Metroid Prime: Hunters Arrives on Wii U Virtual Console in Japan

When will Nintendo release portable games on portable consoles? :S

I've not played any DS games on Wii U yet so I can't really say how they look other than what I've seen in Eshop videos but that video there with the DS crammed into the Gamepad screen looks absolutely ridiculous.Surely there has to be a better way to play than that?

Does the online Multiplayer work? It was pretty good on metroid prime hunters.

Considering how boring and generic the singleplayer campaign was, I don't see any reason to get a version that doesn't even have multiplayer at all.

@Windy Obviously, it won't. The Nintendo WFC service is long dead, and altering the games' code to work with newer servers would invalidate this game as a VC title. Same goes for local multiplayer.

I dont do 3ds on wii u, but i might make an exception for this one

I used to own this for the DS back when it was first released but I sold it after beating it. Since I'm only now gotten into the rest of the Metroid Prime series, I might buy this again when it comes out for the VC in Europe.

The trailer leaves me baffled though. Is there not an option to use the TV screen as the top screen while using the Gamepad screen as the lower screen?

Definitely an odd choice given the game's focus on multiplayer. And if they release this in NA before Zero Mission I swear that I will scream until my lungs explode.

@Kaze_Memaryu This. If it doesn't feature multiplayer, which was its one big appeal for me, I don't feel like getting it whatsoever.

If this supports twin stick control ill happily buy this, can't stand stylus control

This spinoff series is due for a reboot. I thought the multiplayer was flawed but fun, and the concepts for the different hunters were really cool. Given the success of Splatoon, I feel like a FPS version of this game for Wii U (probably not 3DS since Federation Force is headed that way) would be beautiful and fun. It doesn't have to be big and complicated. Just make it a budget download that focuses primarily on online play, with a single player campaign that is mostly focused on training and tips. Use the core of the original game, tack on some HD models and textures, add a couple new hunters, and charge $40 for it. I would buy that, especially with better modern Internet speeds.

NOA better release Zero Mission before they release this game on the NA eshop.

Dang, the multiplayer was the best part!
I'd love a sequel to this on the 3ds, but I guess federation force is the closest we'll get.

@DarthNocturnal I'd buy it again too if it has Wii Remote controls and I think it was one of the Street Fighter 2 games (Mega Drive version) which was eventually given online play on the original Wii virtual console. Nintendo just don't seem interested in making online happen with any DS games though

Yes to Zero mission Noa please

I am a huge fan of the Metroid Prime series and I never got a chance to play this. I have tried many times to find it on Amazon or Gamestop cheap, but I never could. Plus gamestop ripped me off once and sold me a Metroid Prime: Hunters (First Hunt) for like $10. For those of you who don't know First Hunt was the demo that came with many orIginla DS systems.

Hmm... I was super excited for Prime Hunters back in the day. I played that demo card like no-one's business. But when I got the game, played it and beat it. I realised that it wasn't that great at all. The bosses were recycled, the bounty were only Mid-bosses, and the online was messed up from the beginning. It was just a race to get that sniper rifle and camp on top of a spawning health orb!

People tell me how much they hate Other M. For me, I really didn't like Hunters...

Why even release this without the multiplayer. Nintendo you really are being dicks this year!

What a weird choice. Again.

@DarthNocturnal Nope, Street Fighter II never did such a thing on a Nintendo console. And with Pokémon Snap, not the game code was altered, but the N64 framework used to run it in order to access snapshots and screencap them onto the message board.

YES to TV Play, NO to single player only. My cartridge has everything unlocked, which may not happen on a Virtual Console version. If I can use both sticks instead of the stylus I might anticipate a repurchase... Now if they gave a cheap First Hunt, I'd get it for laughs and nostalgia. That was the coolest thing about getting the original DS at launch.

@DarthNocturnal "Might look into it... might've been better to release an HD version with controller and Wiimote support"
Totaly agree with you there... i tryed playing MP Hunters on my New3DS XL and found it realy hard to press the correct buttons.. (When i culd play it easily on the original DS and 3DS) so i dont think this will controll well atall on the gamepad unfortuntly.. also its sortof a shame as this kills the odds of a 3DS re-make.

@DarthNocturnal
WHAT WAS DONE TO MARIO RPG?!! O.O

This seems pointless. This game was centered around multiplayer, the single player mode was barebones. Unless they somehow made this online, it's not worth the time or money.

This one will be "interesting" to play on the Wii u.

Thankfully, I have the game card already.

Also, I never ever played the game on multiplayer and still enjoyed the single player campaing a lot.

Edit: wait, I did play it once. It was a horrible hack fest.

I would maybe go for it with all multiplayer options intact. Pretty pointless, otherwise.

Nintendo if you ever cared for your Metroid fans, you will make the online multiplayer work- Oh right, it runs on gamespy, which got sold to GLU because of IGN... IGN is the reason Wii and DS games can't play online... mind blown

Loved this game!

I will say that scrubbing around with bots was a pretty good pastime back in the day...

That said, I definitely agree that a HD version with more control options would be a real treat on the Wii U eshop. The game had some good level, decent modes, cool weapons, and actually some pretty neat advanced techniques that were a joy to pull off online.

Especially with Splatoon pulling in, or creating a new online shooter crowd... It seems that Nintendo should attempt to capitalize and an HD MP:H would be one small, low-risk attempt that could pay off.

And yet another Metroid game gets released in Japan - a region that traditionally hasn't cared for Metroid.

Meanwhile in North America......we continue to wait for Zero Mission.

