Latest news with #MetroidPrime
Android Authority
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Android Authority
Goodbye, emulators: Native GameCube fan ports are now a reality, starting with Mario Party 4
TL;DR Mario Party 4 for the Nintendo GameCube has been completely decompiled. The process took a year and a half, resulting in nearly perfect source code replication. A PC port is in the works, and more Mario Party decompilations are currently underway. We are entering a golden age of game decompilations, with hard-to-emulate consoles like the N64 and even the Xbox 360 getting tools to make recreating source code easier than ever. Now, the Nintendo GameCube has joined the ranks, with a Mario Party 4 decompilation project reaching full compatibility (via MattKC Bytes). This is the first GameCube game to be decompiled, and one of the very few 6th-gen console games to get the full treatment. Previously, Metroid Prime received a pseudo-decompilation called Metaforce, but the code was heavily altered. The initial goal was not to recreate the original game's source code faithfully, but rather to create a working game. A full decomp is underway, but it still sits at 16% after years of work. However, that project led to new tools that made GameCube decompilations easier, including a GameCube-to-PC translation layer called Aurora. It isn't as extensive as Wiseguy's incredible mod-enabled N64: Recompiled tool, but it's a start. A working PC port of the Mario Party 4 decomp is currently underway. The project took just a year and a half to complete, which is remarkably fast. Other decompilation projects have taken years to complete, but a few lucky factors sped up the process. For example, the code was not optimized, so the compiled code resembled the original source code more closely. Additionally, the team had access to debug symbols from another game using the same engine, called Adventure Island. That combination of lucky turns made the team prioritize Mario Party 4, which isn't otherwise one of the series' fan-favorite entries. It's definitely not a passion project like the recent Sonic Unleashed decomp for the Xbox 360. Still, the team is currently working on decomps for nearly every other Mario Party game and has big plans for the future. With the source code in hand, it would be possible to combine all boards into a single game or add online multiplayer. Online multiplayer hacks are available on the Dolphin emulator, but they don't compare to native online support. That's likely years away from coming to fruition, but it's an exciting prospect for Mario Party fans. The current Mario Party 4 decompilation was just completed and doesn't have a working port, but a PC port is currently being developed using the aforementioned Aurora tool. It may take longer to port to Android, but the future is still bright. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
CNET
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Getting a Switch 2? Wait To Buy These 3 Nintendo Games
After the Switch 2 Direct, we finally have a good idea of what games are coming to the highly-anticipated Nintendo console. There's a good mix of launch day games from first-party developers, as well as popular AAA games from publishers like Microsoft that are already confirmed to be coming to the Switch 2. We also know that the Switch 2 is going to be backward compatible with the original Switch's game cartridges, letting you keep your library intact. Nintendo's official webpage explained the new virtual game card sharing system for the Switch and also confirmed that "Switch 2 editions" of existing games are in development -- and we got a look at the first batch of those games during the Nintendo Direct showcase. We don't know how many Switch 2 edition games are in development, but we can confirm that seven separate Switch games will have Switch 2 editions on the console's launch day. They're mostly older games that pushed the original Switch's hardware to the limit, with a couple exceptions. Here are all of the confirmed Switch 2 upgrades so far. Every Switch game getting a Switch 2 Edition upgrade Nintendo CNET has compiled an extensive list of games getting a Switch 2 edition upgrade during the launch day release batch. These are the seven games we know are getting Switch 2 editions: Super Mario Party Jamboree Pokemon Legends: Z-A Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Kirby and the Forgotten Land Sid Meier's Civilization 7 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom If you want to know more about what kind of upgrades you can expect from a Switch 2 edition of an old game, we've collected all of the info here. How much will Switch 2 Edition upgrades cost We don't currently know