How to Make a Metroid/StarFox Crossover Work Articles - Editorial Sunday, 20 May 2012 00:14 Written by Carl B

The craziest rumor leading up to this year's Electronics Entertainment Expo was revealed on Saturday: a Metroid and StarFox crossover title, developed by none other than Retro Studios. The idea sounds pretty insane, but it's possible given the recent rumors of Retro working on a Metroid title or a StarFox title, and that whatever game they are working on will be massive in scope. There's so much room for error with this type of crossover; however, it is possible to make an amazing title.

According to the rumor, employees at Texas-based Retro Studios wanted to work on a new IP that focused on intense, aerial battles, and other members wanted to take on StarFox. Nintendo then approached the studio with another idea: the best of both worlds – a crossover between Metroid and StarFox.

This story blurb is courtesy of GoNintendo: “The story begins as you control Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team on deep space mission in your Arwing, flying through a Meteos-like stage. As you enter a light speed warp, there’s a collision with an orange ship (Samus’) and the game continues with you now plummeting to a planet as Samus in her craft. You’re in mild control of her ship, using the Wii U controller to look around and touch screen press the lit up buttons to prepare for impact (while the TV stays locked on what you see out of the cockpit). You’re now on land, as a “yet again” stripped down Samus Aran with the most basic of weapon abilities, in first person perspective, traversing through this unknown planet. The game switches off between intense Arwing space and planetary battles as Fox makes his way to the planet that Samus crashed on and a Metroid Prime-like experience of gameplay as Samus on this planet, gradually uncovering its mysteries, leveling up, etc.”

It sounded absolutely insane at first, then I warmed up to the idea because players would be able to decline the StarFox parts and just play a new Metroid Prime title, until the time came where Samus could go no further without Fox's help. That's what gives this rumored game so much potential: if the actions taken by Samus affect what Fox does/is able to do, and vice-versa. Sort of like in A Link to the Past and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes where players make changes to the Dark World, the Light World is altered as well – only to a much greater scope in this supposed cross-over.

It would also behoove Retro to add an option where the game automatically denies entry to Samus gameplay or Fox gameplay, so that an immersion-breaking notification doesn't pop up on the screen every time the game suggests that players make the switch. Those who want to play just a new Metroid Prime game – like me – or those who want to experience a new StarFox title without the Metroid added in should be able to, at least until the two story-lines intersect.

My biggest concern about a crossover between Metroid and StarFox is that the two franchises have such a different atmosphere and tone to them. It would be really weird if players are going through the darker, more serious Samus gameplay, and then switch over to StarFox and find themselves having a conversation with a frog. It would be great if Samus and Fox never actually interact with one another in person because that seems incredibly out of place for each series.

This can easily ruin both franchises, and with the bad taste of Metroid: Other M still in gamers' mouths, it seems a little bit risky to involve the Metroid series in an ambitious cross-over. Retro Studios is the right developer for the job, though, so here's hoping that if this rumor turns out to be true, StarFox – Metroid: Fusion Saga won't be two incomplete experiences meshed together.