Tag: Metroid

Metroid Fusion on Nintendo Switch is happening sooner than we thought

Nintendo is bringing the Game Boy Advance classic Metroid Fusion to Nintendo Switch Online, and much sooner than expected

Nintendo is bringing the Game Boy Advance classic Metroid Fusion to Nintendo Switch Online, and much sooner than expected. Metroid Fusion will be available to Switch Online subscribers who own the Expansion Pack from March 9, 2023, onward.

Nintendo added Game Boy Advance games to the service after the February Nintendo Direct, and while the Big N teased Metroid Fusion, along with Golden Sun and Metroid Zero Mission, as games they would add to the platform eventually, there was no indication of when or even in what order. 

While you can play Metroid Prime on the Switch now, Nintendo didn’t say whether there would be any connectivity between the games as there was when Prime launched on Gamecube and Fusion on Game Boy in the early 2000s.

Metroid Fusion continued space bounty hunter Samus Aran’s story after Super Metroid, when the last of the species was eradicated, and the Space Pirate threat was seemingly at an end. Samus traveled back to the home of the Metroids, only to find that a parasite had taken control after their natural predator – the Metroids, surprise – vanished. 

Fans and critics praise Fusion for its blend of Metroid style with horror.

If you played Metroid Dread and thought the E.M.M.I. sections were tense, Fusion goes a step further. One of the parasites assumes Samus’ form and stalks her throughout the ruins of a space station. Some encounters are scripted, though at some points, you never know when your deadly doppelganger might appear

With the inclusion of Fusion, the entire 2D Metroid saga is playable on Nintendo Switch. Meanwhile, Metroid Prime 4 is still in production, four years after Nintendo announced the highly anticipated sequel.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

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Metroid Prime remaster is coming this year, claims insider

Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb says a Metroid Prime remaster is in the works.

Metroid Prime could be receiving a remaster set to release this year according to Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb. 

As part of the show Game Mess Mornings, Grubb shared via Giant Bomb’s Twitch channel that a remaster of Metroid Prime is in the works and will release by the end of the year. He went on to speculate that the remaster will be released in November to align with the series’ 20th anniversary.

While the clip which is being circulated does not name the Metroid Prime series explicitly, the Nov. 18, 2002, release date lines up with the anniversary which Grubb mentions. On stream he said, “This is something that I heard was in the works. They have things happening with that game,” speaking of details which were previously confirmed to him via sources.

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However, it appears that the release date, which Grubb believes is set for this year, is new information. He goes on to add, “I’ve been told that their plans are to release that game this holiday, I think almost certainly to line up with the 20th anniversary in November. So that’s happening, and they need to tell us when that release date is.” 

The last Metroid game to be released was 2021’s Metroid Dread which was the best-selling game in the franchise’s history, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. It seems obvious that Nintendo would want to build on the recent success with further games.

Nintendo also promised a further instalment to the Prime series in 2017, announcing that Metroid Prime 4 was in development. However, there has been no information or game footage shown since then due to reported issues with development leading the project to change studios from Bandai Namco Studios to former developer Retro Studios.

Nintendo also announced that there will be a Nintendo Direct Mini on June 28 presenting games from its partner studios. With Grubb making this claim shortly after the showcase was announced fans could hear official confirmation as soon as tomorrow.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

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John Cena reportedly asked Nintendo to make a new 2D Metroid game

Former WWE champion John Cena is a huge fan of the Metroid franchise.

John Cena, former WWE champion, is allegedly a huge fan of the Metroid franchise and asked Nintendo for a new 2D Metroid game in 2017.

As spotted by VGC, Giant Bomb’s Dan Ryckert, who formerly worked for World Wrestling Entertainment, claimed on Twitter that the wrestler turned actor repeatedly asked Nintendo reps for a new game in the Metroid franchise at a 2017 photo shoot promoting the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch.

Ryckert wrote “During this photo shoot in 2017, Cena repeatedly told the Nintendo reps how much he wanted a new 2D Metroid.” Cena’s wish came true in 2021 when Nintendo released Metroid Dread, a game which was previously canceled sometime in the late 2000s.

The tweet goes on to say that “When Metroid Dread came out years later, he was sent a copy. Cena’s people sent an email back saying ‘John loves it.’” Cena wasn’t the only fan of the game as Metroid Dread quickly became the franchise’s best-selling title. 

Krysta Yang, a former employee of Nintendo of America, who was present at the photoshoot, confirmed the story. In her own tweet, which shows a picture of herself with Cena, Yang wrote, “He did say how much of a Metroid fan he was. He’s a really nice guy!”

The photoshoot was part of a campaign to promote the hybrid console in the run-up to its launch, depicting people playing the Switch in unlikely locations. Another Metroid title came out later that year, Metroid: Samus Returns, on the 3DS and received mostly good reviews. This release is a remake of the 1991 GameBoy title Metroid II: Return Of Samus.

After this game received a positive reception, the team, including producer Yoshio Sakamoto, returned to the development of Metroid Dread, now being created for Nintendo’s latest console rather than the Nintendo DS for which it was originally developed. 

A fourth game in the Metroid Prime series was also announced in 2017. However, footage is yet to be seen, and the game has since changed development studios.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

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Metroid Prime 4 studio shares new Samus artwork

Samus (sort of) returns.

If there’s a surefire way to catch a Nintendo superfan’s attention, it’s any information on Metroid Prime 4. Retro Studios is still keeping details close to the chest, but a mysterious piece of artwork might be the most significant tease we’ve seen in quite some time.

On Thursday, eagle-eyed industry insider Nibel noticed Retro Studios updated the company’s Twitter account banner with a shot of Metroid series protagonist Samus standing in an icy-blue metallic hallway. It’s not an existing piece of art from previous Metroid titles, so most assume it’s from Metroid Prime 4.

Take a look for yourself below. It’s certainly pretty, if not hair-raising for longtime fans.

Curiously, Retro Studios did not update its other social media feeds like Facebook with the art. Take that for what you will. 

It’s not a huge deal by any means, but Metroid fans have been waiting on the fourth installment for ages. The last entry in the Prime series was Metroid Prime 3: Echos, which came out back in 2007. Metroid Prime 4 itself was announced in 2017 under Bandai Namco Studios before Retro took over development in 2019.

Metroid Prime 4 will come out on the Nintendo Switch eventually, though. Until then, fans better download Metroid: Samus Returns off the 3DS eShop before Nintendo takes the storefront down.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Job postings confirm Metroid Prime 4 is still in active development

Samus returns (someday).

We’ve heard next to nothing about Metroid Prime 4  since Retro Studios took over its development in 2019, but it’s not gone anywhere.

On Thursday, Retro Studios shared  several job postings, all of which are for Metroid Prime 4. These range from a tools engineer position to character artists, and all are in the Austin, TX area, where Retro Studios are located. None of this sheds much like on the project, but it at least confirms Metroid Prime 4  is still in the works for  Nintendo Switch.

It’s been five long years since the announcement of Metroid Prime 4  and  three years  since Retro Studios took over development. However, it’s not like fans are starving for content since Metroid Dread  came out last year. 

While it’s easy to take this as a sign that Metroid Prime 4 is in trouble, it’s important to remember that  game developers leave and join  AAA projects all the time. If anything, it’s proof that  Nintendo  wants the team at Retro Studios to take their time and make something great.

Plus, there are loads of exciting games coming to  Nintendo Switch  soon, like Kirby and the Forgotten Land  and  Pokémon Legends: Arceus. So yeah, be patient and Metroid Prime 4  will be here in no time!

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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