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TDLink · Jun 15, 2015

I know the thought went through not just my brain but probably many. This little game which very well might end up as a F2P eShop release looks extremely similar to the Nintendo DS game Metroid Prime Hunters. The UI is very reminiscent of the Metroid Prime style and the aesthetic is nearly identical. So...what if Blast Ball actually isn't its own game but instead part of a Prime Hunters 2 as a mode?

Notice the Metroid Prime style font, the arm cannon-type weapon, and the entire UI essentially being a visor. Obviously there are some things missing, but if this is part of a Metroid Prime Hunters game then you wouldn't have all your normal UI stuff since it's a mode all about hitting the ball into the other person's goal rather than killing.

The logo is also evokes a Metroid vibe:

Furthermore, in the previously existing Blast Ball topic AzVal pointed out the following:

AzVal said:
I mentioned on the NWC thread and found the moment where you read Clearly "G.F.S. AEGIS" which is in line with the ship naming in the Metroid Galactic Federation naming for "G.F.S. Valhalla", "G.F.S. Olympus", etc.

https://youtu.be/J9H8VcU21j4?t=6993

I think that is strong enough to at least say there is some sort of connection to the Metroid universe even if this isn't part of a larger Hunters 2 game.

So what do you think? I am guessing we'll find out one way or the other on Tuesday.

Additional observations from this topic:

Mellahan said:
I seriously wonder this myself. It's such a random little game, followed up with no press release or materials. Almost as if it's part of a larger whole.

Broritos said:
https://youtu.be/J9H8VcU21j4?t=2h6m3s

Notice the helmet on the right side of the screen.

Looks exactly like a Galactic Federation helmet.

VLQ said:
Kensuke Tanabe at E32013:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/13/e3-2013-nintendo-retro-discuss-future-of-metroid

"Basically I’m thinking of, not just Samus, but how we can expand the whole Samus universe," Tanabe said. "You remember Metroid Prime Hunters. I’m thinking about things like how we could make that go out further, with all these different bounty hunters as well."

Click to expand...

Can it be related to Blastball?

Mellahan said:
One more observation: The "Blast Ball" logo does not have a ™ or ®. No title exists in the US patent office, either. Even the newly rechristened Mario Maker has a ™ .

Mods: If this speculation topic is unwanted during E3 feel free to lock, but I think the discussion is worth having.

TheGreatMightyPoo · Jun 15, 2015

I don't think so.

?oe?oe · Jun 15, 2015

It's probably NST using the same engine, but I doin't think it's Metroid.

TheGamingBox · Jun 15, 2015

i would hope not

SatoAilDarko · Jun 15, 2015

I think it was once part of a Metroid game but isn't anymore.

Notice the pilots of those robots have Mii dimensions. Simple, small body with huge heads. I don't see how that would work in the Metroid style.

SporeCrawler · Jun 15, 2015

not metroid prime 4 proper?

SuperSah · Jun 15, 2015

Probably not.

Enter the Dragon Punch · Jun 15, 2015

Is Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country Returns a first look at Super Metroid 2?

Kinsei · Jun 15, 2015

OfficeNo.gif

Oh god That would almost be as bad as an Other M 2.

I don't think Nintendo would be dumb enough to make a new MPH.

Zeyphersan · Jun 15, 2015

I really hope not

Mellahan · Jun 15, 2015

I seriously wonder this myself. It's such a random little game, followed up with no press release or materials. Almost as if it's part of a larger whole.

Mihael Mello Keehl · Jun 15, 2015

Absolutely they are lying again

TDLink · Jun 15, 2015

SatoAilDarko said:
I think it was once part of a Metroid game but isn't anymore.

Notice the pilots of those robots have Mii dimensions. Simple, small body with huge heads. I don't see how that would work in the Metroid style.

A mode doesn't necessarily have to adhere to the other modes' rules.

Enter the Dragon Punch said:
Is Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country Returns a first look at Super Metroid 2?

I think that's fairly different. DKCR has a very different aesthetic compared to Super Metroid. Samus' ship being there is just a reference. Maybe that G.F.S. AEGIS being there is just a reference as well, but combined with the aesthetic being similar I think it could indicate more.

I would be totally down with a Retro made 2D Metroid with the DKCR engine though.

TheCongressman1 · Jun 15, 2015

SatoAilDarko said:
I think it was once part of a Metroid game but isn't anymore.

Reminds me a lot of this:

NateDrake · Jun 15, 2015

This is the only bit of info Nintendo has even issued on the game: Blast Ball, a new six-player sci-fi sports experience...

CronoShot · Jun 15, 2015

Even the font looks Metroid-ish.

