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Retro Working on Star Fox + Metroid Crossover Game for Wii U?

by Pedro Hernandez - May 20, 2012, 4:38 am EDT
Total comments: 50 Source: Paul Gale Network, http://paulgalenetwork.com/home/2012/05/19/rumor-i...

Fox and Samus may be colliding in an epic crossover game if rumors are true.

Rumor has it that Retro Studios is working on a Star Fox and Metroid crossover game that incorporates the gameplay mechanics of the two Nintendo franchises, website Paul Gale Network is reporting.

While this is still being seen as a big rumor floating around prior to E3, some details regarding the supposed game have appeared. The story goes that Retro Studios wanted to create a new IP that mixed third person action and intense aerial combat, while other team members wanted to work on a new Star Fox game.

Nintendo, seeing how they have collaborated in the past with games like Donkey Kong Country Returns and Mario Kart 7, decided to help them with the development of a game that would be a hybrid of Star Fox and Metroid.

The supposed story for this game is that when players start, they will begin with a Star Fox level controlling Fox as he and his team fly around the stage. Later, they crash into Samus's ship, which sends her to another planet. The gameplay is believed to switch between the two characters, with Samus having gameplay inspired by the Metroid Prime series (complete with exploration of levels and weapon upgrades) and Star Fox having aerial battles, on-rail and all-range modes.

The rumor also states that the gameplay has been designed so that the pace of one Nintendo franchise does not interrupt the flow of the other, and that players can either exclusively play one character or play them both via scripted events. Gameplay can also be switched between characters, with parts of the game having the player control Samus's ship while other levels have Fox walking on foot.

Despite what the sources may claim, this is still a big rumor. For weeks now, it has been rumored that Retro could be working on a Wii U game for launch or near the launch window to be revealed at this year's E3 conference. One of those games happened to be a new Star Fox game. Nintendo or Retro have confirmed or denied the existence of said games. If Retro was indeed involved in a new game, E3 2012 may be the place to announce it.

Special thanks to plufim for the news tip!

Talkback

TheLastMetroid21May 20, 2012

I don't know how to feel about this. :-\

KDR_11kMay 20, 2012

I hope not.

joshnickersonMay 20, 2012

Eh, I gotta call bullsh*t on this one. I can see the idea being tossed around at Retro, but I don't think the concept would've made it to an actual game.

Though I will say that if it does happen, I hope it takes on a more humorous, self-aware tone, perhaps even making fun of the more lackluster entries in the series (Star Fox Adventures, Other M). Both series could use a shot of levity at this point.

Chozo GhostMay 20, 2012

I'm sure it will be better than Other M, in any case.

Spak-SpangMay 20, 2012

This is a pretty stupid rumor...I don't believe it.


Unless, they took the Metroid leap too literal.


If they said the gameplay Started as a standard Star Fox mission and Fox McCloud was stranded on a planet...and he sends his team off to finish the battle while we repairs his ship I would buy it. 


Then you would have Fox playing the part of explore trying to find make shift parts to repair his ship...all along while being on a hostile alien planet...potentially being controlled by Andros's Army.


Now, that would be a cool game.  Mix in exploring and shooting action...as well as tight space control.  And even allow Fox to jump into vehicles for combat would be great...


But more importantly...this could be Nintendo asking Retro to create a bigger universe for Star Fox for the express purpose of multiplayer. 


Imagine, If Retro designed an all out robust Star Fox battle system for 8-16 players online...with Star Fox Tank, and Ar-Wing battles as well as well designed on foot combat. 


Now that would be an Epic game.

StrikerObiMike Sklens, Podcast EditorMay 20, 2012

This sounds like a piece of fan fiction written by a 4th grader. I pray it is not true.

It seems more likely that they are designing a Star Fox game that includes Mertoid-INSPIRED land sections.

Spak-SpangMay 20, 2012


This is a pretty stupid rumor...I don't believe it.


Unless, they took the Metroid leap too literal.


If they said the gameplay Started as a standard Star Fox mission and Fox McCloud was stranded on a planet...and he sends his team off to finish the battle while we repairs his ship I would buy it. 


Then you would have Fox playing the part of explore trying to find make shift parts to repair his ship...all along while being on a hostile alien planet...potentially being controlled by Andros's Army.


