Metroid Database.com

Well, Metroid64 didn't show up at Space World like we hoped. Big surprise. However, it was mentioned by Shigeru Miyamoto at a press conference...the incident occurred thusly, according to EGM:

• Did Somebody Say Metroid 64? Yes, Mr. Miyamoto did. When asked if the game was in the works at today's Q&A session at Space World, he replied that right now, the game is NOT in development. He did however say that there's a chance that the game will surface sometime in the not-too-distant future, and he followed that up with a question for the game press: "Would you like to see a new Metroid?," he asked. As you can imagine, the answer he received was a resounding "YES!" from everyone in attendance (EGM included). So it may not be here yet, but I think we can safely say we're one step closer to seeing our favorite female in action once again. By John Ricciardi, Electronic Gaming Monthly

...Oh, those wacky NCL guys. Well, as we should know by now, anything Nintendo says should be taken with a grain or three of salt, but at least they acknowledged the fact that we're waiting for Sammer to return so we can assist her on her next mission.

--TJ

Well somebody on the Message Board posted this but I wanted to wait til I saw it myself...the latest issue of GameFan magazine (Vol. 5 Issue 10) had this to say in their "Other Stuff" column:

• "Metroid 64 will make its debut at the Shoshinkai for the 64DD. No word on how far along development is, but we do know that the game is scheduled for a Christmas '98 release (c'mon Nintendo, you can do better than that). Of special interest is the possibility of Metroid 64 being the first cart/disc combo on the N64."

...Now as you know, I have given up on taking this kind of info at face value, so for now my opinion is "I'll believe it when I see it." It sure is nice to see it in print though, isn't it? :) (And speaking of nice to see in print, how 'bout that picture of Morrigan on page 150? Yowza! ^_^)

--TJ

This is not the kind of news I like to post, fans...

I have just found out that Gumpei Yokoi died in a car accident last Saturday, October 4 1997. Yokoi-san created Nintendo's classic Game & Watches, GameBoy, and Virtual Boy, as well as served as the producer of the Metroid series.

Please observe a moment of reflection for Yokoi-san, be it to mourn, pray, or play your GameBoy...remember the great contributions to our favorite hobby that he has made.

Arigatou gozaimashita, Yokoi-san...and rest in peace. You will be greatly missed.

--TJ

I had someone check it out for me. Looks like the Samus in StarFox64 thing is a big ol' pile o' BS. Sorry kids.

--TJ

Stop the presses! Looks like Samus IS on the N64...ALREADY! But not in her own game--I've been informed that Ms. Aran makes a cameo appearance in the new StarFox64! More details as I get them.

--TJ

Alright fans...a new rumor has been circulating thanks to the mental giants at Funcoland that there is a "Dressed to Kill" code in the original Metroid. All my Metroid wisdom tells me that it's pure BS. Funk-O's website claims that you input the code Dressed to Kill (how is that supposed to fit??) and you get an armorless Sam. Uhhh....no. I'm working on it and seeing if there is any configuration that works, but I'm not counting on it. However, I have learned a funky new code that's in Tips & Tricks! Save "Dressed to Kill" for the title of a KISS album. Oh wait...they already did that...sorry...

--TJ

The latest issue of GameFan magazine stated in its "Other Stuff" section that Nintendo's R&D 2 staff, who developed Metroid, are working on a 3D fighting game for the N64. Oh boy...more 3D fighters. Just what we need. Why aren't they working on a new Samus game? Or are they? Or is it finished? Or doesn't it exist? Gawd, who can tell anymore...oh, in other GameFannery, they said that the 64DD has a CONFIRMED release at the end of this year in Japan. No US date is set yet. Guys, don't hold your breath for Met64 anytime soon.

--TJ

The May issue of the industry magazine Videogame Advisor has Metroid 64 on their list of upcoming games for the N64, with a release date of November. However, this same list reads "Legend of Zelda 64-TBA" and "Zelda 64-October", so I wouldn't exactly put a lot of faith in their accuracy...

--TJ

STRAIGHT FROM NINTENDO'S MOUTH!! ...well, sort of. An MDb patron emailed me and told me that a recent (the newest?) issue of Nintendo Power did, in fact, have a vague reference to our favorite huntress...as he puts it, "It was rather vague, it said 'Well Don't Worry. Samus will be back but not in the Metroid series'..." I will be scouring the latest NP for absolute confirmation of this bit. The Big N is playin' with us, folks...I think they know that we know. Ya know? That's okay...it's these little snippets that keep us goin. : )

--TJ

n64hq.com's "Yutaka Ohbuchi Reporting" section had this snip today:

"The 64 Dream featured a Q&A session with Nintendo's publicist Yoshio Hongo.

