anyway. Here’s how I think Nintendo should respond:
1) Embrace AM2R whole-heartedly. Send out a press release about it. Tweet about it. Reach out to Nintendo customers on all communication platforms to make them aware of what a devoted, small team of fans has done with one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises.
2) Run sales or promotions on all existing Metroid titles, especially the 2D games, on the eShop. Capitalize on the sudden interest and make some money while getting more people into the Metroid universe.
3) Make sure that DoctorM64 and his team don’t make any money off of AM2R. This is where I think Nintendo legitimately needs to protect their IP. Copyright protection is vital to creative progress, so AM2R needs to remain a labor of love and not a profit maker independent of Nintendo.
4) Bring DoctorM64 and his team to Nintendo HQ to talk about what they love about Nintendo and Metroid. Live stream it if you want. Consult with them about what fans want with Metroid’s future. Personally, as a huge fan of the franchise, the recent direction of Metroid has been disappointing. AM2R hit me right in the Metroid-feels. Do more of that.
5) If possible, find a way to release AM2R as an official Nintendo property and share the profits. I’d pay for the game. I’ll even make a commitment right now to buy it if Nintendo releases it, even though I’ve already played through it for free.
I know these things are unlikely, but I’m holding out hope that Nintendo will do some good in this situation. They could create tons of good PR by just being gracious and generous towards an amazing fan remake.
No matter what, I loved the experience and thank the AM2R team for it. Also, my cat Pompeii really enjoyed watching me play it. Like weirdly so.
