Topic: Metroid Dead?

So when each of Nintendo's consoles was announced, me being a Metroid fan I immediately imagined what each piece of hardware could do for the series. On the 3DS, you could use the stylus like in Kid Icarus or Metroid Hunters! On the Wii U, they could give Samus dual analog supplemented with the gyroscope in the gamepad. You could even hold up the gamepad to the TV in order to scan things without the game pausing. And then...

None of that happened. This is actually surprising considering something I found awhile back quoted from an ex-Naughty Dog environment designer who had switched over to Retro Studios. While I probably wouldn't be able to find the exact wording, it was something along the lines of their current project being his 'crowning achievement'. This led me to believe that Retro was either working on Metroid or Zelda, as what other franchise would challenge an ex-Uncharted environment designer? Then Shigeru Miyamoto stated flat out that they weren't working on a Zelda game, but that it might be a possibility in the future. That narrows it down to one game; Donkey Kong Country... Not exactly what I was expecting, but maybe they're working on two games at once? Nope, in an Ign interview they told us outright they can't handle more than one big project at a time. So then, what happens to Metroid now?

My only hope that we will even see a Metroid game this generation is that Nintendo teams up with a third party like they did with Team Ninja. This is... unsettling. Maybe they'll get someone skilled with experience in first person shooters, but I can't really think of anyone off the top of my head with a positive history with Nintendo that has that experience other than High Voltage, which worked on The Conduit. Not exactly known for innovation in the genre as much as desperately failing at copycatting Halo and Call of Duty for the Wii, with a little James Bond thrown in there for good measure.

Have the poor sales of Other M convinced Nintendo that Metroid isn't a viable franchise anymore? What developers could possibly have a Metroid game in the works if Retro isn't working on it? Could a Metroid game be just the killer app that the Wii U needs? What do you think?

Other M killed Metroid. Sad but true. What an awful game it was.

Oh lord not High Voltage. lol. Metroid would be better off dead.

I highly doubt they're abandoning that series though.

I don know......

Hah. The title is a pun on metroid dread, because it never existed.

A developer that knows what they're doing, and knows the franchise that they're working with. Which means Retro, Nintendo themselves (No Team Ninja for help), or other unrecognized dev for the job. That's who they should hire to make a new Metroid.

The real question is: Star Fox Dead?

Other M i think showed that Nintendo either needs to rethink metroid or return to Prime. Metroid unlike some of the other franchise nintendo own found its new home with how it would function in the more recent generations and thrive with prime. For me personally i want metroid to return to its prime roots, the FPS was so much fun and was done so well and even within the FPS Genera it was one of a kind and that rare these days. Metroid was always viewed as and still viewed as by nintendo to be their "hardcore" franchise , in that it was never mean for casual gamers (that the wii mainly had) and i think the wii u could use more of that. Dont get me wrong i like Nintendo games because they are fun, but they are fun for different reasons. Metroids fun was in the challenge of exploring and fighting, and with the Wii u having some more main stream games working its way onto the console i think it would do well for nintendo to further tap into those gamers with a metroid (the people buying bayonneta and AC 4).

I really dont want to see metroid however return to its 2D routes , we have enough of that on nintendo because most of their franchises mostly originate on the SNES or NES systems where that was the name of the game. Mario and Donkey kong are plenty for the 2D fix so let them take over that niche and dont also introduce metroid that will cannibalize those sales. As for who could possibly pick up the shoes of retro i have no clue, they are one of a kind.

I don't think it's dead. They're just letting it lie fallow for a bit while they figure out the best way to 'revive' the series and bury Metroid Other M.

The Super Metroid style of gameplay sticks with me, and I rather dislike Prime. I would hate for them to completely ditch 2D-esque and make 9 Prime games to compete with Halo.

I really liked Other M, in fact you'll see that my profile is all a about it. Didn't Nintendo have Metroid Blast in Nintendo Land. If Nintendo really gave up on Metroid, then that would be a bad motive. Nintendo can't just give up, Other M was one of my favorite games of all time. I agree with you! I am very surprised that Nintendo didn't see the potential for a Metroid game on the Wii U! Gyroscope aiming, touchscreen scanning, and many more and Nintendo has had their thoughts away from Metroid. I don't like this. If Nintendo really is done, I hope that they don't call it for Retro or Team Ninja, now that would be disappointing. Perhaps Retro will eventually make a Metroid game.... ......in 2016? Team Ninja, next year? I'm really hating the complete absence of Metroid announcements...

Its not so much competing with halo as honestly Prime was like many nintendo games a sub genera (An Adventure FPS if you will) its more or less the 2D competing with other nintendo products. While i was typing my response i had the thought of it there was a metroid 2d what 2D plat former would i buy? Well i would buy mario because its mario and thats just what it is, mario is THE platformer. Then it became a Donkey Kong vs Metroid and i would say metroid wins by a long mile. The Wii U much like the Wii will have TONS of 2d platformers and i dont think metroid should be one, it simply did so well with prime and found new roots elsewhere and setup shop and succeeded . Metroid showed it could and should be Nintendo's FPS game.

Nintendo let Retro studios choose between a new Metrof or Donkey Kong so Nintndo doesn't want to bury the franchise.

I'll bet you we'll get a spiritual successor to the Prime saga in 2015 by Retro Studios.

I wouldn't mind seeing a 2D Metroid game, but now is not the time. If Retro hadn't done Donkey Kong Country 5, the Wii U market wouldn't be over-saturated with 2D platforming games. Maybe by the end of the cycle this could work. I'd still love to see Metroid Pinball 2 or Metroid Hunters 2 as well.

I'd also like to see the action in Metroid evolve substantially if/when the next Prime game arrives. Space Pirates just kind of shot at you and jumped back and forth. They never ran at you or did anything aggressive, took cover, tried to dodge your shots, or even switch weapons, let alone try to outflank you like in modern FPS games. There was never a lot of variety in any particular battle either, and the number of enemies was lacking too. Also, Samus has way too much health to make any kind of fight tense at all. I don't know how they're going to change that last one without violating a Metroid staple with it's multilayered health system though. Multiplayer should be a huge focus, as Nintendo doesn't have any other franchise that could really do a multiplayer FPS justice.

I don't disagree that this is a good idea, I've just seen it as a bad idea too many times to want to see it happen.

Prime Hunters 2, por favor
I liked the addition of new characters. Metroid Prime: Hunters was the only 3D Metroid game I've played (I have Other M but I stopped playing after like 30 minutes) but I loved it. It was also my first experience with online gaming (besides Club Penguin, lol), and that was magical to me at the time! It was great until people started getting Action Replays

The weapons like the Imperialist, Battle Hammer, Judicator, etc. all were very unique and brought variety to the game. I'm not sure how they relate to Metroid Prime 1, 2, or 3, but Hunters was a great game in my opinion. I would definitely get another Metroid game on Wii U if it was like Hunters.

You sir desperately need to play Quake II...or any FPS made since.

I wouldn't mind getting a two part Metroid game similar to Halo 4. The main storyline would be more insular like the first two prime games, and the 2nd mode would be a Hunters 2.0 multiplayer co-op campaign mode

A 2D Metroid wouldn't "cannibalize" DKC or NSMB sales any more than than a 3D one would.

2D Donkey Kong & Mario games don't fill the same niche as a 2D Metroid, because they're still very much different genres, that have little in common.

With that said, I think Wii U should get a 3D Metroid, while 3DS would be a good home for a 2D Metroid.

I think Metroid is one of the best video game franchises in history!
I really would hate to see Nintendo give up on it!