Metroid Prime’s cut content: Enemies, locations, more
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Metroid Prime is one of the most intriguing titles for the GameCube. It was created by an unknown development team – no one had any idea Retro Studios would rise to the challenge presented to them – and the project went through a tumultuous development cycle.
There were quite a few aspects that were left on the cutting room floor, such as enemies and locations. NeoGAF member “Mama Robotnik” has uncovered some of this lost content. We were aware of some of these elements, but not all.
Lots of concepts, general art pieces, and other images can be found in the gallery above, which features Kraid, alternate Ridley designs, and a whole lot more. Head past the break for a breakdown of the pictures.
Kraid
“The level that he was to be included in was well underway to being designed. There just was not enough developement time remaining to fully implement all aspects of the scenario that were needed to pull off a highly polished/fun gaming experience… It was [ultimately] decided that Kraid was not imperative enough to the Metroid Prime project to run the risk of pushing up the release date in order to fit him in,
- Two Kraid models may have been made
- One model close to the design from Super Metroid, firing belly-spears at Samus
- Second design was modeled, and Kraid’s head was replaced with a metal shell
Mother Brain
Possible theory:
Metroid Prime’s story may have originally involved the Space Pirates mounting Mother Brain (or a copy/clone) into the Talon IV Impact Crater itself. The influx of power and energy from the alien Phazon could have elevated her powers into a transcendent, near-magical state. The hovering eyes were perhaps representing her ability to see across the planet, and the plume of blue energy could be the constant stream of Phazon pumping into her flesh. The rocky spikes could even represent the phazon morphing around her, accommodating her anatomy into its twisted, living environment. Mother Brain’s massive size, absolutely dwarfing Samus, could suggest that the Phazon induced growth and mutation, expanding her well-beyond her confines of her glass life support system.
Ridley
- Samus may have been intended to encounter Ridley in a canyon with interconnecting bridges
- Different designs for Ridley
- One design: more organic incarnation with visible bloody organs through a metal exoskeleton ribcage; an almost entirely-mechanical incarnation with more than a passing resemblance to Metroid: Zero Mission’s Mecha-Ridley
- Second design: red and orange metal dragon, steampunk-esque
- “Dark_Possessed_Ridley” was found on Nintendo’s website
- Ridley seems to have been altered to a Chozo-like form
- Feathered wings, jaw is a beak, has Chozo-style armor, not hostile toward Samus
Possible theory for “Dark Possessed Ridley”:
A different endgame for Ridley may have been intended. Instead of the Chozo Ghosts summoning the power of the temple to project him off the cliff, perhaps they channelled their supernatural energies into the dragon himself. This “dark possession” could have forced upon Ridley a metamorphosis, altering his appearance to reflect the Chozo possession. Perhaps in this “dark possessed” form, the Chozp spirits use Ridley’s body to help Samus to get to the Impact Crater to finally defeat the worm within.
Flying Insect Boss
- Flying cybernetic insect boss may have been considered for Talon IV
- The boss would may have hovered from a colossal apparatus firing blasts from its claws
- Could be a boss that served as some aerial-equivalent to the Phazon-infused Omega Pirate
- Concept piece hints at the flying device having a living Metroid
Sheegoth Prime (unofficial name)
- A third stage of the Sheegoth life-cycle may have been a boss for Phendara Drifts
- Four arms
- Final form of the enemy most likely
- “Baby” and “adult” variants were regular enemies in the final release
Lava Thardus
- Martin L’Heureux had said Thardus was supposed to appear in a large lava pit arena
- This was changed because of time constraints
- May have been a boss of Magmoor Caverns if Retro had more times
- Interestingly, Magmoor Caverns had no boss in the final game
- Thardus has a glowing red core in the alternate version
Alternate Parasite Queen
- Official: Mike Sneath said, “I made the Parasite Queen almost at the beginning of when we started Metroid. LeRoy [Strauss] made the chamber you see in the game maybe a year or so later. There was a previous chamber, which was scrapped because the game play wasn’t working properly so the designer remade the chamber.”
Omega Metroid
- A huge Omega Metroid seemed to have been considered for Talon IV at some point
- Perhaps the Omega boss may have been unlocked through the Metroid Prime – Metroid Fusion link system
- Smaller Metroid seems to be an intermediate stage between the base Metroid creature and its bipedal Omega incarnation
Forest Flaahgra
- Different concepts for the Flaahgra boss
- One concept was apparently realized in animation
- This Flaahgra was the idea of the creature naturally emerging from its seed in what appears to be a dark forest area
Giant Metroids
- Samus may have been forced to defeat huge, phazon-filled Metroids in the Impact Crater
Possible surviving Chozo
- At least one Chozo, or a robotic recreation, would have been operating on Talon IV
- Animation of this being found
- Caution, stealth for this Chozo, which would be different from the typical Chozo ghosts
Mutated Metroids
- Heavily mutated Metroids may have been considered for Talon IV
- Sketches found that look more sickly than the fusion/hunter mutations in the shipped game
Winged Chozo Ghosts
- Winged variant on the Chozo Ghosts were possibly intended to be encountered by Samus on Talon IV
More Expansive Impact Crater
- Larger area was planned for the Impact Crater?
- Art from a Metroid Prime employee shows a potential alien living area, complete with eruptions and movement that continues to shift its surroundings
- If the area was bigger, perhaps Samus could have battled the gigantic Metroids, could have an escape sequence
Friendly creatures
- No explanation for this concept art
- Perhaps it could have acted as an ally to Samus based on its decidedly unintimidating appearance
Super Metroid
- More connectivity connected intended for Metroid Prime?
- GameCube would presumably give full access to Super Metroid when connected to Metroid Fusion
We encourage you to head on over to this link for a bit of additional information and images.
Thanks to Jake for the tip.
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