CriticalGriffin said:
Here's the thing: How do you determine what exactly is "badass" and what is not.
Badass is not exactly always the most objective of opinions.
Of course there are many different definitions for a 'badass' I think typically the idea is someone who is strong and brave and usually with some kind of toughened attitude. While I admit this is quite a two dimensional bland idea of what it takes to mean someone is tough, I feel that's the general idea of what makes a character 'badass'.
For what it's worth, I absolutely think that a character can have emotions and baggage and still qualify as badass (look at Batman for instance) I just think, from what I've read and seen in cinematics, that Other M overdoes this.
Especially with the implied theme of 'motherhood'. I mean references like 'the Bottle Ship' and the 'Babies cry' distress signal combined with the fact that 'Other M' is an anagram for 'Mother'... it's not like this is subtle.
I will still insist that Varia suit was a simple game challenge. Sure, not really well realized challenge, but it still just that. Using it as an arguement is like arguing how illogical Final Fantasy is because it has turn-based combat.
Actually I would argue that the Varia suit can well and truly be used as an argument. The reason? Because even though it is basically an arbitrary game mechanic, it is still an arbitrary game mechanic that the writer decided needed a
narrative explanation.
He had chosen to, rather then merely have power ups be available by coming across them in the game, instead have an element within the story to explain why Samus has all her powers and won't use them unless told to. Which works the same way as merely getting to the point in the game where she can use them by picking them up.
This means that the writer consciously decided to make it part of the story to have Samus need to wait to upgrade her weapons and thus, his sheer laziness to not come up with an actual justified reason to why Samus would run into a heated zone without protective clothing means that we have to take in the indication behind this.
Because this is no longer just a game challenge or game mechanic, by having it actually have a context within the story this is now a plot device that in turn interacts with the rest of the story.
If he didn't want this implication raised then he should have come up with a better reason for why Samus needed to not use the Varia suit. Or possible just drop the whole angle with the 'order' system and instead just have powerups lying around to be picked up.
Because by making it an actual plot device with a context and a reason behind it, it means that people have every right to then take that context given to it and use said context as an example of another point in the game where that context meshes with the rest of the plot to make an unpleasant implication.
The unpleasant implication being that even when her life is in danger, Samus would opt to follow orders and wait to be told to put on the Varia suit even though she is putting herself in danger pointlessly for it.
As for Final Fantasy and turn based battles well... there's no narrative device surrounding the turn based combat that I understand. No character ever yells:
"Let's fight fair like a game of chess!"
Thus giving an actual story basis for how the gameplay works. Hence there in lies a suspension of disbelief and no one needs to wonder why everyone is standing perfectly still in a supposedly tense battle waiting to be told to fight each other.
But the second a story writer tries to explain it is the point where things get wierd.
I read the manga, yes. But I didn't like the manga after the first act and it's canonicity is very questionable(I personally think it's more "sort of canon" than "completely canon").
I don't know how something can only be partially considered 'canon'. Plus from what I've heard the writer of Other M decided to make the Prime series non canon (remember I'm not a hardcore fan so I apologize if I'm getting anything wrong here) which frankly I understand why large portions of the fanbase are mad.
I mean if someone had retconned Halo 2 and 3 out of existence because they would interfere with the story that some new developer wanted to make in the Halo universe... I would be pissed too.
As it stands, whether it's canonical or not by those standards, according to the fanbase it still was at one point or another considered 'canon' by some kind of source and it showed Samus overcoming her childhood trauma.
Also as a side note from what I've gathered her childhood trauma regarding Ridley is something that doesn't have much to do with the overarching plot of the game itself (again going with what I've read and seen if I am wrong, please feel free to correct me) and after the battle Ridley escapes and Samus later comes across his corpse having apparently been killed by some offscreen threat.
Which of course raises the obvious question. If it had nothing or at least very little to do with the plot of the actual game and doesn't even get any kind of satisfactory resolution... why even have that scene in the first place?
Seriously, why have Samus be brought to her knees by her old nemesis, frozen in fear and barely recovering the will to fight if there isn't even a satisfactory resolution? Or even a 'Ridley escaped paving the way for a sequel' kind of battle?
