We always have mixed feelings about sharing fanmade renditions of Nintendo IPs with readers. On the one hand, it would be a shame if things this awesome were kept hush hush, but on the other hand, should the buzz get too loud we know Nintendo won't hesitate to squash the project. In any case, since SR388's creator Von Richter is promoting the digg link, we're going to absolve ourselves from such moral dilemmas and spread the love.
The trailer makes this game look like a 2D Metroid reimagining rather than a remake based on any particular title, although some sprites (like Samus's) were clearly ripped. Between the music, original enemies, and intriguing new weapons and abilities, this fanmake has us licking our lips in anticipation. Hopefully we'll get to try it out before Nintendo comes knocking with a cease and desist, should that happen.
Fortunately, progress on the game seems to be going quickly. According to Von Richter himself, this trailer (which was released at the end of April) is already out of date.
A mysterious tipster sent a rumor in to GoNintendo that a retailer database now lists a product called Metroid Prime Trilogy for the Wii. GoNintendo's RawMeatCowboy speculates that this would be "Prime 1, (2), and 3 all on the Wii ... but Prime 1 and 2 with all-new Wiimote controls."
We believe that, if this is a real product, it's a lot more likely that it's the three Prime games ... in a new box! Or maybe even in the same boxes, but with those inside a new box! Not that that's a bad thing -- the Prime games are very high-quality (even if you hate first-person!), and quite reminiscent of the real Metroids. The first two are definitely among the best GameCube games, and any opportunity to get them in new Wii owners' hands would be welcome.
Three high-level members of Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios have left the company. Design director Mark Pacini, art director Todd Keller, and technology engineer Jack Mathews' last day at the Austin-based, Nintendo-owned developer was Friday. Shacknews speculates that the three are going to start a new company, which is certainly more likely than the three of them simultaneously tiring of game development.
Retro's last released project was, of course, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, after which Pacini said the company would be working on non-Metroid projects. Apparently, even that wasn't enough change for these three -- or they just feared for the condition of their tea tables.
(Yes, the title is a Super Metroid reference and not a Metroid Prime reference. Close enough.)
When I ripped open the FedEx package today in a whirling dervish of nails and teeth, I found what I had been expecting: a copy of Smash Bros. Brawl. Nintendo, the wonderful and kind souls they are, decided this crummy little blog was good enough to get a copy of the game along with the press. A single tear poured down my cheek, kind of like that recycling commercial. It was a magical moment.
I then realized I had to work today and couldn't get my game on. As the day progressed and I tapped away at my keyboard, putting up news items and other stories that all 12 of you readers care about, the game sat there in front of my monitor, mocking me. It was almost like some kind of evil temptation, as I thought about just ducking away from my responsibilities to play. I then realized that it is my responsibility to play! I've got to review the damn thing, don't I?
And when I heard that Joystiq's own Kyle Orland got a copy of the game too, I decided a few mutliplayer matches were in order. And in the interest of those who don't want anything spoiled for them, stop reading here. The rest of you can head past the break where the real action is.
The Japanese version of Metroid differs from the American version in four major ways:
It comes on a disk instead of a cartridge
Thanks to the Famicom Disk System hardware, that music has instruments that don't show up in the cartridge version
It uses a Zelda-style save screen instead of passwords
The boxart is amazingly awesome
The Virtual Console version doesn't come on any media, has no box, and, of course, uses the decent Wii savestate system, so that just leaves us with the music. Is better music a fair trade for getting the game seven months after we did?
As for Star Luster, the Japanese version differs from its U.S. counterpart in just one way:
It exists
Metroid (Famicom Disk System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
Star Luster (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
Nintendo has updated their Virtual Console page with the planned releases for March. The list contains 10 titles, meaning that we should expect two or three a week. Oh, well. There are some very cool releases this month, including a Japan-only Famicom fighting game from Nintendo (!) called Joy Mech Fight. Other high-profile games include the first Metroid, which will be the Famicom Disk System version and therefore feature even better music, and Fantasy Zone, the second promised Sega Master System games.
We're personally excited about the inclusion of Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun, not because it's a good game, but because it's a Virtually Overlooked game. We win again.
For those of you who're wondering where there usual dojo update is, know that up until release, all of the dojo updates can be considered as spoilers. So, we're tucking all of the info past the break. Head within at your own risk.
