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Nintendo unhappy with development of Metroid Prime 4, starting over with Retro Studios developing
News reported by 
(Editor-in-chief)
January 25, 2019, 15:36
 

This is not a rumor, Nintendo themselves just released a video with Takahashi explaining the situation. This is a huge chunk of transparency from Nintendo about behind the scenes happenings. Apparently it wasn't going well so it seems they are straight up giving it back to Retro Studios who will start development from the beginning again.

As some of you probably know, I was very wary of the Metroid Prime 4 is coming but we won't tell you who is making it announcement (eventually revealed to be some Namco-Bandai staff?), and was keeping my hopes up but had some skepticism that it wouldn't be done right. Unfortunately, my skepticism was not unfounded. On the other hand, maybe it was, because Nintendo seems to understand that this is a big game and they can't just throw anything out there. They clearly understand the stakes here, and seem to be doing what they need to do to make it high quality.

Anyway, the negative here is that with development starting over it'll probably be late 2020 at the earliest that we see this game, more likely 2021 or 2022. It's ok, I can wait for an amazing Metroid Prime trilogy follow-up.



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01/25/19, 15:36   Edited:  01/25/19, 18:04
 
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For MP4, I'd settle for another game in the style of previous Metroid Prime games (preferably closer to the first one), and if the quality is more or less in line with the Prime trilogy, then I'd say it would meet my expectations.

In the case of 3D Zelda, I had felt that the games were becoming stagnant for a while, and that the series really needed a revolutionary shot-in-the-arm like BotW. I don't feel that way about 3D Metroid, as there haven't been very many of them, they haven't made one in a very long time, and there aren't many 3D Metroid-style games in general (though we've at least started to get some games like this in recent years).

I wouldn't be against a game that really shook things up for the Metroid series, but I'd rather hit the point where I'm tired of these games before they shift into a wholly different direction. There just haven't been enough of these games, period. Fill that void first, and then we'll see where things need to go.

Posted by 
 on: 09/14/20, 23:48
Not much of an update, but here's an update on Metroid Prime 4...
(Retro's hiring for cinematics)

Posted by 
 on: 10/13/20, 16:40   Edited:  10/13/20, 16:41
@autokymatic

That's both encouraging and worrisome at the same time. They'll need more cinematics for a more emotional narrative? Not sure we need that in our Metroid...

...but we'll see, I guess. Eventually.

Posted by 
 on: 10/13/20, 18:23
Metroid Prime 4: Other M 2

Posted by 
 on: 10/13/20, 18:41
I'm good with whatever.

Posted by 
 on: 10/14/20, 00:34
Wish they'd throw us a bone and at least port over Samus Returns for fuck's sake.

Posted by 
 on: 10/14/20, 09:15
@carlosrox

Agreed, that game deserves to be played with the Pro Controller!

Posted by 
 on: 10/14/20, 19:39
I'd bet Mercury Steam is already working on a 2D Samus Returns Again!

Posted by 
 on: 10/14/20, 20:14
@Anand

METROID: Samus is back. Back again. Sammy's back. Tell a friend.

Posted by 
 on: 10/15/20, 17:02
MP4 will be a launch title for the rumored Switch Pro at this point.

Posted by 
 on: 10/15/20, 17:08
@Secret_Tunnel Along with Other M, that makes two Metroids that would've just been better with a regular controller, lol.

It's hard to get too concerned about MP4's development. The first game's development was a shit show, and it was one of the best games ever. Just going to have to play the waiting game...which unfortunately, us Metroid fans are used to. I know Metroid isn't THE SHOW like Mario or Zelda or Pokemon, but Nintendo really rarely gives two shits about this franchise. They put a lot into it from like...2002 to 2008, and that was kind of it. It's such a shame!

Posted by 
 on: 10/15/20, 17:55
@PogueSquadron

Metroid: Samus Returns was played with a regular controller, you goon!

Posted by 
 on: 10/15/20, 19:07
@GameDadGrant Well obviously I mean like, a full sized, traditional controller. The 3DS is a great portable controller but it'd be great to play that game with a full sized traditional controller. The circle pad is a great compromise to an analog stick but I'd still take an analog stick any day of the week. I think Samus Returns was a good game, and while I'm not its biggest fan, I do think the 3DS held it back in some ways. It's definitely deserving of some kind of definitive addition since it was released so late in the 3DS' lifespan!

I'd love to have all of the sidescrolling Metroids on Switch. Maybe for Metroid's 35th? Probably just wishful thinking, but it'd be great if Nintendo would just dump a couple Metroid collections on there in the future. We have the NES and SNES service for the original game and Super Metroid, but I'd still love to have Metroid 2, Fusion, Zero Mission, and Samus Returns on some kind of collection. Heck, throw in Other M as well, since it kind of plays like a traditional Metroid game. You could have the Metroid Classics Collection, and Metroid Prime Trilogy! Bah. I'll go back in the corner now and hope we get something Metroid related in the next 5 years.

Posted by 
 on: 10/15/20, 22:22   Edited:  10/15/20, 22:23
Could definitely use the Prime Trilogy HD any day now.......

Posted by 
 on: 10/15/20, 23:02
@PogueSquadron

I keed I keed.

@TheBigG753

Seconded.

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/20, 03:29
I stumbled upon a twitter thread (which is pretty cursory overview of crunch in videogames but worth spending a few minutes on) and one of the responses was this:

So, Nintendo's anouncment that they threw out MP4 and started it over was less "Wow! They threw it all away?!" And more "Wow! They adnitted it?!" For people in the industry?

Which another industry insider basically follows with confirming that stuff like that happens.

Let's consider that me may never hear about whatever Retro was working on all those post-Tropical Freeze years.

Posted by 
 on: 12/21/20, 16:52
@CPA Wei Sometimes I wonder just how low the ratio of Released Game vs. Extensively Developed Yet Unannounced And Unreleased Game really is. I'd love to see even a tiny fraction of what Nintendo's buried through the years.

Posted by 
 on: 12/21/20, 17:15   Edited:  12/21/20, 17:16
@nate38
Liam Robertson has a series where he delves into cancelled games, which includes various Nintendo titles.

Unseen 64

Of course there are many many more titles than just those, some of which will never see the light of day.

Posted by 
 on: 12/21/20, 17:50   Edited:  12/21/20, 17:50


They don't have any Tools Engineers or Technology Engineers yet? Have they even started working on the game!?

Posted by 
 on: 02/15/23, 23:14
Welp.

Posted by 
 on: 02/15/23, 23:47
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