It can't be stressed enough. Nintendo truly does love releasing remasters/remakes during anniversaries.
Anniversaries are one the easiest marketing templates.
- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definition Edition - Released during Xenoblade Chronicle 1's 10th anniversary.
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Released during Skyward Sword's 10th anniversary.
- Super Mario 3D All Stars - Released during Mario's 35th anniversary.
- Advance Wars 1 + 2 - Releasing during Advance War's 20th anniversary
- Pokemon Diamond & Pearl - Releasing during Pokemon's 25th anniversary (and Diamond & Pearl's 15th anniversary)
Plus, Metroid Prime wasn't just
any game. It's one of the greatest games that Nintendo has ever created. It sits at 97% on Metacritic.
Prime 1 was Metroid's Ocarina of Time moment. It would be almost insulting if Nintendo didn't acknowledge Metroid Prime's anniversary in some way.
And who can forget all the times Metroid Prime been compared to Citizen Kane...
IGN -
Citizen Kane: Is Metroid Prime Our Citizen Kane?
Kotaku -
The Man Who Never Wanted To Make The 'Citizen Kane' for Games