how much a Switch 2 edition for an old game will cost or how much it'll cost to upgrade your game if you already own the original version. We only know that the Switch 2 editions for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will both be free upgrades for anyone that has a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. The games I wanted to see Switch 2 editions for (and why) Before the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct stream, I wrote about the old Switch games I wanted to see Switch 2 editions for. While two of the items got crossed off of my wishlist, there was one glaring omission. Here are some of the first-party games that could benefit the most from versions fully utilizing the Switch 2's more powerful hardware. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Scarlet and Violet's obligatory "Pikachu clone" scurries through some rough-looking grass. Nintendo Game Freak has struggled to make mainline Pokemon games work on the Switch. Sword and Shield's toxic "Dexit" controversy largely overshadowed the fact that the game had some of the most mediocre graphics on the console, and Pokemon and NPC models frequently suffered from sudden pop-ins as players explored the game's Wild Area. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet caught even more flak for its performance issues. The pop-in issue returned, but this time around faraway models you could see frequently skipped frames in their animation cycles. While the game was larger and more ambitious with a grander open world, the game's performance suffered as a result. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have both had a hard time reaching 30 frames per second (FPS) outside of most towns, and certain areas like Kitakami and Tagtree Thicket absolutely tank the frame rate. The Switch 2's presumably stronger hardware would likely support Game Freak's more ambitious open world designs, and grant the developer a chance to give Pokemon the 3D graphical fidelity the franchise deserves. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Tears of the Kingdom's art style does a lot of heavy lifting, but the Switch 2 can really help this game out. Nintendo There's no doubt that Tears of the Kingdom is beautiful game, thanks in large part to its strong art direction and cel-shaded models that make the world feel vibrant and alive. Despite that, the game doesn't do much to improve on Breath of the Wild's visual fidelity, and it suffers from blurry, low-texture terrain that muddies up the experience. But Tears of the Kingdom's true sin lies with its performance. While the game fairly consistently reaches its 30 FPS cap, there are sections of the game that drop the performance to 15 to 20 FPS, which makes Tears of the Kingdom feel choppy and outdated. Areas like The Great Sky Island and the Depths, rainy days and even the core Ultrahand ability all push the Switch to its limit and the game is drastically slower when you're in these areas or just trying to glue two items together. Tears of the Kingdom is an iconic Switch game in one of Nintendo's flagship franchises. It's a perfect candidate for a Switch 2 upgrade with beefed up graphics and performance optimization to help it consistently hit 60 FPS on the stronger console. Kirby and the Forgotten Land The uncanny blend of real and cartoony graphics is a key part of the Forgotten Land, but the game is held back by some low-texture models. Nintendo Plucked out of Dream Land and plopped down into an eerily real world, the titular pink power puff stands in stark contrast from his environment in this 3D Kirby game. Kirby and the Forgotten Land creates a world that in many ways visually clashes with the protagonist and his enemies, which makes it more interesting to explore. The new Forgotten Land is an analog to the real world, and it's modeled very differently from the usual cartoony landscapes and character designs that players have come to expect from the franchise. The issue with this new, realistic world is that the game is graphically inconsistent. Stages like Everbay Coast's Scale the Cement Summit stand out as winners benefiting from the new artstyle, combining fantastic water lighting events with impressive graphics for the level's waterlogged buildings. However, other areas like the Natural Plains and Winter Horns end up looking disappointing in comparison, with grass and snow textures that don't hold up to the rest of the game. The environment is incredibly important to the story of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, so it makes sense that an upgraded version of this game would buff out some of the weaker textures and deliver even more strongly on developer HAL Laboratory's intended vision.
