Unlike most of the titles announced in today's Nintendo Direct, Metroid Prime Remastered became available on the Nintendo eShop at the conclusion of the video. Samus Aran can now explore Tallon IV on the Switch in an HD upgrade to her first GameCube adventure. After responding to a distress signal, Samus will explore much more detailed maps as she tracks down the Space Pirates mining the element Phazon on the mysterious planet.
Metroid Prime, one of GameCube's most successful titles, celebrated its 20th anniversary in November 2022. It was the first Metroid title on a home console since Super Metroid was released on the Super Nintendo. Samus's only appearance on Nintendo 64 was in Super Smash Bros. Her Game Boy title Metroid II: Return of Samus is also now available to Nintendo Switch Online members as of this Direct. Her fourth game, Metroid Fusion, is also confirmed to be a future addition to the library of Game Boy Advance titles for members with Expansion Pass.
Breaking away from the traditional 2D adventure that is literally its own genre, this 3D metroidvania action-adventure game takes place from a first-person perspective. In addition to different beams and abilities like morph balling and space jumping, the FPS aspect uses Samus's different visors to help her find secret passageways, hidden item upgrades, and enemy weaknesses. In particular, her scan visor is essential to completing the game 100%, as it requires you to do more than just hunt down all missile and bomb expansions. Scan first, shoot later.
It wouldn't be a remaster if there weren't more to it than just HD graphics. In an updated control feature, you can now use the dual-stick functionality of the Switch controller to change your perspective while moving around. In the GameCube and Wii versions, perspective was always forward facing unless you locked onto an enemy. Those traditional controls will still be available as well.
During its original release, players who beat Metroid Prime could port Samus's suit from Fusion to Prime by connecting their Game Boy Advance system. Vice-versa, players who beat Metroid Fusion could access and play the original Metroid on GameCube. With NES Metroid being available right off the bat to members of Nintendo Switch Online, it's highly unlikely this feature will carry over to the remaster.
A physical cartridge of Metroid Prime Remastered will be available to purchase from February 22, but the digital version can be purchased right now for $39.99 via the Nintendo eShop.