I'm gonna bet this started as Prime Hunters 2, then morphed into something new.

@MUWANdo · Jun 15, 2015

Was Other M a first look at X-Scape?

TheSpaceBetween · Jun 15, 2015

Sadly, I think it is

. Not what I had in mind for a glorious Metroid return.

TheGreatMightyPoo · Jun 15, 2015

@MUWANdo said:
Was Other M a first look at X-Scape?

No, but it was the first look at Superman 64.

Broritos · Jun 15, 2015

https://youtu.be/J9H8VcU21j4?t=2h6m3s

Notice the helmet on the right side of the screen.

Looks exactly like a Galactic Federation helmet.

TDLink · Jun 15, 2015

Mellahan said:
I seriously wonder this myself. It's such a random little game, followed up with no press release or materials. Almost as if it's part of a larger whole.

NateDrake said:
This is the only bit of info Nintendo has even issued on the game: Blast Ball, a new six-player sci-fi sports experience...

Right, and this is suspicious as well. For something that was just revealed there is a shocking lack of officially released material. Just what we saw on the stream. It looks like something light even for an eshop only release. It feels like there's more to it.

TheGreatMightyPoo · Jun 15, 2015

At least we only have to wait a day to find out, could you imagine if E3 was 3 weeks away from this reveal???

thisisvlad · Jun 15, 2015

Things that remind one of Metroid:

- The font (logo and in-game)
- The health (99 counter)
- The charge shot animation
- The general look of the HUD

My guess is a multi-player mode (maybe even free) of a bigger Metroid game on 3DS.

Jawmuncher · Jun 15, 2015

Nah. I think it's going to be its own thing. Just some 3DS downloadable. It might have been metroid at one point though.

Salsa · Jun 15, 2015

no one wants this

but honest opinion: obviously hunters inspired but it's own thing

Zeyphersan · Jun 15, 2015

If the next Metroid game is in a Prime Hunters style i'm going to be so pissed

Poimandres · Jun 15, 2015

It DOES look a whole lot like MP:H. Exactly what I thought when I saw it. I'm going with the theory that it was once part of a Hunters sequel and has morphed into Blast Ball.

Kinsei · Jun 15, 2015

Zeyphersan said:
If the next Metroid game is in a Prime Hunters style i'm going to be so pissed

I think 99% of Metroid fans will be.

OrbitalBeard · Jun 15, 2015

Metroid Prime Hunters 2 is literally the worst-case scenario for me when it comes to a new Metroid game. I would honestly rather have Other M 2 than another Hunters game.

I'm hoping Blast Ball has nothing to do with Metroid. It looks fun and I'd be interested in playing it if it's an eShop release. If it's part of Hunters 2 I'm going to be crushed.

TDLink · Jun 15, 2015

Broritos said:
https://youtu.be/J9H8VcU21j4?t=2h6m3s

Notice the helmet on the right side of the screen.

Looks exactly like a Galactic Federation helmet.

Good catch, I'm going to add this to the OP.

SuperSah · Jun 15, 2015

CronoShot said:
Even the font looks Metroid-ish.

I'm gonna bet this started as Prime Hunters 2, then morphed into something new.

Yup, like how Splatoon started off as a Mario game but turned into a new IP - this is probably the same case.

Miker · Jun 15, 2015

If it is, then it's time to stock up on these babies.

fredrancour · Jun 15, 2015

I'm going to assume "MPH project that was turned into a standalone ip at some point."

It just.... doesn't seem like the mindgame would actually be exciting enough to make a bait and switch worth it. It seems more likely that a relatively-unpopular spinoff of a subseries of a modestly-successful IP would have a better shot at a new life as a standalone, possibly free-to-play game. Also, "We chose to follow other m by releasing a sequel to what WAS the least-popular game in the franchise before other m happened after several years of inactivity" just seems too crushingly oblivious even for Nintendo. making it a new minor ip evades that for the most part.

Immaculate · Jun 15, 2015

was hunters that bad

This thread makes hunters sound terrible

Tusk · Jun 15, 2015

I feel you guys might be grasping. It's obviously just it's own little game, that's slightly similar to Metroid.

TDLink · Jun 15, 2015

SuperSah said:
Yup, like how Splatoon started off as a Mario game but turned into a new IP - this is probably the same case.

Splatoon doesn't still resemble a Mario game though or have direct Mario universe references.

Zeyphersan · Jun 15, 2015

Immaculate said:
was hunters that bad

This thread makes hunters sound terrible

I played a lot of it when it came out. I was even in an online clan, and had matches with other Metroid Prime Hunters clans. A lot of my time was spent in Metroid Prime Hunters

It's not good. I don't want another one.

