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June 19, 2015   E3 2015, E3 Nintendo, Wii U   55 Comments

The Next Proper Metroid Prime “Would Likely now be on Nintendo’s NX” says Kensuke Tanabe

Metroid Prime

**Editor’s Note**PLEASE do not shoot the messenger on this article. I’m simply quoting what Metroid Prime producer Kensuke Tanabe said about Metroid Prime and the Nintendo NX.

Metroid Prime producer Kensuke Tanabe had an interesting interview with Eurogamer recently. Tanabe said the next Metroid game will likely come to the NX, in addition to referring to the NX as a “console”. You can read Tanabe’s words below.

“If we started for Wii U now, it would likely take three years or so. So it would likely now be on Nintendo’s NX console,” he said.

“It’s a long time but it would need to include a lot of content, which would take a lot of work on the development side.”

When asked about why Metroid has not come to the Wii U to take advantage of the GamePad, Tanabe had this to say:

“It is a great idea, I agree. Truth be told, making HD games takes a lot of time and resources,” Tanabe concluded when asked why Nintendo had not made a Metroid Prime for Wii U. “I haven’t been able to collect a team or the resources to do it.”

I suggest reading the full write up here, Tanabe has a bunch of great ideas for Metroid Prime. And he also goes into a little bit more detail on the status of Metroid.

Author: Francis@PE (18682 Posts)


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  • Mega Prime

    What exactly is Retro doing?? I thought they were working on a secret project. I sure hope it’s not another Donkey Kong game. They need to go back to making Metroid games. Those idiots at Temco fucked up the last one.

    • metroidkong

      I would be just as happy if it was a new Diddy Kong Racing

  • SilverNight

    If retro isn’t working on this then what have they been doing since Tropical Freeze came out? When will we find out?

  • Saleem Rasul Abdul Aziz

    Seriously? Next Gen? Sigh Nintendo, I, starting to think that Nintendo needs to get the fire back into their belly. I know it takes a long time to develop in HD but come on, how many years has it been since the launch of the Wii U?

    Story and art assets should have started development from the onset of the Wii U’s life cycle. This indicates to me that Tanabe is stalling for what ever reason. Very disappointed hearing this news.

    @PlayerEssence:disqus dont worry Francis, your just telling it as it is were not going to bite your head off.

  • 7thlevel JR

    tragic lol

  • PRIMUS

    Hahahahahahahaha my ribs hurt at Link’s crossbow training.

  • Macreen Smith

    “PLEASE do not shoot the messenger on this article.”

    …Why would I do that?

  • Revolution5268

    Looks like I need to collect another $500 + games for a new console.

    • Mythosa

      Yup, the cycle starts again.

  • SoccerStar9001

    You better hide, Francis. Lol

  • Anvard78

    It is worth remembering that he is in charge of 3d home console Metroid games, not 2d ones. He said recently that he doesn’t know the status of those.

  • metroidkong

    I’m okay with this. Earlier this year, I played all the way through Prime 2: Echoes for the first time. Now i’m working on getting through Corruption. Before long, I’ll be able to play through Zero Mission again for the first time since ’05. The cool thing about wii u is having every metroid game in existence at your fingertips. Plus there’s lots of metroidvania indie stuff out there.

    • alex9234

      “Now i’m working on getting through Corruption.” - Good choice there. You won’t be disappointed.

  • ChariotMan7

    Hmm. So how Shinen with 5 to 6 people was able to make Fast Racing Neo. How and ya’ll couldn’t do it. That’s a lame excuse.

    • gameflow

      But you can’t compare a racing game with a Metroid, righ? The production value, complexity of the core system and amount of level, creature + combat design needed is not comparable at all. Also in the interview the time needed is not what hurts me the most. It’s the fact that for any reasons whatsoever Nintendo decided not to plan for a Metroid for the Wii U.
      Again this shows imo why the console was such a commercial disaster. From day one of its lifetime fans already had ideas how great the Metroid mechanics would work within the gamepad features. Scaning environment with the gamepad, an interactive map on the second screen and so on. But Nintendo seems not be so convinced about that or didnt see that potential at all. And I think we all know the infamous quote from last year when we
      heared, that they finally started thinking in how to utilize the gamepad
      more…
      In my opinion if there is one franchise of Nintendo that would benefit from the Wii U, it would be Metroid. And Nintendo didnt see that. Was it because of strategy at first (were they still hoping for the more casual audience)? Was it because of business risks? Or was it the lack of vision? You decide…

      • ChariotMan7

        Iam just saying. Shin’en used 5 to 6 people and pushed the Wii U to it’s limits. That’s amazing man. But, they couldn’t put Metroid Prime on the Wii U. They could have just made a spin off like the way they got on the 3DS. But said they didn’t have the resources to do it. They would’ve have great to at least bring Metroid Prime Federation to the Wii U instead of the 3DS.

