StarTopic Nintendo Direct Speculation |ST3| Speculate Chronicles 3

[LukasManak22]

 

[HockeyBird]

Can't wait to finally see the remaster of this classic

 

[Marce-chan]

Feels too early for MP4 IMO. Especially if they're still planning on releasing MP2/MP3 before it releases.

From the reports we got it seems like MP2/MP3 remasters aren't even in development yet.
I don't think next year is too early as that would be 5 years of development, with 2 years of Retro only developing it.
Also Emily told us last year that it was aiming a 2023 release. Things can change and it be pushed back to 2024 tho.

 

[BigBoss]

From the reports we got it seems like MP2/MP3 remasters aren't even in development yet.
I don't think next year is too early as that would be 5 years of development, with 2 years of Retro only developing it.
Also Emily told us last year that it was aiming a 2023 release. Things can change and it be pushed back to 2024 tho.

MP4 has been on development by Retro for over 3 years (January 2019, if not earlier). We're due for both the announcement and release, it's definitely not too early.

Prior to COVID disruptions I even figured Holiday 2022 was a safe bet. And wth the Prime 1 Remaster we're well overdue for a reveal if it's actually releasing this year. Was guessing we'd get both reveals during a big summer Direct this year. But I guess when Nintendo has an dumb reveal schedule everything gets thrown out the window.

 

[Marce-chan]

Personally I want the next Direct to be a good mix between finally confirming leaked or rumoured projects (Fire Emblem, Metroid Prime HD, EPD8/9/10 actually making games) and slightly more out there possibilities (new Monolith Soft IP, Astral Chain 2, random 80s IP revival, Wario Land, new Star Fox out of nowhere). I'm also very curious to see Grezzo's new game and I hope it's something that turns out well.

Seems like Metroid Prime and Fire Emblem would pretty much be a lock, given Prime is said to be November and Fire Emblem's mainline releases have been more or less a first half of the calendar year game in the last decade. Plus, it was said to be more or less done, so while Nintendo absolutely could hang onto it if they wanted, there's nothing stopping them from choosing the preferred launch period for the series (it might even be this fiscal year). Those would be the two near-term announcements that are likeliest to feature.

As @Marce-chan pointed out, Nintendo do use the Direct (and have done during the Switch era) to show games that are further out, so there's a chance we see something that's planned for late 2023. Maybe that's where one of the MIA EPD groups pop up.

Exactly!!
I think EPD8 game being announced as a 2023 game(being released in the holidays) is a good possibility.
I think Astral Chain 2 is very possible for the February Direct.
They can go really out there on this Direct depending on how 2023 heavy it is.
Possible games I can see being H1 2023:

• New DK game;
• New 2D Mario;
• New Fire Emblem (the most likely)

If they make a 2D Mario/DK reveal coupled with trailers of Zelda and FE(early 2023) and Metroid Prime Remake (late 2022, maybe coupled with a 4 teaser) and hell even a 3D Mario(late 2023), it's gonna be the best Direct ever for me.

We've seen they going really crazy on reveals on the February 2019 Direct already, and that was for games coming in that summer mostly(SMM2, Astral Chain, Link's Awakening).

 

[Awesomegames23]

So I just found a 4 leaf clover outside 15 minutes ago. Do I wish for the September 1st Direct or something?

 

[Marce-chan]

You know what I want in this Direct and am absolutely not getting?

A new Famicom Detective Club entry.

I think it's inevitable, idk if so soon after the remakes but eventually they'll come. and that's just amazing!!

Hmmm... A new adventure/RPG/dungeon crawler/platformer/visual novel mix is what my dream new IP/new Mario spin off would be.

 

[Brofield]

So I just found a 4 leaf clover outside 15 minutes ago. Do I wish for the September 1st Direct or something?

I'd opt for the sudden eradication of covid and monkeypox as well as a boost of common sense + basic scientific principles comprehension to the human species, but that's me

 

[Awesomegames23]

I'd opt for the sudden eradication of covid and monkeypox as well as a boost of common sense + basic scientific principles comprehension to the human species, but that's me

Imma need another clover for that kind of level wish

 

[Barely Able]

I want this direct to be a third confirmation of leaks/rumors, a third batshit stuff that people will get mad at, and third raccoon’s old shot year stuff (can be from theirs parties too). Plus obligatory NSO expansion. Leave the heavy hitters people really want for 2023.