Digital Trends
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Revenge of the Savage Planet review: corporate incompetence becomes slapstick sci-fi
Revenge of the Savage Planet MSRP $50.00 Score Details 'Revenge of the Savage Planet plays its open-world formula safe, but it shows its teeth where it matters.' Pros Sharp satire Enjoyable exploration Clever environmental puzzling Co-op play is a plus Cons Story peters out by the end By the books structure Dull combat Table of Contents Table of Contents Sound familiar? Colonialist mayhem To make it in today's cutthroat world, sometimes it feels like you have to be a taker to survive. It's a ruthless mentality that makes the rich richer, crooked politicians more powerful, and countries more bloodthirsty. They take, take, and take until there's nothing left for the rest of us, hoarding money, eliminating jobs, and destroying homes in the name of self preservation. Perhaps that's what makes your typical video game so appealing. In something like Red Dead Redemption 2, players get to live out a true power fantasy: one where a world is theirs to take. Animals exist to be skinned, plants to be plucked, and corpses to be looted. Even in games where we're meant to be the 'good guy,' we're often embodying the world of the worst. We become natural disasters that ravage worlds until we choose to stop playing. Recommended Videos Revenge of the Savage Planet takes that subtext and mines it for satirical gold, just as its hero smashes every rock in sight in search of precious metals. Building on the sci-fi comedy of 2020's Journey to the Savage Planet, developer Raccoon Logic only gets more explicit about its targets while moving the series from a Metroid Prime homage to a third-person adventure game that hides righteous anger behind irreverence. When you don't have the power to be a true taker, you can at least take no prisoners. Though its story ultimately feels unfocused and its one-note action leaves it lacking in identity, Revenge of the Savage Planet succeeds as a sci-fi romp. It lets players loose into a series of interplanetary playgrounds designed to be sucked dry by a corporate drone tasked with becoming a bully. It's a charming slice of dark comedy that's perhaps not mean enough to totally land its point. Sound familiar? It doesn't take long for Revenge of the Savage Planet to show its teeth. Upon starting my adventure, I'm greeted by a corporate orientation video. A peppy vice president tells me that I am now a member of Alta Interglobal, a holdings company that has acquired my previous employer, Kindred Aerospace. As part of the new family, my job is to be part of an intergalactic colonization mission. Once I unfreeze from my cryopod after a century of sleep, I'll be dropped on a planet with a habitat and tasked with creating a livable community that Alta can later fill with inhabitants. That's followed immediately by a second video informing me that I've been fired while asleep, as Alta has axed the entirety of the Kindred staff post-acquisition. Revenge of the Savage Planet ultimately aims for the irreverence of an Adult Swim show. That setup will likely sound familiar to you in any number of contexts. Most recently, it's the story of media holdings company Valnet acquiring gaming website Polygon, only to immediately gut the majority of its staff. If you know anything about the Savage Planet series' developer, though, you'll recognize a more personal target for Racoon Logic. Following the release of Journey to the Savage Planet, the studio was bought by Google as part of its short-lived Stadia initiative. Google would shut down Racoon Logic (then known as Typhoon Studios) just a few years later before it could even produce a game. That trauma is very clearly at the center of this sequel, with Alta standing in as the face of corporate incompetence. The story is at its best when it tugs on that thread. One running sidequest has me uncovering Alta's dirty laundry, taking what I imagine are thinly veiled shots at Google's own issues behind the scenes. Less successful is where the narrative ultimately ends up. The stretch up to the final battle takes a left-turn into a meta-commentary about game design that feels entirely disconnected from the Alta story. It's an underwhelming conclusion that leaves me wondering if all the corporate satire before it is there primarily as an inside joke for the developers (I can't fully blame them; I'd jump at the opportunity to get my just desserts against my worst bosses too). Don't take any of it too seriously. Revenge of the Savage Planet ultimately aims for the irreverence of an Adult Swim show. ultimately aims for the irreverence of an Adult Swim show. There's a world called Nuflorida. My habitat is filled with over the top commercials that feel like they were pulled out of a Tim and Eric episode. It features an original song about pissing on the company dime. As light as its jabs may feel at times, it still lands plenty of little hits that got some consistent chuckles out of me. Colonialist mayhem If you're still looking for more depth, Revenge of the Savage Planet is most functional as a broad satire on the world's worst C-words: colonialism and consumerism. As a stranded Kindred employee trained to suck planets dry, each open-world area I visit is a candy shop that's mine for the taking. The premise isn't anything new: Each planet is filled with resources to mine, map activities to check off my list until there are none left, and animals to research — or kick until they explode into a green mist. Everything I gather can be brought back to the computer at my habitat and run through a 3D printer to get new upgrades for my gun, jump pack, and more. The more of a jerk I am, the more efficiently I can bully the local wildlife and