E3 is just a few hours away and here at Nintendo Enthusiast, we are going crazy trying to imagine just what Retro Studio’s have been working on these past few years. Could they be working on another Metroid game, how about a long-forgotten Nintendo IP, perhaps something entirely new?

Truth be told the only fact we have to go on comes from an interview shortly after the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns on the Wii, where a Retro Studios spokesperson said they are working on

“a project everyone wants us to do”

We all know the Nintendo populace are a vocal bunch and up until they point there had already been cries for more Metroid, a Starfox reboot, a sequel to Eternal Darkness and many many more. There are many gamers out there who believe Retro are just \”the Metroid studio\”, but in fact when they first formed, they had far larger plans afoot.

Retro Studios was formed in 1998 by Jeff Spangenberg after he left Acclaim Entertainment, originally as an independent studio making four games exclusively for the Nintendo Gamecube. Unfortunately for Retro the development of these four games were troubled and the studio went through a very turbulent time, with delay after delay. Nintendo soon grew tired of this, and on the suggestion from Shigeru Miyamoto, Retro set to work on a new instalment in the Metroid series and cancelled all work up until that point. The four cancelled games were known as

Raven Blade – An action-RPG similar in vain to Zelda.

– An action-RPG similar in vain to Zelda. Car Combat/Thunder Rally – Supposedly Retro’s take on Twisted Metal with Mad Max influences.

– Supposedly Retro’s take on Twisted Metal with Mad Max influences. \’Action Adventure\’ – This game was so early, but inspired Shigeru Miyamoto to trust them with Metroid.

– This game was so early, but inspired Shigeru Miyamoto to trust them with Metroid. NFL Retro Football – An American Football game, originally pitched as a Mario title, but turned into a realistic simulation title.

Raven Blade was the only game out of the four to be showcased to the world at E3 2001, and looked extremely early, but also extremely enticing. Similar in style to Zelda, but with a much more mature appearance the audience craved. Every time an article or feature tries to speculate what Retro could be working on, there will always be at least one comment hoping for Raven Blade. I\’ve compiled several videos below to show you the concept Retro had in mind for this game.

If Raven Blade is revealed at E3 this week, you will know the games origin’s and hopefully where that fantastic magma-beast came from…







