History WhatCouldHaveBeen / Metroid

** A UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor version called ''Metroid II'' was planned but never saw the light of day. A [[https://lostmediawiki.com/File:MetroidIIDX-ClubNintendoArticle.jpg mock-up]] image appeared in the German ''Club Nintendo'' magazine, as the room shown does not appear in the game).

** Developer Creator/MercurySteam originally pitched two other projects: an original ''Metroid'' UsefulNotes/WiiU game that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoV5SbM_V8M would have been a first-person adventure]] similar to the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' and a [[https://shinesparkers.net/mercurysteam-originally-pitched-metroid-fusion-remake/ remake of Metroid Fusion]] for the Nintendo 3DS. The former was rejected due to Nintendo having no interest in a home console installment at the time, and the latter was passed over due to Sakamoto believing that ''Metroid II'' would benefit more from being remade.

** Retro wanted to include ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' as a secret EmbeddedPrecursor, but Nintendo shot it down because they lacked an in-house way to emulate [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]] games on the [=GameCube=]. While it was possible with third-party software, they they didn't want to deal with any potential legal issues. The settled with adding the original ''VideoGame/Metroid1''.

** After completing ''Metroid Prime 2'', the studio wanted to experiment with other Nintendo franchises, including ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''. ''Metroid Prime 3'' was [[https://youtu.be/oKs_Oyfuyuc?t=1058 made at Nintendo's insistence]], as Iwata wanted a ''Metroid'' title at launch in order to showcase the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}'s capabilities

* A ''Metroid'' installment for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 was considered, but ultimately scrapped due to Yoshio Sakamoto being uncomfortable with 3D game design and Nintendo's R&D1 team having no interest in making 3D games. An unknown third-party studio was asked to create the game, but they rejected it on the basis that ''Super Metroid'' was a ToughActToFollow.

* During the development of the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, [[https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/07/nintendo_leak_reveals_scrapped_wii_games_including_a_metroid_title_from_intelligent_systems one of the games planned for the console]] was an Creator/IntelligentSystems developed ''Metroid'', though the only information currently known is that, had it completed production, it would have released sometime after ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption''.

** A UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor version called ''Metroid II'' was planned but never saw the light of day. A [[https://lostmediawiki.com/File:ClubNintendo4.98de.jpg mock-up]] image appeared in the German ''Club Nintendo'' magazine, as the room shown does not appear in the game).

* A ''Metroid'' installment for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 was considered, but ultimately scrapped due to Yoshio Sakamoto being uncomfortable with 3D game design and Nintendo's R&D1 team having no interest in making 3D games. An unknown third-party studio was asked to create the game, but they rejected it.

* In the first ''[[VideoGame/Metroid1 Metroid]]'', Samus originally had several detailed animations that were eventually scrapped due to limited file size, but the final game still retains unique sprites for Samus facing left and right hidden in the code. The game itself uses mirrored sprites.
* Prior to the [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns 2017 remake]] of ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'', Nintendo played around with the idea a few times:
** There was possibly a full-color version of ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'' planned for the Game Boy Color (which had a [[https://lostmediawiki.com/File:ClubNintendo4.98de.jpg mock-up]] image in the German ''Club Nintendo'' magazine, as the room shown does not appear in the game).
** Some Retro Studios staff also considered remaking it at one point as a side project.

** Samus' death animation was going to be a little more mature -- when the suit exploded, she was supposed to have been naked and would have screamed in agony. However, the developers felt that went way too far; they removed the scream and gave Samus clothing.
** Data for the Long Beam as an unlock can be found in ''Super Metroid'', but in the final game, Samus has it from the start.
* There were discussions about possibly making a "Metroid 64" for the Nintendo 64, but production never got any further than a few vague pie-in-the-sky ideas. According to one interview by Creator/YoshioSakamoto, Nintendo approached at least one company with a concept - said company turned it down due to fears that [[ToughActToFollow it couldn't live up to]] ''Super Metroid'''s standards.
* {{Creator/DIC}} pitched a ''Metroid'' cartoon, with concept art that featured a ''male'' Samus Aran with black hair and a glass helmet that left no ambiguity to his gender. It doesn’t appear the pitch ever got past the concept art however.

