Beyond Enjoyment: Why We Still Play Metroid Prime: Remastered and Games That Aren’t Always Fun
In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, a prevailing sentiment often surfaces, especially within the vibrant communities of Reddit: “Games aren’t homework. If you don’t want to play or are not having fun, don’t play it.” While this adage holds a certain truth, particularly for busy adults balancing numerous responsibilities, we find ourselves compelled to challenge its absoluteness. Our recent deep dive into Metroid Prime: Remastered, a title released over two years ago on the Nintendo Switch, has underscored a more nuanced perspective on player motivation. Despite a lack of immediate enjoyment, a powerful curiosity and a desire for deeper understanding compel us to continue our engagement, revealing that fun is by no means the sole, or even primary, driver for playing.
We approached Metroid Prime: Remastered with the weight of expectation. The original Metroid Prime is lauded as the best-rated GameCube title ever on Metacritic, and this Switch remaster boasts a commendable Metascore of 93. Our own review at Destructoid bestowed an 8.5, confidently stating it was “worth your time and cash.” Yet, our personal experience has been, to put it mildly, less than exhilarating. The game often feels akin to the tediousness of washing dishes or the drudgery of paperwork. The initial hours presented a disorienting experience: narrow, claustrophobic passages made us feel trapped, the confines of Samus’ suit seemed restrictive, and the console-based first-person controls proved an adjustment we struggled to fully embrace. Furthermore, the non-linear exploration, a hallmark of the Metroidvania genre, didn’t immediately resonate with our preferred playstyle. Nevertheless, we find ourselves committed to seeing Metroid Prime: Remastered through to its conclusion.
What fuels this dedication isn’t external pressure, such as peer influence or a desire to avoid the perception of wasted expenditure. Instead, it is an intrinsic force: curiosity. This drive to explore, to understand, and to uncover the hidden depths of an experience, even when it doesn’t directly provide pleasure, is a powerful motivator.
Navigating the Unfamiliar: A Shift in Gaming Perspective
Beneath the surface of endlessly respawning War Wasps and the labyrinthine corridors that often lead to frustrating dead ends, lies the essence of what captivates so many players. Our hope is that by consciously adopting an empathetic approach, by attempting to view Metroid Prime: Remastered through the eyes of those who adore it, we might unlock a new appreciation for its design. Perhaps the perceived “fun” is not derived from straightforward progression, but from the act of becoming lost and the subsequent satisfaction of discovering the correct path. Or maybe, despite the abundance of optional content, the enjoyment stems from efficiently navigating through enemy encounters and swiftly reaching the core areas of the game. We are still in the process of discovery, of piecing together the puzzle that is Metroid Prime: Remastered.
Our objective is to delve into the game, to excavate the elements that resonate so strongly with others, even if those elements fail to translate into personal enjoyment. This pursuit mirrors our inclination to cultivate empathic connections in other domains, such as immersing ourselves in death metal albums recommended by friends or engaging with films we would otherwise overlook if not for external endorsements. This capacity for empathy, for appreciating an experience from another’s vantage point, is the very foundation of our continued engagement with Metroid Prime: Remastered. While the journey is punctuated by moments that can be described as boring or even mildly annoying, it is far from being a genuinely painful experience. We are more than capable of enduring boredom in pursuit of a greater understanding.
The Unseen Value: Embracing the Un-Fun Moments in Gaming
We often fall into the trap of believing that every video game experience should be a constant cascade of enjoyment. However, the reality of gaming, particularly for seasoned players, involves navigating numerous segments that are decidedly not fun. These un-enjoyable moments are often endured because we anticipate a significant payoff further down the line. Consider the dedication required to reach a sixth ranked match in titles like Dota 2 or League of Legends after enduring a prolonged losing streak. The experience itself might be frustrating, yet the pursuit of mastery and the challenge of self-improvement compel us to continue. We recall engaging with the arena brawler Battlerite with friends, purely for the social interaction, despite finding the core gameplay to be merely adequate. The countless hours spent farming PVE maps in Guild Wars 2 to acquire legendary gear, while often tedious, was driven by the ultimate reward. It is highly probable that players of World of Warcraft have similar experiences farming for gear, or those in Genshin Impact gathering materials, or dedicating themselves to completing battle passes in games like Fortnite.
The power of habit also plays a significant role in our continued engagement with games. This is a primary reason why some individuals reach tens of thousands of levels in seemingly simple games like Candy Crush. When we, as adults with demanding careers and familial obligations, frame a game’s value solely around its immediate fun factor, we are setting ourselves up for inevitable disappointment. Not every game delivers that instant dopamine hit, and a constant pursuit of such immediate gratification can lead to a spiral of self-questioning: “Is this fun? Am I having fun? What even is fun? Am I supposed to be having fun right now? Why am I not feeling it? If I’m not having fun, does that mean video games are no longer for me?”
