Is Metroid popular enough to sell the Wii U?

[Evonisia]

Well, maybe the title is misleading. Often what I hear about the Wii U is "it will sell better once Mario, Zelda and maybe Metroid are out".

Now I think, Mario's main installment (the Galaxy of the console) caused a big increase but it wasn't the massive system seller that say Wii Sports and Mario Galaxy were. Zelda could push sales, seeing as how it's the second biggest Nintendo franchise with a massive, dedicated fanbase. But err... Metroid? Is Metroid really that popular? Don't get me wrong I have heard things like "Metroid Prime is one of the best games ever" but nowadays?

Metroid didn't exactly have a cozy 7th Gen, and as far as I can tell Other M was the last 'major' Metroid game out and everyone hated it. So the question is: If Nintendo made a Metroid game for the Wii U, would it cause any significant growth in Wii U sales comparable to Mario and Zelda?

 

[MysticSlayer]

Compared to Mario or Zelda? Hardly. Metroid is popular and arguably Nintendo's 4th strongest console franchise after Mario, Zelda, and Smash Bros. (Pokemon isn't that strong on consoles), but it still isn't as popular as either Mario or Zelda. Twilight Princess and Galaxy may have sold the Wii along with Brawl, but Metroid Prime 3 didn't really do that, no matter how well received it was. It just isn't a franchise used to sell a console except maybe to Nintendo fans, particularly the older ones. Of course, I would buy a new Nintendo console with the release of the next Metroid game the day that game came out, but unless you are a hardcore Nintendo fan (or just a serious gamer in general), Metroid is starting to get out into obscure territory.

 

[Roxas1359]

Not entirely unfortunately.
While many people are vocal about their love of Metroid, the sales indicate that it's not exactly the most popular series, nor a system seller.
Not to mention that Other M really damaged the franchise, what with Yoshio Sakamoto effectively trying to entirely retcon the Prime series in Other M as well.

If the Metroid game were made by Retro this time then I could see people buying a Wii U possibly for the prospect of another Prime-like game, but the problem is it seems Retro is being used similar to how Rareware was and are making Donkey Kong games now. Because really the Prime games are the second most popular in the Metroid series, with Super Metroid being the most sold in the series and Prime 1 being second.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

It all depends on what they do with a new Metroid...Another M would probably kill the series if it mishandles Samus again but a game in that style isn't necessarily a bad thing. Hell, if you can skip cutscenes and, use an analog controller like the Gamepad or, Pro Controller that would likely be two big changes that would make Other M...well, a lot less maligned. I would like a new Metroid though and if they take it in the same direction as the upcoming Yoshi game or, New Super Mario Bros (ie: New Super Metroid) I could be OK with that. COULD be...I'd have to see it to believe it.

Of course something COMPLETELY different could be great too...My jaw hit the ground when I saw the Hyrule Warriors trailer. Maybe something Starcraft-like or, Star Fox-like could fit Metroid?

 

[kilenem]

No. I'm a Nintendo fan boy and own a wii u but never bought or beat a Metroid game. Nintendo system sellers are Mario platformers, Zelda, Mario Kart, and Smash brothers.

 

[balladbird]

a metroid game could definitely help, though I don't think the franchise has the star power to be a killer app anymore, not after Other M burned the fandom.

that said, if one was released to critical acclaim, I think it could rebound. Nintendo certainly has nothing to lose by putting some oomph behind it.

 

[lechat]

far as i'm concerned "X" is a system seller if half as good as xenoblade
only the combined power of a decent mario, zelda and metroid could make me buy the console right now

 

[madwarper]

No. Metroid is a niche type of game. Heck it's half of the name given to the genre, Metroidvania.

So, I'd see the game as good for fans that already own a WiiU, but not something that is a console seller in and of itself.

 

[Ken_J]

Not really. Outside of the Nintendo Faithful not many people are big into Metroid. However those that like Metroid LOVE it. Personally I think if The make Metroid their Online FPS equivalent that everyone thought Metroid Prime was than maybe. If fact I really want to see that game.

METROID PRIME HUNTERS 2

 

[Fireaxe]

If Team Ninja hadn't deep sixed it in the last outing, it could at least be a factor: Mario and Zelda sell to specific crowds and Metroid sells to others.

