Nintendo Power Podcast

This article is written from the Real Life point of view

The Nintendo Power Podcast is the official Nintendo of America podcast. Its first episode was released on December 20, 2017 and subsequent episodes have been released monthly. The podcast uses the Nintendo Power logo and is hosted by the magazine's former editor-in-chief Chris Slate, who is now NOA's Manager of Corporate Communications. On the podcast, Slate speaks to other Nintendo employees and notable guests about forthcoming Nintendo games. Multiple episodes from E3 2021 onward have covered Metroid Dread.

Metroid-related episodes

Episode 40 - Nintendo at E3 2021 with Doug Bowser!

Published: June 15, 2021.

This episode features Doug Bowser discussing games revealed at E3 2021, beginning with Metroid Dread. Slate iterates that it is the first original 2D Metroid game in nineteen years. Bowser explains that it concludes the five-part 2D Metroid saga that began with the very first Metroid game, which Slate called amazing. Slate points to the "suspenseful relationship" that Samus Aran has with the E.M.M.I. that chase her throughout Dread, while Bowser alludes to new abilities and explains what the two amiibo of Samus and an E.M.M.I. unlock in Dread. The Dread discussion concludes with an outline of the Special Edition. Afterwards, Slate and Bowser move on to other games.

The episode can be heard here. Its page on Nintendo's website is here.

Episode 42 - Super NES 30th Anniversary: Our Favorite Games, Memories & More!

Published: August 27, 2021.

This episode features Sam from Nintendo Treehouse and David from Nintendo of America's communications team sharing their favorite memories of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. David explained that Super Metroid was one of his favorite games of all time, with Sam and Slate agreeing. Slate added that he played the first Metroid game in 1987 and remembered buying it in a silver box at Toys R Us. He was unaware of Metroid II: Return of Samus when he played Super Metroid years later, and was astonished by its Map, graphics and music. He eventually completed it several times and achieved a 100% item rate. David, a Metroid fan in general, concurred with their assessments and was excited for Metroid Dread.

He did play Metroid II, but had to study maps in Nintendo Power to complete it due to the game's difficulty. He referred to "water levels that you had to make lower in order to explore", presumably referring to the dangerous liquid. David cited the action, particularly the climactic battle with Mother Brain. Sam praised Super Metroid for its innovative hidden tutorials, such as the Etecoons demonstrating the Wall Jump. David also enjoyed shredding enemies with the Screw Attack. Before moving on to the next topic, Slate said that he was planning to replay Super Metroid in preparation for Dread. Later, when asked which SNES game they would choose as the best, both Sam and David chose Super Metroid.

The episode can be heard here. Its page on Nintendo's website is here.

Episode 43 - Metroid Dread: Hands-on Impressions & Series Retrospective!

Published: September 29, 2021.

The most Metroid-focused episode of the podcast to date. Slate was joined by Nate Bihldorf and NOA's Social Media Marketing manager Anthony Foster for a discussion about the 2D Metroid series ahead of the release of Dread. Slate begins by reiterating that Dread concludes the main story arc (of Samus and the Metroids), which includes all 2D games, but not the Metroid Prime series or Metroid: Other M. He recaps the story of each 2D game (twice erroneously referring to Zebes as the Space Pirate homeworld, which it is not) before reading comments from fans that chose each game as their favorite in the series. Slate said Metroid: Zero Mission was his favorite Metroid game, but he expected Dread might surpass it.

Bihldorf discussed his role in the localization of Metroid Fusion, and his thoughts on it as a foundation for Dread. Foster, who is younger than both Slate and Bihldorf, admitted that he needed to play through most of the series in addition to Dread. Up to that point, he had only played Metroid: Samus Returns. After this, Slate summarizes the story of Dread with as few spoilers as possible, and promotes the Metroid Dread Report. Mentioning Raven Beak (not by name), Slate explained that this is the first time that living Chozo are encountered in a Metroid game, whereas previously Samus only saw their ruins and statuary. Bihldorf referred to Dread as the culmination of the series.

A discussion about the E.M.M.I. and their impact on the atmosphere ensued, with Bihldorf comparing their sound to the SA-X's appearances in Fusion. The three of them enjoyed the sense of power that comes with the Omega Cannon and hunting down E.M.M.I. with it. Slate appreciated that the Map now shows each room in much more detail and has more features. The Player's Pulse segment, in which Slate and his guests react to the results of a poll, followed suit. The questions were themed around the 2D Metroid saga. The first asked "Do you try to go to areas out of order?", and the result was 55-45% in favor of yes. The second question asked "Which beam is the best?" with the Ice, Wave and Wide or Spazer Beams as options. The results were 51% for Ice Beam, 26% for Wave Beam, and 23% for the Wide and Spazer Beams. The final question was "When playing a Metroid game, do you try for 100 completion?" 56% agreed, while 44% said they collect necessary items and more, but not everything.