 

[ze_]

I'd opt for the sudden eradication of covid and monkeypox as well as a boost of common sense + basic scientific principles comprehension to the human species, but that's me

yeah well I’d ask for a thousand wishes. I’m just built different though

 

[Marce-chan]

I really think Prime 2 and 3 are many times in the future, even if is 2024 Prime 4 i dont think N wants annual Metroid

Also if Prime 4 is succesful they need something between Prime 4 and 5

I agree, but maybe they aren't against it being annual really, at some point it was the plan from the start(Dread in 2021, Prime remake in 2022, Prime 4 in 2023).
I think they'll throw Prime 2/3 remasters on dire months, much like TP/WW HD, or in years in between mainline entries.

Dread must have broken 3 million by now and was already the series best-seller a quarter ago, so I assume Metroid 6 (whether it's a direct continuation of 1-5 or some sort of reboot) has to happen at some point.

Exactly!! Dread was a massive success, it receiving a sequel is a matter of when. I think Metroid 6 should happen either 2024 or 2025.

 

[Irene]

What if we're moving towards some kind of future where both Zelda, Mario and Metroid are annual.

 

[Dardan Sandiego]

What if we're moving towards some kind of future where both Zelda, Mario and Metroid are annual.

...how annual? Because that doesn't sound very appealing to me.

 

[Marce-chan]

Outside of metroid, should we expect anything else first party announcement wise for this year? Nintendo probably considers splatoon, bayo 3, Pokémon, and metroid to be a packed fall for them as it is.

I don't think so... October and November are so packed already and it already has MPR to squeeze in somewhere.
IF we were to get a surprise December game, that would be either Advance Wars, Fire Emblem Next or Everybody's 1-2 Switch.

 

[Barely Able]

What if we're moving towards some kind of future where both Zelda, Mario and Metroid are annual.

Zelda has basically been annual for a while in some capacity. And Mario is hard to quantify. If you mean platformers I don’t see it, but all the other games with his name in the title almost certainly. Metroid I cannot see unless these remake rumors are true and they dole them out yearly.

 

[Marce-chan]

You mean a second one?

Jesus Christ I forgot how that game was bizarre.

Now I won't be able to play the Tour courses in MK8DX without feeling like I'm reviving it lol.

 

[Homura]

...how annual? Because that doesn't sound very appealing to me.

I mean, Mario and Zelda are already annual series.
And Metroid has everything lined up to be annual for like 6 or 7 years.
2021: Metroid Dread
2022: Metroid Prime 1 Remaster
2023: Metroid Prime 4
2024: Metroid Prime 2 Remaster
2025: Metroid 6
2026: Metroid Prime 3 Remaster
2027: Metroid spinoff

 

[Irene]

...how annual? Because that doesn't sound very appealing to me.

A rotation of 3D release, spinoff, port and 2D release.

You can squeeze out a pretty long string of games from that formula if you're creative enough.

Though I'm not too appealed by it either.

 

[Barely Able]

I mean, Mario and Zelda are already annual series.
And Metroid has everything lined up to be annual for like 6 or 7 years.
2021: Metroid Dread
2022: Metroid Prime 1 Remaster
2023: Metroid Prime 4
2024: Metroid Prime 2 Remaster
2025: Metroid 6
2026: Metroid Prime 3 Remaster
2027: Metroid spinoff

Need pinball in here somehow.

 

[Kartina]

Metroid prime 4 is coming out before botw2
They can't show botw2 anywhere except e3 so it has to be delayed after june, then you have both metroid prime 4 and botw 2 to release in holiday 2023, but we can't have that so they'll have to delay botw2 for spring 2024. Please understand.

 

[Marce-chan]

MP4 has been on development by Retro for over 3 years (January 2019, if not earlier). We're due for both the announcement and release, it's definitely not too early.

Prior to COVID disruptions I even figured Holiday 2022 was a safe bet. And wth the Prime 1 Remaster we're well overdue for a reveal if it's actually releasing this year. Was guessing we'd get both reveals during a big summer Direct this year. But I guess when Nintendo has an dumb reveal schedule everything gets thrown out the window.

That's exactly what I thought too.
Maybe they wanted MPR to release earlier too(as we know it finished development September 2021).

