Metroid: Samus Returns Resurrects Game Boy Classic "In A Completely New Way", Says MercurySteam

3DS is fine for me. Looking forward to playing it this year.

Can't wait for this. Hope it includes the original as an unlock like Zero Mission (which, btw, should really be available on 3DS VC) did.

That was my highlight of all of E3. Excited beyond... well, everything. And it's coming sooooooo soon!!!

I just hope MercurySteam doesn't ruin it (as much) as they did with Castlevania...

@RazumikhinPG i didn't think they did that bad a job besides it couldn't have been easy or fun working for Konami

As long as Nintendo gives them all the support, Mecurysteam puts their all into it and Sakamoto is not allowed anywhere near the writer's desk.

@NewAdvent why let it die? It already sold almost 70M units vs ~6M for the Switch. It still has a long way to go.

@RazumikhinPG Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate looks GOOD. The stereo 3D visuals for that game is one of the best on the 3DS. A bit short, but it looks and plays really good.

@gcunit it is. It has been for a long time now.

@gizmoto Yes, it does. 2DS, 3DS, all supported.

Samus Returns made Nintendo win E3 for me. People are skeptical about the team working on it mainly because of their history of developing the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series, however, those games were entirely new and original games, whereas Samus Returns is following Metroid 2's level design and Zero Mission's moveset, and all they seem to add here are free aiming and melee attacks, both of which seem to work really well! I have high hopes for this game, and I'm glad it's not that far off!

Yep, it was a respectful matter for 3DS owners to release this game on the portable. As a 5 year old 3DS owner, I have been expecting a new and traditional Metroid game for a looooong time, so much as many other fans.
Do you all remember the speculations and rumors about a Metroid game on 3DS along all these years? I have always been hyped when reading them!
Gladly Nintendo finally revealed it, even it is on the 3DS twilight. Because I still own it, always will own it and love to play something new on it, specially a Metroid remake! ^^

PS: Also I am very happy with the Mario & Luigi remake! Nintendo promised and is delivering the attention they have announced for the 3DS! We rarely see a 1st party bigger franchises in a console final moment.

I feel bad for Next Level Games. They really got the shaft with Fed Force. This could have been their glory. They can't even bring themselves to put Fed Force to their website's repertoire, that's gotta be a sign of how bad that was for them

Oh no, I'm really not a fan of Mercury Steam, Mirror of Fate was pretty terrible... I was so happy when this game got announced yesterday, now my expectations went down a couple of notches.

Awesome and yes yes yes is what I thought when I saw the trailer yesterday and that it is on the 3DS is even better like the perfect icing on the perfect cake .

Will it have 3D though or will they pull the feature like Pikmin hey not a proper Pikmin game?

@JoakimZ, it seems Castelvania Mirror of Fate is one of those titles with people on one side or the other no in between personaly I thought Mirror of Fate was AWESOME and find it hard to believe anyone could or would say it was terrible that actually played it. I even thought the graphics and 3D effect was awesome.

@gcunit It totally should be available. Makes way more sense to be on the 3DS than on the Wii U!

@beazlen1

They talked about how great the 3D is in it, on the treehouse segment yesterday and that the eshop trailer would be in 3d and avaliable yesterday.

The trailer has just come up on the eu eshop, but not in 3D.. hopefully they'll fix it soon

@Leostacks That's not what a search of the 3DS eshop tells me - it's Wii U only.

Unofficial Metroid II Remake makers take note!

I'm so happy about this, that I don't care it's on the 3DS!
I can't wait!

3DS is my favourite system. The more games the merrier.

@gcunit dope, read it wrong. I thought you meant the original metroid 2. My mistake, you're right, even taking in the ambassador program.

To the people who think the 3DS family is going to be done anytime soon: look. They only recently announced the New 2DS XL. They aren't ready to give it up yet.

Looks awesome can't wait

Super excited about the game and if you watched the Treehouse gameplay session there's no need to worry about the developer because of their Castlevania game. Nintendo gets hands-on with helping third parties work on their franchises but even if they didn't in this case the game seems to play beautifully and the added features seem very promising.

As for the 3DS issue, it's a bit of a bother. Generally our family plays Metroid games in a way that we can all participate and watch together on a big screen. Even did that with AM2R. So, to be trapped on a tiny low-res screen that only one person can watch at a time comfortably in an age where Nintendo has completely solved this issue is frustrating for us.