Now, that would be a cool game.  Mix in exploring and shooting action...as well as tight space control.  And even allow Fox to jump into vehicles for combat would be great...


But more importantly...this could be Nintendo asking Retro to create a bigger universe for Star Fox for the express purpose of multiplayer. 


Imagine, If Retro designed an all out robust Star Fox battle system for 8-16 players online...with Star Fox Tank, and Ar-Wing battles as well as well designed on foot combat. 


Now that would be an Epic game.

BranDonk KongMay 20, 2012

Sounds pretty terrible.

KDR_11kMay 20, 2012

Well, if it's Metroid gameplay with Star Fox characters then I'm for it.

Pixelated PixiesMay 20, 2012

I agree with what others have said here. I think the idea of an actual Metroid/Star Fox crossover sounds kind of dumb. If, however, it were to be a game based solely in the Star Fox universe which has exploration and adventure elements inspired by Metroid, then that might be pretty cool.

Chozo GhostMay 20, 2012

Star Fox meets Metroid might go a little something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNxhrPaaCA4

broodwarsMay 20, 2012

I doubt this is real, as it does sound far-fetched (especially for Nintendo).  Still, the idea of a franchise-mashup with these two properties is intriguing.  If it was done well, the two franchises would complement each other: Star Fox doing the aerial battles that Metroid hasn't done, and Metroid handling the on-foot combat and exploration that Star Fox has never done well.  It could be interesting.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorMay 20, 2012

If this is true, I demand a post-credits cut scene where Samus lands on a colorful alien planet, steps out of her gunship and walks into a landscape that is dotted with tiny white flowers...

yoshi1001May 20, 2012

I could believe in a Star Fox game where there's a code or unlock where you play as Samus's ship in multiplayer, but that's as far as I would take it.

Chozo GhostMay 20, 2012

Quote from: UncleBob

If this is true, I demand a post-credits cut scene where Samus lands on a colorful alien planet, steps out of her gunship and walks into a landscape that is dotted with tiny white flowers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em9XEs9H2JI

Something like this except with Zero Suit Samus as the game's end credits roll by?

Evan_BMay 20, 2012

This is seriously considered front page news...?

OblivionMay 20, 2012

It's a rumor. They post it. It's front page news because it's so ridiculous.

Chocobo_RiderMay 20, 2012

BS detector: overloading!!

Chozo GhostMay 20, 2012

Quote from: Evan_B

This is seriously considered front page news...?

Its a slow news day... and until E3 there isn't much except for rumors such as this. You either report the rumors or you report nothing, because there is nothing else.

broodwarsMay 20, 2012

Quote from: NinSage

BS detector: overloading!!

Perhaps, but it's still a more interesting idea than most of the stuff Nintendo does these days.  I've been wanting a more story-based Nintendo crossover game ever since I played Mario RPG on the SNES (with its Samus and Link cameos), and if it were done well it could be pretty cool.  I don't think it'll happen, but it's a neat idea.

Pixelated PixiesMay 20, 2012

Why stop there though? If Nintendo ever choose to do a crossover game outside of Smash Bros, then why not go all the way and include all Nintendo's franchises which are even remotely inspired by science fiction. Why not have a Metroid/Star Fox/Pikmin/F-Zero game.

Samus plays the role of a queen of a small planet, whose liberty is infringed upon by an evil trade federation. While escaping their clutches her ship is damaged and she is forced to land on the F-zero planet, where the only means of getting the parts required to fix her ship is to take part in a pod race against Captain Falcon. While on this planet, Samus also encounters a young boy by the name of Olimar who is strong with the forc...you get the point.

broodwarsMay 20, 2012

Quote from: Pixelated

Why stop there though? If Nintendo ever choose to do a crossover game outside of Smash Bros, then why not go all the way and include all Nintendo's franchises which are even remotely inspired by science fiction. Why not have a Metroid/Star Fox/Pikmin/F-Zero game?

Sure.  Why not?  Why not have a game that brings the entire Nintendo universe together for an experience more narrative-focused?  That's kind of what Smash Bros. Brawl was trying to do with Subspace Emissary.  Unfortunately, that mode just sucked due to vague storytelling and bland enemy designs.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMay 20, 2012

Like other people explained already, we post rumors if they seem big enough as long as we perfectly clear that they are rumors and should always be taken with a grain of salt. Also one of the reasons this was posted was because in the past the news source claimed that there was a Sony SSB game, and that turned out to be true. Still, nothing is to be believed until the news conference.

