TheMetroidfranchise is in a very peculiar place for Nintendo right now, but it does not need to be. There seems to be a major drought for all things Samus at the moment. There is no doubt thatMetroid Prime 4has gone through development issues, but that single game is far from the onlyMetroidweapon in Nintendo’s arsenal. The Switch could use those weapons.
Thedevelopment issues ofMetroid Prime 4were made apparent. Nintendo first revealed the game at E3 2017 with just an announcement and a logo trailer, but it was obvious that the game was at an early stage. A year and a half later, Nintendo was very forthcoming in explaining that the project basically needed to start over and that Retro Studios (the team behind the originalMetroid Primetrilogy) was now in charge. While it is entirely possible that the game is coming along nicely, the restart means a major delay on all fronts. As such, it’s time to pull out the other guns.
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It is Time to Finally Release Metroid Prime Trilogy on the Switch
The rumors andleaks forMetroid Prime Trilogyon the Nintendo Switchhave been darn-near endless ever since the console launched in 2017; part of the reason for this is because the move just seems so logical. One of the common moves in the gaming industry is to release some variation of an HD remake or remaster leading up to a major sequel. Especially withMetroid Prime 4being pushed back due to development issues, releasing a full trilogy of theMetroid Primegames in a single package to keep players engaged and occupied seems like a wise decision.
The originalMetroid Prime Trilogylaunched on the Wii in 2009, which was not an HD system, so the port/remaster would not be as quick as perhaps others. Additionally, the first two games had a different control scheme thanMetroid Prime 3, so the decision on how to utilize Joy-Cons and make decisions on standard handheld controls as well would need to be made. But all of that also means that the end result could be that much more exciting for fans. Nintendo could also get a third-party team to work on the HD remake, just likeBluepoint worked on theDemon’sSoulsremakefor PlayStation.
Metroid Samus Returns Again on Switch
When the remake of the classic Game Boy title was first revealed, many wonderedwhyMetroid Samus Returnswas on the 3DS and not the Nintendo Switch. The game was enjoyed by those who played it, it is just that very few did, as the 3DS was at the tail end of its life in terms of excitement. It may have proved true that the decision to put the game on the 3DS instead of the Switch was the wrong one, but it is not too late.
There have again been rumors thatMetroid Samus Returnswill find its way to the Nintendo Switch. If this were to happen, the game would need updates (just likeMetroid Prime Trilogy)for HD resolution, for example. But now, with the Switch having sold 70 million units and people waiting forMetroid Prime 4,the game may find much more success than it did on the 3DS–and even more than it would have in 2017 if it did launch on the Switch then. It would be a bummer to see the game die off completely without ever truly having a shot;Metroid Samus Returnsshould make another return.
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More Metroid for the Switch
Outside of HD remakes and remasters, Nintendo still has other options thanks to systems and features that it already has in place, like Nintendo Switch Online. Currently,Super Metroidis available via the online subscription, for example, which many consider to be thebestMetroidgameand one of the better games from the era. But because that service is limited to NES and SNES games, there are otherMetroidgames that fans cannot currently play on the Nintendo Switch.
Two handheld games are often brought up byMetroidfans as classics,Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission. The two Game Boy Advance games were beloved by fans and would be great fits on the Switch, even if not upgraded in any way at all. Of course, those would also be great candidates for HD remakes as well. TheMetroidseries has also tried some off-the-wall spin-offs as well.Other Mcould easily be ported to the Switch, but the lack of critical success could make it so that Nintendo would rather stay away.Metroid Prime: Federation ForceandMetroid Prime Hunterswould be two other titles that most would prefer Nintendo de-prioritize.
Perhaps more interesting would be a game likeMetroid Prime Pinball. It could seem silly to think of the idea of bringing back thisMetroidarcade title, but there are those who truly enjoyed it. And just likeTetris 99andSuper Mario 35have found success with online play via Nintendo Switch Online, perhapsMetroid Prime Pinballcould make a return on the service with players taking down the competition in hectic online action.
The Nintendo Switch is having record-breaking success. Region by region the hybrid console is performing incredibly well, and it has been consistently since it launched in 2017. It is truly unfortunate that Samus has not been able to share in that triumph outside of a few titles on Nintendo Switch Online and a game likeSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. The hope is thatMetroid Prime 4is an absolutely excellent game; a game of the year type candidate even. But if the Switch life cycle comes and goes and the onlyMetroidgame on the catalog is theMetroid Prime 4, then Nintendo has done an injustice to the franchise, and quite frankly the fans.
