AM2R Creator Isn’t A Fan Of Metroid Dread’s E.M.M.I. Encounters

MecurySteam, the studio that worked with Nintendo on Metroid: Samus Returns for 3DS, a remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus, really hit it big with Metroid Dread for the Switch. But given the studio’s debut with the series released shortly after the release of one of Metroid’s most popular and well-known fan games, Another remake of Metroid 2 (Project AM2R) – it is quite natural that the creator of this game has a lot to say about Samus’ latest brand new adventure.

In a recent episode of the KIWI TALKZ podcast, DoctorM64 — now a programmer at Moon Studios, developer of Ori & the Will of the Wisps — talked about the challenges of making AMR2, the impact of Metroid Zero Mission, and how it affected the trajectory of the project. , Robot Skippy, and much more.

However, DoctorM64 focused on the EMMI encounters and offered some conflicting thoughts on how these sinister robots fit into a Metroid game when it comes to Metroid Dread.

Here are some edited excerpts from what he said:

“I’m not entirely sure that EMMI was something that would make sense in Metroid. The concept is fantastic. But if you mix something like survival horror with a giant monster that can kill you in one hit, you should feel vulnerable. Please think of the first couple of Resident Evils with tank controls and minimal ammo, and you stun a couple of zombies, shoot them, but your health is minimal. You feel this tension, this fear.

But all of a sudden, if you’re a space hunter who can jump and jump and you have very agile moves, and you can jump walls and run fast, it changes the dynamic a lot. Suddenly the monster should be moving at the same pace as you, and suddenly the failure state is reached more quickly. So in Resident Evil or any other survival horror, you spend a couple of minutes exploring, seeing a monster and trying with your minimal resources and mobility to escape, hide, and act tactfully in your choices. You have time to think and do the right thing.

But since Samus is so agile, and the real Emmis have to be faster than her to compensate, you don’t have those Metal Gear moments where you know how to sneak around and act. You’re pretty much reacting to things, so it’s a lot like cat and mouse going so fast that it’s distinct and unique this time around, but in my humble opinion, it’s also a little annoying.”

We must say that DoctorM64 is also full of praise, as he praises Samus’s agility, which also impressed us. The entire chat is an excellent insight into AM2R’s creative process and the creator’s thoughts on all things Metroid and Metroidvania, so we highly recommend you watch it. You can listen to him specifically discuss Metroid Dread in the video below:

In our Metroid Dread review, we said of the EMMI encounters, “There was some potential for being a little disappointing, but the tight faceoffs and EMMI robot encounters are standout moments in the game.”

How do you feel about meeting EMMI in the game? Let us know about it in the comments!