Spoiler alert: Video shows every playable Brawl character
Serving the fans out there who're determined to watch every bit of Super Smash Bros. Brawl code executed before the game ever hits the US, Youtuber Zero9teen has posted a video collection of nearly every jeer from all the characters in the game. We say "nearly" because there are a few secret taunts, like the Japanese-heavy Lylat Cruise chats, that still need to be found and added to this compilation. Luigi pretty much steals the show (08:15), but the rest of the video is worth watching for Zero Suit Samus's plasma whip tricks (01:45) and Yoshi's cute antics (04:35)!
Japan isn't getting Metroid Prime 3: Corruption until March, but Nintendo is making up for it (in a gameplay-insignificant way) by releasing the game with a boxart that looks nothing like Sonic Adventure 2's. We're not complaining about the tri-Samused American boxart, just stating that the Japanese boxart is quite nice -- the kind of thing we wouldn't mind having on a poster. The color scheme is unique among Metroidgames, as is the decision to feature some characters that aren't Samus.
This (arbitrary) Boxart Victory is even sweeter for Japanese Nintendo fans, who have been subjected to some fairly rough Metroid Prime series boxarts.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption has finally been set for Japan, it seems. The game is reported to have a March 6th release date in the eastern country (and you PALs thought you had to wait a long time for it).
It's no secret that Metroid games don't sell as well in Japan as they do elsewhere, and we doubt we'll see the title place highly (if at all) on the Japanese software charts. Still, Nintendo might have a valid strategy on its hands -- releasing the game close to Brawl's January 31st date (but long enough afterward for Japanese gamers to want some new Wii fodder) might inspire those in the Land of the Rising sun to pick it up. Perhaps the sultry Zero Suit Samus will be enough to push them over the edge. We'll have to wait and see, but we hope that the third installment in the Prime series doesn't go ignored. It's just too good.
Aeropause's Stephen Munn is either a fan of Metroid or of spherical game characters. We have yet to hear of any Kirby or Lolo tattoos, so we'll assume the former. This tattoo featuring Samus Aran curled up into a Morph Ball, based on Metroid Prime concept art, is worth at least five incomprehensible kanji tattoos and three or four skulls. It's that good. To (total weenies like) us, the most impressive thing about tattoos is that each one represents so much physical pain. For example, Stephen here loves Metroid so much that he was willing to be burned continuously with a needle for three hours. We haven't even committed to buying fabric for a plush Metroid yet.
Unless you're the type of person who carefully analyzes a game's credits upon completion (we only know one such man), you probably don't know who Mark Haigh-Hutchinson is. His most recent achievement is the titles in the Metroid Prime series, where he served as senior engineer and created the camera system for the game. His other past projects include Zombies Ate My Neighbors (who doesn't love this one?!), Paperboy and Star Wars: Rebel Assault.
Mark passed away on Tuesday at the age of 43 due to pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Eyes5, the Metroid-obsessed crafter who displayed her wonderful Metroid hat at this year's Penny Arcade Expo, has created another lovably soft tribute to everyone's favorite floating head-eaters (and Super Metroid deus ex machina). Her plush Metroids are so delightfully colorful and cute that you'll forget that God those things are so freaking annoying in the first game especially when you're already kind of low on missiles.
But this isn't just a gallery of awesome crafts. Eyes5 kindly wrote up an intensely detailed tutorial for making these monstrous effigies, so anyone with access to a sewing machine and willingness to enter Jo-Ann's Fabrics can make their own little beastie. It'd be the perfect gag gift for Samus Aran's birthday, if we knew when that was and she existed!
That shot of the Great Fox can mean only one thing. Well, two things, actually. Firstly, it means that the dojo is back, and that our mornings have some purpose once more. Secondly, it means that Brawl will include yet more Super Smash Bros. Melee stages, to accompany the return of Hyrule Temple.
Corneria, Yoshi's Island, Onett, Brinstar, and Rainbow Ride are the returning stages, with Corneria comfortably our favorite of the revived bunch. It's also worth nothing that Brawl's total number of confirmed stages is now 25, with (we'd estimate) another dozen or so dojo updates left to add to that total. And, in the unlikely situation you ever get bored of those, you can always make your own.
Love Guitar Hero? Also love Metroid? Looking for a way to combine the two? Look no further than eBay, where there's always apparently something lurking to fuse diverse fandoms. This guitar has been slicked with a custom-printed decal, as has the included Wii remote, to invoke one of Nintendo's greatest franchises (and characters). Maybe it's not totally rock and roll, but it might just make you feel like you can beat up anyone who bests you at a song. We're holding out for the Contra 4 guitar ourselves, because it imbues the player with extra muscles, but this one may do in a pinch.
The auction includes a copy of Guitar Hero III, along with all the original packaging, and it started at $75.
