Video: What If Super Metroid Was A 3D Classic?

cool effort! it seems weird that the sprites float in front of the level tiles though, it looks like they're suspended in mid air

I still don't know what I'm doing wrong. I can't see these videos in 3D on my New 3DS.

@bezerker99 try loading up the Internet Browser on your New Nintendo 3DS, and browsing straight to our channel - http://www.youtube.com/nintendolife and watch the videos from there . Make sure you aren't trying to use the YouTube app to watch these videos, because it doesn't work.

@LeeGarbutt Thanks, that worked! That was awesome!!

I think that Metroid II is in a more dire need of remake than Super Metroid. The SNES entry is still very serviceable, looks great, plays great and is available both on Wii U and Wii Virtual Console. Metroid II is available on 3DS in it's original, emulated form, but it did not age half that well.

Why I think that? There is a lot that could be done with open world formula that the GameBoy game tried to implement, maybe even to the point of throwing the sequence away altogether and giving the player multiple options to traverse the game world. Metroid evolutions could change dynamically based on player's actions too, and most importantly gameplay could be modernised to accomodate a 2,5D convention, which would make sense in conjunction with stereoscopic 3D graphics.

Releasing Super Metroid again, just with layers of background separated in third dimension, gives us absolutely nothing in my opinion. Then again - I am a person who does not find "HD remakes" appealing in general (because I fail to see how improved visuals alone make the game better), so I might be missing the point here too. ;]

@Kifa I totally agree that Metroid II is in dire need of a Zero Mission-style remake. It seems to be the forgotten entry in the series, which is strange considering how pivotal it is in terms of the overall story of the non-Prime series.

These little 3D experiments of mine are just a little window into what could be done on the 3DS. My technique for converting footage into 3D is nowhere near perfect, but it at least gives a rough approximation of what could be done.

Remakes can be a very good way to package a game in a way that makes it much more palatable for those who missed it the first time around. Not all remakes are great, but the aforementioned Zero Mission is the perfect example.

@LeeGarbutt Just to clarify - by no means I've intended to say that this video has no value, nor that 3D/HD remakes are without right to be, and if I did by accident, I am sorry. All those "three-dimensionified" videos are interesting, and you should keep putting them up.

Indeed - Zero Mission is a perfect example of a true remake done right. Original Metroid is, by all standards, an archaic game with stiff mechanics and confusing world design. Zero reimagines the entire game in a form that can rival Super Metroid in terms of production qualities and accessibility. Other example would be Resident Evil Remake for Gamecube (the recent "remaster" doesn't count, as it just upped the resolution and changed a few models).

Super Metroid 3D would still be a great game, however my point was simply that there are others who need the treatment more, and could yield better results.

@Kifa I went back and replayed II to get a feel for what a remake could do, and I don't think there's much they can do to fix the game without gutting the map and redesigning it completely. As is, the game is fairly linear and you only really get open exploration in the ruins sections. And if they do away with the lava blockades the map just gets really confusing. So beyond the better graphics and new powerups, I don't think they could really add much to the game.

Frankly I think that Super Metroid is more likely to get a remake because of its popularity, but there's not much that can be enhanced in that game either. They could flesh out Maridia a bit more and maybe add Chozodia, but powerup wise there isn't a whole lot missing (Spider Ball, Power Grip, and Boost Ball if they want to adapt it from the Prime games).

@Kifa @LeeGarbutt Take a look at AM2R (Another Metroid II Remake) - it's the stuff that rivals even Nintendo's level of quality, and it's free!

@Bolt_Strike That's what I was saying - Zero Mission changed a lot in the original map, and so should Metroid II remake if it's ever done oficially. Frankly - I think that they could do almos everything with it, thanks to how limited the original was, because there is all that much more to do. Remake is not only about the graphics, it's also about fixing aged and sometimes poor gameplay design. I refuse to accept a remake that only changes the "skin" of the game - it has little point.

@Kaze_Memaryu I've seen this a while ago, but somehow never managed to sit down and play the thing. Might as well give it a shot this afternoon. Thanks for reminding!

@Kifa Zero Mission didn't redesign the levels from the ground up though, it just fleshed out the level design a bit more. II would likely require something a bit more drastic.

Super Metroid is fine as is and doesn't need a remake. Super Nintendo games have held up well over the years unlike early 3d games.