Chozo GhostMay 20, 2012

Quote from: Pixelated

While on this planet, Samus also encounters a young boy by the name of Olimar who is strong with the forc...

How about instead of that she encounters Link, who is strong in the Tri-Force? ;) Then her and Link have an affair and all is well until Princess Zelda finds out about Link's infidelity... then the plot starts to get really interesting.

LudicrousDa3veMay 20, 2012

If this end up being true, it had better have Tokata's song in it!

Pixelated PixiesMay 20, 2012

Quote from: Chozo

Quote from: Pixelated

While on this planet, Samus also encounters a young boy by the name of Olimar who is strong with the forc...

How about instead of that she encounters Link, who is strong in the Tri-Force? ;) Then her and Link have an affair and all is well until Princess Zelda finds out about Link's infidelity... then the plot starts to get really interesting.


Tri-force? Genius. Somebody, give this man a script deal!

This sounds ridiculous, but I could see it being a misinterpretation of the truth, like a Metroid game in which there are flying stages that resemble Star Fox gameplay.

UltraClaytonMay 20, 2012

I think this sounds AWESOME!

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorMay 20, 2012

I'm gonna go on record now... There is some pretty substantial truth to this rumor.  Any takers on a bet?

Quote from: NWR_pap64

Also one of the reasons this was posted was because in the past the news source claimed that there was a Sony SSB game, and that turned out to be true.

However, keep in mind that the Sony game was confirmed by the author as fact, while this is just a random rumor somebody told him. The last big rumor he ran (Rocksteady TMNT) turned out to be false.

Chozo GhostMay 20, 2012

Even false rumors can be beneficial because a lot of things that start out as fiction eventually end up becoming a reality as a result of that fiction.

Luigi DudeMay 20, 2012

Quote from: Chozo

Even false rumors can be beneficial because a lot of things that start out as fiction eventually end up becoming a reality as a result of that fiction.

Not with Nintendo though.  Like I said before, this is the same company that had this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oa_X8gQVaQ

removed from Wario Land Shake because they wanted to keep Mario and Wario platformers separate from each other.  If one song was a big deal, then I don't see them allowing the exact gameplay of 2 series to be in one game together.

Plus there's the fact Retro's Metroid Prime games have been more popular then the Star Fox games in the last decade.  It would make no sense for Nintendo to put Star Fox levels in a Metroid game when that wouldn't help sales since Metroid is more popular.  Considering how careful Nintendo is with its budgets, I don't see them spending extra money on extra Star Fox gameplay when it wouldn't do anything to boast the sales.

broodwarsMay 20, 2012

Quote from: Luigi

Plus there's the fact Retro's Metroid Prime games have been more popular then the Star Fox games in the last decade.  It would make no sense for Nintendo to put Star Fox levels in a Metroid game when that wouldn't help sales since Metroid is more popular.  Considering how careful Nintendo is with its budgets, I don't see them spending extra money on extra Star Fox gameplay when it wouldn't do anything to boast the sales.

To play Devil's Advocate, though, at the launch of the GameCube you could have said that it "made no sense" for Nintendo to have Japanese franchise-exclusive characters like Marth and Roy in Smash Bros.  How would that have increased sales for Smash Bros. Melee?  However, having those characters in Smash Bros. increased brand awareness for Fire Emblem and allowed future games from the franchise to be relatively successful here in the West. 

Likewise, I can imagine having Star Fox crossover with Metroid could allow the more-popular Metroid brand to reinvigorate interest in the currently dead Star Fox brand.  This would allow a new Star Fox game to launch with a fair amount of fan anticipation.

Mop it upMay 20, 2012

There's no way this one's going to be true. If anything comes of this, then what it will be is a game that is like a cross between the gameplay of Star Fox and Metroid, but it won't actually be a part of either of those franchises.

Chocobo_RiderMay 20, 2012

@Jonny
@Mop_it_up

Truth.

