Yoshio Sakamoto still interested in working on traditional games, wants to challenge himself

Yoshio Sakamoto is most well-known for playing a prominent role in three Nintendo series: Metroid, WarioWare, and Rhythm Heaven. But Sakamoto has mainly acted as a producer in recent years, and hasn’t done too much with Metroid as of late aside from Other M.

That being said, Sakamoto is still interested in working on the franchises he is most famous for. He told CVG the following when asked if he will continue to contribute to some of his more traditional game series:

[Metallox]

I think he should try again making a 3D Metroid, With Other M, the heart was there, but unfortunately the result wasn't satisfactory for everyone.

[randomass171]

He turned Samus into an angsty crybaby with daddy issues. Sakamoto is also the one who decided to make a 3D game play with a d-pad instead of the nunchuk's analogue stick. Sakamoto is a bad director with archaic ideas. He should only be relegated to simple 2D games. Let the real talent at Retro (who actually respect the Metroid franchise) make the next Metroid game.

[BlackWolf]

As much as I'm fond of Retro's work on Metroid, Sakamoto is partially responsible of the original Metroid formula. Super Metroid is the proof.

Metroid Other M was not what was expected, but that was mainly in the story department (basically, that was the greatest downgrade). The gameplay wasn't that bad (the analog stick was a more logical step, tough) and can be reworked to be better.

As Metallox said, the heart was there. It just needs some fixing, and honestly, someone who can help write a better story. So I would not say no if Sakamoto is up to make a new entry. That is, if he ever returns to the series.

[randomass171]

@BlackWolf

Sakamoto helped with the old formula. Metroid was co-created by the man who created the Gameboy. Other M had some cool ideas, but the execution was awful. I really hope Sakamoto never touches the story or basic design of a 3D Metroid ever again. He is not talented, clever or very intelligent and he is the reason that so many people hated Other M.

[lilbroRx]

Your ignorance is astounding.

Without him, there would be no Metroid. He made it. Gunpei Youkoi headed the team for making the game but Sakamoto was the one who created Samus. Note that is not co-created. He is the reason Samus exists in the first place.

He was both director and designer of the original Metroid, Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. Retro was just continuing what he had already established in 3D.

Fusion was his first time writing a story for the game as opposed to having Samus simply fighting voiceless to the end of the game with no personality like normal.

Other M was an attempt to follow on that story and add more back history and personality to Samus, but of course it didn't go over well. He didn't have a lot of experience with writing nor was his idea for Samus what other people have come to expect. He said clearly in an interview that he had never actually given thought to what Samus' personality was before. That is why in Metroid 1 through Prime 3 she didn't have one.

[randomass171]

And then Sakamoto destroyed any semblance of a strong female lead in Samus. That's not ignorance at all. Also Samus may not have shown much personality but we knew that she was strong willed and very intelligent. so the fact that Sakamoto wrote her to be such a stupid kid in Other M is very telling of his writing ability. he has no place near any Metroid storyline. Retro wrote a much better story in Prime 1 - 3 and Samus didn't speak in any of those. It doesn't matter if he helped create Samus, he obviously has little understanding of how a practical female heroin should be written without making her a whiny, needy child.

[Metallox]

You don't like Other M's story, so what? Just beacuse of that Sakamoto can't work anymore with Metroid? That doesn't seem fair for me...

Now, that complain about the D-Pad... I actually liked that, controls were perfect for my fingers, and I'm not alone, many reviewers actually liked that control scheme, so Sakamoto didn't do a bad job at all in this aspect.

Do you have more complains about the game? Because for me, the story it's the only bad thing for me as well, but this can be solved in future entries. So again, I don't have problem with Sakamoto working with Metroid.

[Venoxn4g]

still with flaws, but I've really enjoyed Other M, plus I still wish a Metroid CG movie with quality of Other M cutscenes

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Everyone?
Don't include me then because I enjoyed the game. It was a very good game. Samus is a female not male. Female has emotions so it didn't bother me.

[Metallox]

You didn't understand my comment. I actually love Other M (yes love), it's in fact my favorite Metroid game.

Now, did everyone like Other M? No. You just can't deny that. We can't say that everyone liked Prime either, because someone definitely should have not liked the exploration scheme, but at least the praise for this game was overwhelming, and Other M got mixed impressions.

[randomass171]

Lots of people HATED Other M's storyline and a lot of fans want it to be retconned because of how poorly it treated Samus. The d-pad is a fair criticism because 3D controls with a d-pad are finnicky. Also turning the wii remote to shoot missiles was a dumb choice too. It didn't work right and it almost always made you take damage because of how wonky it was. Other M just wasn't that good a game, and I think people like me who didn't enjoy it are justified in saying Sakamoto doesn't deserve another shot. He blew it with this one big time.

[Skate-AK]

Never played Other M. Heard some good things and some pretty critical.