At this point, the Metroid focus of the episode ended and Slate, Bihldorf and Foster discussed other games for the remainder. One answer in the quiz asked Bihldorf and Foster to guess where a sound effect - a Bomb being laid in Metroid - came from. They did not know until Slate hinted that it involved turning into a ball.

The episode can be heard here. Its page on Nintendo's website is here.

Nintendo of America tweet

"Varia Suit up and check out the latest episode of #NintendoPower Podcast! We dive deep into the world of 2D Metroid games in anticipation of #MetroidDread, out 10/8!

🎧: http://ninten.do/6019XgLeF"

Episode 46 - Nintendo Switch Fan-Favorite Games of 2021 Revealed!

Published: December 20, 2021.

Slate discusses fan favorite Nintendo Switch games from 2021, as voted on in a poll, with Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, the hosts of Nintendo Minute. Metroid Dread was nominated in the categories for "Intense Action" (with Cruis'n Blast, Monster Hunter Rise and No More Heroes III), "Great Graphics" (with Rise, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury and Tetris Effect: Connected), "What a Story!" (with The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Deltarune and Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!), "Tough Challenge" (with Cyber Shadow, Dungeon Encounters and Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection) and "Players' Game of the Year" (with Rise, Bowser's Fury, No More Heroes III, Mario Party Superstars New Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Unite); it won all five categories. Yang described the action win as well deserved; Ellis agreed, but joked that he lobbied for Cruis'n Blast to win this category.

Yang likened the action in Dread to that of a horror film. Slate admitted that he played Dread more than other games in 2021, and that bosses were tricky, but satisfying to defeat. For the graphics category, Ellis had difficulty choosing a favorite since all nominees stand out on their own. He was impressed by the seamless transition between the 2D and over-the-shoulder perspectives when using the Omega Cannon. Yang remarked that the background details were amazing. Slate's personal choice for best graphics was between Dread and Bowser's Fury.

Later in the episode, Yang said that she played Connected after Dread, and found it much more relaxing than Dread. Ellis stated that Dread told its story unconventionally, through setup at the beginning and small pieces that integrate with the gameplay. Yang alluded to the "big twist at the end" - that Samus became a Metroid - at which she audibly gasped. Slate appreciated that the game focused on Samus's personal stake in her mission. After announcing that Dread won Tough Challenge, Slate noted that the difficulty of Dread can be alleviated by collecting expansions. Ellis liked that the game rewards players for learning from challenges. Yang lamented that she took longer to complete Dread than Kit, but agreed that doing so was satisfying. She said it took four days for her to defeat Raven Beak.

Both Yang and Slate considered Dread their Game of the Year while Ellis did not. He was in a "mental struggle" with Dread and another game he did not specify. While he greatly enjoyed it, he chose Unite as Game of the Year because it exposed him to a new genre. Slate said that he played Dread on Hard Mode immediately after completing his first playthrough, and then immediately started a third playthrough that he spedrun. He came very close to unlocking the best Ending Reward, but had to complete it a fourth time to do so.

As the episode concluded, Yang was asked to share her favorite gaming moment from 2021. She answered that for her, it was Kraid's first appearance in Dread, and how Samus dispatched him at the end of their battle. Ellis enjoyed this, the moment that Samus speaks briefly, and her scream of rage when she fights Raven Beak. Slate's favorite moment was when ADAM "tells Samus something about himself" (when it is revealed that Raven Beak was posing as ADAM throughout the game).

The episode can be heard here. Its page on Nintendo's website is here.

Episode 47 - Nintendo Switch 2022 Preview Special!

Published: February 10, 2022.

This episode covers the announcements from the February 9, 2022 Nintendo Direct, including the two free updates to Metroid Dread. Slate was joined by NOA Communications employees Anthony and Jayson. Slate reiterated that Dread and Rookie Modes were added and described them, as well as the forthcoming Boss Rush mode update that was set for release some time in April. Slate wondered how he would defeat Raven Beak on Dread Mode without taking a single hit. He also pointed out that Dread Mode does not increase the difficulty of E.M.M.I. encounters, which for the most part result in an instant Game Over anyway. He asked Anthony if he planned to play Dread Mode. He said he would; having completed Dread multiple times, he felt it would test his skill. Conversely, Jayson considered Dread Mode intimidating and preferred Rookie Mode, but was more excited for Boss Rush, and to see speedrunners and hardcore fans take on Dread Mode. After this, the trio moved on to discussing other games.

The episode can be heard here. Its page on Nintendo's website is here.