SerbisMay 20, 2012

I could see Metroid+F-Zero being a relevant crossover since ya know, Captain Falcon is a Bounty Hunter and all the Universe can link together easily. But Star Fox!? It just baffles me because as much as I'd like to see this happen besides the format of Super Smash Bros. I don't want it to be like this...


I hope Retro is just making Star Fox, because if this is the case. It's gonna muddy up Metroid, and Star Fox is gonna be even more of a joke than it already is...

broodwarsMay 20, 2012

Quote from: Serbis

I could see Metroid+F-Zero being a relevant crossover since ya know, Captain Falcon is a Bounty Hunter and all the Universe can link together easily. But Star Fox!?

Maybe you've forgotten, but Samus Aran and the Star Fox Crew are all mercenaries (Fox and Crew are even paid at the end of Star Fox 64 depending on your kills IIRC).  They take on missions from governmental bodies to make money.

SundoulosMay 20, 2012

This sounds kind of crazy, I guess, but I think there are a number of nice possibilities that could be achieved from that game.  I mean, if they can link Pokemon with Nobunga's Ambition, then I could believe that anything is possible.

I think there are some awesome possibilities here if it's true.  Regardless, I look forward to seeing whatever Retro might be working on.  Hopefully, we'll find out soon.

That's a good point; with Pokemon vs Nobunaga's Ambition, this wouldn't even be the craziest Nintendo crossover this year.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorMay 21, 2012

Quote from: UncleBob

I'm gonna go on record now... There is some pretty substantial truth to this rumor.  Any takers on a bet?

Anyone?

CaterkillerMatthew Osborne, Contributing WriterMay 21, 2012

Quote from: UncleBob

Quote from: UncleBob

I'm gonna go on record now... There is some pretty substantial truth to this rumor.  Any takers on a bet?

Anyone?

What do you know? What?! WHAT?!

I'm afraid to bet cause I just don't want this to happen. Yet I think to myself, if such a obvious disaster was waiting to happen, I trust no one better than Retro to make it a shining star.

The Star Fox I envisioned has an amazing multiplayer battle mode. I just hope if such a game is being made, a real meaty online multiplayer experience is coming with it.

Also I want Metroid to take a rest and come out a little later in the generation.

TrueNerdMay 21, 2012

Maybe this is true, maybe it isn't. However, in this post-AVENGERS world we live in, I have a feeling we're going to be seeing many more crossovers. One beloved brand isn't enough for one product anymore, we gotta cram in as many as possible! No company is more ripe for this than Nintendo. It's actually surprising they didn't start doing this all the damn time after the success of Smash Bros.

This specific idea, however, is really unappealing to me. Metroid is my favorite franchise while I'm thoroughly indifferent to Star Fox. Having Star Fox levels break up a Metroid game sounds terrible. If this is just a misunderstanding of the truth and this is a straight up Metroid game with Star Fox-esque levels, that sounds equally as terrible. It would also suggest that Retro would be continuing with the segmented areas/planets that Metroid Prime 3 used as opposed to the giant, contiguous worlds that Prime 1 and 2 and every other Metroid game used. Like everyone else who has ever lived, I greatly prefer the latter.

Going back to the mash up idea, maybe you can play each mode separate from the other? Then why bother? It would just make more sense to separate the games and charge $60 for each of them. There are ways to do these sorts of mash ups well, but on paper, this doesn't sound like one of them.

Chozo GhostMay 21, 2012

Quote from: Luigi

Plus there's the fact Retro's Metroid Prime games have been more popular then the Star Fox games in the last decade.  It would make no sense for Nintendo to put Star Fox levels in a Metroid game when that wouldn't help sales since Metroid is more popular.  Considering how careful Nintendo is with its budgets, I don't see them spending extra money on extra Star Fox gameplay when it wouldn't do anything to boast the sales.

Broodwars beat me to it. To put it simply, it would be more for Star Fox's sake than for Metroid.

ControlerFleXMay 21, 2012

... FarFetch'd but not inconceivabl(pardon my spit). I'm with Broodwars & Pixalated Pixies... "What if?" Without gettin too sarcastic, this could open up other possibilities. Plus this could give Nintendo a chance to move into HD with familiar franchises without it being a core entry, while they work on maximizing the system for the real deal.......?

Or like Dr. M said, "Nope!! This is stupid yo!!".... something like that...