  • Max Patterson

    This could actually be a good thing. Not only would it gives them enough time to think up an interesting plot and start the creation process but it could also lead to the next Metroid game being a launch title for the NX. Could you imagine the hype if a new Prime game was a launch title?

    • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

      That’s what I’m saying. If the NX launches with a badass Metroid and Full-fledged Mario title, with graphics that match or Exceed PS4 and Xbox One games, think about the HYPE that would generate. The NX would FLY off shelves.

      • Max Patterson

        And of they port ZeldaU to it as well it could also help. That would be three huge Nintendo icons right off the bat.

        • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

          Agreed, and people called me crazy for suggesting this about a month ago. But it looking like this is a possibility now.

          • Max Patterson

            Hopefully by the time the NX comes out I’ll have a new job so I can afford it.

          • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

            Nintendo or the retailers should have a trade-in program. But start saving now. If you save about $15-20 a month starting now, you should be good by the time the system launches.

      • gameflow

        Actually not 100% sure about that. We have seen now several times, that a “kick ass launch lineup” is not mendatory for success. In the current state I believe that Nintendo would need to convience the people with the core NX concept more. Theoretically speaking if the NX launches early, Nintendo needs to get trus back from the fans and other developers. Since the delay of Zelda I am playing around with the idea, how I would react if NX would launch in 2016 for example. Currently I would not buy it…(but this can change :)

        A good game can help and create hype, but again if the console looks “underpowered”, has something that media + most of gaming community sees as a “gimmick” without substance it becomes difficult again. Also I have read now several times that Nintendo only needs Mario,Zelda,Metroid as launch games. But those need to be developed first and would it be so good to send your biggest franchises out at once (for example speaking in the first 3 month of the new console life)?

        • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

          Give me some examples of systems that had kick ass launch lineups that didn’t initially sell well.

          • gameflow

            You missed my point. I am not saying it wont help, my believe is that its not the long term sollution. If you throw all of your great franchises out in the beginning and later again end up in a scenario without third parties it doesnt matter. Just look at the Wii U and how either Mario Kart, 3d World or Smash could change the momentum that much. And those are the most popular franchises in terms of sales. But maybe the reputation was already too negative, I don’t know. I truely believe that the “vision” of the system and the promise what it will bring is equally important.

            And to your question: I can’t name one, thats true. But because it is based on personal preferences. I was checking out the launch games for most consoles and you could argue that dreamcast had a good lineup. You could argue that ps4+ps2 had a weak one. Gamecube in europe-> not that bad. And I really have problems using this as the defining factor for success of a console. But again -> I am not saying it wont help. Its only one piece of the puzzle…

          • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

            I agree that its not only launch lineup that helps. I personally think system features, third party support and things you said help a lot as well. Although I disagree with the Dreamcast having a good launch lineup.

      • Justin Finnegan

        They had better be planning the fusion concept and it had better be well executed. It isn’t worth it to to cut the Wii U’s life short just for more powerful hardware. It won’t solve the problem of Nintendo having to split their resources on supporting 2 systems and there is no guarantee that third parties will put any notable multiplats on it either. Even if they did get the support from thirds, they would lose it when Sony and MS launch their next systems because Nintendo would be releasing their console in the middle of a generation. They would have to launch new hardware prematurely once again to keep up. Luckily, Reggie’s words doesn’t rule out the possibility of them working on this fusion concept. A home console is an aspect of the NX, just not all of it. The fusion concept is the only way for Nintendo to go and I hope they realize it. Them merging their console and handheld divisions indicate they do, but there were also hints suggesting that Nintendo had some major surprises to announce at E3 and they really didn’t. I definitely will not get the NX if it isn’t what I want it to be. At that point, I would be pretty much done with modern gaming. The fusion concept will benefit consumers, they can choose if they want the handheld or the console and still have Nintendo’s entire library of games. And Nintendo will obviously benefit as well, their resources won’t be spread thin trying to build up 2 separate libraries. Anyway, I care far more about Nintendo being able to fully support the NX rather than how powerful it is. Even if it has a killer launch, the question would be if they can keep the momentum going.

