I'm gonna have to disagree there. For a first game I think it was important that they lend elements from Super Metroid that are easily recognizable to get the Metroid feel. It was a whole new perspective for the franchise, not to mention a new dimension all together, and them already taking risks by adding different visors and beam changing they needed to at least play something safe, which would be the environments. Tallon Overworld is obviously based off of Upper Brinstar and a little of Maridia in the underwater environments, Magmoor Caverns is obviously based off of Lower Norfair, and even then Chozo Ruins and Phendrana Drifts were new kind of environments for the franchise that it hadn't had before. One of the things that makes Prime 1 lightyears better than its sequels were the zones imo, because of the variation of them and how they actually felt like Metroid. Part of the enormous praise that Prime 1 receives is that it made the transition from 2D to 3D and from Sidescroller to 1st Person View so flawlessly, and I feel that a big part of that comes from the zones. Yes, they are very simple and generic, but that's what Metroid zones are, and I feel that for the first game in the trilogy it was necessary for them to keep that, they could then create new kinds of zones and experiment with them in the sequels, which they did, but none of those zones really stood out to me to be honest, and that's also one of the reasons I don't really fancy Prime 2 or 3 very much.
As for the Hunters, it was a decent idea, but the game itself felt so incredibly awkward to play because of the DS' control limitations and having to use the stylus, that I feel like it's possibly the worst Metroid game to see the light of day (because heck, at least the Pinball game managed to be a Pinball game, and Other M at least had good gameplay.) I personally don't care much for the Hunters at all, and I'd rather that they're just kept out of the way, especially now that the Prime series are over.
Retro did say that the direction they are thinking of taking in Metroid U is expanding on planets visiting different planets like you did in hunters and Prime 3.
Which imo is great but it did feel really awsome doing everything by foot in Prime 1 & 2 really made the world feel big and like ''this world is huge now get around''
Traveling back and forth was long but if you loved the game it didnt matter.
Retro also said they were thinking about bringing the hunters back.
Now with Hunters i agree the story mode was terrible..the same two bosses over and over again...that pillar boss and thay big floating ball...it was bad...but the enviroments and grapichs for its time and for a DS game were great imo.
Also hunters were mostly known for its multiplayer which was awsome!! I played it for little over 2 years! But was extremely laggy and buggy...(-_-)
and the only hunters that really stood out and have potential imo are Sylux for sure and Weavel.
The others were cool too.
Im not saying give us MPH HD im saying give us Prime 1 with Sylux.
You cant say that wouldnt be sick...the whole Phazon thing is done brining back dark samus is a bad move imo prime series is great! But its done lets move on and i see Sylux has great potential.
I really like how you express your feelings about the Prime series i totally agree with you 100/ i feel the same.
But what do you think should be the direction Metroid U takes?
PS: im saying keep it like prime 1 add more bosses they wasent enough..make em cool and harder, have a very hard mode when you start the game up for the first time.
Ofc bigger and more detailed places and my biggest point the main Villian Sylux with Weavel popping up making you wonder wtf is going on and why? Are they working together and throw Ridley in there as a twist maybe blackmailing weavel or something? XD kraid too and my dayz i will *** bucket loads.
For anyone who was gonna ask for proof about what Retro said the link is below.
http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2013/06/13/e3-2013-nintendo-retro-discuss-future-of-metroid
Its SOOO great to know that most of team probaly the main guys that worked on the Prime series are still around thats very good news.
No one can do Metroid like Retro - Its a shame...but true.
With the whole MPH WiiU expanded online multiplayer thing i have had manyyy thoughts on how awsome it would be but i would end up typing a a sheet load and i rather not on my phone..with laggy internet and a million spelling mistakes....its too long to get into about that.