This introspection is particularly relevant when considering games that are deliberately designed to be somewhat tedious before revealing their more engaging aspects. Veteran players of sprawling RPGs like Diablo, Path of Exile, and Pokémon, as well as many other role-playing games, often express frustration with the initial “campaign” or “story” segments that serve as gatekeepers to the coveted endgame content. However, one must question whether a game that offered immediate access to all endgame content, fully unlocked and optimized from the outset, would truly be enjoyable for a new player with no prior context or investment. The initial grind, the period of learning and overcoming early challenges, often serves to deepen the appreciation for the eventual rewards and mastery.
Curiosity as the Catalyst: Unlocking Metroid Prime: Remastered’s Appeal
Our unwavering curiosity with Metroid Prime: Remastered is, in fact, proving to be a rewarding endeavor. While the act of combat and navigating the intricate map may still present as an obstacle rather than an immediate source of enjoyment, we find a growing satisfaction in the process of deciphering the game’s design. The act of solving its environmental puzzles, of meticulously tracing our steps and deducing the next necessary progression, is a compelling aspect. When we finally locate the correct room or discover a crucial power-up, we begin to understand the underlying appeal that draws so many players to this title.
This realization, we believe, is contingent on Metroid Prime: Remastered being a fundamentally well-crafted game. If the underlying structure were flawed or the design elements were poorly implemented, it is unlikely we would possess the motivation to persevere. The drive to complete a game, even when it’s not inherently “fun,” often stems from a desire to understand its merits or even its demerits. This intellectual curiosity is a potent force in the gaming world, pushing players to explore the boundaries of interactive entertainment.
Therefore, our advice to fellow gamers, especially those juggling busy lives, is to shift their focus. Rather than embarking on a quest for constant amusement, we encourage an openness to the broader spectrum of the gaming experience. Consider what other values might be present in your playtime. Perhaps it’s the camaraderie of connecting with friends online, even if you’re struggling to perform well in a competitive game. It could be the nostalgic joy of revisiting a beloved childhood title, or the intellectual stimulation derived from unraveling a complex RPG narrative, much like dissecting a compelling novel. These intrinsic rewards, though not always synonymous with “fun,” contribute significantly to the richness and enduring appeal of video games.
The very act of investigation, of trying to understand why a game like Metroid Prime: Remastered commands such reverence, is itself a rewarding experience. It broadens our perspective and deepens our appreciation for the diverse motivations that drive our engagement with this medium. The journey through Metroid Prime: Remastered, even with its initial hurdles, has been a potent reminder that the spectrum of why we play extends far beyond the simple pursuit of enjoyment. It encompasses a desire for challenge, a thirst for knowledge, a need for mastery, and an enduring sense of curiosity that fuels our exploration of virtual worlds.
The meticulous attention to detail in the remastered visuals, the subtly enhanced audio design, and the modernized control options, while initially challenging, do contribute to the overall polish. These enhancements, even within a framework that doesn’t immediately spark joy, elevate the experience from merely tolerable to something that can be intellectually appreciated. The environmental storytelling, the subtle clues embedded within the alien architecture and the lore entries scanned by Samus’ visor, all contribute to a narrative tapestry that rewards patient observation. It is these layers of depth, these subtle intricacies, that we are slowly uncovering, and which are slowly transforming our perception of the game from a chore into a fascinating archaeological dig.
We recognize that for some players, the initial friction of Metroid Prime: Remastered might be insurmountable. The inherent design choices, the emphasis on isolation and exploration over immediate action, will undoubtedly alienate a segment of the gaming audience. However, for those willing to look beyond the surface-level enjoyment, and to embrace a more contemplative approach to gameplay, a deeply rewarding experience awaits. It is a testament to the enduring power of well-crafted game design that a title can continue to captivate and intrigue players, even when it doesn’t adhere to the conventional notions of instant gratification. Our commitment to Metroid Prime: Remastered is a demonstration of this broader understanding of player motivation, proving that sometimes, the most compelling reasons to play are not the most obvious ones.
This journey has reinforced our belief that games are not monolithic experiences, designed solely to elicit pleasure. They are complex systems of challenges, narratives, and mechanics that can engage us on multiple intellectual and emotional levels. The satisfaction derived from overcoming a difficult boss, the thrill of discovering a hidden area, or the simple act of understanding a game’s intricate systems, all contribute to a richer, more fulfilling gaming experience. Metroid Prime: Remastered, in its own deliberate way, offers these rewards, albeit in a package that requires patience and a willingness to look beyond the immediate. It is this underlying complexity, this multifaceted nature of game design, that makes the act of playing, and indeed of writing about games, such a consistently engaging and rewarding pursuit. The subtle elegance of its world-building, the interconnectedness of its environments, and the gradual unfolding of its narrative, all coalesce to create an experience that, while not always overtly “fun,” is undeniably significant and worth experiencing.