I would like to use this post to clear up the misinformation and slander against Yoshio Sakamoto, as I have seen many false accusations against him.
**#1. “He hates the Metroid Prime games” “He is jealous of the Metroid Prime games’ success” “He said the Metroid Prime games aren’t canon”.**
Nowhere can it be found that Sakamoto has uttered anything resembling the things said above, in fact it’s far closer to the opposite.
Firstly, he helped Retro Studios make the Prime games fit into the overall Metroid story. In a 2003 interview with ComputerAndVideoGames (CVG), Sakamoto said the following in regards to Prime 1 and 2:
“I think my involvement with Metroid Prime II is like my involvement with the first one – I am advising them as to what kind of flavour they have to adhere to, and the kind of storylines possible – Retro Studios comes up with the story and I say: “Yes, it’s the kind of story that’s consistent with previous Metroid games” or else: “No, it’s got to be changed like this”.
Of course, whenever Retro is working on the Metroid games I need to supervise; I’m the person who receives the reports, to find out what’s going on and how the title is progressing.”
https://archive.is/MssE
Also in 2003, Sakamoto was part of a Metroid Fusion/Metroid Prime interview (via the Fusion/Prime joint website) where he addresses the Prime series’ timeline placement, as well as complimenting the game:
“The story takes place between the first one on the Famicom Disk System and is followed by Metroid 2. I had the idea to make it separately as a gaiden [side story], but wouldn’t it be a cop-out to call it a gaiden? Because of that, I consulted with Tanabe, and things fell into place very naturally. The local staff worked on it really hard, it serves as part of the series, and I think they completed it very well.”
https://www.metroid-database.com/old_site/features/nomsakamoto.php
In a 2004 interview with IGN, Sakamoto stated he wasn’t as involved in Prime 2 as he was with the first Prime because Retro was “very familiar” with the world of Metroid:
“Yes, I am working on Metroid Prime II in a supervisor role much as I did on the original Metroid Prime. However, the staff that created Metroid Prime is very familiar with the Metroid universe and the Metroid concept, so I’m not quite as involved in the sequel as I was on the original.”
https://m.ign.com/articles/2004/01/30/metroid-zero-mission-director-roundtable
In a 2009 interview with Wired, Sakamoto complimented Retro’s work on the Prime series:
“The goal in creating Metroid Prime was to create the ultimate first-person adventure, and I do think that Retro was able to do that.”
Later in the interview, he encouraged Retro to make more Metroid games if they came up with new ideas for the series:
“With regards to the Prime series, if the team at Retro comes up with an idea that does bring a sequel to the series to fruition, I by all means encourage them to do that.”
https://www.wired.com/2009/06/metroid-interview/
In an interview with CVG in 2010, Sakamoto praised Retro’s work on the Prime Trilogy:
“They really wanted to realize the first-person shooter Metroid and also they were paying much respect to the Metroid franchise itself.
So I think they did a very good job in achieving their original and our original goal. ”
https://web.archive.org/web/20100910230316/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=263225
In a 2010 interview with Revogames, Sakamoto said the Prime games are part of the timeline:
“Nearly everybody has asked about the Prime series, which are part of the Metroid timeline, but are completely different. It has nothing to do with it, but it could be a way to represent other facets of Samus’s personality.”
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/translation/23982/yoshio-sakamoto-interview
Also in 2010, Sakamoto had an interview with theglobeandmail where he stated that Other M took some elements from the Prime series:
“Classical Metroid titles and the Metroid Prime titles have totally different concepts and we had no need to integrate them at all. However, we chose to use the elements that made those games unique and include some of them in Metroid: Other M.”
Later in the interview he was asked if Other M would change Samus’s personality, he said he didn’t and spoke positive of Retro’s portrayal of her; but Other M would show a new side of her character:
“There are many different perspectives of Samus Aran between the series of classical Metroid games and the Metroid Prime titles. However, I don’t find they are completely different personas. Samus in the Prime titles mainly shows her cool and professional side as a bounty hunter and represents what Samus Aran is for many of you. For Metroid: Other M, we tried to introduce another side of her and to get more insight into her inner conflict. I hope many of you will understand and empathize with her as you play and discover more about her character.”
Even later in the interview, he was asked why Metroid was a worldwide hit, he included Retro in his response and spoke of them positively:
“I suppose it is because the game has been acclaimed as a great game all over the world. Nintendo, Team Ninja, and Retro Studios have done all we could do for each title. We are grateful that our efforts and challenging spirits have brought about a good fruit that is enjoyed by gamers.”