What if it was remade for Wii U or 3DS with a graphical overhaul to the level of "Ori and the Blind Forest" (the best Metroid style game ive played since Super Metroid with the best graphics of any 2D game ive played)! That would be glorious!!!!

Still hoping Nintendo pulls this on "F-Zero", the SNES stage on Smash Bros is amazing.

I watched this in 3D without my 3DS. It's not easy on th e eyes trying to see 3D on a tablet by staring out at close range.

What if they spent their time making a new 2D Metroid game instead!?!? Imagine that!!

@Bolt_Strike Zero Mission was made from ground up on GBA. It does not use anything from the original code. They only used existing maps as a reference. Still - "drastic" is what I like to see in remakes. Don't just up the resolution and swap sprites and/or models, make something new based on the old. This is what a "remake" is. I still stand by my point - Super Metroid is popular, but Metroid II deserves the remake more.

@Kifa It actually needs a full remake, not a port. Metroid II was terrible in a matter of level design and gameplay compared to Metroid III. It's nearly unplayable if Super Metroid was your first in the series.

Nintendo has all but officially stated their abandonment of their own 3D classics series. Thank goodness for M2.
Can't imagine what went wrong. They looked at their catalog of such must-own hits as The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. 3 and Metroid and chose to open with such treasures as Urban Champion.
I can't picture them putting any resources into continuing with 3D versions of their hits. Right off the top of my head, Virtual Boy titles and Rad Racer (their first 3D experiment on home consoles) could have been a no-brainer.

If they made it in 2D it would be fine I really don't like 3D. I never played super metroid and the other older games. Played fusion on the GBA still have my cartridge. I would be happy if they remade metroid 2 and remastered super metroid, fusion and zero mission! Not really sure but is zero mission a remake of super metroid? It would make my day if they would develop a brand new metroid game for 3ds make it happen nintendo!

Nintendo should just outsource 3D classics to M2, finance M2 expansion, allow M2 to take control of VC, get licensing agreement with Sega for Arcades, Dreamcast, and Saturn, bring GameCube & N64, all of Wii VC over to Wii U, bring classic Amiga games.......... Sorry, was thinking outloud

@rushiosan Again - I am talking about a complete remake all the time. And yes, it was terrible in level design aspect, though I guess it's mainly because it was limited by the hardware it ran on. GameBoy was not exactly a powerful machine, even by old standards. Or simply they wanted an experience less frustrating than the original Metroid was and thought making it more linear was the right way to go.

Do StarFox!

Please...

I need a New 3DS so I can see my all time favorite game in 3D...

What's up with the spin jumping to attack Mother Brain? You have a diagonal aim, use that, lol.

The 3D in this was only minor, the real thing would be much nicer. I noticed there wasn't any depth to how the background layer looks when walking in Crateria (they would make that look pushed back if they ever do this). Also, something felt weird about the way the door was supposed to look when fighting Ridley, but I could have looked at it wrong since I was doing the eye method on my PC.

@Gen0neD It's on my list, I'm just having some problems with the conversion process

@Kifa They didn't take the original code, they took the original maps and fleshed them out, they really didn't change that much of the basic layout. With II they'd have to make so many changes that they're better off just making a new game.

@Bolt_Strike Yes, layout is roughly the same. But they also made new sprites, new background, new terrain tiles, remade all the music and sound effects from scratch, not to mention that the game runs on a new engine (Metroid Fusion engine, to be exact), so that means that game mechanics also needed to be coded from scratch. If that is not, in reality, a new game, then I don't know what is nor what you are driving at.

When I say that Metroid II deserves to be remade, I mean just that - make a new game recreating that setting. That is a remake. Anything less isn't.

I really wish you guys could do these better... All that's happening is the sprite layer is popping out a bit while the background layer sits back. In the end it just looks weird and unimpressive. Samus looks likes she's floating over the ground, backgrounds and enemies have no sense of depth, etc. I understand that would take a lot more work, but when all you can do is this, it really doesn't seem worth the time and effort to do it.

@Kaze_Memaryu Yeah, that doesn't really fix the linearity though, the level design is mostly the same. Other than that though, great remake.

@LeeGarbutt YAY! And thanks. I sincerely hope Nintendo is watching.

@Bolt_Strike True, but it has enough hidden stuff to at least loosen the linearity to a degree, even though there are barely any side rooms dedicated towards hidden power-ups.

The video doesn't work through the 3DS, and when I go to Youtube (through the browser), it wants me to download HTML 5 or something. I add to watch this on my PC by crossing my eyes.