A proper entry in the Metroid franchise has been a long time coming. Fans are hungry for a new adventure, and the announcement of Metroid Prime: Federation Force only made things worse for fans of Nintendo's sci-fi franchise.
Rather than deliver a proper new game in the Metroid series starring franchise star Samus Aran, Nintendo instead opted for a multiplayer-focused spin-off that looks to have little to do with the Metroid universe at large.
The result? Nearly every trailer for the game released by Nintendo in recent months has been bombarded with dislikes on YouTube and social media, as fans make their negative opinion of the game known. It's a bad situation for everybody: the developers, Nintendo and fans alike.
Spoilers for Metroid Prime: Federation Force below!
For some players, then, the fact that there is at least one Samus cameo in Metroid Prime: Federation Force is likely to be the salt in an already painful wound. As shown by YouTube channel GameXplain, Samus Aran (or at least her ship) arrives to save the day in mission 12 of Metroid Prime: Federation Force, after players do battle with a massive beetle creature. The marines on the ground then comment on how they owe their lives to the iconic bounty hunter.
It's definitely cool to see Samus again, even if she is only doing a drive-by in her ship. The fact that it's her ship from Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is also a nice nod to hardcore fans. That being said, it's not much for fans to get excited over. The whole cameo is over in about 10 seconds, and players don't even get to see Samus herself.
Of course, this might not be the only Samus cameo in the game, but rather just one of them. It's unclear how much of a role Samus will have in the full game beyond this one appearance. Either way, even several Samus cameos aren't likely to change the opinion of many fans who feel like Nintendo is wasting one of its greatest franchises. Fans are in a bit of a rock and a hard place, too. If Metroid Prime: Federation Force fails to sell well, Nintendo may get the idea that Metroid isn't a franchise worth putting resources into. However, if fans to purchase the game and make it a success, Nintendo might instead continue to release spin-off titles instead of a proper Metroid game that fans know and love. You can watch the cameo for yourself at around the 3:35 mark in the video below.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force arrives on Nintendo 3DS Aug. 19.