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/gaming/controller-freak/nintendo-designer-yoshio-sakamoto-on-metroid-other-m/article4326830/
In a 2017 interview with Eurogamer, Sakamoto said he wanted Kensuke Tanabe and his team to “let loose” with their creativity when making new Prime games, he just doesn’t want it to become too inconsistant with Metroid as a whole:
“So for us, I try to respond to reply to him with an open mind so they can let loose their creativity. That said, we don’t want to create a Metroid which is completely inconsistent so we do keep things reasonable.”
Later in the interview he said he thinks the more games that come out in the series (whether it’s his or the Prime games) the better it is for the fans:
“whether a Metroid game is 2D or FPS, it’s more about the ability for Metroid fans to have a blast and enjoy the game. And the more they do that, the better.”
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-23-returning-to-metroid
Yoshio Sakamoto never once stated that the Prime games aren’t canon, that he dislikes the Prime series, or that he is jealous of the Prime games’ success, never.
There is also evidence in the games themselves that disproves the notion he has negative feelings towards the Prime series. He was credited as “Special Thanks” in all Prime games that came out before Metroid Other M, and he was also credited as “Special Advisor” for Metroid Prime Federation Force, which came out after Other M. He also recorded a special message to the fans in Metroid Prime 3 Corruption, this can be accessed via the Gunship’s password system.
Metroid Other M, a game which Retro Studios had no involvement in, uses a weapon that originiated from the Prime series, the Seeker Missile. Sakamoto was heavily involved in Other M as he is credited as the director, producer, and story creator, yet he allowed a weapon from the Prime series to be used in his game.
https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/Seeker_Missile
**#2. “Sakamoto has a dictator-like control over the series and he doesn’t want anyone else to touch the series.”**
Some have echoed these thoughts and like the first point, this can’t be found anywhere, and is fabricated.
Adding on top of all the praise he’s given Retro and the Prime series, I would like to point out other things that would contradict this sentiment. While he was involved in Metroid (1986), he didn’t make Metroid II: Return of Samus. Even with having no involvement in II, he was very moved by the game and made Super Metroid as a follow up to Metroid II. From a 2010 interview with Gameatsura:
“I came in again after Metroid II came out, so that was the sort of environment that I came into. I think I may have discussed a little bit in my GDC speech how I was very moved by the last scene in Metroid II, and that stimulus became my motivation and inspiration in creating Super Metroid.”
Another quote from the same interview he talks about wanting to protect a part of Samus’s character that was established in Metroid II:
“The central character of Samus, the strong fighting woman who didn’t shoot that baby Metroid at the end of Metroid II, was something that I made sure I protected, even as we went through all of these different projects with different partners.”
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132721/the_elegance_of_metroid_yoshio_.php
After Metroid II was released, the baby Metroid that was introduced in II, has been a part of the Metroid games Sakamoto has made. Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion, and Metroid Other M all feature the baby Metroid in their stories to some capacity. He later remade Metroid II as “Metroid Samus Returns” for the 3DS which, due to being a remake, features the baby Metroid.
Sakamoto has also stated he has no issues working with other companies to make Metroid games. He has stated however, he needs whatever team he works with to share his vision. I don’t see how this would be any sort of issue.
4:23-5:32 timestamp in video below.
Outside of the companies within the Japan branch of Nintendo, he has worked with Team Ninja (Japanese) and Mercury Steam (Spanish), as well as not objecting to Retro Studios (American) to make Metroid games.
**#3. “Sakamoto doesn’t have credibility in what he says after he blamed Other M’s financial failure on players not wanting to play as a female character.”**
These sentiments come from a literally fabricated story. The story being referenced came from the satire website P4RGaming, and was later picked up by NintendoLife. Both websites have since removed the articles. P4RGaming made the inital article as a satire piece, but it quickly got out of hand when it was spread around as a real interview with Sakamoto after NintendoLife picked it up. P4RGaming is now a defunct website. An archive of the original satire article here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20130430034611/http://www.p4rgaming.com/metroid-other-m-postmortem-poor-reception-and-sales-due-to-having-female-lead-character/
Nowhere has Sakamoto ever blamed Other M’s financial failure due to Samus’s gender.
I would like to give credit to u/KurokamiPhantom, their post was how I was informed of the P4RGaming article being satire. Their post here:
Sakamoto never blamed Samus’ gender for Other M’s Failure
byu/KurokamiPhantom inMetroid