 

[BigBoss]

I mean, Mario and Zelda are already annual series.
And Metroid has everything lined up to be annual for like 6 or 7 years.
2021: Metroid Dread
2022: Metroid Prime 1 Remaster
2023: Metroid Prime 4
2024: Metroid Prime 2 Remaster
2025: Metroid 6
2026: Metroid Prime 3 Remaster
2027: Metroid spinoff

Stop you're gonna make me cum

 

[Plum]

Need pinball in here somehow.

With a special Switch cartridge that adds '4K Rumble'

 

[Marce-chan]

What if we're moving towards some kind of future where both Zelda, Mario and Metroid are annual.

The last Metroid is in captivity. The galaxy is in peace

 

[Dragoncaine]

How eye-popping do y'all expect Metroid Prime HD to be, compared to some of the Switch's other prettiest games?

 

[Josh5890]

I mean, Mario and Zelda are already annual series.
And Metroid has everything lined up to be annual for like 6 or 7 years.
2021: Metroid Dread
2022: Metroid Prime 1 Remaster
2023: Metroid Prime 4
2024: Metroid Prime 2 Remaster
2025: Metroid 6
2026: Metroid Prime 3 Remaster
2027: Metroid spinoff

Where is the Other M remaster?

 

[Barely Able]

Where is the Other M remaster?

Getting dangerously close to being banned…

I actually started this a few but never kept going. Should hop back in I guess.

 

[BY2K]

I wouldn't EXPECT BOTW2 during the Direct, it's honestly anybody's guess if it's gonna be there or not.

But I sure hope it's gonna be there, since we didn't get anything this summer.

 

[Sander RX]

I mean, Mario and Zelda are already annual series.
And Metroid has everything lined up to be annual for like 6 or 7 years.
2021: Metroid Dread
2022: Metroid Prime 1 Remaster
2023: Metroid Prime 4
2024: Metroid Prime 2 Remaster
2025: Metroid 6
2026: Metroid Prime 3 Remaster
2027: Metroid spinoff

Unless I’m misremembering, 2 and 3 weren’t supposed to be getting the same level of makeover as 1, so I could see them getting released together.

 

[Soralink91]

Metroid prime 4 is coming out before botw2
They can't show botw2 anywhere except e3 so it has to be delayed after june, then you have both metroid prime 4 and botw 2 to release in holiday 2023, but we can't have that so they'll have to delay botw2 for spring 2024. Please understand.

Zelda truly lost without E3 haha. It is unfortunate that Nintendo has no other place to show the game with out it being over shadowed.

 

[Mr Doggo]

How eye-popping do y'all expect Metroid Prime HD to be, compared to some of the Switch's other prettiest games?

Depends on how much budget and time retro got to redo the game's assets and hopefully animation. I mean its a retro studios game they re the kings of making impossible things run on nintendo consoles.

Although i def expect mp4 to be on a different level.

 

[Dardan Sandiego]

I mean, Mario and Zelda are already annual series.
And Metroid has everything lined up to be annual for like 6 or 7 years.
2021: Metroid Dread
2022: Metroid Prime 1 Remaster
2023: Metroid Prime 4
2024: Metroid Prime 2 Remaster
2025: Metroid 6
2026: Metroid Prime 3 Remaster
2027: Metroid spinoff

A rotation of 3D release, spinoff, port and 2D release.

You can squeeze out a pretty long string of games from that formula if you're creative enough.

Though I'm not too appealed by it either.

Ah, yeah, this would work for a while but they'd need more teams assigned to these games to do it beyond a few years.

 

[SirShorse]

Do we think the Sequel to The Legend of Zelda; Breath of the Wild will be the final game in the "Breath of the Wild so-called series", for now we've had Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity (kinda but not really but kinda you know?) and Breath of the Wild 2 is on the way. I'm just wondering if Nintendo will continue with the artstyle, world and the like from Breath of the Wild or if they will start from scratch for the next game again.

I'm also kind of wondering if Breath of the Wild was a one hit wonder (and BOTW2 will probably also ride that train) but is Nintendo maybe worried about how to handle the marketing and development of a 3D open-air Zelda post Breath of the Wild?

 

[Plum]

How eye-popping do y'all expect Metroid Prime HD to be, compared to some of the Switch's other prettiest games?

Honestly I find it really, really hard to envision how Metroid Prime HD and Metroid Prime 4 are gonna look like, so I can't answer this at all.

By that I mean, will they go for a more stylised approach, or focus on realism? Will the games be 30fps or 60fps? In MPHD's case, on what level between "HD Port," and "Demon's Souls Remake," will they go in the "graphical overhaul," spectrum?

