Rumour: Concept Work from Former Next Level Games Artist Shows a Certain Bounty Hunter

I can't wait for the comments.

grabs popcorn

I actually think it looks interesting. I wonder how a Next Level Metroid would be.. I imagine it would be pretty decent based on some of their other games, also probably for 3DS..

@Splatom I already had a large bag of crisps at the ready. Good timing.

I don't think means anything, I would imagine artists at these development studios are always coming up with concept designs, even if it be for something that the studio have no plans to ever work on. Could merely be for something to show to future employers.

If this is legit, it's 100% for the 3DS

@Splatom "Grabs popcorn and dumps it on your head"
Eat something else, and stop saying that over used joke...

Even if it's nut Metroid, I'm interested in seeing what their next project is.

Couldn't this just be a portfolio that they take to a meeting with ninty bosses and say, "Look what we can do Nintendo, please let us make a metroid game, pretty, pretty please!!"

I know I would!

I really liked Luigis Mansion and they did a fantastic job reviving the series with Dark Moon. As long as we get a quality game, I'm all in.

That Samus design looks pretty darn ugly, IMO (though the monster designs look pretty good).

Also, given that he was in charge between 2007-2009, I doubt this is 3DS concept art (and certainly not Wii U). If it was indeed intended to be made into a game, the very angular design of Samus screams DS to me.

@Splatom Save me some...

Something tells me that if this guy ever wanted to work in the video games industry again he wouldn't leak such a high profile unannounced game through his own website.

Coooooooool. These guys did a great job with Luigi's Mansion so I think I can accept this.

....The way Samus looks there, it scares me...I'm fine with whoever, just don't make the characters looks creepy. lol

I like the concept art

Ehh, I don't think it means anything. If Nintendo was going to have a studio work on a new metroid, it would be retro.

I dunno, the text on the Samus concept hints at them possibly having been involved with Metroid Prime or a port thereof, which would also explain the similarities of the monster design with Metroid Prime boss Flaahgra.

None of this actually impresses me, though. If anything, both designs look extremely weak, especially that monsters' extremely delibebartely threatening design, which looks painfully unnatural for a Metroid game.

That is disgusting.

Their designs don't fit in with Metroid, IMO. Looks a bit to light-hearted.

These puns are out of control.

@Kaze_Memaryu It's just a concept. Compare Disney's concepts to the final product, for example.

Still looks better than anything in Other M...

I hope they give us a new metroid soon...

We haven't seen a 2D.. or a first person shooter in a LONG time..

_{I actually liked other m.. atleast more than hunters anyway. Just needed less dialog and cutscenes... and better music}

I would like ANY Metroid adventures, 'cause I haven't played one since Other M...

I quite like the stylized Samus. Its miles more interesting and unique than her iPod-inspired look from Other M. Well, pretty much anything in comparison looks better than in Other M.

From personal experience doing concept art for student projects:
A lot of concept artists are of course heavily inspired by the video games they love, so he probably did this as a personal portfolio piece almost liken to that of a fan art piece, just so he could add it to his portfolio. If he is looking to get hired he can't show a portfolio of "unannounced projects" so he probably had to make some "theoretical" concepts just to show his skill, as he probably is not allowed to show most of his work.

If I drew that samus picture I would crumple the paper and shoot it in the trash. Same with the three headed boss. But the iceberg boss looks cool.

So... angular..

So... unifiting...

The monsters look okay-ish but the "Samus in suit" concept art is butt-ugly, no arguing about that.

@Melkac It's different than early concepts - these look somewhat more finalized than first drafts. You normally don't opt for this amount of detail in designs if it's just WIP concepts, since it takes a lot of time.

If only there was a re-imagining of Metroid with Samus being male. A big robotic suit that doesn't have hyper-exaggerated muscles is always a missed opportunity. Also the chest looks like the head of an animal. Kind-of reminds me of Power Rangers in that department (with the skill of a metroid, Jungle Fury Metroid Ranger!).

Samus looks awful.