Kinsei · Jun 15, 2015

Immaculate said:
was hunters that bad

This thread makes hunters sound terrible

It was pretty bad. Before Other M it was tied with Metroid II as the worst in the series IMO.

Poimandres · Jun 15, 2015

Immaculate said:
was hunters that bad

This thread makes hunters sound terrible

Single player was bad, multiplayer was a lot of fun (terrible hand cramps aside)

Miker · Jun 15, 2015

Blast Ball is like the low (very low) rent and low violence version of Bombing Run for UT2K3/4.

EatChildren · Jun 15, 2015

Immaculate said:
was hunters that bad

This thread makes hunters sound terrible

Great little handheld multiplayer shooter set within the Metroid universe. Would in no way satiate fans actually after more Metroid. I enjoyed it plenty, felt like a great Unreal Tournament mod. Put a lot of hours into the multi. But a Hunters 2 isn't going to make me want Metroid 5 and/or Metroid Prime 4 any less.

RK128 · Jun 15, 2015

It could be a hint at a larger 3DS Metroid game....and I could picture this being the MP mode of the game with the single player being something different entirely. This is a case where we should wait until Nintendo's Digital Event on Tuseday, as we don't know enough to make a strong guess whenever or not if this is a Prime Hunters 2.

Besides, Nintendo isn't dumb; the 'last' Metroid game had an overwhelming negative reaction from both the press and consumers. I think that if they are going to make anything Metroid, it will be a proper 3D Prime game, a much (MUCH) stronger game using the Other M core mechanics as a base and/or make a 2.5D Metroid developed by Next Level Games.

Any of these would be fantastic and I expect at least one of them to pop up at the Nintendo Digital Event.

I think regarding Metroid, we could be getting the following:
-Metroid Prime Hunters 3D developed by NST and Retro Studios; releases August 2015
-Metroid Dread by Next Level Games; releases Fall 2015
-Metroid by Retro Studios coming 2016
-Metroid-Themed content coming for future Mario Kart 8 DLC (Samus's Ship as a Kart, Samus a playable racer, Zebus or Prime Track)

And that this year would be the year of Metroid

! ......A lot of that is dreaming, but I would imagine that considering Zelda got delayed, and they haven't used the Metroid brand for anything in a while, it would make since to hit out strong with three tittles being announced at once

.

TDLink · Jun 15, 2015

Immaculate said:
was hunters that bad

This thread makes hunters sound terrible

It wasn't terrible but it wasn't amazing. The campaign left a lot to be desired but I had quite a bit of fun with the multiplayer. It was also notably the first Nintendo online game that let you match make with randoms and add them to your friends list. If I remember right (although I may not be) it even had voice chat, which is something a lot of modern Nintendo games still don't have.

I think conceptually a multiplayer-focused Metroid Prime game could still work (although I would hope it would be bundled with a better campaign as well). Hunters was mediocre but it doesn't mean they can't do better if they try again.

OrbitalBeard · Jun 15, 2015

Immaculate said:
was hunters that bad

This thread makes hunters sound terrible

It wasn't a bad game but holy hell, it's not the sub-series I want to see brought back after a five year Metroid absence.

iBlue · Jun 15, 2015

It doesn't look like hunters at all. As someone who spent more than 500hrs on that game i can say they are totally different. In the other hand a new MPH 2 would awesome! but this time work on the story mode so single player dont complain.

VLQ · Jun 15, 2015

Kensuke Tanabe at E32013:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/13/e3-2013-nintendo-retro-discuss-future-of-metroid

"Basically Im thinking of, not just Samus, but how we can expand the whole Samus universe," Tanabe said. "You remember Metroid Prime Hunters. Im thinking about things like how we could make that go out further, with all these different bounty hunters as well."

Can it be related to Blastball?

The Giant · Jun 15, 2015

It's just using the same engine as Hunters.

Mihael Mello Keehl · Jun 15, 2015

Why yall act like there cant be 2 metroid games?

Also, why yall acting like this means its on 3DS? lol

Im 100% sure this metroid related probably a mini game the details they released for it is coy as fuck.

Kobun Heat · Jun 15, 2015

I was thinking the same thing. Would not be at all surprised if this is Metroid 3DS (maybe not "Hunters 2", maybe so), and they reveal that this is the multiplayer mode. Would explain why they didn't announce when this game would be available, why they sort of obliquely referred to it as an "experience," etc.

Afrocious · Jun 15, 2015

The Giant said:
It's just using the same engine as Hunters.

This.

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