Retro_Link Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 E3 2013: Nintendo, Retro Discuss Future of Metroid What will be the fate of Samus Aran? Retro would love to work on the Metroid series again, but it's not currently doing so. Though many expected a move to HD would lure Retro back to the franchise that made it famous, Retro president Michael Kelbaugh told me in an interview that his team felt Donkey Kong Country needed more attention. "Well, we love Metroid. We love Metroid Prime and we always will. It was a big part of our studio, the culture of the studio. The majority of that team is still at Retro," Kelbaugh said. "When we finished with DK, we still had a lot of really cool ideas. That, in combination with what the Wii U could do, we really wanted to continue with that. Again, Retro Studios loves Metroid. We might do another one someday. But we really enjoyed working with DK as well." Of course, many Nintendo fans refuse to give up hope, and might assume that Retro is working on both Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and some sort of Metroid project. While the developer certainly might have ideas, and could be doing some tests, it won't be working on two major projects simultaneously. "We’re pretty much on one major project at a time. We do a game every two years or three years," Kelbaugh said. "In the first year of that, we have some extra bandwidth, so sometimes… We helped out with Mario Kart 7. We helped Monster Games do the 3DS version. Sometimes we’ll have a little bit of extra bandwidth to help out other entities at Nintendo. We really feel strongly about helping out Nintendo as a whole, so if we have time, we’ll do that. Do we have the bandwidth to do two major projects at once? I don’t think so. A big project and a little project at the same time, we can do that." So Retro is working on Tropical Freeze. It doesn't have two teams working on two major projects, even though it might be interested in returning to Metroid one day. What, then, is the future of Samus Aran's intergalactic adventures? I turned to Kensuke Tanabe, an Executive Officer at Nintendo, and the man responsible for producing Retro's games, including the Metroid Prime series. "Basically I’m thinking of, not just Samus, but how we can expand the whole Samus universe," Tanabe said. "You remember Metroid Prime Hunters. I’m thinking about things like how we could make that go out further, with all these different bounty hunters as well." So there we have it. :p
Ike Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 Can't believe the backlash Nintendo/Retro have been getting for this. DKCR is a fantastic game and a sequel was good news for me and I'm looking forward to it and it looks bigger and better than the first. Retro's talents are being wasted on DKCR2? No way. I'd love a new Metroid Prime, but I'd also like to see a 2D Metroid first. I know people also wanted a new game, and wasn't there was a rumour they were doing a FPS? Well, I'd rather they did DKCR2 any day over a FPS. Retro obviously decided themselves to do a new DK.
Retro_Link Posted June 13, 2013 Author Posted June 13, 2013 I think had Tropical Freeze looked like a noticeable step up from DCKR and less like a direct Wii sequel, there would have been a far better reaction towards the game upon it's unveiling tbh. As has been the case with Mario Kart. I think that's where the negativity came from, it felt like we'd just had this. I think now everyone has calmed down there's a positive feeling towards the game and how they'll improve and expand on things in the sequel, but given Retro's ability to push a console, it's a bit disappointing that it looks like a DKCR Part 2.
Fused King Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 Well, as long as Retro is having fun making this game, then I'm cool. So Retro is not down for F-Zero then, onto the next one! A Shin'en collaboration please!
madeinbeats Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 Yeah, I think the day after most people realise this has the potential to be the best DKC game made. But it does feel too soon after DKCR and now with the 3DS version, it feels like DK overload. Myself, I'm not massive on side scrollers and it feels like the Wii U has too many to choose from in that genre already.
Ville Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) Myself, I'm not massive on side scrollers and it feels like the Wii U has too many to choose from in that genre already. Good point. You have NSMBU, and then NSLBU, Rayman, Yoshi Yarn and this one. I want some proper 3D games, damnit... Edited June 13, 2013 by Ville
madeinbeats Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 Good point. You have NSMBU, and then NSLBU, Rayman, Yoshi Yarn and this one. I want some proper 3D games, damnit... That's excluding all the platformers on eShop as well.
Zechs Merquise Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 We all know DCKR was awesome! We all know that DKC:TF will be amazing too. But it's really two things that made me feel this was a bit of a missed opportunity. The first is obviously what has already been stated. The Wii U has an awesome library of 2D platformers already. If this had been coming out in 2 years it would have been more welcome, but NSMBU, NSLU and Rayman Legends all out in the same year, it's a bit like 2D overload. The second is that Retro are masters of Nintendo hardware. The Prime games all looked fantastic and all showed how capable Nintendo systems were of producing fully realised living and breathing 3D worlds. I think around now Nintendo needs something on the Wii U that shows off the power and capabilities of the system. Something that is Nintendo but at the same time a big jump in graphics that pushes the hardware. That's what I was hoping for from Retro. Still, I'm sure I'll be loving DCK:TF when it is released! Retro usually produce two games per platform, so here's hoping the next on the Wii U will be something different - *fingers crossed for StarFox*.
Wii Posted June 13, 2013 Posted June 13, 2013 As said, the 2D sidescrolling platformers are well covered at this stage. I believe Nintendo made the decision, Retro don't decide, they do what Nintendo tell them to do and they need games out now. Unfortunately the Metroid Prime series combined has sales equal to DKCR on its own. Also, DKCR2 will be out by Christmas, there's no way a Metroid game could make it out this year. It may well be next on the list though. DKCR: Tropical Freeze is I've no doubt going to be the best DK game ever.
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