Very Very Early Title Screen and Menu Themes

Early Title Screen

Original Opening Monologue

Ten years ago, beneath the surface of Planet Zebes, the mercenaries known as "Space Pirates" were defeated by interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran. Descending to the very core of the pirate stronghold, Samus exterminated the energy based parasites called "Metroids" and defeated Mother Brain, the leader of the pirate hoarde.



But the Space Pirates were far from finished. Several pirate research vessels were orbiting Zebes when Samus fought on the surface below.



After the fall of Mother Brain, the ships escaped, with the hope of finding enough resources to rebuild their forces and take their revenge.



After discovering a possible pirate colony on planet Talon IV, Samus has once again prepared for war, hoping to end the Pirate threat forever. Click to expand...

Alternate Opening Screen

Another Alternate Opening Sequence

Alternate station landling pad

Alternate UI

Kraid

Gene Kohler said: "The level that he was to be included in was well underway to being designed. There just was not enough developement time remaining to fully implement all aspects of the scenario that were needed to pull off a highly polished/fun gaming experience... It was [ultimately] decided that Kraid was not imperative enough to the Metroid Prime project to run the risk of pushing up the release date in order to fit him in, Click to expand...

Mother Brain

Ridley

Flying Insect Boss

”Dark Possessed Ridley”

Sheegoth Prime

Space Pirate Organic Weapons

Early Samus Power Suit concepts, with designer's notes

Early Beam and Upgrade Concepts

Lava Thardus

Mike Sneath to n-sider said: if I remember correctly Thardus was suppose to be in a large lava pit arena but I believe we had to change it due to time constraints. Click to expand...

Alternate Parasite Queen

Mike Sneath said: What may be of even more interest is the fact that Samus could have been fighting "The Queen" in another setting that did not make the final cut. "I made the Parasite Queen almost at the beginning of when we started Metroid, Mike told N-Sider. "LeRoy [Strauss] made the chamber you see in the game maybe a year or so later. There was a previous chamber, which was scrapped because the game play wasn't working properly so the designer remade the chamber." Click to expand...

Omega Metroid

Forest Flaahgra

The Giant Metroids

A surviving Chozo?

Mutated Metroids

Tallon IV Concepts

Winged Chozo Ghosts

Speedbooster and Shinespark upgrades

Insect Cyborg Pirates

Fimbulvetr said: Another interesting tidbit from all this is the presence of the original Space Pirate design in action in Martin L'Heureux's showreel. The design is much more reminiscent of the Zebesian look from the earlier games, down to the claw cannons, and it can be seen in the instruction manual for the game, though the only hint of its existence in the game itself is some decaying body parts in a container in the Phendrana pirate base (there's a giant claw cannon among them, maybe there was an Elite Pirate design based off the older model at some point as well?). Click to expand...

More Expansive Impact Crater

Friendly creatures?