Sure like Next Level; Sure as hell don't like that art style!

I agree that I don't like Samus's art here. But I don't know, it could be possible that it can be a different character.....

@MajinSoul It's from like 5 years ago. Whatever is was, it 100% never happened.

Evidence is pointing toward a 2D Metroid release on 3DS from a different internal team. Can't remember the name of the studio, but their lead made a statement about the franchise, and he's never been involved with Metroid before, which means if he's talking about its future direction, it's probably because he's leading development.

We can chalk this art up to just concepts and floating ideas from years ago.

@Austroid

Really? I thought the Other M look was the best yet. I always favored the Prime look, but Other M gave it a run for its money. Although I do still like Prime, and would have no issue seeing that style return.

I'll take it if it happens. The Samus picture isn't very feminine or tough but just mean and insect-like, still cool to look at.

Let's get another Metroid going! Hopefully we'll get some juicy plans near Holiday time as Nintendo tries to hype up potential buyers.

I'm really fond of the art direction, and really wish this project had been realized on the 3DS. Samus looks really threatening and far more alien like than her previous designs. Boss/enemy concepts are up to Metroid standards. I really would've liked to have seen the world NLG were planning on creating for this apparently canned project. Definitely trust Next Level more than Retro Studios, but I'm not so sure about putting them over SPD1 and Sakamoto considering MZM, Fusion and Super. If they've got one thing going for them over that development team though it's no Other M association.

A: I wouldn't mind them working on a new Metroid and B: it had better not be exclusive to the new 3ds

It would of looked like Samurai Jack meets Metroid; not good.

@yuwarite lol when I saw the picture, I said Samurai Jack fused with Metroid, but you beat me to it.

@JaxonH To me, the Primes 2-3 design of the suit was just about perfect in all respects.

It remained true to the suits' roots, (suits' roots?) while evolving into something more modern. The little details; like the tweaked visor shape, extra panel-lining and green lights spread throughout, the slimmed-down but still imposing look to it all, the sense of weight it looked like it had whenever she moved, etc.

Other M went a full 180, and basically made Samus' 16-bit sprite in 3D; devoid of anything interesting to look at besides Samus' overly exposed face (how's it a protective helmet if you can see her whole head through the visor?)

I don't know, I think Retro put a lot of effort into redesigning Samus' suit and it was unfairly scrapped in favor of something inferior.

I hope this is for a new Metroid game...for Wii U. I know it's more likely for it to be on the 3DS but the Wii U is HD and it will probably help sales as long as Ridley's in it...as a playable character .

I dig the art.

Just art, it's full of them on deviantart.
I hope there will be a metroid game tho.

eh samus look to robotic to in that style but like others mention the bosses do look nice so yeah

i think we all want a new metriod game for the wii u least i do and hope it does go in the works soon least after the new zelda i think it be a good addition to the wii u library

I like the boss concepts but if this project continued they would've definitely gone back to the drawing board for the Samus design.

I never really played a metroid game before except for the 2D metroid, Metroid 2. I'd really like to play a 3d metroid so I'm pretty excited.

I feel like if this ever was on the table (or still is) that it's a 3DS game. I wouldn't be opposed to the idea since I'd like to see Metroid on both 3DS and Wii U. They did a great job with Punch Out and Luigi's Mansion, so they've proven themselves.

that version of samus looks really bad

Not into the art at all. Samus's armor is supposed to be all round shapes. That's what makes her...well her.This concept looks like a bow-legged Halo reject with a cobra head for a helmet.

Seeing as I didn't like Dark Moon anywhere near as much as the original, I'm happy they never made a Metroid.

Samus looks like a Geodude wearing chicken stilts in that concept art!

But it's been far too long since we had a handheld Metroid game. The last one was what? Prime Hunters? Bleargh. Seriously. We're dying here.

Tip of the iceberg lol.

Metroid = automatic purchase!
although... i hope they don't land on that concept art...

That concept art looks interesting... cough*notverygood*cough...

Still no new Metroid. It's a shame!