Retro wanted new cutscenes for Metroid Prime Remastered, but Nintendo decided against it

A new detail has been revealed about what could have been for Metroid Prime Remastered, which is that the game came close to having new cutscenes.

This was something that Retro Studios actually wanted to pursue for the Nintendo Switch release. However, Nintendo ultimately vetoed the idea. Kensuke Tanabe, the game’s producer, explained that “the cutscenes were not created solely for dramatic effect; they also played a role in conveying gameplay-relevant information to the player.”

Tanabe’s full words, which were shared in the Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective book:

“When the project first started, Retro proposed an idea regarding cutscenes – that we create entirely new ones. The prototype cutscene they presented was undeniably impressive, with a high level of quality. However, I came to the decision to closely observe the cutscenes from the GameCube version and replicate them essentially as they were. The reason for this choice was that the cutscenes were not created solely for dramatic effect; they also played a role in conveying gameplay-relevant information to the player. Each scene was carefully crafted with this purpose in mind. Retro demonstrated exceptional professionalism and fully adhered to this direction.”

We also got to hear from Tanabe about the original development of Metroid Prime and clashes between Nintendo and Retro. In case you missed it, find those details here.

Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective is due out next week. Those looking to secure a copy can do so here.

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