Overall though I'm just really excited to see what the games look like (well, if MPHD is real lol).

 

[Irene]

How eye-popping do y'all expect Metroid Prime HD to be, compared to some of the Switch's other prettiest games?

It will look great. Prime has great art direction, that's for sure.

But still.. I don't know. I actually wasn't too keen on how Twilight Princess HD looked - the significantly upscaled and redone HD textures sort of clashed with the jagged GameCube-era 3D models and they didn't touch up the lighting much so everything felt oddly flat.

Prime has the same "grittiness" to it that Twilight Princess has, with murky textures and a somewhat muted color palette - rightfully so, of course, since it serves the vision - so I think that higher resolution textures and anti-aliasing alone won't quite elevate it up to Switch's other prettiest games. I think it would require some sort of overhaul of shadowing and ambient occlusion to really take it to another level.

 

[Marce-chan]

How eye-popping do y'all expect Metroid Prime HD to be, compared to some of the Switch's other prettiest games?

Gonna be BOLD and expect it to be one of the best looking Switch games, if not the best.
It's benefiting from being a remake of a Game Cube game, so it doesn't have the "huge open world/demanding mechanics" problem, it was already 60FPS on original release, and is apparently a 1:1 remake so assets being replaced. Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze was a looker back on Wii U and is 1080p60 on Switch. Retro are wizards on squeezing the most of hardware and their design is top notch. A new lightning and textures applied to modded MP already makes it look like a next gen game, imagine it done in house and with new modeling too.

I expect it to be as much of a looker as Odyssey levels, with higher poly character models. I expect it to look better than Dread. Look as good as BotW. As great as Astral Chain. Will only fall behind Luigi's Mansion 3 because hell most PS4 games don't look that good.

 

[Marce-chan]

Do we think the Sequel to The Legend of Zelda; Breath of the Wild will be the final game in the "Breath of the Wild so-called series", for now we've had Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity (kinda but not really but kinda you know?) and Breath of the Wild 2 is on the way. I'm just wondering if Nintendo will continue with the artstyle, world and the like from Breath of the Wild or if they will start from scratch for the next game again.

I'm also kind of wondering if Breath of the Wild was a one hit wonder (and BOTW2 will probably also ride that train) but is Nintendo maybe worried about how to handle the marketing and development of a 3D open-air Zelda post Breath of the Wild?

Oh that's a good point... I've always wondered about BotW 3, but the series is kind of a trilogy already with the game having a prequel and a direct sequel.
I think they might make one dungeon crawler/linear/Ocarina style game in between BotW 2 and the next open air game. Actually that's what I hope happens, but they might go right to the next one.
I think three games in a row in that same world will get exhausted, so they might make the next one from scratch or on a different universe idk. I expect BotW character designs as the default from now on tho.

 

[Mr Doggo]

Honestly I find it really, really hard to envision how Metroid Prime HD and Metroid Prime 4 are gonna look like, so I can't answer this at all.

By that I mean, will they go for a more stylised approach, or focus on realism? Will the games be 30fps or 60fps? In MPHD's case, on what level between "HD Port," and "Demon's Souls Remake," will they go in the "graphical overhaul," spectrum?

Overall though I'm just really excited to see what the games look like (well, if MPHD is real lol).

I think it will be more realistic than the trilogy, but certainly not photorealistic, i think that the switch's hardware would work against it.

I cant answer the 60/30 question. I myself dont give a shit for 60fps but i know how many people do and how mocked the game would be if it was 30, but i would prefer better visuals. For me, a 30/60fps toggle would be fantastic and i could see Retro doing it but lets see.

 

[Marce-chan]

Honestly I find it really, really hard to envision how Metroid Prime HD and Metroid Prime 4 are gonna look like, so I can't answer this at all.

By that I mean, will they go for a more stylised approach, or focus on realism? Will the games be 30fps or 60fps? In MPHD's case, on what level between "HD Port," and "Demon's Souls Remake," will they go in the "graphical overhaul," spectrum?

Overall though I'm just really excited to see what the games look like (well, if MPHD is real lol).

60FPS for sure. That might cost MP4 relying heavily on dynamic resolution or something if it's too demanding, but every Metroid Prime game was 60FPS. In fact, every single Metroid game was. The only exception was Samus Returns. Then they got back with Dread.
Doesn't mean it will be massively scaled back tho as we have games like Odyssey that are stellar looking and 60FPS.

