Metroid 64 was the supposed title for a Metroid game that was to be released for the Nintendo 64. After Super Metroid, many fans were eagerly awaiting a sequel. It was supposedly slated for the Nintendo 64, but while the game was referenced several times,[1] it never entered production, because "they couldn't come out with any concrete ideas".[2]
Metroid Database interview with Dan Owsen
"MDb: Finally, Dan, spill what you can tell us about the possibility of a Metroid64.
Dan: Obviously, the guys who worked on the Metroid series are still working for Nintendo in Japan. They love the characters. Many people here at NOA love Metroid (besides me, I know Ken Lobb is a huge Metroid fan, along with probably everyone in the Treehouse, our testing groups and the Nintendo Power staff). So "the love" is there.
I think what it will really take to get a Metroid game off the ground will be some technology or programming discovery for the N64 that would allow for an innovative game play mechanism that can be fit in to the Metroid universe. Beyond all the economic considerations that are always there, I think it just has to make sense, from a game play standpoint, to create a Metroid game. I don't think the developers in Japan just want to make it for the sake of making it. Does that make sense?"
games™ interview with Yoshio Sakamoto
games™: "This apprehension over 3D gaming, is that the reason there was never a Metroid 64?"
Sakamoto: "I was actually thinking about the possibility of making a Metroid game for N64 but I felt that I shouldn't be the one making the game. When I held the N64 controller in my hands I just couldn't imagine how it could be used to move Samus around. So for me it was just too early to personally make a 3D Metroid at that time. Also, I know this is isn't a direct answer to your question but Nintendo at that time approached another company and asked them if they would make an N64 version of Metroid and their response was that no, they could not. They turned it down, saying that unfortunately they didn't have the confidence to create an N64 Metroid game that could compare favourably with Super Metroid. That's something I take as a complement to what we achieved with Super Metroid."
games™: "Can you say who that company was?"
Sakamoto: "Sorry, I cannot."
References
- ^ News Archives: 1996-1999. Metroid Database. Retrieved on 2006-02-21.
- ^ Developer info for Metroid Prime. Nintendo.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
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