hoard resources. If the first Savage Planet game was a spoof of Metroid Prime, imagining Samus Aran as a total dick out to disrupt Tallon IV's peace, the sequel is more of a riff on Subnautica. It's not a survival game, but it does play with some similar ideas. I need to gather up resources and safely return them to my base to 3D print new gear, craft outfits, or make furniture to decorate my habitat. If I die before I get home, I'll need to go back out and pick it all up again. Is it right to shoot an adorable little alien racoon just so I can have a pool table? That's what Revenge of the Savage Planet asks through its gleeful cartoon mischief. My little space man sure doesn't seem too upset about it, as he joyfully wobbles around and punts critters like soccer balls. A a delightful sequel that perhaps could have benefitted from being a little meaner. Naturally, Raccoon Logic gets to have its cake and eat it too. Even if it's classifiable as parody, it still plays its open-world exploration straight much of the time. I get new gizmos that allow me to grapple up to cliffs, grind on rails, swim underwater, and more. I eventually gain the power to melt amber blockades with goo bombs so I can get chow down on an egg and get a health upgrade. It's a serviceable, if a little boilerplate, Metroid-adjacent hook, but it still ultimately aims to be a slice of lighthearted fun that can be enjoyed or with a friend in co-op play. Maybe that's why the story stops short of really pulling the big guns out: Raccoon Logic is still interested in making the kind of game it's poking fun at. I don't mean that as much of a knock here; that's just the language of this type of genre video game. If anything, the power fantasy isn't strong enough to intoxicate and poison me. Combat is particularly weak, as my primary weapon is a dinky pea shooter laser. Most enemies just need to be taken down by peppering them with dinky shots, and upgrades like dodge rolls barely charge that. I can scan critters to find their weak spots and attack for extra stun damage, but even its by the books boss battles never feel all too exciting. If you're going to make me feel like a power hungry prick, at least dial up the absurdity to tempt me down the path of violence. Sometimes Raccoon Logic's heart feels like its more in crafting fun little environmental puzzles than colonialist destruction. My favorite gameplay moments have me using conductive goo to carry an electrified mushroom's charge to a closed door, or navigating an invisible maze by spraying green goop to reveal where the walls are. There's a sincere joy in figuring out how the handful of alien planets work, from a worm-filled desert to a multi-level mountain. Journey to the Savage Planet's Metroid Prime-inspired scan visor returns too and remains a highlight, allowing me to catalogue every plant and critter I find. I'm torn between being a researcher and a menace; the former is more enticing, but the latter drives the satire. I'm left with a delightful sequel that perhaps could have benefitted from being a little meaner. In both Savage Planet games, I find myself wishing that Raccoon Logic would really let me have it. Allow me to really screw these alien worlds up and punt me into the stratosphere once I've crossed too many lines. But then, I'd be a scapegoat, wouldn't I? It's like when The Last of Us scolds players for carrying out acts of scripted violence that they can't avoid. I'm no taker; I'm just trying to survive in the kill or be killed environment that the developers have placed me in. I can empathize with my little spaceman through that lens. He's just a jester in Alta's corporate circus, just as Raccoon Logic was a cute plaything to Google. Perhaps we're all a little blameless for playing into a world that's designed as a slapstick colosseum that we're forced to compete in. And if we're all clowns to the world's most powerful forces, maybe it's time to change which butts we're punting into the sun. Revenge of the Savage Planet was tested on PC and Steam Deck OLED.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Hands-On Preview — Retro's Return Delivers a Stunning Evolution
After years of anticipation, Nintendo fans can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. With its release confirmed for 2025, the game is set to make its debut on both the original Nintendo Switch and the newly unveiled Nintendo Switch 2. At an event in NYC, I had a chance to play a 20-minute segment from the beginning of the game. The next-generation release brings cutting-edge enhancements for the new console, such as performance mode running at 120 FPS at 1080p and a 4K mode, and reignited my excitement for what could be one of the most ambitious entries in the Metroid Prime series. If the early segment is anything to go by, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is shaping up to be a must-own title for the Nintendo Switch 2's launch library. For anyone following the journey up to this point, the development of the game has been a bit rocky, to say the least. Nintendo originally handed development to Bandai Namco, but concerns over quality led to a complete restart in 2019 under Retro Studios, the team responsible for the critically acclaimed Metroid Prime trilogy. This decision was met with relief from fans, many of whom regard Retro as the true keepers of Samus Aran's intergalactic legacy. If my time with the game is anything to go by, that trust was justified. If you watched the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, the latest trailer provided a tantalizing glimpse into Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and with Nintendo proudly demoing the game during the Nintendo Switch preview event, I can say I am impressed. Samus Aran returns with her iconic