Another Metroid Title Deserves the ‘Samus Returns’ Treatment Before Prime 4: Beyond Launches

There’s no question that Nintendo is a juggernaut within the gaming space, with countless intellectual properties that have left a lasting impression on the industry. Not all of those properties have received the same attention, however, with many falling into dormancy for an extended amount of time. As recently as a few years ago, Metroid was considered one of those forgotten brands. Now, releases like Metroid Dread, Metroid Prime Remastered, and the impending release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond have thoroughly brought the franchise back into the spotlight.

It’s not just new Metroid titles that are responsible for this resurgence either. Nintendo has leveraged Switch Online’s retro offerings to make classic entries far more accessible for longtime fans and series newcomers. It’s possible to play through all five mainline titles on the Switch, with only a few spin-offs and the last two Metroid Prime games absent on the console. Now that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally has a release window, it’s the perfect time for Nintendo to capitalize on the franchise’s current momentum, and it could do so by reimagining what’s considered one of the greatest single video games of all time.

Super Metroid is a Prime Remake Candidate

Throughout much of the 2010s, Metroid received little to no attention after the critical and commercial disappointment that was Metroid: Other M. After years of patience, fans finally received some respite in the form of 2017’s Metroid: Samus Returns, a remake of Metroid II released for the 3DS. While its timing was peculiar, with Nintendo pushing the release of the Switch that same year, Samus Returns was both a breath of fresh air and return to form that brought the franchise back to its 2D roots while innovating on Metroid‘s existing foundation.

Four years later, it would turn out all the work that developer MercurySteam put into Samus Returns was a bit of a proof of concept for the first mainline Metroid entry in almost 20 years, Metroid Dread. MercurySteam took much of what it introduced in Samus Returns, including more fluidity in combat, and applied it to Dread. The end result was one of the best games of 2021, the best-selling Metroid game of all time, and a riotous resurgence for the Metroid brand as a whole.

With Metroid Prime 4: Beyond slated for release in 2025, Nintendo has the opportunity to build anticipation by furthering its efforts to recognize Metroid history. If Samus Returns served to end Metroid‘s hiatus, and Dread made what was once considered a myth into a reality, then a Super Metroid remake would be the ultimate homage to the franchise’s legacy. Super Metroid is already considered one of the greatest games of all time, and by remaking it using Dread‘s engine, Nintendo could give a new generation an opportunity to experience a pivotal piece of gaming history through a modern lens.

A Super Metroid Remake Could Bolster the Switch 2’s Launch Lineup

In addition to simply being an excellent opportunity to bring Super Metroid into the modern age, a remake could work wonders for the Nintendo Switch successor’s offerings at launch. If Prime 4: Beyond is included among its initial list of games, adding a Super Metroid remake into the mix would allow each game to feed off the excitement of the other. Many Switch owners will also be looking for a reason to upgrade after the console’s rather long life cycle, and a remake of what’s widely considered the best Metroid title on new hardware with improved visuals and gameplay could do the trick.

Super Metroid
is already considered one of the greatest games of all time, and by remaking it using
Dread
‘s engine, Nintendo could give a new generation an opportunity to experience a pivotal piece of gaming history through a modern lens.

MercurySteam showed that it thoroughly understands what makes Metroid the iconic franchise that it is with Samus Returns and Dread. Things were already looking good for the series after Dread proved to be a hit, and now that Prime 4: Beyond is seemingly out of its development nightmare, there will be many opportunities for Metroid to continue riding high over the next year. If Nintendo does plan to keep the momentum up, letting MercurySteam have a go at Super Metroid could be one of its best decisions for the franchise yet.