Expanding the experience of a franchise is tricky business, though I understand the appeal. Mario has had crazy, wild success expanding into every corner of gaming, while his rival Sonic is a famous example of a fanbase losing their minds over the franchise exploring new experiences. Perhaps Metroid would fair more like Mario than Sonic, but her Nintendo sci-fi brethren, Star Fox, has a pretty poor record on this matter. Given that Metroid Prime Pinball and Federation Force were great games that were rejected by fans, I think the Metroid fanbase would not take to experimentation well, and Metroid would go the path of Star Fox. I'd definitely play your multi-planet cyberpunk RPG Metroid, but I think it would do best if marketed as a clear spin-off not related to the main series or Prime series so that fans would give it a chance.

I think the bottom line with any spin-off is that Metroid needs to stick the landing with the next title, and even the next after that. The franchise is on extremely shaky ground with a few experiments and the next two titles need to either be the tried and true Prime or the tried and true 2D. Anything beyond that will make fans feel like they're not getting what they want. Mario vs Rabbids would have been more dismissed if we hadn't known about Mario Odyssey. Thankfully we know that Nintendo is doing exactly that. They're putting some major financial/time backing on the next title and they know the audience they're shooting for is extremely picky and won't just buy it in droves unless it represents a return to form.

But like others, I'm all for them doing other things with the franchise. I really wouldn't mind a Chozo based game where we get to see them crafting some of the items for Samus. There's just so much in Samus' world that hasn't been investigated, and Idon't mean her relationships with father figures and adopted alien babies either.

I'm a bigger fan of 2D Metroid, and I've been dying to know what happens after Fusion, so Metroid 5 for me.

BTW, I think Samus Returns needs a Switch port. Releasing that late on the 3DS didn't do it justice.

Ok, folks. I'm going to let this poll run for just a few more days, so if you want your vote to be counted get in here and click the appropriate bubble. New topic incoming in just a few short days. Of course, you're all more than welcome to discuss any Metroid related subjects to your hearts' content as well.

If only...

I'm replaying it on my 3DS with a broken stick and it is a pain.

Thank god the morph ball can be used with the touch screen.

Which would make you the happiest to play?

Well it looks like Nintendo should greenlight Metroid 5 ASAP.  I'd be curious to see how this head to head matchup between a hypothetical 2D sequel and the announced (but still hypothetical) Metroid Prime 4 fares once we've seen first gameplay video of MP4.  We'll put a pin in that for now.

Well, it's time for a new poll.  This time we're going to go down a path that many may cringe to see us discussing: adapting this beloved series into film, tv, or streaming services.

So what do you think?  If it were your choice, where would you like to see Samus unleash her arsenal on the non-videogame entertainment world?  Would you like to see her on the silver screen as a major Hollywood movie or an animated theater release film.  Or maybe she's not quite ready for the big screen yet and should instead be made into a made for TV miniseries?  She could always show up in a Netflix or Hulu movie or even a Netflix/Hulu series.  Or maybe YouTube Red is where she should land.  Oh, I know, I know. What we really need from her is her appearance on the grandest of all stages, Broadway.  I personally can't wait to see the set design, amirite?

Or maybe, just maybe, you're all terrified of the possibility of Samus and the Metroids leaving the safe confines of a Nintendo console and she should just remain camera shy for as long as her IP exists.  What do you think?  Click your answer in the updated poll and feel free to give your opinion on Samus' future on the silver, small, or even smaller screens.  Of course if you're feeling this subject, don't hesisitate to tell us who should play Samus, who should direct such a project, and any other details you'd want to free from the clutches of a Chozo statue.

The biggest concern when it comes to a Metroid movie is that it came from a movie already. That's why the most important part would have to be in finding a color pallete and design that would truly differentiate itself from Alien. Stick with the colorful palette made available in Metroid and Super Metroid. Spend a ton of time on the lore and maybe even take a cue from Secret of Nimh and have a dark, mysterious character (Chozo elder) be the narrator. You could still have great voice acting without Samus speaking a single word. But you have to stick the landing when it comes to Samus and body type. She doesn't have to be absolutely gorgeous, but she probably will be. Don't be afraid to make it look videogame-esque every now and again, even if it's just from the point of view of a surveillance camera or something. And please don't give it to Uwe Boll or Zack Snyder or something. David Finche or Chris Nolan would be my top tier choices and I think that either of them would do an excellent job and would ensure that we would have an amazing film. Unfortunately, I don't think either of them like video games too much so they'd have to be paid a ton of money...this certainly wouldn't be a passion project for them.

Yeah, definitely.  I'm just suggesting a way that we could include another overarching character that would be able to speak during those long gaps when Samus wouldn't be speaking (no one to talk to).  I'm a bit leery of her doing voice over since we saw how well that worked in Other M.  Of course, she could also go the route of recording what's happening as a record of her search, travels, and battles along the way. It just really needs to be compelling and commanding. I think a few Yoda type moments with her and the Etecoons and Dachora (but closer to the role of Leia with the Ewoks) would be a good way to bring levity to the film, show her training and trying to communicate with hilarious results, and still maintain the canon.  I think it would be hilarious to see her trying to figure out how to shinespark and all the mistakes she'd (and we've) made along the way. 

If a Metroid movie ever becomes a thing, I'm just trying to picture who would be Samus.
If it's an animated film, than it's' a lot more open. But if it's live-action, Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson are the first two candidates that immediately come to mind.

The only Metroid game I've played is Metroid Prime and it was amazing. I loved the level design, the atmosphere and the music. Very immersive game.