I mean, it's preordered and everything, but it's a disappointment. It highlights why the sooner 3DS loses new game development support the better. Then, the library isn't split, and key games like this Metroid game aren't popping up out-of-reach from gamers just returning to Nintendo via Switch.

@NewAdvent
Yeah I can see them wanting to keep supporting the 3DS especially with New 2DS coming out. But I'm with you. I think they need to focus primarily on Switch. They are marketing it as a handheld and console. I sold all of my 3DS and DS games and my New 3DS and 2DS consoles with the intention of using the Switch both as a handheld and a home console. All the extra development teams and resources that could be put to Switch would really help ensure there is a nice steady stream of games coming. Especially if third party multi platform games are going to few and far between.

I never played the game boy version, so I love that this is going to be brand new to me.

I know for sure I am getting this and I think 3DS will be gone soon so we need to savor our last moments with it. The most popular franchises to the 3DS are slowly making their way to the Switch like Pokemon and Fire Emblem so 3DS support will leave when the 3DS fanbase see all the games they love on Switch. Bring Animal Crossing to Switch and I think that is when I will really feel that 3DS is no more.

I still kinda wish Nintendo didn't shutdown AMR2, the least they could do is include the AMR2 version as an unlockable in this game. That would be a better deal. By doing that everyone wins, we get both the Nintendo version and the fan made version all in one since the fan made one is going to be free anyways might as well give it away as a free unlockable in the game.

@aaronsullivan Abandoning your old systems just because a new one comes out is bad for your image as a hardware manufacturer. People were complaining that Nintendo "left" Wii U and now they are complaining that 3DS is still getting games. I know whats up with that.

Pokemon, Metroid, Mario etc is because all of you just want your dag nab graphics kick. Nothing more.

You know these are getting games on Switch so why does it matter if 3DS gets them as well?

Can't wait for this game. The last Metroid game I played was Other M, and I've been looking forward to a side scrolling Metroid again. Of course, Metroid Prime 4 is well on my radar as well, though who knows how long it'll be until that gets released.

I'll definitely be getting the case with the music in it, just so I can play the Magmoor Caverns music over and over.

@Sentinator Already explained why pretty clearly. Characterizing me as someone who just wants a "graphics kick" makes little sense in the context of what I said. (Or in the context of what kind of gamer I actually am. lol)

If Switch was also getting all the 3DS games I'd be fine with it. I think many games on 3DS are amazing. Love Kid Icarus Uprising, for instance, but it's a great example of a game that is, in essence, trapped in a place I can't enjoy the way I want to.

The control method is intensely cramped and my son and I both love the game and he tries to watch while I play, but then I gave up (ouch) and he ended up playing through it on his own where I can never see it. It's now how we enjoy games together.

There are many benefits that come from the unification of the hardware architecture target and as good as it is for 3DS to continue bolstering Nintendo during this transition time, the other side of this can be much, much better.

I have been needing to buy a non-RPG for my 3DS. I'm stoked for this one! Metroid II was my first game in the series.

I'm torn. Trying to only buy games on Switch, but Metroid II was literally the first game I got with my gameboy. May have to break the 3DS out and get this one when it comes out.

I'm not confident in that company... I hope they don't mess up.
"Oh, people didn't buy it? I guess it means people don't like metroid anymore."

Letting die a console... It really takes rich kids to desire something like this. And companies sure are happy with that minority throwing money like it was nothing. :/

@aaronsullivan Putting the game on Switch makes virtually no sense to me. 3DS owners were upset because Nintendo gave them a Metroid game they weren't expecting so this is the best way to make amends for that.

Many dance around this but (while it may not be true of you) most of them are just saying Switch because they want it now and don't want to wait. They will make excuses in an attempt to cover it but that is what it is. Graphics and impatience.

The type of suggestion you are making is what hurt Sony's image with Vita.

You do not turn your back on a system just because a new one is out. 3DS still has a bigger market than Switch currently does. They still have a lot of money to make there.

I never thought I would say this about a 3ds game, because the switch is out... But I cannot wait for this. This and Odyssey are all I really need for the rest of the year.

Also, I really hope the people asking for a Metroid game actually buy this one. This isn't a Fed Force situation anymore. Samus is back, so I hope the people asking for these games actually go through with buying them.

I'm a touch worried about the dev, but Mercury Stream hardly did a terrible job with Castlevania: Mirror of Fate. If anything based on criticisms I've heard, that game's flaws came from tying into the Lords of Shadow continuity rather than a sheer lack of skill. Not to mention that they have the 1991 original as a starting point. So Samus Returns probably won't suck.

