If there’s anything the announcement ofFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopesproves, it’s thatWarriorsgames are here to stay. TheMusougenre has offered a successful video game formula for over twenty years, ever since the firstDynasty Warriorsbrought it to life on the PlayStation. More recently, successfulWarriorsadaptations ofBreath of the WildandFire Emblemhave cemented the genre in the mainstream. But there’s also potential for other great Nintendo-based Musou games based on series likeMetroid.
Up to this point,Warriorsgames have mostly been centered around swords, lances, and magic, or fantasy-themed settings in general. While some titles likePersona 5 Strikershave ventured away from this,Metroidand its sci-fi elements would be a true departure from the norm. Rather than getting up close and personal to enemies, Samus and others could take out waves of baddies from afar. There’s a great deal of potential for aMetroid Warriors, and this sort of change could open the door for even moreWarriorsgames.
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The Metroid Universe
If there’s one thingWarriorsgames have done well, it’s utilizing each IP’s source material.Musou-style games from Koei Tecmo have managed to find a sweet spot between the gameplay ofDynasty Warriorsand different franchises. There’s plenty of material from the mainlineMetroidgames, thePrimetrilogy, or evenOther Mto adapt, and despiteMetroid’sisolated gameplay there are still plenty of characters aWarriorsgame could use. Among the available options are Samus, Zero Suit Samus, the Chozo, Adam and the Galactic Federation, SA-X, the bounty hunters fromPrime 3andHunters, the Luminoth, or the E.M.M.I. fromDread. All of these characters and their unique designs would make for interesting movesets and variations.
Moreover, the gameplay ofWarriorscould also benefit from the mechanics ofMetroid.Samus ReturnsandMetroid Dreadintroduced free-aim and melee-counter mechanics that have been a great fit for the series. These mechanics would fit in aMetroid Warriorstoo; if approaching waves of enemies get too close, players could defend themselves with counters. Free-aim would also be great for exploring each map for power-ups, which is a key characteristic of anyMetroidgame. Just asFire EmblemandHyrule Warriorsborrowed gameplay from their respective source material, so too should aMetroid Warriors.
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Redemption for Other M
There’s an elephant in the room in Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja’s previous work onMetroid: Other M.Other Mwas poorly received and is commonly regarded as the weakestMetroidtitle. AWarriorsgame could redeem this, as even critics ofOther Mpraised some elements like its artwork, character design, and world-building. Reintroducing those parts ofOther Min a game featuring the gameplay which Omega Force is familiar with could improveOther M’sreputation. Moreover, the game could take place during Samus' time in the Galactic Federation, similar toAge of Calamity’sprequel setting.
TheMetroidseries has seen high highs and low lows. FromSuper Metroidand thePrimetrilogy toFederation ForceandOther M, the varying successes of its entries make it easy to see why the series gets so little love. Nintendo-themedWarriorsgames are fun, casual takes on their IP, though.Metroid’sexpanded universe has a lot to offer, and aMusouadaptation could be a celebration of its entire history. EvenOther Mhas something to offer, and fans will most likely respond positively if lesser games are incorporated in the right way.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopesis scheduled to release May 31, 2025 on Switch.
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