Power Suit and arsenal, including staples like the Morph Ball, Missile Launcher, and Scan Visor, and I can safely say the Metroid series has never looked better. The 1080p 120 FPS performance mode version of the game was at the event, running on the Nintendo Switch 2, and the world of the game came to life. Every enemy, explosion, and character you run into feels more defined and realized than ever before. Retro Studios has taken what the Nintendo Switch 2 offers and pushed the series as far as it could go. It is amazing to see all aspects we know from past installments and even from the 2D-style adventures, realized in stunning 3D, with all the particle effects, detail, and refinement this new system allows. While I only got to test out the first segment of the game and did not get to explore many of the new locations promised in the trailer, what I did see was a good showcase of what the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond allows. As I mentioned above, players can now choose between two graphical modes: Quality Mode delivers 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) with HDR support when docked, while Performance Mode prioritizes fluidity with 120 fps at 1080p resolution. Even handheld play benefits from improved visuals and HDR support, ensuring that the visuals and intricate architecture look stunning across all formats and playstyles. I sadly did not get the chance to see handheld mode being played during the event, with all my experience being done in docked mode. But judging by how well the screen on the Nintendo Switch 2 looks, both modes will provide a full experience of what the game can be and showcase the visuals, flair, and style put into the title. What is perhaps the biggest change for the series—and something I, as a PC shooter lover, was excited to test out—is the new alternative control scheme utilizing Joy-Con mouse capabilities, which introduces a fresh way to interact with Samus' environment. This feature could redefine how players navigate puzzles and aim their weapons, offering greater precision and immersion. Honestly, it does feel very similar to what you could find with a PC shooter. I will say it took me quite a bit of time to adapt to how it works, with the mouse mode feeling very odd at first, but once it clicked, it proved to be a new way to play that I quickly fell in love with. For those sticking with their original Switch consoles, Nintendo has confirmed that an upgrade pack will enable access to these new features on Switch 2 without compromising compatibility. If I had any major gripe to say about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, it would be how much of a Halo vibe the new installment gave off. The early mission I played has you working alongside Galactic Federation soldiers as they fend off an attack from space pirates — as seems to be the way in the Metroid series. The models struck me with how much they resembled the soldiers you would see around a Halo mission. Thankfully, from what I was told by the person guiding me through the segment of the game, this is not indicative of the final game, and you will be thrust into a more isolated situation as you progress through the rest of the game. That brings me to my next issue: the sense of solitude the series is known for. It was not present at any point during the demo. It was amazing to hear that the rest of the game would feel much more isolated in comparison to the early section. While it looked stunning, with plenty of aspects that showcased Samus Aran's arsenal, including the Morph Ball and weapons, it never evoked the sense of being alone and working through puzzles and areas by yourself. That being said, as an early showcase for the game, it worked well and gave a glimpse of what the game could be. The final boss fight of the demo, in particular, provided that sense of challenge, puzzle-solving, and dread I loved seeing in past Metroid Prime games. It is always a good feeling to overcome obstacles larger than Samus, and the way this game made it feel overwhelming works with the right level of body horror and Metroid-forced evolution that I hoped to see from the series. Was it challenging? Not especially, but it worked as a first big obstacle to set the tone and overall sense of what Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was going to be like. Retro Studios has consistently demonstrated its ability to innovate while respecting Metroid's core identity. The original Metroid Prime trilogy transitioned the series into first-person gameplay without losing its focus on exploration and atmosphere — a gamble that paid off handsomely both critically and commercially. The studio's commitment to quality shines through in every detail, from intricate environmental storytelling via Scan Visor logs to immersive soundscapes that heighten tension and wonder. If the gameplay section I played is any indication, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is ready to push boundaries once again. New abilities, modern graphics, and new optional refined controls promise a fresh experience while staying true to what makes Metroid special: its ability to immerse players in alien worlds full of mystery and challenge, all while keeping true to the roots people have loved up to this point—something not many studios can straddle well. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the franchise, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond looks set to deliver an unforgettable journey through uncharted territory.
Bloomberg
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
Hands On With Nintendo's Switch 2, Which Will Be a ‘Mario Kart' Machine
We checked out several demos on the $450 console, including Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong
