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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Has Monolith surpassed Retro Studio as new Nintendo elite studio?

 

Wich one?

I prefer Monolith 232 52.02%
 
I prefer Retro Studio 214 47.98%
 
Total:446
Green098 said:

Would Intelligent Systems count if Nintendo don't own them? Although yes, they might as well be. I suppose when all they do is Nintendo's 1st party IP's, yeah, they would. Although definitely not saying that they are Nintendo's elite studio.

I actually assumed Nintendo owned them and had to look it up. Although i found out they don't. I'm assuming they are 2nd party though,  as i'm pretty sure they develop exclusively for Nintendo. It seems Nintendo owns very few studios aside from their own. I would say it's time they invest in more. Even if they are small studios. I would love them to acquire Skip and as far as European studios go, they could do a lot worse than acquire the snipperclips devs.



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I say yes, because Retro hasn't been putting out games and literally ran off from Metroid Prime wich was supposed to be their baby, the one that put them on the map. So, yes, Retro is reminding me of Rare lately. Great at one point but now it lost it's fire.



Retro is overrated.
Monolith is the shit!



Retro Studios.

While I’ve enjoyed the output of both studios, I simply prefer the tighter design of Retro’s games.

The Metroid Prime trilogy are brilliantly designed first person adventure games, the first one in particular. They aren’t “wide open” games, but they are packed with environmental puzzles and exploration opportunities. The games are deftly designed to make the most out of each of their areas, encouraging back tracking without constantly forcing it. And the scanning mechanic loads every area with lore without forcing the player to see it. And of course, the first two games also have a masterfully done atmosphere, and the motion controls in the third game are easily some of the best and most engrossing FPS controls of ANY motion-controlled game.

The Donkey Kong Country Returns games are, likewise, incredibly well designed side-scrolling platformers, and easily among the best of their genre. Though I will admit the vehicle sections can be pretty cheap, though this also gives them old-school charm that I enjoy (though I get that a lot of people don’t care for that).

Monolith’s output...well, ignoring Day of Disaster, which I haven’t played but I’ve heard wasn’t good, they’ve basically been expanding and playing with a single game concept since the original Xenoblade. I’ve had a lot of fun with all three Xenoblade games, and they are easily among the best JRPGs, but they are also incredibly complex games that, to me, feel more slapped together. The worlds are huge and beautiful, but there is rarely an interesting way to move around them. The stories have ranged from solid to great, but they’ve yet to suck me in enough to see any of them to completion (though I hope to change that this year). Many of the side quests are glorified collection quests, where you have to pray to the game’s algorithms that the item you need will randomly spawn in the game world. The enemy placement and levels can be frustrating, especially in the latest game, where uber powerful enemies can get involved in fights because the fight slowly moved into their path of movement. And the systems upon systems these games often stack on top of one another can just make the games feel overly convoluted.

So, basically, the Xenoblade games are great, but have loads of little problems that just kind of build up. I imagine many of these don’t bother hardcore RPG fans, but they ultimately put the Xenoblade series of games below Metroid Prime and DKCR for me.



Nem said:
I say yes, because Retro hasn't been putting out games and literally ran off from Metroid Prime wich was supposed to be their baby, the one that put them on the map. So, yes, Retro is reminding me of Rare lately. Great at one point but now it lost it's fire.

'lost it's fire' based on what? seems like an extremely silly statement to make.

just because Retro hasn't released anything for a while and is clearly working on a big unknown project doesn't magically take points away from them. I like Xenoblade and Monolith, but nothing they've done comes even close to the polish and perfection that Retro managed with BOTH Metroid and Donkey Kong Country.

I mean for gods sake Retro essentially has set the bar in MULTIPLE genres (platforming, adventure shooter). And the reality is it is muchhhh more challenging to take an existing property that has a big reputation and expectations, and ELEVATE it. Metroid Prime was groundbreaking when it hit, and has aged gracefully. 

and the Rare / Retro comparison? what? Rare of old is essentially dead and did in fact massively decline in the early 2000s. Starfox Adventures is proof of that. Rare lost a load of great staff. Currently Retro is the opposite of that, they haven't released anything poor they just have been taking a surprisingly long time on whatever project. Depending on what that project is, it may or may not be surprising in reality. Hell, they could even be working on more than one project at once.

