Summary
Details regarding aWii-exclusive game that was in development at Retro Studios have appeared online, which describe it as being similar to Valve’sPortal. While the studio is best known for its work on theMetroid Primeseries, the developer has tried and branched out into creating other series and games for Nintendo. This can be seen with games likeMario Kart 7andDonkey Kong Country Returns, though the studio has a history of pitching several other games to Nintendo. These includefailed pitches forZeldaspin-offs, such as a tactical strategy RPG known asHeroes of Hyrule.
Retro Studios was swinging into high-gear around 2008 with the release ofMetroid Prime 3, the final game in the trilogy at the time. It was a game that took full advantage of console’s technology, withMetroid Prime 3’s ease of its motion controlsstill being praised to this day. The developer then started prototyping a brand-new game usingPrime 3’s engine, known asAdept, which was very similar to Valve’sPortal.
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This was detailed in a brand-new video from DidYouKnowGaming, where prototype footage ofAdeptwas showcased. It looks andplays very similarly toPortal, with the game’s cylinder mechanic being very comparable to Valve’s game. UnlikePortal, however, the player has an unlimited amount they can put down. These cylinders can be used to fire projectiles, teleport, and even push anything that comes into them upwards. These cylinders could be used as a method of solving puzzles by launching objects to certain areas, with other mechanics including fire and ice cylinders which shoot elemental projectiles.
This prototype was created by the programmer ofMetroid Prime 2and3, Paul Tozour, who was able to pitch this game to Nintendo’s higher-ups in Japan and the producer that oversaw Retro Studios, Kensuke Tanabe. Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors, from Tanabe not understanding whatPortalwas to Tozour’s attempt to get him to playPortalbeing unsuccessful (due to him sharing a copy being seen as “giving a gift” which went against company policy), andthe insular nature of Nintendo development, the pitch didn’t go through, which Tozour blamed himself for.
Despite the setback, the executives at Retro Studios told Tozour that he could keep working onAdeptif he converted it from aWiito a Nintendo DS game instead. However, Touzor believedAdeptwouldn’t work as well on the DS either. The video also goes into more development details regarding past pitches that Retro Studios had proposed to Nintendo, such as a Nintendo DS exclusiveThe Blobgame and more information onProject X.
Wii
The seventh generation saw the creation of the Wii. Nintendo’s system was built to compete with the ever-popular Xbox 360 and PS3. Featuring motion controls and a unique lineup of games, the Wii became a very popular console for the tech giant.