Super Metroid

Additional Discovered Images

Playable Super Metroid

Nintendo of America unused Promotional Logos

I’ve been in full research mode, and have discovered enough stuff to fuel a couple of threads. I’ve discovered a ton of concept pieces, notes, renders, animations and reflections from Retro Studios staff regarding their work on the Metroid Prime trilogy. Some of this material has been seen elsewhere, and some of it seems to have had no exposure whatsoever.This thread is to present my findings with regards to the first Metroid Prime. I hope you find this interesting. I certainly did!Note: Anything that is not in quotes is speculation by me, informed by the materials, and should be treated as such.Enjoy the secrets of Tallon IV!(Source: Bernardette Lacarte These images represent some of the earliest concepts I've ever seen from Metroid Prime. I'd guess they were throwing out lots of different ideas of the game's "look".A very early title screen would have welcomed players to Metroid Prime. The abstract organic render in the bottom-right corner is unidentifiable.At one point, it seems that Jennifer Hale - the talented voice actress who voices all of Samus' vocalisations in the Prime games - was to deliver a monologue explaining the preceding events of the original Metroid. You can download this and listen to it yourself from The Cutting Room Floor website At some point, a blue-on-black text opening was intended for the game.For a period, this opening sequence (with scanning animation passing over Samus' anatomy) greeted players.It does appear that two different Kraid designs were considered. The first would have been more familiar, with Kraid strongly resembling his Super Metroid incarnation and firing his traditional belly-spears towards Samus. The design that was chosen was for modelling was more radical however, with Kraid’s head replaced with a grotesque metal shell. Could this have represented an unfinished attempt by the Space Pirates to rebuild their defeated general following the events of the original Metroid?If I were to try and interpret Andrew Jones’ madness, I’d suggest the following theory:Such a theory would certainly fit in with the eventual concluding battle of the series, as shown in Metroid Prime 3. Perhaps Retro Studios reconsidered this idea, with the substitution of an Aurora Unit instead?(Source: Metroid Prime Trilogy materials, Retro Studios)It seems that at some point, Ridley was intended to be encountered in a canyon with interconnecting bridges. It also appears that there were a few different designs considered: a more organic incarnation with visible bloody organs through a metal exoskeleton ribcage; an almost entirely-mechanical incarnation with more than a passing resemblance to Metroid: Zero Mission’s Mecha-Ridley; and a radically-different red and orange metal dragon, almost steampunk in design.The linked video also shows some of the hidden details in Ridley’s incredible final Meta-Design.(Source : Originally hosted at Nintendo.com, Retro Studios)It seems there was originally a flying cybernetic, insect-like boss on Talon IV, hovering from a colossal apparatus firing blasts from its claws. It is very different to the less intimidating flying Pirates that are in the final game. It could be that this boss served as some aerial-equivalent to the Phazon-infused Omega Pirate.The concept piece could be a different interpretation of this same creature. If it is, then it seems to suggest in the large flying device actually contains a living Metroid, its flight powers being hijacked for the bosses’ advantage. Perhaps the aim of the battle would have been for Samus to have freed the Metroid from its captivity, allowing it to turn on and consume the boss?(Source : Originally hosted on Nintendo.com, Retro Studios)This highly mysterious image appeared on Nintendo’s website under the filename “Dark_Possessed_Ridley”. Ridley appears to have been somehow altered to a Chozo-like form: his wings are feathered; his jaw has become a beak; he is clothed in Chozo-style armour; and he is apparently not hostile to Samus.A theory: A different endgame for Ridley may have been intended. Instead of the Chozo Ghosts summoning the power of the temple to project him off the cliff, perhaps they channelled their supernatural energies into the dragon himself. This “dark possession” could have forced upon Ridley a metamorphosis, altering his appearance to reflect the Chozo possession. Perhaps in this "dark possessed" form, the Chozp spirits use Ridley's body to help Samus to get to the Impact Crater to finally defeat the worm within.It appears that a third stage of the Sheegoth life-cycle was to serve as a boss for the Phendara Drifts territory. This four-armed juggernaut would have presumably been the final form of the species, whose “baby” and “adult” variants were regular enemies in the final release. Note that the name “Sheegoth Prime” is one I have assigned as no official one is given.Given that the lesser adult Sheegoths were tough enemies in their own right, it remains very unclear how Samus would have defeated this colossal monstrosity. If it possessed the same electrical kinetic powers as its smaller counterparts, it may have been a powerful boss indeed.(Source: Andrew "Android" Jones)(Source: MassiveBlack)There were a number of organic-style Space Pirate weapon designs that went unused in the final release.