** An [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wLmK7zEeac early prototype]] of the game was developed for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, and was intended to have (among other things) a third-person perspective, a different character model for Samus, no loading buffers and a different HUD. The prototype was all but scrapped by Shigeru Miyamoto after its public debut at Spaceworld 2000, ostensibly because controlling in third-person was too difficult, and the game was reworked to use a first-person perspective.
** There was intended to be another boss in the game - "Meta" Kraid. The design of the character got far enough that he was modeled and skinned, but time constraints prevented him from being included in the final version. (The developers claim that the beta model seen above was not replaced by the Omega Pirate, despite the model shown in the boss arena from the Phazon Mines.) To date, Kraid's only 3D appearances have been in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series and ''VideoGame/MetroidDread''.
** An early version of the Ripper was also intended to be in the game, but was also scrapped.
** Samus was originally intended to be voiced (probably by Creator/JenniferHale, though details are sketchy), but this was scrapped and Samus remained mute for the duration of the game. The only hint of this narration is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxf-i0QRUUo an alternate opening sequence]] that is still present on the game files, where Samus narrates her experiences up to the beginning of the game. Interestingly, this narration script was partially used in the Opening/Menu remix in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', albeit with different (male) voice actor.
** Another WhatCouldHaveBeen comes from all the games Nintendo cancelled so Retro would only focus on that game (including the RPG ''Raven Blade'', which could fill a gap in the [=GameCube=]'s library of said genre). Additionally, all of the ''Prime'' games have unlockable concept art, which contains many different designs and concepts, though opinions differ on what would have been better or worse.
* ''Metroid Prime 1.5'' was a scrapped sequel to Metroid Prime, conceived around the time the original game was wrapping up production. An [[http://metroid.wikia.com/wiki/Metroid_1.5 early pitch document]], written by level designer Tony Giovannini, detailed possible ideas for the game:
** The game would've started with Samus's ship being sucked into an enormous alien warship, which was headed towards a peaceful alien planet, intent on conquering it for slaves and resources.
** Early parts of the game would mostly feature mechanical enemies, but later on, genetic experiments would be added to the mix. This would include the "Humetroid", a half-human, half-Metroid hybrid assassin, as well as two different mutated Space Pirates.
** Co-op multiplayer was planned to be a big component of the game. In singleplayer, Samus would have a companion (planned to either be a second bounty hunter also captured by the ship, or a robotic duplicate of Samus) that she could issue commands to, which could be taken over by another player at any time.
** The game's central antagonist would be the "Mad AI", the mastermind controlling the ship. It had long gone insane, splitting itself into four distinct personalities, which it would switch between throughout the game. The Mad AI would have the ability to alter rooms based on its personality, adding new puzzles or deploying additional enemies as it saw fit. The player's main goal would be to destroy it to shut down the ship.
** The game would've also had an extensive multiplayer mode, with multiple game modes like a variant of Capture the Flag where bounty hunters would compete to capture a contained Metroid, an "Ancient Chozo Robot Battle" mode where players would fight to take control of massive Chozo robots, and a three-on-one battle where three bounty hunters would have to face a player-controlled Omega Pirate.
* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'':
** There was a plan to have both Dark Ridley and a Dark Luminoth enemy. The latter was scrapped because it made no sense in-story; a Luminoth would rather self-terminate than allow itself to be controlled by the Ing.

** ''Corruption'' would have used Samus' gunship a lot more. The final game is still full of Gunship Missile Capacity Upgrades and Gunship Missile Refills, but due to the rarity of doing bombing runs in the game, they're very nearly useless.
** The game was also planned to have a multiplayer mode and it would have been more fleshed out and developed compared to the bare-bones multiplayer found in ''Echoes''. The concept was scrapped due to time constraints.
* The [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=ojaNBuEeJt4 early beta]] for ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' was very different compared to the end product. The beta (which premiered in 2001 at E3, and was planned for the Game Boy Color) had an alternate stylized logo (called "Metroid IV"), a different Fusion Suit for Samus (which she seems to have voluntarily put on, if the short cutscene is any indication), Metroids could be encountered outside of the Research Laboratory, there were additional suit upgrades (one of which allowed Samus to tether enemies, and another which allowed her to walk on walls) and a different ship layout, possibly among other changes.
* Archie Comics pitched several ideas for ''Metroid'' comic series to Nintendo in 2009, but they were all turned down. Only concept sketches and leftover story ideas remain.
* Creator/NextLevelGames was preparing to pitch a ''Metroid'' game for the 3DS, with it being assumed that this is the game that's referred to in an interview where they explain that they were planning to pitch a game, only to be told in that same voice call that Nintendo wanted them to develop ''Videogame/LuigisMansion2'' instead. The only evidence of its potential existence is statements from the developers and [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/b/be/Samus_NLG.png/revision/latest?cb=20140907134604 some]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/8/83/Boss_design_2.png/revision/latest?cb=20140907134605 concept]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/2/27/Boss_design_1.png/revision/latest?cb=20140907134605 art]].
* ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'':
** The game was originally in development for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. There was even a working prototype of the game shown privately in a pre-E3 2009 event. However, [[https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/06/17/why-metroid-dread-took-so-long-to-make according to Sakamoto]], the DS's technical hardware was simply not capable of doing the game's concept justice: referring to having the computing power that allows for a nigh-invulnerable AI enemy that can pose as constant threat to Samus, as opposed to the fixed encounters of the SA-X, which had ArtificialStupidity that players could [[NightmareRetardant easily exploit]] for their own amusement.
** The original scope of ''Dread'' was quite lofty, and needed to be cut effectively in half partway through development in order to avoid crunch while still meeting the deadline imposed by Nintendo. [=MercurySteam=] had planned for twice as many bosses and a whopping '''120''' cinematics. This downsizing of ambition can still be felt in the final release, with the map having a mysteriously empty area in the upper right, the lack of a fourth Aeion ability, and the rushed pacing towards the story's climax.

