Metroid Database.com

We've got a pretty exciting find today, courtesy of Kontek's Aaron Kaluszka and Mama Robotnik on NeoGAF, concept art of Kraid from Metroid Prime from the homepage of Greg Luzniak! The artwork contains four pieces - the Parasite Queen art we've already seen in the gallery, a six-limbed snow beast (with ice on its back similar to a Sheegoth), an insectile Space Pirate (maybe with a jet pack?), and this awesome Kraid piece.

It's been fairly common knowledge that Kraid was originally planned to be in Metroid Prime as a boss in the Phazon Mines, but was later scrapped. Gene Kohler produced a test render of everyone's favorite lizard. It looks like you had to blow off "Meta Kraid's" helmet in order to beat him. This art is pretty cool because the missile cannon on Samus' arm resembles the oldschool early concept art from Prime and Super Metroid AND it looks like they may have been talking about Samus' dodge system at this time too, judging from the jet bursts coming from her back (though I'm not sure how well the shooting spikes would work...). And Kraid of course looks gorgeously evil, in many ways fiercer than his MZM incarnation!

Greg Luzniak was involved with early development of Metroid Prime from 2000-2001, leaving Retro Studios before the game was completed. From Shinesparker's awesome interview with Mike Sneath, we know that Luzniak (though not mentioned by name) produced the concept art for the Parasite Queen and Thardus - the giant snow beast appears to be an early concept that later became Thardus. Luzniak also did concept art for Raven Blade.

Until next time...
Captain Commando