(Source: Metroid Prime Trilogy Bonus Materials)(Source: Metroid Prime Trilogy Bonus Materials)This concept art shows some early ideas for Samus' gun and the beam upgrades. Note that the ice beam upgrade appears to be in the shape of Crocomire!It seems an early version of Thardus was to be fought in a lava area. Perhaps Thardus was to be the boss of Magmoor Caverns (which conspicuously lacks any bosses in the final release), and Sheegoth Prime would have been fought in the Phendara Drifts Quarantine Arena?It is interesting that this alternate version of Thardus has a glowing red core – perhaps this was a consequence of its fiery surroundings?The Parasite Queen fought on the opening space station in Metroid Prime was originally intended to be quite different. The concept piece and animation suggest slight differences to the queen encountered by Samus in the final release. Retro Studios Mike Sneath confirms above that the battle was to originally to take place in a quite different location.It seems that at some point in development, at least one gargantuan Omega Metroid was considered for inclusion on Talon IV. This formidable enemy would also serve as the final boss of Metroid Fusion, and provide a nice story link between the two games.Given the unrealised potential of the Metroid Prime – Metroid Fusion system link, it seems possible that the Omega boss may have been unlocked through the GBA connection. Perhaps if Samus cleared the game with the Fusion Suit, a new boss awaited her in the Impact Crater?The second, smaller Metroid looks like an intermediate stage between the base Metroid creature and its bipedal Omega incarnation. Could the Space Pirates have been somehow trying to accelerate the creature through its lifecycle?(Source: Todd Keller)It seems a number of different concepts for the ferocious Flaahgra boss were explored. One which seemed to make it all the way to animation, was the idea of the creature naturally emerging from its seed in what appears to be a dark forest area. This clearly contrasts his final locale, the mirror-bearing temple in the Chozo ruins.It seems that in the Impact Crater, Samus would have been forced to overcome gigantic, phazon-fuelled Metroids. This would have been a clear nod to Metroid, Metroid II and Super Metroid, in which Samus was forced to do an endurance run against the colossal creatures to get to the final battle.The image discovered buried in the game disc, of a Space Pirate apparent scan data of a giant Metroid, may have foreshadowed this onslaught.(Source: Metroid Prime Instruction Manual)(Source: Metroid Prime Trilogy Bonus Materials)This intriguing image and animation would suggest that at some point, at least one Chozo (or a sleek robotic recreation of one) was operating on Talon IV. The animation seems to suggest caution and stealth, a far cry from the deranged Chozo ghosts seen in the final release.Could secret sabotage from this creature be the reason for the various failures and delays reported by the Space Pirates in their logs?It seems that early in development, Talon IV would have contained heavily mutated Metroid creatures. These sketches look even more sickly than the fusion and hunter mutations that appeared in the final game.(Source: Metroid Prime Trilogy Bonus Materials)A lot of different ideas were explored for the appearance of Tallon IV, many showing the cataclysmic damage caused by the Phazon meteor.(Source: Nintendo.com, Retro Studios)This image would suggest that a winged variant on the Chozo Ghosts were intended to be encountered by Samus on Talon IV. Is the angelic-imagery intentional? Could these creatures have been more benevolent than their psychotic, wingless counterparts?This image, buried away unsued in the Metroid Prime final release disc, would suggest that the Speedbooster and Shinespark powers were intended for inclusion at some point and never made it. Given that there doesn't appear to be any places on Talon IV in which Samus could have made use of these, it seems likely that they were excised from the game early.(Source: Nintendo.com and the Metroid Prime Instruction Manual)At some point, the game was intended to include these vicious looking cybernetic insectoid Space Pirates. Fimbulvetr spotted this in the animation reel, and provided this very observant commentary It seems that the Impact Crater was originally intended to have been a much larger area. The art suggests an alien living place, with eruptions and movement continuously shifting the surroundings. The increased size would have enabled Samus to fight her way through the aforementioned gigantic Metroids, and would have allowed for an exciting escape sequence as per series tradition.(Source: Nintendo.com)This unidentified creature has is a mystery, appearing in the Metroid Prime concept art with no explanation or apparent role in the released game. Given its decidedly unintimidating appearance, could it have been an ally to Samus? A possibility is that the creature, like the friendly animals of Super Metroid, could have somehow supported the hunter in her quest.This image would appear to confirm that more connectivity content was intended for Metroid Prime. It seems that when connected to Metroid Fusion, the Gamecube would allow full access to the transcendent Super Metroid. Had this been implemented on release, it could be argued that the Metroid Prime disc would consequently contain the two very best Metroid games in existence.(Source: Gene Kohler)(Source: James Darcie)(Source: Tim Garet N.O.A were focus testing the above logos to promote the game. The ones with ticks next to them were approved by focus groups. In the end, none of these were used.That's it! I hope you enjoyed that GAF. Any sites that want to reuse my post, please do the decent thing and at least link back to all the research and work I’ve done here.Many thanks to Metroid Database and the Metroid Wiki for being invaluable in this research.