 

I recently have been playing Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and while I enjoy it, it definitely lacks the polish and perfection that Retro title has. Great characters and intriguing battle system, but there is a load of room for improvement. Retro does not seem to release games that aren't practically 100% done. As far as I'm concerned this isn't a battle at all, and I'm shocked the votes are tied. Maybe due to short term memory and the fact that Monolith has been more active (seemingly) recently due the Xenoblade games 



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nuckles87 said:
Retro Studios.

While I’ve enjoyed the output of both studios, I simply prefer the tighter design of Retro’s games.

The Metroid Prime trilogy are brilliantly designed first person adventure games, the first one in particular. They aren’t “wide open” games, but they are packed with environmental puzzles and exploration opportunities. The games are deftly designed to make the most out of each of their areas, encouraging back tracking without constantly forcing it. And the scanning mechanic loads every area with lore without forcing the player to see it. And of course, the first two games also have a masterfully done atmosphere, and the motion controls in the third game are easily some of the best and most engrossing FPS controls of ANY motion-controlled game.

The Donkey Kong Country Returns games are, likewise, incredibly well designed side-scrolling platformers, and easily among the best of their genre. Though I will admit the vehicle sections can be pretty cheap, though this also gives them old-school charm that I enjoy (though I get that a lot of people don’t care for that).

Monolith’s output...well, ignoring Day of Disaster, which I haven’t played but I’ve heard wasn’t good, they’ve basically been expanding and playing with a single game concept since the original Xenoblade. I’ve had a lot of fun with all three Xenoblade games, and they are easily among the best JRPGs, but they are also incredibly complex games that, to me, feel more slapped together. The worlds are huge and beautiful, but there is rarely an interesting way to move around them. The stories have ranged from solid to great, but they’ve yet to suck me in enough to see any of them to completion (though I hope to change that this year). Many of the side quests are glorified collection quests, where you have to pray to the game’s algorithms that the item you need will randomly spawn in the game world. The enemy placement and levels can be frustrating, especially in the latest game, where uber powerful enemies can get involved in fights because the fight slowly moved into their path of movement. And the systems upon systems these games often stack on top of one another can just make the games feel overly convoluted.

So, basically, the Xenoblade games are great, but have loads of little problems that just kind of build up. I imagine many of these don’t bother hardcore RPG fans, but they ultimately put the Xenoblade series of games below Metroid Prime and DKCR for me.

this. and you're accurate, Monolith has been either exclusively doing Xenoblade games OR assisting other Nintendo studios in development of other games (they have a second studio with an emphasis on art design I believe).

whether we're talking critically OR sales, Retro is clearly in another league next to Monolith. Or at least from any objective basis of comparison. And this is coming from someone who has played like 40 or 50 hours of the newest Xenoblade recently 



Retro Studios, I have more consistent fun with their games.. They are more tighly designed.

Monolith I can have fun but also question life within the same hour of playtime. They have a lot of features, but many are kept unpolished because they just stack one on top of another.



OTBWY said:
Alkibiádēs said:

Breath of the Wild looks far better on the handheld screen than on a big TV, I tried both and the difference was quite big. 

So there goes your argument. 

So what if the director and others left? You know what Studio these guys formed?

This one: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armature_Studio

All the games they made have been received poorly by critics and fans alike. 

2D or 3D doesn't matter, Retro excels in everything. 

It's funny because Monolith Soft worked on Breath of the Wild.

It's funny because Monolith Soft has two development studios, one in Tokyo which develops the Xenoblade games, and one in Kyoto that acts as a supplementary developer to Nintendo EPD and the main studio. 

Tke Kyoto Studio was founded right after Nintendo bought Monolith Soft, from brand new employees. 



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pizzanuggs said:
Despite really loving all the Nintendo games Monolith has put out (from Baten Kaitos to Xenoblade 2)

I don't really think Monolith has performed at the level of Retro Studios. Their games are still just a bit too clunky to hold in the same league as Retro.

Between Metroid Primes and Donkey Kong Country Returns's's's.....Retro has a sterling track record.

The most important thing is the fact that these two quality developers are 2nd party's to the goshdang marverlous Switch.

They are both first party



My (locked) thread about how difficulty should be a decision for the developers, not the gamers.

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=241866&page=1

CaptainExplosion said:
Didn't Monolith Soft also assist in making Breath of The Wild?

Yep



My (locked) thread about how difficulty should be a decision for the developers, not the gamers.

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=241866&page=1