I know Other M hasn't even released yet but I'm interested in hearing what people expect for the Metroid franchise. I was very surprised about the anouncement of Other M, I thought Prime 3 would be the only Wii Metroid game we would get. I think any of the poll options are legitamate possibilities, a follow up to Other M will obviously depend on how the game performs sales-wise. I also think there was  an interview where Retro Studios said something about not assuming the Prime series is done with. On the otherhand I also wonder with all of Nintendo's other big franchises that can perform just as well if not better, if the Metroid series won't go back into hiding like after Super Metroid.

So what does everyone think?

Yikes: I just realized how I spelled dormant in the poll options. I wish the Firefox spell checker still worked on this site.

Read my rants in metriod IGN review thread. If you so desire

Totally side scrolling 

Less and short cut scenes so you are not snapped out of the immersion.

Less about samus personality and more killing, weapon upgrades, secrets.  Back to the feeling of isolation millions of miles from another human. And foreboding score like in super metriod.

I think a Metroid game on the DS/3DS is next

I am not sure if the Metroid franchise can move beyond Metroid Fusion, due to the fact that Samus is part Metroid and every single Metroid has been eliminated. Reviving the Metroid Prime franchise is not ideal down to the fact that it is slightly stale. I do not agree with any of these choices, so potentially a game chronologically after Metroid Fusion is the only answer.  

I think the Metroid series will go away for awhile...

But I would absolutely love to see Samus go third person over-the-shoulder and do what Capcom and Visceral for some reason have failed to do.

Ooooh, it's a toughy. I've a feeling either Metroid Dread or a new Prime game could appear on 3DS. I think Prime is well suited to 3D gameplay-the sense of depth would be fantastic. After, Fusion, Other M and Prime 3, it does seem like Nintendo want the franchise to head in a more story orientated direction, but if early reviews of Other M are repeated on a broader scale, this direction may not be the success story Nintendo wanted.

With that in mind, I'm going to go way out and suggest a remake of Super Metroid or a new Prime on 3DS is not out of the question, and perhaps fairly likely, while Nintendo figure out where to go next with the franchise.

Sequel to Pinball on the 3DS... >_>

Next game'll be a date-simulator. You'll have to play as a rookie mercenary that need to blow sh!t in order to impress Samus Aran and get a chance to score.... It worked with Dead or Alive .... o wait not, it didn't work.

A Metroid Prime Trilogy package featuring the original Metroid Prime Pinball and the follow-ups Metroid Prime 2:Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption as Pinball games would suit nicely.

nintendo can spend less money on development and get more sales by making a non-metroid game...therefore i'm guessing metroid gets put to bed for a while.