Co-creator Sakamoto on Samus Returns, Prime 4, amiibo and more.
Yoshio Sakamoto worked at Nintendo before he co-created Metroid, but it was his sci-fi series - one that that spawned a whole genre - which made him famous.
Metroid Prime Federation Force
Metroid's first outing in years strips away the series' isolation and exploration for a serviceable co-op experience.
Key events
31st August 2016
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a sales disaster in Japan
19th August 2016
16th June 2015
Archie Comics nearly made a Metroid series
Here's some concept art.
Archie Comics once entertained the idea of making a series based on Metroid. In fact, it went so far as to commission artist Steven Butler to draw up some concept art.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force flops
Sales bomb.
No one predicted Metroid Prime: Federation Force would sell well, but few thought it would sell this badly.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a sales disaster in Japan
Not many Chozo pick it up.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force has failed to chart in the Japanese software top 20.
The much-maligned Metroid spin-off has received intense criticism from franchise fans since its announcement, but its failure to appear at all in the chart is still eye-opening.
Federation Force is the first 3DS Metroid game, the first Metroid game of any kind in six years, and comes as the series quietly celebrates its 30th anniversary.
3DS Metroid Prime spinoff Federation Force may not appeal to all Nintendo fans - but a big hint for the next Metroid Prime game likely will.
Metroid Prime Federation Force review
Samus it ever was.
This, then, is how Nintendo has chosen to mark Metroid's 30th anniversary. And this is how Nintendo has elected to break six years of silence for one of its most celebrated series: a co-op shooter with chibi visuals in which Samus Aran, the stoic bounty hunter who's fronted every Metroid to date, is relegated to the sidelines. Ever since its announcement at last year's E3, the reaction has been resoundingly negative. Given the path Nintendo's taken with this 3DS entry, it's no wonder some noses have been put out of joint.
Metroid Prime Federation Force
Publisher: Nintendo
You can play Metroid Prime Blast Ball for free right now
Federation Force defence force.
I was going to tell you all about how much fun Blast Ball, a multiplayer mode that's a part of Next Level Games' Metroid Prime Federation Force, can be, but that doesn't seem pertinent now when you can go and download it yourself. All of it. For free. Now. On your Nintendo 3DS handheld system.
You know the story by now. Nintendo announces what amounts to the first Metroid game in 6 years, and the first to bear the Metroid Prime moniker in the best part of a decade, and it's not what the fans wanted. It is very, very much not what the fans wanted, adopting a chibi art-style for its playable mech soldiers, abandoning the sense of isolation and adventure that have been the series' mainstay while Samus Aran, the iconic bounty hunter who's been there from the very start, is almost entirely absent.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force to roll up in September
Just Aran the corner.
3DS shooter spin-off Metroid Prime: Federation Force will launch for 3DS in Europe on 2nd September, Nintendo has announced.
This ambitious live action Metroid fan film is worth watching
Jessica Chobot is Samus Aran.
Metroid has been re-imagined as a '70s sci-fi epic in an impressive new fan film, titled Metroid: The Sky Calls.
Metroid fan realises HD Samus in Unreal Engine 4 tech demo
Shiny and chrome.
Ever wonder what Samus would look like in HD? Well wonder no more, as YouTuber CryZENx has made a small tech demo depicting Nintendo's beloved series in Unreal Engine 4.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow studio pitched Metroid game to Nintendo
Wii U and 3DS versions planned, but looks like game has now been retooled.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow developer MercurySteam pitched a Metroid game to Nintendo earlier this year.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force dev explains decision to not focus on Samus
"It's an attempt to expand the Metroid universe."
Metroid Prime series boss Kensuke Tanabe has explained the decision to focus the upcoming 3DS spin-off Federation Force on characters other than series star Samus Aran.
Yosp! Metroid! Cuphead! And that's a wrap!
This week we've posted daily updates rounding up the news from E3. Previously: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Next proper Metroid Prime "would likely now be on NX"
Trilogy producer mulls time-travel mechanic.
Nintendo's next home console Metroid Prime game will now likely not release until the company has launched its next-generation console, codenamed NX.
Metroid Prime Federation Force announced for 3DS
Features four-player co-op.
A new Metroid game has finally been announced for 3DS. It's called Metroid Prime Federation Force.
Very little is known about it, but based on the teaser trailer revealed during Nintendo's E3 presentation, it appears to support four-player co-op and looks to be set in the Metroid Prime universe.
There also seems to be a three vs three mini-game called Blastball.