** Early plans for ''Echoes'' were very different from the final game. An [[http://metroid.wikia.com/wiki/Metroid_1.5 early pitch document]], written by level designer Tony Giovannini, detailed possible ideas for the game, and included unused gameplay/design elements like aliens in cryostasis, a schizophrenic AI, a gameplay mechanic where time can flow backwards and/or the gravity of a room can be altered, many different enemy types, plans for an "Ancient Chozo Robot Battle" multiplayer mode (where the players roll up into the chestplate of ancient robots and use them to battle) and much, much more.

** There possibly a full-color version of ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'' planned for the Game Boy Color (which had a [[https://lostmediawiki.com/File:ClubNintendo4.98de.jpg mock-up]] image in the German ''Club Nintendo'' magazine, as the room shown does not appear in the game).

** The original scope of ''Dread'' was quite lofty, and needed to be cut effectively in half partway through development in order to avoid crunch while still meeting the deadline imposed by Nintendo. [=MercurySteam=] had planned for twice as many bosses and a whopping '''120''' cinematics. This downsizing of ambition can still be felt in the final release, with the map having a mysteriously empty area in the upper right, the lack of a forth Aeion ability, and the rushed pacing towards the story's climax.

** The original scope of ''Dread'' was quite lofty, and needed to be cut effectively in half partway through development in order to avoid crunch while still meeting the deadline imposed by Nintendo. [=MercurySteam=] had planned for twice as many bosses and a whopping '''120''' cinematics. This downsizing of ambition can still be felt in the final release, with the map having a mysteriously empty area in the upper right, the lack of a third Aeion ability, and the rushed pacing towards the story's climax.

* The files of the first ''[[VideoGame/Metroid1 Metroid]]'' has unique sprites for Samus facing left and right, but in the final game her sprites are simply mirrored.
* Not only was there possibly a full-color version of ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'' planned for the Game Boy Color (which had a [[https://lostmediawiki.com/File:ClubNintendo4.98de.jpg possibly mock-up]] image in the German ''Club Nintendo'' magazine, as the room shown does not appear in the game), but Retro Studios also considered remaking it at one point as a side project. In September 2017, the game got [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns a remake]], developed by [=MercurySteam=] Entertainment for the 3DS.

* Creator/NextLevelGames was planning to make a Metroid game for the 3DS, only for it to be cancelled in favor of ''Videogame/LuigisMansion2''. The only evidence of its potential existence is statements from the developers and [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/b/be/Samus_NLG.png/revision/latest?cb=20140907134604 some]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/8/83/Boss_design_2.png/revision/latest?cb=20140907134605 concept]] [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/2/27/Boss_design_1.png/revision/latest?cb=20140907134605 art]].

* Samus' death animation in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' was going to be a little more mature - when the suit exploded, she was supposed to have been naked and would have screamed. However, the developers felt that went way too far, removed the scream and painted over Samus' body with something of a swimsuit.
* Data for the Long Beam as an unlock can be found in ''Super Metroid'', but in the final game Samus has it from the start.

* ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'' was originally meant to be released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, a logical progression since both ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' were released on the UsefulNotes/GameboyAdvance. There was even a working prototype of the game shown privately in a pre-E3 2009 event. However, [[https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/06/17/why-metroid-dread-took-so-long-to-make according to Sakamoto]], the DS's technical hardware was simply not capable of doing the game's concept justice and thus it languished in DevelopmentHell until the debut of UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. Since the premise of ''Dread'' was always about a near-invincible enemy relentlessly hunting Samus to no end, it's evident that Sakamoto was referring to the limitations of the AI, since the SA-X from ''Fusion'' -- the inspiration for EMMI robots -- only appeared in fixed encounters and has a noticeable ArtificialStupidity that players could [[NightmareRetardant easily exploit]] for their own amusement.