Nintendo has made a name for themselves building up crazy ideas, and capitalizing in a way that doesn't seem possible. Super Mario Bros. is a fantastic example of this combining side scrolling levels with game play that's fluid, simple, and easy to comprehend. The general idea of Super Mario Bros. must have sounded strange at first when unveiled at a investors meeting. Shigeru Miyamoto standing up there giving his pitch, "Hey I got a great idea for a game for our new Famicom system! Why don't we take jump man from our smash hit game Donkey Kong, have him explore various side-scrolling stages, have him fight mushroom creatures and turtles, and have him power up by eating special mushrooms!" No doubt about it this idea sounded crazy, but in the end that very same idea came to revolutionize gaming as we know it. When rumors late last week hinted about a possible Star Fox/Metroid hybrid game it sounded confusing and really convoluted, but could the paring of these two games be a match made in heaven?

According to the rumor Retro studios is developing a hybrid game involving both Star Fox and Metroid in one epic adventure. The game itself would involve a few game play mechanics with one being intense Arwing space shooting action with planetary battles, and the other being a lone desolate experience with Samus exploring different areas while collecting different abilities. The story is centralized around Fox McCloud's nemesis Andross harvesting Metroids to fuel his plans for galactic supremacy. Apparently there are also mentions of Fox McCloud having land based missions where he'll move and attack similar to Ryu Hyabusa.

Upon first analysis of this rumor I felt really mixed about it. On one hand the sounds of two great Nintendo franchises sounds like a great idea on paper, although on the other hand mixing up Star Fox and Metroid feels like the equivalent of mixing two condiments you like (we'll say mayonnaise and grape jelly) but taste terrible because they're the polar opposites of each other. Star Fox has always been a series that's been light hearted at best. No one really takes the story of a Star Fox game too seriously since its focused on fast paced action, aerial dog fighting, and mixing in multiple paths to explore while trying to reach the final stage. The Metroid series on the other hand has always had a great atmospheric feel. The game play focuses on exploring uncharted terrains, battling wild alien beasts, collecting suit power ups, and piecing together what's happened. The sense of isolation and curiosity of what happens next is what drives the Metroid series up there with the elite gaming franchises.

Even though the idea of this hybrid Star Fox/Metroid game sounds crazy it doesn't mean Retro Studios doesn't have the knowledge, or experience to create a great game. Retro Studios has cemented itself with the Metroid Prime series, the rebirth of Donkey Kong Country, and helping develop the latest Mario Kart game. Their implementation of a series's mythos along side their take on fresh ideas creates an experience that feels logical and well placed. This is a developer that can squeeze in intricate details without being too convoluted or unnecessary. With Retro one thing is for sure, no matter how obscure or seemingly difficult a project may seem they've always found a way to excel. Which makes it interesting what Retro might actually do with this type of cross hybrid.

Take this rumor with a grain of salt. To whether this is a match made in heaven is left to the individual, from what I think as much as I want to see a new Star Fox and Metroid game for the Wii U I don't want a cross product that could potentially harm both series. With each series coming off of their last games being some what controversial, and traveled away from their core basics it would be in Nintendo's best interests to go with what made them great to begin with. E3 seems like an eternity away. Once Retro Studio's new game is unveiled I have a feeling gamers will not only be excited, but will relish in the thought this new game will be the reason they buy a Wii U.

That would be awful.

Ninja Gaiden gameplay, Metroid gameplay, and Star Fox gameplay in one package? Sounds like a bad idea.

Also I think there might be something fundamentally wrong with mixing 2 gameplay types. I was not generally opposed to Fox having on-foot missions (at least not in the past) however the reasoning behind my opinion was that on-foot missions can and should be reasonably similar to the flight gameplay, or at the very least done in a way true to the series. If it's a completely different gameplay style, that's fine, but it should be its own title, not crammed together with a different one.

Where did you hear this rumor exactly?

@C_Rakestraw said:

Where did you hear this rumor exactly?

Nintendo beamed it into his head when his tin foil cap fell off.

Metroid and Star Fox really don't have any business mixing together.

Nope, no thanks, please don't

In all seriousness, I'd love to see what Retro could do for Star Fox, but without the crazy crossover mumbo jumbo nonsense being theorized here. I hope Nintendo reveals whatever it is that Rero is working on at E3.

As NeoGAF members were quick to point out in their own thread about the rumor, the site that started this rumor kind of gets off on just starting a lot of left-field rumors in general. He did apparently get the details right on PlayStation All-Stars, but he's otherwise not necessarily considered the most reputable of sources. Even he himself said in that thread that it was just an implausible rumor he happened to hear off the grapevine and otherwise doubts its validity, but still thought it was interesting enough to justify posting.