Metroid Prime 3

It's fair to say that Metroid Prime: Federation Force was not well received during and immediately after its Nintendo Digital Event reveal; the online reaction to it was, at times, brutal. We'd argue that the subsequent Treehouse Live segment showed it to be a reasonably promising entry, and we'll have hands on impressions with you very soon, but nevertheless it drew ire for multiple reasons.

One key reason is obvious - it's a spin-off without Samus, and with Metroid Prime in the title its fair to say that's its a long way from the home console Prime that many expected.

For disappointed Metroid fans there are some promising words from the series' Producer, however. Speaking to IGN, Kensuke Tanabe explained that he's "not involved" in any 2D projects in the works by Yoshio Sakamoto, while he sees Federation Force as a useful spin-off to broaden the world and possibilities in a future franchise. Referring to the expanded ending in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Tanabe-san states that Sylux is there for a reason.

I said this at the beginning, but I'm not involved in the 2D Metroid games that [Yoshio] Sakamoto works on. I still feel like there's a little more work left for me to do in the Metroid Prime series. I can't say when, but I want to make another one.

He's [Sylux] actually chasing after Samus, and that's where that game ends. There's still more I want to build around the story of Sylux and Samus. There's something going on between them. I want to make a game that touches upon [it].

I'm also thinking that, in that eventual game between Sylux and Samus that might get made, that I want to involve the [Galactic] Federation as well. So it would be a good idea to release a game like Federation Forces to flesh out its role in the galaxy before moving on to that.

These are certainly promising words for the prospects of a home console Metroid Prime IV, even if there's no timeline.

Are you re-assured by this, and has your opinion on Metroid Prime: Federation Force changed with the passing of some hours?

Thanks to all that sent this in.

[source uk.ign.com]