Another possible reason I figured why the 3DS was chosen was the lower development costs and lower graphic expectations. For all we know this game may only have been in development for less than a year and there just wasn't enough time to put it together for the Switch at the level of detail we would expect of it.

In contrast, a 3DS build would be simpler, cost less, be done quicker and would be a cheaper sell making it a greater chance of making money back.

P.s. would rock if they included the original Metroid II as an unlockable but I hope they at least include a map for the bottom screen.

At this point I really do wish it was for Switch instead. I know the 3DS is still going strong, and it makes sense, however personally I find the switch to be more comfortable and fun to play things on.

@NewAdvent let it die and betray 70M users in the process? Switch is still pretty young. Until the time when it already has a big library of its own, 3DS is here to stay.

Someone needs to ask him if development on this started before or after the C&D on AM2R

Top 3 anticipated games of the year on any platform.

Mirror of Fate was not a bad game in the slightest. It played really well, just wasn't interesting. With better direction, they could make this a great Metroid game.

@kukabuksilaks great thanks for the info. I'm a sucker for the 3D feature so this is a certain day one!

Looks awesome but it should have been on Switch. It's the new portable. Move on Nintendo.
Anyway, I love the more physical combat interlaced with the shooting. Very stylish and looks to make things smoother and more fun.

I'm more ready for this than the Switch game by far. Wanted a remake for this in a long while (since the GBA Metroid 1 remix.)

At least I have a solid reason to buy another 3DS game at this point.

Super excited for this new Metroid 2 remake!!

And anyone questioning why this isn't on Switch only has to remind themselves of the 70 million little reasons (Plus the considerably lower development costs), VS the 3 million or so people who CURRENTLY have Switch (with a much higher dev cost AND $10 price mark up to cover that physical cartridge cost).

It's pretty clear why it's on 3DS. And I'm sure they'll port it over to Switch eventually, once they've made their money off 3DS owning Metroid fans.

I'm trying to pre-order this on Amazon US but the Prime discount doesn't get apply when I proceed to checkout. Yes I'm a Prime member and no other games has this problem.

Somebody knows why?

Looks like my 3ds is coming out of retirement! Does anyone know how much it costs to fix a faulty shoulder button? My R button really doesn't work that well. Or a way to fix it at home would be cool

@Jessica286 Metroid... Prime... hehehe

I am so so so glad this is coming to the 3DS which is a perfect fit and the stereoscopic 3D effect will be AMAZING I'm sure. They did an awesome job with Castelvania Mirror of Fate in my opinion and I've played through it twice which is rare for me to do, I have never understood people complaining about that game it was awesome I would bet the people that say it was no good never even played it, so I have complete faith they will do Metroid the justice it deserves and I hope Nintendo keeps the 3DS kicking with great titles untill it gets a proper replacement I personally love the stereoscopic 3D there is nothing else like it so I really hope Nintendo don't just do away with the feature .

@NinChocolate I feel you on that one. If Federation Force released after Metroid: Samus Returns I think it would have been fine. The problem was it had been 6 years since a metroid game had come out and the fans were hit with a spinoff. It felt akin to waiting 6 years for a new mario game and then getting hit with a mario & donkey kong minis game after all that time

@Romeo-75 I'm glad you enjoyed the game, but don't be so quick to say that people who think the game wasn't that great haven't played it. Everyone has different tastes. I played the game myself and found it to be a tedious slog with mediocre combat. It looks like MecurySteam is doing a far better job with this game imo.

Wow, this rumor finally comes full circle. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/08/exclusive_mercurysteam_has_been_working_on_a_metroid_prototype_for_wii_u_and_3ds

@FX102A The bottom screen does have a map, which I'm really happy about, and is another big reason why I'm glad this is on 3ds. Check out the gameplay from the tree house reveal. I think this game looks fantastic.

This is a slap in the face of the folk who made AM2R.

@tedko Sorry I meant on Metroid II GB version if they include it as an unlockable.