[Fast-forward thru a few questions--TJ]

"T64D: Is there any chance for Metroid 64?

"Hongo: We are not working on it yet. We know this title is popular among American people, and they are expecting it to be released. The division which developed Super Metroid are the same guys who are working on Game Boy Pocket. Recently, they were working on the conversion of the Game & Watch Gallery for the Game Boy. Now they are developing a game for the Game Kiosk. [An automatic game vending machine for the Super Famicom and Game Boy that uses a flash ROM cartridge; it is installed inside convenience stores or game shops.] So, if is there sequel to Super Metroid, then it will be for the Super Famicom. This team is not working on any Nintendo 64 projects right now."

ACK!! Whatta pisser!! Well, I think by now we know better than to trust anything Nintendo's publicists tell us (flashback to 1990, when NOA was telling us that the 16-Bit Nintendo system was not going to be released in the US!!). Probably just a ploy to keep rabid fans (like us!) away from details. You don't need Mulder and Scully to figure this one out! (Although I'll take Scully, if she's available...oop, sorry! : P )

--TJ

I just want to throw in something I've heard about Metroid 64, so that I know I haven't missed anything:

I've heard that the game may not be a Metroid game (that is, feature the metroids or Mother Brain) but rather another adventure starring Samus. While I really wanna see a floating, pulsating, 3D rendered metroid flying around, I can understand why they wouldn't want to continue with the metroid storyline--after all, this is Nintendo's "dark" series, and while Bowser can kidnap Princess Toadstool over and over and it's acceptable, I guess they can't keep bringing the metroids back.

HOWEVER...(and I thought this part up all by myself ^_^)...the Metroid games were very loosely based on the Alien movies, right? Well, the new Alien movie (the fourth) is called "Alien Resurrection"-- could the new Samus quest be "Metroid Resurrection"?! Hey, who knows!! ^_^

Finally, I just want to say that since Nintendo has NOT officially announced a new Metroid game for the N64, very little information is available. Don't bother emailing or calling Nintendo for info about Metroid 64, as they will deny its existence (they're good at that) until they decide to go public with it. All info about its development comes from other sources and may or may not be accurate--but hey, it's all I've got!! (I'm jealous of my friend Niels right now, who has plenty of news on Zelda 64 to play with! When's it gonna me MY turn, Nintendo?! ; )

--TJ

Another snip has been printed. This time it's in the April issue of EGM. The eponymous Quartermann wrote in this month's edition of the infamous "Gaming Gossip" article that "Nintendo is hip-deep in the development of Metroid 64 and Kid Icarus 64, which, of course, is good news...the bad news is that both games are a minimum of a year to two years away." Nothing we didn't already know about Metroid, but it was one more indication that the game is a reality. And hey--Kid Icarus--cool...but I STILL wanna see one for the SNES!!

--TJ

Hmm, this sure is interesting!! In a recent edition of "Ask Dan" on www.nintendo.com, this question was asked and answered:

"Q: I read in Ultra Game Players that Eidos Interactive would develop games such as the ever-popular Tomb Raider for the Nintendo 64 except for one thing... Nintendo has to ask them to. Does Nintendo, for some odd reason, not want Tomb Raider on their system? --[email address snipped--TJ]

"A: I read that article in UGP too, and that quote didn't quite make sense to me. Nintendo won't ask a company to develop a game unless we want to publish it as a "first party" game, that is, under the Nintendo label. Nothing against Tomb Raider, but it just doesn't really have the feel of a Nintendo title. If Nintendo wanted to do a game like that, why not make it with Samus? In other words, we have out [sic] own characters to develop."

[Remainder of response snipped]

...Now I'm certainly not saying that this is confirmation of a new Samus adventure, but it sounds like a tiny hint to me! I was thinking that the new Metroid game should play kinda like Tomb Raider anyways...but better, of course!

--TJ

FINALLY!! A scrap of info!! This comes straight from Ultra Game Players mag No.94, Feb 97, Page 21:
It reads:
"Metroid 64 Out By Fall In Japan?
"A Japanese source close to NCL hinted that Metroid 64 has been in development for nearly a year already and should be released in Japan sometime late in the fall of 1997. As expected, sources have indicated that the title is slated to be a 64DD title. The game is said to be extremely dark, and is likely to use an over-the-shoulder perspective similar to Mario 64. The premise of the game has been rumored to be that some of the Metroids have infested a new planet, and it is Samus' job to eradicate them just as she did in the first two games in the series (surprise, surprise)."

--TJ