So I was thinking about the big three today....the Nintendo big three. At least they're mine: Mario, Zelda, and Metroid.
Imagine all three of these games sharing the same game space. No...not like in Brawl, but you're getting close. What if there were a game that had three huge worlds...one for each respective franchise.....and that these worlds connected at a hub point or even appeared in layers. I'll tackle the hub first...
The Hub
This idea would be right at home with the Mario Universe. Every 3d Mario title has used this geographical archetype...You start in a central area and take doors or warps to other areas.
So let's say you start as Mario...nothing new here....but you can take a portal to Zebes. And in Zebes or whatever Metroid locale you choose....you will see typical Metroid environments. There are all the familiar puzzles as well as the power ups. Now get this....what is the first power up Samus gets in every Metroid game...that's right....Morph Ball Acquired! Mario is now a ball. Of course he still retains all his signature moves. He has his jumps and ground pounds...he says yipee when he does an extra special jump....and he can wall jump.
He'll have a bit of difficulty at first with his attack options, however....since most of the Metroid enemies don't seem to phased by some overweight plumber landing his sorry ass on their heads. Let's just say he'll be doing a lot of evading for awhile. That is, until, he gets his first taste at the Power Beam. And wouldn't you know, Mario with screw attack delivers MASSIVE DAMAGE.
Of course, true to the nature of a good Metroid game, you'll have to be back tracking all the way back to Mushroom Kingdom to get your next power up, however...since the Growth Mushroom you need to give you that extra jump doesn't grow plentifully in Zebes.
Mushroom Kingdom is just like you remember it....but with a power beam stuck to your arm it feels distinctly different. Koopas and goombas make much easier prey when shot from a distance rather than stomped at close range. Some of the mushrooms even have little holes at their bases perfect for your newly acquired morph ball. Some of those holes even open up into secret worlds and dungeons below.
Ok...so you get the picture. You'll have to make some jaunts into Hyrule as well to finish your quest...whatever that may be (does it really matter?).
Layer
The layer is a bit different, but not uncommon. It has been used in at least three Zelda games (Ocarina, Twilight, and Link to the Past. Metroid did it in Echoes and Legacy of Kain did it in the original Soul Reaver. All the worlds exist in the same physical space. By changing your perspective....whether it be light/dark....our time/another time/ or the material/spectral realms....you can shift between the three different worlds. In this version of the game you could imagine a toadstool in Mushroom Kingdom becoming a Kokiri hut in Hyrule and a Chozo Shrine in the Metroid universe.
The same powerup collection exists as in the Hub. Samus can go to Hyrule to get a Sword (Link is lef-handed...so dual weilding Samus is completely possible. Now she has her power shot to take care of distant enemies and a sword for hand-to-hand melee combat.
You can start the game as any of the three adventurers and the path you take in the game depends on which. I would also like to think that you could have multiple paths, since both Hyrule and Zebes have a grappling hook. Take your pick.....whichever you like the best, or whichever is easist/fastest.
So what do you think....Would you want to play it?
