So yeah, this is a weird comparison. But in a way, it actually fits maybe?! I should probably explain myself. Also, METROID PRIME SPOILERS, LOTS OF THEM PROBABLY!
Now, obviously a sci-fi, pseudo-FPS action/exploration game does not have a ton of similarities to a long-running detective anime. But I am not talking about specifics as much as their general quality as entertainment.
So, first of all let's compare the first Metroid Prime game to the first (at this point) half of Detective Conan. Metroid Prime is my favorite video game and Conan is my favorite anime, which is somehow actually a coincidence for how I got to this comparison, but did help convince me to make this. And regardless of my opinion, a lot of people would agree (or at least most fans) that the first half of Conan is one of the best anime experiences out there. Metroid Prime meanwhile, is one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time. So they are comparable as high quality forms of entertainment, if nothing else.
Ok so, it's pretty much agreed upon that up to the end of the Vermouth arc, Detective Conan is one of the best anime out there. It does so much and even if it all of it isn't necessarily the best, it all comes together and is just wonderful. And by the end of Metroid Prime, you suddenly have a bunch of just awesome boss battles with Ridley and Metroid Prime itself, it's just wonderful (Vermouth arc plot twist reveals). But then you wait a while (CELL PHONE ARC) but it's cool because...there's a sequel coming out.
However, despite a promising start, Metroid Prime 2 just doesn't compare (Bourbon arc). Sure the core gameplay (murder mysteries) is still excellent but it's not the first game. They couldn't just make the same game again and expect to reach the same level of quality I suppose, but the new things they added aren't always that great and the rehashing and doing the "wait you lost your equipment, BETTER FIND IT AGAIN" trick again is a bit eyeroll worthy (Gosho's old tricks, lolokiya). But you get to the first area, and it's mostly good. It's a canyon/desert sort of area, reminds you a little bit of Chozo Ruins from the first game but it's still its own thing and you're having fun because it's Metroid Prime so it's still awesome (Bourbon arc in the anime, 2008). But then despite the excellent gameplay as always, you enter the Dark World and you lose health unless you're in these restricted areas. Your impatience is your worse enemy but you feel this is the first sign that this just isn't gonna be as fun (Bourbon arc in the anime, 2009). But despite, by the end of the arc you've fought space pirates, a cool Dark version of yourself, and an awesome dark sand worm boss that was really fun so things are looking up again (Bourbon arc in the anime, first half or so of 2010). You even got a Dark Suit to make things easier in the dark world.
But then you go on to the next area, Torvus Bog. And the frustration starts to build. It's a water level, and that Boost Guardian is so unfair. But it'll be as good soon right! No, because now you get to go to the submerged part of this area with instead of some water, LOTS OF WATER. Water physics in a first person action game. (insane wtf break in the Bourbon arc for no reason, 2010-2011) I mean, there's plenty of good stuff of course, but you're starting to really lose any patience you had left. Even your evil twin only shows up for a second. Even if the gameplay is still great, the design of this is just dreadful, no one wants this. The boss at the end is just...nothing. And you just leave hoping it gets better because it's not like this isn't good, but this is the continuations of your favorite game, you want better.
There is more of a point to this, stay with me.
So Sanctuary Fortress is next and quickly things are looking up (Sera introduction). I mean who doesn't love robots! But the game's gonna need to prove itself to really bring you back in. But it does, it's like it's learned from recent errors, and not only has the design improved, but it's a bit more clever now. It slowly gets better and better, ending with some fantastic bosses and I NEVER WOULD'VE GUESSED THEM ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE SCREW ATTACK IN THIS GAME. (Amuro introduction through Mystery train arc, OMG HE THREW AWAY THE INCREASINGLY POINTLESS MYSTERY CHARACTER STORY)
But unfortunately after this we have to go use your light suit to find areas with a bunch of keys to get to the final area to face the final boss. I'm sure it'll be an awesome boss (though I'm worried about some frustration mixed in there), but I'm glad I took a break from the game (Bourbon arc, right now as far as I know, not a lot has happened since Bourbon's reveal, don't spoil manga plz
). And the good news is that Metroid Prime 3 is a better game (if occasionally gimmick-y) so it will end on a high note.But also, Metroid Prime 2 has multiplayer. It's kinda underdeveloped and has issues but barring a few exceptions, it's a cute extra. And this is about where my point is. This is how I'd describe a lot of the romance in Detective Conan. Despite marketing, it's nothing more than a cute extra. There's issues sometimes but it's usually fairly harmless. Here's the thing, I'm not against strong for or against discussions about the romance of course. But I don't think some people understand that it isn't the focus of this series. I wasn't that into the multiplayer in Metroid Prime 2, but it does not make a big impact on my opinion of that game. I'm not into the romance usually in Conan, but its successes or failures don't play a major role in my enjoyment of it as a whole. Now, I'll straight up admit that you could replace romance with plot usually, but here's the thing. I adore the plot, it often has me on the edge of my seat without a ton of effort, it's brilliant. But I completely acknowledge that it is ultimately secondary, with a few rare exceptions. This is a detective series, and the vast majority of the series takes place within a mystery of some sort, and that's what the series should be judged for.
I think what really confirmed how important having good cases is to these series, despite my focus on plot, is Kindaichi. I've been watching the new Kindaichi anime, which I assume also bases its stories on stuff from the manga. Kindaichi doesn't have any worthwhile continuing plot as far as I can tell(at most it seems to have recurring villains?) and the characters are almost insultingly boring. But it is still a good series, because the cases are good. Sometimes better than what Conan has had for a while for cases(especially atmosphere). It's really that simple, tell good stories that work and your series is good. Though at the same time, characters are still important so that does hurt the cases sometimes for Kindaichi when I'm supposed to....care about them. (though ironically, some of the culprit backstories are legitimately heart-breaking)
This is also kinda my rant about the differences between quality from beginning to now. I think most people agree Conan is past its peak. It sometimes gets back to peak years quality and once in a while kinda flat out fails, but more often than not it's stuck at like an...8/10, and that's taking away the filler. But that's kinda the interesting thing. See, I think Metroid Prime 2 is a pretty notable disappointment for a game. But of course it is, it is the sequel to my favorite game. So those mistakes annoyed me soooo much more. But honestly, it's still probably in like... the top 20 games released that year. For the record though, Prime 2 would be the winner in this insane comparison. It's basically a 9/10 worthy game, even with all the issues. Its kinda interesting, because I have no idea how to feel about Conan sometimes. I feel my opinion on this is pretty accurate of its actual quality. So sometimes I'm fine with watching more of an 8/10 quality series, and occasionally it's way worse than watching a lot of somewhat lower quality anime because it couldn't stay at such amazing heights. It's all odd. I will say, and I feel bad for saying this because of Puto, but the timing of no new subbed episodes was kinda appreciated this year. Things kinda stopped it seemed after the Mystery train and as the Episode thread guy...I needed a break. I think sometimes people should take a break if they've been watching a series for a long time.
This was kind of a rant, I'm not sure who I'm even aiming it at. Just some thoughts I've had.
