Possibility Four: WiiWare Becomes WiiWorthy
The ever-enigmatic WiiWare system, intended to be accessible to those in broadband-enabled homes come early 2008, has received no announcements regarding first-party titles. Hypothetically, let's say that a 2-D Metroid, built off the Super Nintendo emulation software in the Wii and the existing work of Super Metroid, released online for download. Without a need of foreign development tools or downgrading software techniques, Wii could provide new content for the series in a fresh way.
While the game would be significantly cheaper than purchasing an entire disc, the limits of Wii's internal memory and downloads could restrict the creativity of the game. Without the power of new-generation technology, a new game on the service may seem like another portable addition with a larger screen.
Would the accessibility benefits outweigh the creative costs?
The other issue would be availability to consumers. Buying a game from a store is a certain way to make the game accessible, but what about those who purchased a Wii because they couldn't afford all of the Internet upgrades seemingly needed to fully enjoy the next-generation consoles? Would Nintendo have to consider alternate means of distributing online software?
Possibility Five: Sticking to the Hands
Nintendo held a path for Metroid games over the era of GameCube: the platform shooters would remain on portables and the graphically intensive Prime games would stick to the consoles. The Zelda franchise seems to maintain this philosophy as well, keeping cel-shaded games to the portables while taking realistic expression on the Wii to a higher level. Does this system work, or was Metroid Prime: Hunters a hint for things to come?
Could this be the home of Samus Aran for the next few years?
The current system is a nice compromise, but it's not much more than a compromise. Keeping the 2-D games to the lower-powered systems is a way of suggesting that platform games, aside from Super Smash Bros. games, are a thing of the past. Without the power of new graphics and new awe, Metroid doesn't hold to the exciting feel it had for so many years. The Metroid series, in its original 2-D form, could be resurrected without the hefty restrictions of portables that look barely better than consoles of two generations ago.
Metroid Prime: Hunters, on the other hand, indicated that the console was capable of providing decent graphics in a very Doom-esque fashion. While the game arguably played well, the graphical limitations of the Nintendo DS began to rear its ugly head. If 3-D games on portables continue to grow, the technology would also have to upgrade. Remember: Hunters was not a bad game, but future 3-D games on the Nintendo DS may not look any prettier.
In the end, Metroid could potentially go anywhere. It could stay with Retro Studios (in which case, we won't see it for years, probably not until Wii 2); it could leave for a new company; it could take on any of Nintendo's options, break the rules or simply adhere to what we've expected in the last generation. No matter what the case, Samus will return.
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