...Woo...can the NA have Rhythm Heaven now?...No?...okies.

Multiplayer was a blast on this, single player not so much unfortunately.

So....why isn't Nintendo releasing GBA and DS games on 3DS again?

@Kaze_Memaryu There should still be offline multiplayer with bots.

@Gauchorino Most likely.

@DarthNocturnal Well, I dun goofed, it seems. Can't say how I missed all of that, might be a lack of sleep - nonetheless, I apologize to you. I was wrong, and I will have to accept that.

Would prefer the pinball game.
I fear Ninty don't put multiplayer in due to laziness, not 'invalidating the VC title.'

@DarthNocturnal
You know. I've noticed that with the Zeldas and stuff too. Has there been a seizure lawsuit or something? Or is Nintendo just playing it safe? Flashing strobes have been a part of video games ever since I could remember. Those little black and white booklets came with every game from every era telling you not to play if you have epilepsy, not to play if tired or in need of sleep, and to take 15 minute breaks. I noticed when I was younger that breaks actually helped me on intense games like Mega Man 1. Before losing my last life, pausing the game and walking away for a little while made a world of difference.

What cracks me up is changing stuff on Startropics 1 & 2. Fighting with a yo-yo was sort of a parody part of the early 90s pop culture. Making it serious with Island Star was kinda... I dont know. The game was always meant to be silly. Tetrads on Zoda's Revenge. That really had no reason to change? Its making fun of Tetris, and last I checked there was never a game called Tet-rad?

Yet, they never bothered to fix the sound loop like that one guy did. Guess they had bananas in their ears.

I read up after the Mario RPG thing. I was worried because thats a favorite, and I wouldnt want anything in that game changed; ever. I could live with the minor flashing change I guess. Lol.

Also, if it doesnt have online play, local or download play I may just altogether skip Hunters. Local play with a few friends is the best way to play it. I didnt get NSMB on VC because of the lack of multiplayer. Thats one thing I liked about the DS, and currently like with the 3DS. On many games. Even if its a small feature. If you have a friend with 3DS/DS, and you're out and about and bored. Theres something to try. Several times at IHOP we'd play some Star Fox 64 3D or Mario Kart 7 just becuase I had it on me and they were burned out on Monster Hunter. So on the rare occassion I get company over, it'd be nice if they could play Hunters with me, and mooch off the Wii U version. Original Wii let you download DS demos. So the power is there in the olde firmware... They just need to update it.

@VR32F1END it's just that before they did not know that those rapidly flashing colors they LOVED to use in the old times could cause seizures. Even in people with no known problems.

Now they know, and they care. So they make their old games safer for the public.

Both this and Mario Kart DS would look great if they were "up-ressed". Hopefully on NX Virtual Console.

I didn't think much of the campaign in this, in fact I didn't even bother to finish it. The multiplayer was the main appeal, but I don't know how long fighting bots will be fun for.

It might've been better to give free download codes for this to people who buy Federation Force during the launch period. 3DS owners without a Wii U may wish they had one so they could redeem their codes, and anyone playing Hunters on their Wii U will come to appreciate Federation Force for what it is: a multiplayer game that lets you play with other people!

@Blueberry I actually like how Mario Kart DS looks on a TV, kind of like "What if Nintendo had made games for the PlayStation?"

@Gauchorino

Multiplayer Bots would be the compromise with getting this game Hopefully this will work:

1. Start the game.
2. Go to Multiplayer.
3. Select "Multi-card Play".
4. Create Game.
5. Choose a game mode.
6. Set the rules/map to what ever you want.
7. Select the green check mark.
8. Select your character (the more you play the story-mode, the more characters you unlock).
9. Look at the bottom right screen, it will say "Add bot"
10. Use the arrows to select the bots' characters. Press the green check mark to OK the bot.
11. Finally select the number of starts above the characters name (1 star = easy, 2 stars = medium, 3 stars = hard).
12. Play!

@pitt_norton that is if they even let you access the multiplayer menu. Many of these virtual console games with removed features don't even let you try.

@Morpheel Not sure if that's possible with the little effort Nintendo has been putting into porting games to the VC, in this case. Many GB/GBA/DS games' multiplayer menus (which I'm assuming you're referring to) already cannot be accessed without a link accessory attached or download play used between two systems. Unlike these, Hunters is a game that required no link function to access its multiplayer mode, and therefore, fighting bots there should still be possible. Admittedly, I haven't yet downloaded any DS VC game, so I will gladly accept correction if this has been changed in other games that had multiplayer menus that functioned like Hunters'.

There go my dreams for a 3D/HD remake that included multiplayer.

@Gauchorino nope, the originals would always take you to a preparation screen. Telling you to connect the link and stuff.

These are clearly edited to just block the option entirely.

One in particular, Harvest Moon GBC 2, goes as far as blocking out a whole in-game side quest where you had to use the game link to complete a treasure map. In the VC version you never start the side quest at all, it simply doesn't happen. (Of course, this means an item and a mini game are completely impossible to obtain).

NoA better release zero mission first before this!

I really like the sounds in this. It looks like a descent game. I'd buy it.

@Morpheel My mistake, sorry. Also, concerning HVGBC2, that's really stupid. I can understand why they would want to integrate a convincing experience to the player that they're not missing anything when playing one of these games, but to go so far as to remove an entire part of the game? They should have rather made the sidequest playable without the link cable rather than exerting more effort to remove the entire thing.

@Gauchorino oh yeah, I wish they had just made the character give you the full map instead of a scrap like in the original... But well, I guess that would've taken some real effort.