 

[Another]

I don't know about other people, but it would sell me a Wii U. Especially if it stays away from Team Ninja.

 

[likalaruku]

From my understanding, it's one of Nintendo's top Franchises, & it comes across as being more popular in the west than Kirby, Rune Factory, Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, Dragon Quest, & Professor Layton. I could be wrong of course.

 

[Foolery]

Sure. Just FPS the hell outta it. I won't lie, Halo was a major draw for me getting the 360. If Metroid went that direction, with added exploration, space travel, puzzles, and co-op, I'd buy one.

 

[Smooth Operator]

I don't know really, Metroid and Nitendo fans probably overlap 1 to 1 and Nintendo fans all already bought a Wii U so that would just sell to the existing audience.

 

[Roxas1359]

I don't know about other people, but it would sell me a Wii U. Especially if it stays away from Team Ninja.

If Team Ninja hadn't deep sixed it in the last outing, it could at least be a factor: Mario and Zelda sell to specific crowds and Metroid sells to others.

While Team Ninja wasn't the best, you two do realize that the story and events were written by Yoshio Sakamoto himself and not by Team Ninja. Team Ninja made the gameplay and engine, but Sakamoto is responsible for the story entirely.

Sure. Just FPS the hell outta it. I won't lie, Halo was a major draw for me getting the 360. If Metroid went that direction, with added exploration, space travel, puzzles, and co-op, I'd buy one.

So...basically make more Metroid Prime games, and then make sure that Metroid Prime Hunters is actually good?
Got it, more Metroid Prime games it is then.

 

[Eve Charm]

Well -Another- Metroid won't But a new super cool reboot probably could.

Lets be fair here, Team ninja didn't ruin Metroid other M. It was a mess of a production bringing Team Ninja in to " Do the gameplay " while another team wrote the story, another team did the FMV's and all of the teams only routinely checking in with each other and another boss. Sure team ninja put her in high heels under the suit and I'm sure sneaked in jiggle physics in somehow but the gameplay was good.

Anyway make a reboot and give creative freedom to do something cool with the series and you might just have something that people might call a system seller.

On a unrelated note, I wonder what Nintendo could give platinum to do after Bayonetta 2 if they want to treat them as in studio or 2nd party developers.

 

[Hero of Lime]

Unfortunately Metroid isn't on par as far as sales go with the likes of Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon for Nintendo. I and many other people have a great love for Metroid, but not as many gamers care about it as much as they should I feel.

It would be easy I feel to make another Metroid that fans will love, but I'm not sure how to make it more appealing to more people without losing the Metroid feel. I would love to know why Metroid fails to sell really well, most of the games have gotten great reviews, some call Super Metroid and Metroid Prime some of the best games of all time. Yet it never draws enough people in. :/

In 2002-2009, saying that Nintendo's big franchises included Metroid made sense, now I'm afraid it would be in the "B" tier of Nintendo franchises. So unfortunately, Metroid U would only get some people to buy a Wii U, it could be amazing and most gamers wouldn't care.

 

[Something Amyss]

Going off VG Chartz Global sales, the Metroid franchise[footnote]which has limited accounting for earlier titles[/footnote] has sold about 3 times Twilight Princess. Given the slant of the data, a more fair comparison might be that the Prime games are about on par with that one title. As always, take those numbers with a grain of salt, but that kind of disparity is telling.

The disparity between sales of Mario titles between Wii and Wii U offer up the possibility (not fact or certainty) that the consoles are a Mario seller, not vice versa.

But either way, can Metroid move consoles if Mario doesn't? Probably not enough to count. But then,

From my understanding, it's one of Nintendo's top Franchises, & it comes across as being more popular in the west than Kirby, Rune Factory, Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, Dragon Quest, & Professor Layton. I could be wrong of course.

If that's the case, there's a huuuuuge dropoff between say, Mario/Zelda and the rest of their top tier franchises. I always expected some dropoff, but yeah.

Sure. Just FPS the hell outta it. I won't lie, Halo was a major draw for me getting the 360. If Metroid went that direction, with added exploration, space travel, puzzles, and co-op, I'd buy one.

I'm not sure teabagging would have the same effect.