Metroid Prime Remastered Nearly Got Brand-New Cutscenes — Art Book Shows Why Nintendo Scrapped Them
Nintendo’s new art book for the Metroid Prime series reveals that Metroid Prime Remastered almost featured entirely new cutscenes — but the idea was ultimately dropped to keep gameplay clarity intact. The book, titled Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective, collects concept art from all three Prime games and the remaster, and it’s due on Oct. 28. For more details you can check the official book listing on Piggyback’s product page.
- Remaster cutscenes
- Development timeline and Metroid Prime 4 link
- Other details from the book
- Book availability
Remaster cutscenes
According to producer Kensuke Tenabe’s notes in the book, Retro Studios proposed creating new, original cutscenes for the 2023 remaster. Tenabe writes, “When the project first started, Retro proposed an idea regarding cutscenes — that we create entirely new ones.” He adds that, “The prototype cutscene they presented was undeniably impressive, with a high level of quality.”
However, Tenabe decided to keep the original cutscenes. He explained that the existing scenes weren’t just for drama; they also carried gameplay information. As he writes, “The cutscenes were not created solely for dramatic effect; they also played a role in conveying gameplay-relevant information to the player.”
Development timeline and Metroid Prime 4 link
The book also clarifies how the remaster ties into the timeline for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Tenabe notes his team was assigned away from Retro Studios in 2014, and then Nintendo asked his team to work on the remaster in spring 2018. Retro Studios later took over development of Metroid Prime 4 in 2019, a move Tenabe links directly to the remaster work.
As Tenabe writes, “That led to the rekindling of our relationship with Retro, which eventually led to our involvement in the development of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. So there’s no doubt that this title was a turning point for both Retro and myself.”
Other details from the book
The retrospective shares several development notes and proposals from Retro Studios and Nintendo. Notable items include:
Proposed feature changes
Retro pitched a bounty system and a mission-based structure for Metroid Prime 3: Corruption to try to broaden the series’ appeal after Metroid Prime 2 underperformed in sales.
Multiplayer and level timing
The book says Metroid Prime 2’s multiplayer mode was nearly developed as a separate, stand-alone product. It also notes that Metroid Prime’s Impact Crater area was largely implemented in the final months of the project.
Development atmosphere
Across the pages, the book paints a picture of rushed schedules, creative clashes, and burnout at Retro Studios during the series’ early years. Tenabe reflects on the whole effort: “In a way, it could be called a miracle.”
Book availability
Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective is scheduled for release on Oct. 28. For the official listing and purchase details, visit the book’s page on Piggyback.
