#114

[@KIWITALKZ]

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Knowing Retro Staff Before Joining/Jason Behr 02:29 - Approach To Level Design For Metroid Prime 2/Dark World 04:15 - Planning Of Metroid Prime Games 05:37 - World Layout/Planning Of Each Room In MP2 07:06 - Focusing On Each Hub/Compression Of Schedule In MP2 08:42 - Dark World Not Being Interconnected Due To Design & Time Constraints 10:20 - MP2 Multiplayer’s Influence On The Dark World 12:06 - Striking A Balance With Backtracking To Not Make It Tedious/MP2 Backtracking 14:27 - MP2 Fetch Quest 16:03 - Mark Pacini Suggested Idea Of GF Marines In Prime 2 Intro Later Into Development 17:55 - Nailing An Introduction/Intro To MP2 & MP3 19:13 - Approach To Design Of MP3/Ship Being A Big Focus 20:35 - Kynan’s Event Planning Role On Elysia, Skytown 23:00 - Elysia Was Built As A Showcase For MP3/Influences On Game Design 24:02 - Creatives Having So Many Ideas/Kynan Would Always Check Everyones Work At Retro 26:18 - Idea Of Background Impacting The Foreground In DKCR/Kynan’s Inspiration 30:58 - Idea Of Rocket Barrel Levels 33:09 - Retro Was A Well Oiled Machine During DKCR/Monday Morning Meetings At Retro 37:09 - Acting Like A Gorilla But Being Super Serious With Miyamoto 37:39 - Idea Of DKCR Silhouette Levels 39:18 - How They Placed Levels In Accordance With World Map 42:07 - Kremlings & K Rool Weren’t Considered As Retro Wanted To Incorporate A New Enemy 43:31 - Metroid Didn’t Have Influence On Halo/343 Industries 44:38 - Kynan’s Philosophy “You Have To Hate Something To Make It Better” 48:05 - No Project Is Ever Finished/Deadlines 49:25 - Working Out Balance Of When To Extend Deadlines & Polish/Release Estimates 51:20 - Adjusting To Different Studios Work Culture/Upper Management Being Key To Studio Culture 54:53 - Be Respectul & Honest With An Individual That Is Difficult To Work With 58:20 - Kynan’s Thoughts On Metroid Dread 1:00:18 - Metroid Dread Was The First Time In A Long Time Kynan Didn’t Critique A Game While Playing 1:01:12 - Where To Follow Kynan Pearson/Kynan’s “How To Design Metroidvania Games” Document

[@mikeuk66]

Thank you Kynan for designing the levels in Prime 2, I replayed through that game over 30 times since 2005, and thank you KIWI TALKZ for these extraordinary Metroid Prime interviews.

[@thornyfox7384]

I haven't seen such a well spoken person in a while. The way he answers to your questions and tells his stories paints vivid pictures in my imagination of the events he describes. Already a winning formula for a level designer.

[@SynaMax]

Metroid Prime 2 will always be my favorite. Amazing interview as always, Reece!

[@mrwho995]

You've gone and done it again! Next interview: Shigeru Miyamoto

[@The_Ostrich]

Nice interview, you can expect Nintendo related channels and websites to cover it yet again. Its also a great timing you do these interviews, cosidering we just got yet another very credible leak 2 days ago that Retro had finished a remake of the first Metroid Prime that will launch next year as a celebration for the 20th anniversary.

[@KIWITALKZ]

I am a bit skeptical of Emily Rogers supposed leaks given her track record(Plus Mike Wikan has said that 3/4 of what you read online is wrong lol). Needless to say I would be down for a remake of Prime 1.

[@The_Ostrich]

@@KIWITALKZ I don't know about that man, she literally said there was a new 2D Metroid game coming in October about 2 months before Dread was announced and said Nintendo would announce a new hardware "very soon" just 4 weeks before the Switch OLED was announced. We'll see, but these Metroid Prime rumors have been popping up various times over the last 3 years and I feel like the time has now come, specially since Prime 4 isn't too far off either.

[@ItApproaches]

@@KIWITALKZ Well that leak wasn't wrong at all now was it lol. Emily is fairly accurate.

[@FelOld]

Awesome interview! It's great to know more about those legendary titles.

[@CrazyMetroid]

He said there are some who love Prime 2. I'm one of them, absolutely love it, it's my all-time favorite Prime/Metroid game That said, I love these interviews, gives us more insight into game development and Retro itself.

[@ItApproaches]

Me too.

[@thatguy2705]

youre pumping these out! Im literally running thru the fortress rn lol this is so good to have in the background

[@blakestewart7200]

Thanks so much for these interviews! Keep up the good work!

[@dmitrysmirnov495]

Brilliant interview! Nice questions!

[@gunslinger9786]

Metroid prime 2 is the best in the trilogy and one of the best games of all time

[@AlastairGames]

thanks, great discussion

[@tonyhell]

Um, I hate to break it to Mr. Pearson, but the Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts tidal wave homage in DKCR was neither subtle nor obscure haha. Even though it didn't go over anyone's head, it was an incredibly & lovingly executed set piece, just like all the others which contributed to making it one of the greatest platformers of all time. Massive amounts of respect for this man and his work! And excellent interview, as always!

[@nuclearbeeberman]

I could never understand why people disliked MP2 compared to MP1, for me MP2 was always pretty much on the same level as the first one. Just a phenomenal game. very inspirering talk though :)

[@SALTYTOAD000]

The same guy just did a interview 2 days ago with Shinesparkers. Coincidence? I think not! KIWI TALKZ has been exposed to be the host of Shinesparkers 🚩. Joke's aside, great video, keep it up!

[@ItApproaches]

Well Halo with 343industries has been a total failure across the board lol. 343issues as I call them is just not a good developer. Their work shows that.