@beazlen1 Yes it will be in 3D. I know I already pre-ordered it! You can download the demo video in the eShop on your 3DS to get a taste and it looks a lot better in 3D than the E3 videos show. Again only downloadable video is in 3D. The streaming trailer is not in 3D. I also suggest putting on a good pair of headphones. Enjoy! I can't wait for this game! I am going to replay the original Metroid and Zero Mission just to get ready

@the8thark I don't think so. The developer of AM2R made that game of his own free will and he even said is skills improved from doing it. It was a labor of love for him. As much as I would have liked for Nintendo to take Sega's approach with indie developer game turned into an official Sonic Mania release (and they still could do it), this is Nintendo and they don't produce a ton of games but they do put out quality games so it is smart for them to guard their IPs.

@the8thark @MakeMyBiscuit Agreed that, rather than a slap in the face, this is in fact justification that both AM2R was infringing on Nintendo's current IP usage and that Metroid II needed and deserved a modern refresh.

Nintendo surely knew of the project during its development, and allowed the project to reach 1.0 before stopping it, letting backers get the final product they supported. Theoretically, Nintendo could have outright sued instead of just warning them to stop.

As I see it, everyone wins. The general public gets the remake the game deserves, the backers got their "homemade" version, and the creator got to add the final product and publicity to his portfolio.

Time to dust of my 3DS!

@MakeMyBiscuit great thanks for the info! I've got zero mission on GBA cart somewhere and an old DS to play it on, Fusion as an ambassador 3DS game and Super Metroid on WiiU. Time to get replaying. So pumped!

@Sentinator "Putting the game on Switch makes virtually no sense to me. 3DS owners were upset because Nintendo gave them a Metroid game they weren't expecting so this is the best way to make amends for that."
It wasn't just 3DS owners that were upset! How about Wii and Wii U owners! At least with 3DS owners it was closer to they style of Hunters. In fact, I'm betting 3DS owners were much more forgiving towards the game, which was actually pretty good and but shouldn't have had bobble heads.

"Many dance around this but (while it may not be true of you) most of them are just saying Switch because they want it now and don't want to wait."
I don't understand. Isn't that exactly your argument for keeping it on 3DS? If it was on Switch couldn't you just wait until you can get one?

The graphics part is not a small thing, though. 3DS graphics are becoming embarrassing. I love what developers do with it and I'm fine playing retro pixelated early games and find much of it charming, but the capabilities are extremely hampering on the device. Because of ubiquity and people handing them down to kids, cheap smartphones make 3DS look bad. (Can't beat dedicated controls, etc, but I'm talking perception here)

"You do not turn your back on a system just because a new one is out."
But it's not "just because" a new one is out. It's for many reasons. New platforms need bolstering or they end up like the Wii U but more importantly it can end the division between development teams to allow for more games that all Nintendo players can share in. Hypothetical: If Wii U and 3DS shared a game library it could have launched with Kid Icarus, Luigi's Mansion and many more, but instead both platforms suffered from the division.

"3DS still has a bigger market than Switch currently does. They still have a lot of money to make there."
Totally agree with you. Nintendo doesn't need to support it with their own development teams anymore, however, and a key game like Metroid Samus Returns would be awesome to have on both and I'd argue unnecessary to have on 3DS if Switch continues to skyrocket.

My hope is that Nintendo can somehow manage an ultraportable Switch for Holiday 2018. Something that is both nicely priced and super appealing to the 3DS crowd so the transition can go forward.

Nintendo may have done a bit too much damage stretching 3DS this far along as it is. Potentially losing Monster Hunter to consoles is a big deal. Monster Hunter World should have been targeted at 3DS owners that had transitioned to a new generation of hardware. But it didn't exist in time.

@aaronsullivan You raise some good points towards the end of your post and one in particular has crossed my mind a few times. The portable Switch.

I'd love to talk to you about that however I don't think this is the article to do so on. I wouldn't say 3DS graphics are embarrassing but 3DS was pretty much maxed out when Smash Bros dropped out.

For Wii U I can remember Tanabe said they discussed it for Federation Force as well but didn't have the resources to do it. Wii however..... well Corruption is the best Metroid by far (can't convince me otherwise).

Now if Nintendo are planning a Super Metroid remake for next year I will agree with you that 3DS has had it's fill of Metroid. It is the first handheld to boast it had both a 2D and 3D game and I do think that is enough.

However when its obvious their Switch plans are big anyway I have no gripes with 3DS continuing. Especially when several games have been outsourced.

Uhm, not to burst Mercurysteam's bubble but... "resurrecting a classic in a completely new way" means creating a remake.

My favourite announce of this event.

So, this was what motivated Nintendo to threat the Metroid 2 amateur remake?