 

[Irene]

Do we think the Sequel to The Legend of Zelda; Breath of the Wild will be the final game in the "Breath of the Wild so-called series", for now we've had Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity (kinda but not really but kinda you know?) and Breath of the Wild 2 is on the way. I'm just wondering if Nintendo will continue with the artstyle, world and the like from Breath of the Wild or if they will start from scratch for the next game again.

I'm also kind of wondering if Breath of the Wild was a one hit wonder (and BOTW2 will probably also ride that train) but is Nintendo maybe worried about how to handle the marketing and development of a 3D open-air Zelda post Breath of the Wild?

I think that yes, it will probably be the last of the (what I believe fans call it) "Wild era".

I think the Zelda after BotW2 will keep:

• Open world
• Item and weapon inventory and management
• Physics engine
• Artstyle

And add:

• Bonkers new mechanics
• Another Link
• Another approach to storytelling

Heck, I'm even toying with the idea that the game after BotW2 will have Nintendo move away from Hyrule/the Triforce/the Master Sword and maybe even Zelda herself in favour of a Koholint/Termina style setting, with brand new stuff.

 

[SirArthur]

I need the hopium of people thinking MP4 comes out next year (new school year). That game is at least 2024 (maybe early).

 

[Marce-chan]

It will look great. Prime has great art direction, that's for sure.

But still.. I don't know. I actually wasn't too keen on how Twilight Princess HD looked - the significantly upscaled and redone HD textures sort of clashed with the jagged GameCube-era 3D models and they didn't touch up the lighting much so everything felt oddly flat.

Prime has the same "grittiness" to it that Twilight Princess has, with murky textures and a somewhat muted color palette - rightfully so, of course, since it serves the vision - so I think that higher resolution textures and anti-aliasing alone won't quite elevate it up to Switch's other prettiest games. I think it would require some sort of overhaul of shadowing and ambient occlusion to really take it to another level.

I'm thinking of a mix of Ocarina of Time 3D(remodeling) and Wind Waker HD (new lighting, reflections, textures) for MPR.
It was a remaster that was in works for 4 years with a big team. I think they're going big.

 

[Leica]

Metroid Prime is or was like the poster child for how good older games can look on emulator. If Nintendo spend more energy on it than just texture swapping and bumping the resolution up it'll look spectacular I'm sure, it's already aged extremely well.

 

[Mr Doggo]

I need the hopium of people thinking MP4 comes out next year (new school year). That game is at least 2024 (maybe early).

marce chan being name dropped right here smh my head

 

[Miraj]

So, I'm fully expecting that any new StarFox game would market itself around a gimmick, just as much as any of Nintendo's other games might. My thing is always going to be if said gimmick is actually a GOOD idea and lends itself well to whatever direction they want to take the franchise, this time.

For example, I hope they bring back transforming mecha and "all range mode" combat (a la 2 and Zero). That stuff was cool. Just build a better game around such, is all I could really ask for.

I wonder if it would launch, or be an early title for, new Switch hardware. After the critical and fan drubbing they got over Zero's controls, they may just focus on impressive graphical power, or do something akin to the instantaneous loading the PS5 showed off with titles like Rift Apart. Or they could finally lean into what Assault started, and make it like like Battlefield where you run around and hop into various vehicles, land and air.

Speaking of Rift Apart, and this is a tangent, but I couldn't help but think of Star Fox while playing it. You've got this sci-fi universe where you play as a kind of fox-ish guy who planet hops, and there's a love interest who is a blue version of him, who even rides on a flying dino in one level. I was like "is this supposed to make me feel depressed at how Nintendo squandered Star Fox's potential, or what?"

 

[GoldCartridgeGamer]

Wonder if this is in relation his commentary on the latest Nintendogs

 

[MisterSpo]

One of the original leaks for Metroid Prime back on Era suggested it was a substantial visual overhaul, hence the length of time it took to finalise. I can't remember exactly what they said, though.

 

[MisterSpo]

Wonder if this is in relation his commentary on the latest Nintendogs

I believe that they're coming, but I don't see them launching soon without a delay for Breath of the Wild 2.

 

[Mekanos]

Wonder if this is in relation his commentary on the latest Nintendogs

If the Switch is launching a successor in 2023, probably not.

If it isn't launching one next year... maybe?

I think Nintendo won't want any Zelda SKUs competing with BOTW for at least a calendar year. They should have really brought one of them out this year though after BOTW2 got delayed.