        • gameflow

          100% agree here. I am also a very big fan of the fusion conept. I think for Nintendo it will be better, since they don’t have to support 3 (!) platforms (alot of people forget that mobile will be another platform for Nintendo in the future :) )

          Also I see the same problem with launch in the middle of the generation. That’s why I repeatedly say, the concept/vision of the next console will be so much more imporant. It will need to hold up a bit longer…unless Nintendo finds a way that “upgrading” will be possible in shorter lifecycles.

          One thing I am curious though: If the next system would be the hybrid console, do you think that some developers will have problems with that? Because suddenly all your games need to be build around a HD environment in mind, which will lead to higher production costs.

          • Justin Finnegan

            Some developers might have an issue with it, I don’t know since I’m not them. However, if I was a developer I would see the fusion concept as a very good thing. It wouldn’t matter if consumers owned the home console or the handheld, you could make just one game for Nintendo systems and it would sell to both sides. I would at least try to release something major on the NX and see how well it sells. In my mind, it would more than make up for having to develop all my games with an HD environment. As long as Nintendo can move a lot of units with a killer launch lineup, that will be key. And properly advertise it! It would be irrelevant how well either of them sell individually as long as the combined install base is massive. And indie developers that can’t afford to develop HD environments could release retro style throwback games and put them on the eshop. Along the lines of Shovel Knight, very old school and still very good.

    • alex9234

      But the Prime series is already finished. FF is just a spinoff. If anything, the new Metroid game will likely be a sequel to Fusion, or…this is a pipe dream here but here goes…a prequel to the first Metroid game.

  • Hardin Twentyfive

    It’s OK, Francis, I will not kill you… I’ll just send Agent 3.

    • https://www.youtube.com/user/Gkerbz4 Kerbizzle

      Where are the first two?

      • Hardin Twentyfive

        Splatoon spoilers

        • https://www.youtube.com/user/Gkerbz4 Kerbizzle

          Ayeee.

      • Max Patterson

        They’ll pop around every once in a while.

  • Shadao

    Can’t blame them for it. Especially when the feedback is so chaotic and cruel (and out of hand).

  • https://www.facebook.com/AtomWakes Daniel Sasso

    I’m gonna play the prime trilogy…and then i’m gonna go cry in a corner.

    • PRIMUS

      Metroid prime trilogy is my solace of solitude. Am even playing Other M. Game on.

  • Prütsa

    I shoot you if i want to, but right now i’m out of bullets so it has to wait.

  • Prütsa

    I shoot you if i want to, but right now i’m out of bullets so it has to wait.

    • WSJ4L

      Are you ok? Because there are people you can talk to…

      • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

        lol

      • Prütsa

        meh i’ve tried to talk to people… A pro tip it doesn’t help.

  • Me

    This just disappoints me… the current Metroid situation would be like if we hadn’t had a Zelda game since Twilight Princess, and then the new Zelda game revealed was Link’s Crossbow Training. It feels like a smack in the face as a Metroid fan.

  • Me

    This just disappoints me… the current Metroid situation would be like if we hadn’t had a Zelda game since Twilight Princess, and then the new Zelda game revealed was Link’s Crossbow Training. It feels like a smack in the face as a Metroid fan.

    • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

      It could be a cross-gen title, but if it isn’t, Metroid never came to the N64. So there is history.

      • Wonder Dean

        The gap as of now is actually quite a bit shorter than the gap between Super and Prime, actually.

      • rafael

        just because it happenend before, it doenst mean its ok to release a system based on the promise of giving us the nintendo franchises that we like, and then, dont deliver them…i love nintendo, but as a consumer, i feel slightly cheated

        • http://playeressence.com/ PlayerEssence

          Never said anything about it being OK

    • Titangamecube

      Stay Salty my friends

      • PRIMUS

        Okay hahahahaha. We are being fans, Nintendo fans unite. Voltron force of making our beloved company Nintendo to never make a WiiU like mistake ever. So salt is a good way to season a good next and current gen console meal.

        • Titangamecube

          It was more a response to the “outrage” of Federation Force.

        • Titangamecube

          It was more a response to the “outrage” of Federation Force.

          • PRIMUS

            I know, I was salty for three days lol.

      • PRIMUS

        Okay hahahahaha. We are being fans, Nintendo fans unite. Voltron force of making our beloved company Nintendo to never make a WiiU like mistake ever. So salt is a good way to season a good next and current gen console meal.