SundoulosMay 21, 2012

Quote from: UncleBob

Quote from: UncleBob

I'm gonna go on record now... There is some pretty substantial truth to this rumor.  Any takers on a bet?

Anyone?

Not me.  I happen to agree with you.


No matter what, I happen to be pretty excited that rumors keep linking Retro studios with the Star Fox franchise.  Until recently, it's always been one of my favorites.  I never even minded that they tried to bring 3rd-person adventure elements into the games.  The problem was that the traditional on-rails shooting levels suffered as a result.  If Retro studios could get that balance correct, then I'd have no problem with their inclusion. 


If anything, I hope that Kid Icarus: Uprising has provided some inspiration towards that end to show what a good Star Fox game COULD be.  Pitt's assault on the Space Pirate ship was one of my favorite flying levels.

CericMay 21, 2012

Late to the party, the only way I could see this being pulled off is beyond good gameplay there is solid and amusing writing like in KI:U.  Though I think Dr. Metts is right in that it be a Metroid with Star Fox elements.

Chozo GhostMay 21, 2012

I wonder what Ian Sane will have to say about this rumor whenever he logs in and reads it.

ToraMay 21, 2012

This could be really awesome.  I haven't played a good Metroid game in a while (Other M was a disgrace. "Concentrate" for missiles...wtf Nintendo?) And lord knows that StarFox hasn't had a new home console release in ages.  Retro seems perfect for this job, as both franchises are more "western" orientate then most franchises from Nintendo.  Retro did a excellent job with Donkey Kong Country Returns.  That game runs circles around NSMBWii.  Hope this rumor is legit.



LittleIrvesMay 30, 2012

I missed this rumor when it first hit, but...  holy smokes. It's so insane it just. might. work.

Japan is crossover crazy right now (SF x Tekken, that 3DS action-rpg btwn Namco/Capcom/Sega, Nintendo's own Pokemon thing) so I could see this being greenlit. Personally I'm down for some wacky mix-up sci-fi action. Nintendo's always been funnier than most gamers give 'em credit for, and the overly serious Metroid mashing into the silly StarFox universe would be rife with self-mocking potential. Mr. Leahy might say, "Taking the piss out itself." And I'm all for that in a landscape filled with too-serious macho guns-and-ships epics.

E3, make it happen.

Ian SaneMay 30, 2012

Quote from: Chozo

I wonder what Ian Sane will have to say about this rumor whenever he logs in and reads it.

I missed this and then when people were mentioning it in another thread I thought it was some in-joke I wasn't privy to.  I never thought it was an actual rumour!

I can imagine F-Zero crossing over with either of these franchies but a Metroid/Star Fox crossover seems too weird.  It's like Metroid is somewhat serious and Star Fox is pretty goofy and F-Zero is somewhere in between so it can fit in either one.  But Metroid and Star Fox are the extremes so their styles clash too much.  But then Howard the Duck and Spider-Man are in the same universe, so the strangeness of this is not unprecedented.

I don't really think Star Fox and Metroid have very compatible gameplay though.  Really their only common element is that both take place in space.  Metroid and Zelda would actually make a better crossover both in terms of gameplay and graphic style (Hyrule could merely be on a planet with only "primitive" technology that has not yet been discovered by the Space Federation; surely Star Trek has done this bit before).  I like Star Fox as a purely action game and Metroid as a non-linear adventure game.  So how to you combine these?  The Guardian Legend is a rare example of that sort of crossover that works.  Though another issue is that different types of games require different skill sets.  I'm good at adventure games but suck at twitchy shooters.  To get anywhere in the Guardian Legend I have to use codes to give myself extra energy or I would never get through the shooter parts.  Meanwhile my brother loves action games but has no patience for titles that require him to think (hee hee, I kind of insulted him there).  I know these are both Nintendo franchises so there is going to be a fair amount of crossover fans but when you combine two unrelated genres, you risk making something that neither fanbase likes or has the skills to complete.

I trust that Retro would make it as well as anyone, provided Nintendo doesn't shoe-horn waggle into the damn thing.  Still you get the feeling from such an idea that the most thought put into it was "hey these both have spaceships!"  Miyamoto thinking "these both have foxes" is the whole reason Star Fox went off the rails in the first place.

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