30 Dec 2022
Metroid Dread Permalink

Feature: End of Year 2022

December 30, 2022

Our final piece of content for the year is our annual End of Year feature. We wanted to highlight the Metroid news we got in 2022, including the free updates to Metroid Dread, as well as the wonderful community projects that came to fruition this year, and the content we published. We interviewed seven Metroid developers in writing and on the Shinesparkers Podcast, highlighted seven creators in our Community Spotlight series, and restored some of our legacy content from before 2017. All in all, a good year.

On behalf of the team, we want to thank all of our readers for their support this year. From all of us, Happy New Year, and here’s to more content and Metroid news in 2023! (Metroid Prime 4 trailer pretty please?)

Click here to read our End of Year 2022 feature

29 Dec 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Samus Aran’s namesake Pelé has died

December 29, 2022

Pelé, the legendary soccer player from Brazil, died today at the age of 82 after a long fight with cancer. Pelé played for over three decades and led Brazil to victory at the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970. What many people may not know is that he was the partial namesake of Samus Aran – her surname was derived from Pelé’s birth name, Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Hiroji Kiyotake, who created Samus, is a massive fan of soccer. This tidbit was revealed in a 2004 interview with the Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream (as translated by the Metroid Database).

On behalf of the team at Shinesparkers, we offer our condolences to Pelé’s family, friends and fans during this devastating time, and we will remember his passion for soccer, as well as his contribution to Metroid.

Source: The Washington Post

16 Dec 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Feature: Top Facts You Didn’t Know About Metroid

December 16, 2022

In our penultimate feature for the year, we are pleased to share eight top facts you didn’t know about the Metroid series! There are lots of secrets most fans know, like the secret conversation in Metroid Fusion or the Geemer that looks like Samus in Super Metroid, but did you know that there are Parasites in Metroid Prime named after the Three Stooges? Or that Super Metroid originally had a marketing slogan or even subtitle? Or that Samus shares a Japanese voice actress with Thomas the Tank Engine and Ellen Ripley? We have investigated a number of mysteries over the years and compiled them into this feature, in the hopes of sharing these secrets with a wider audience. Let us know your favorite facts on our social media platforms, and who knows? In the future we may uncover more!

Click here to check out the feature

09 Dec 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Community Spotlight: Skylar

December 9, 2022

Our final Community Spotlight of 2022 is now live! This month, we are highlighting the talented artist Skylar, who became a fan of the series through Metroid Dread. As she started posting her artwork online, she quickly gained attention and fans of her work. The piece that’s in the spotlight header image is one of her most popular, and for good reason. Skylar is studying to become a professional video games artist, and we are excited to see her art in a game someday!

Click here to check out the spotlight

03 Dec 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Lost Metroid games detailed in new DidYouKnowGaming? video

December 3, 2022

DidYouKnowGaming? has released a new video today that covers lost Metroid games that have been rumored for years. Narrated by vinesauce, the video reveals the results of DYKG’s investigations into whether and how far Metroid 64 got into production, as well as “Project Valkyrie”, the prototype that Next Level Games was developing, for which concept artwork was leaked online in 2014. (Disclosure: I proofread the script for the Metroid 64 portion of this video at DYKG’s request). Additionally, former Metroid Prime engineer Paul Tozour reveals an XCOM-like spinoff he pitched at Retro Studios for the first time, Metroid Tactics. Quite a few Metroid games have never seen the light of day, so it’s always fascinating to learn about what could have been.

You can watch the video at the link below.

Source: DidYouKnowGaming?

25 Nov 2022
Metroid Prime Permalink

Feature: Prime: Metroid Reimagined Review

November 25, 2022

Last Friday November 18th, Outset Initiative released a visual album called Prime: Metroid Reimagined, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Metroid Prime. Our team member Naner wrote a review of the album, sharing his thoughts about its unique take on Prime’s iconic music. In the absence of official recognition by Nintendo of Metroid Prime turning 20 years old, Prime: Metroid Reimagined ensured the date did not pass us without celebration. You can check out Naner’s review at the link below, with the album embedded so you can hear it for yourself.

Click here to check out the feature

18 Nov 2022
Metroid Fusion, Metroid Prime Permalink

Feature: Metroid Prime’s 20th Anniversary

November 18, 2022

Today is a momentous occasion, as it is the 20th anniversary of Metroid Prime! To celebrate, the Shinesparkers team has come together to pay tribute to both Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion as they enter their second decade of existence. These games revived the Metroid series back in 2002 after an eight year hiatus following Super Metroid, and have consistently remained some of the fans’ favorite Metroid games.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on Fusion and Prime as they turn 20. Chime in on our social media pages, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Click here to check out the feature

04 Nov 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Feature: Cook Like a Bounty Hunter

November 4, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to share a new feature I’ve been working on all year long: Cook Like a Bounty Hunter! I love cooking, and decided to combine that with one of my other passions in life, Metroid. I’ve developed and tested seven recipes themed around Metroid, from Samus Arancini to Phazon Alfredo and X Parasite Jellies. If you make any of these, do let me know how they tasted! I think you’ll really enjoy them.

Click here to check out the feature

14 Oct 2022
Uncategorized Permalink

Community Spotlight: Bonbon

October 14, 2022

We’re back with another Community Spotlight! This month we’re featuring Bonbon, an incredible Metroid cosplayer from Japan. Besides making amazing Power Suit cosplays, like Dark Samus and the Metroid: Samus Returns Gravity Suit, Bonbon has worn them to film reaction videos, including to the announcement of Metroid Dread. He’s currently hard at work on what might be the world’s first Proteus Ridley cosplay, which we can’t wait to see!

Click here to check out the Spotlight

13 Oct 2022
Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Permalink

Armature Studio bought by Meta Platforms

October 13, 2022

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has acquired Armature Studio and three other game development studios, and absorbed them into its Oculus Studios brand. Armature was founded by three former Retro Studios developers in 2008; as most of you know, Retro created the Metroid Prime Trilogy, and is currently making Metroid Prime 4. Armature released ReCore in 2016, which was described in marketing as made by “the makers of Metroid Prime”, and had a few similarities with Prime as well. Many former Metroid Prime staff at Retro have gone on to work for Armature.

It is currently unknown what game Armature will be working on next as part of Meta. They most recently worked on an Oculus VR port of Resident Evil 4.

Source: Eurogamer