To go with the Batman comparison again, this would be like if the Joker escaped from Prison, battled Batman and somehow crippled him with PTSD but then when Batman manages to confront him again way later in the story.... the Joker apparently died of heart failure.
I mean seriously, what would be the point of that?
If there was no context and no resolution, why even bring up a character's past traumas? Again, if I'm missing something, please let me know.
Here's a question: How do you know she wouldn't have those problems anymore? You are making this far too simple, especially considering that Ridley just won't die at all, which in itself would probably amplify the fear further.
Sometimes, you simply cannot get over fears and traumas, especially those of resulting from war or a horrible childhood.
And if you are going to say "But four times, it should be routine", then I say "Wouldn't it actually make the matters worse?"
Now see this argument I actually get, for the most part. Someone would no doubt be crushed to see that the opposition they thought was dead rise back from the grave, even after apparently being sure they defeated them last time.
But there are two factors at work here:
1. Samus has killed Ridley several times now, she at one point blew him up then roared with triumph at his demise. She knows how to kill him, she's done it several times. By this point, again with the Batman references, their relationship should be akin to Batman and the Joker. Two arch enemies destined to do battle forever.
2. According to the wiki, a few articles and reviews and word of mouth, the facilities on the Bottle Ship were cloning back into existence many of Samus's old enemies. Hence if she were thinking straight, she'd have no reason not to expect to see Ridley again.
But again, that's mostly irrelevant. I do agree with you for the most part it's just that those two factors always made the 'shocked to see Ridley return' kind of redundant to me.
But again, I'm not much of a hardcore player so I can't really vouch all that much.
And crying sack of tears? Are we even playing the same game?
I saw the scene in question on a youtube video, she morphed into a helpless small child on screen. Literally, weak and humbled and pathetic.
And, considering my previous point about how it doesn't go anywhere or get any resolution of any kind, this scene serves only to make Samus suddenly look fragile.
Pure character interpretation. Just because she's always send to the field alone doesn't necesarrily mean she is a asocial loner herself. And your later claim is hyperbolic and put things out of context.
Presumably if she chose the lonesome lifestyle of a bounty hunter then that does say a lot about her being a loner and being free spirited. I don't really see a family oriented person with strong social ties deciding to be a bounty hunter knowing full well that it would mean a life of solitude.
Plus, while it is true that Samus has been a blank slate for the majority of the series, it seems that this was clearly enough for people. In fact as a blank slate that people can project onto, it made Samus more appealling to the masses... clearly.
Perhaps it's because it allows us to want to understand her personality and as a mostly faceless and silent protagonist it allows every player to feel like they are her. We see her save entire planets, defeat giant monsters, blow up evil space stations... all on her own, without any aid.
Her silent nature didn't stop that and frankly, I see nothing wrong with that.
Okay so people made up details based on assumptions about her, but those assumptions sculpted her into a proud, iconic and strong female icon in an industry that is primarily male dominated.
Why did that need to be changed? Why did she need a backstory, a personality, or a voice? I think most people thought she was fine the way she was.
Once again you are using the Varia suit part as an arguement, which I already stated is nothing more than a typical video game challenge that's not well realized. Simple as that, but it seems some people simply have to blow it out of proportions.
If you are seriously using that as the only arguement, I'm afraid this debate will go no further.
Once again, it is no longer a gameplay thing. By giving it narrative context, it is now a plot device, it has every reason to be called into question if the author couldn't be bothered to come up with a better justification for the Hell Run.
I myself would come up with more arguments to use in this situation, but not being a hardcore Metroid fan I probably am not the best authority on that.
Also I apologize if I came across as rude in any way, like I said I'm only arguing points that I've heard or read about and of which I formed opinions around myself. I admit this may not be the best way to do this and I maybe needed to have actually played the game to have a valid view on the subject matter.
But in any case I felt like pointing out a few of my views on the subject matter strictly as an outsider, neither biased against, or in favor of, Metroid: Other M.
So if you want to reply... go easy on me. Please?
Anyway OT:
I guess people didn't much care for the fact that Samus was given a voice. Maybe it's because the story was considered bad or the voice acting was poor or maybe it was because there really were sexist undertones to it. I've certainly seen compelling arguments to support such a standpoint. Not necessarily true arguments but certainly compelling ones.
