Project Valkyrie

Project Valkyrie was the working title of a Metroid game in development by Next Level Games originally for the Nintendo DS. Beginning as a series of prototypes, the game's development was shelved in favor of that of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Following Dark Moon's release, the project was resurrected and eventually molded into the Metroid spinoff for the 3DS, Metroid Prime: Federation Force.
==Known information==
===Early leaks===
Concept art for Valkyrie was leaked online on 2014 in a portfolio for Next Level Games belonging to artists Nelson "Dedos" Garcia and Xochitl. The concept art indicated a more angular style, and depicted two versions of Samus Aran as well as a Boss Creature.
An Iwata Asks interview previously mentioned the prototype without revealing it was Metroid:
Iwata: What was your impression at Next Level Games when you first heard about this project?
Bryce: At the time, we were actually involved with a completely different project for Nintendo, and one day we had a video conference about that.
Chad: We had made a prototype in preparation for that meeting.
Bryce: And Kensuke Tanabe-san suddenly started something like a drumroll and said, "You're gonna make Luigi's Mansion 2!" I was so surprised I could barely speak.
In January 2015, details surfaced of a cancelled Metroid game that may be related to this project. A source for Unseen64 revealed that the game was intended to have a different art style from previous Metroid games.http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/39609/details-on-canceled-metroid-game-surface A 30-second prototype video that has not been released showed Samus blasting her way through enemies before confronting a boss resembling Kraid.http://nintendoeverything.com/rumor-details-emerge-about-cancelled-metroid-3ds-project
===2022 revelations===
More information about Valkyrie was unveiled in a DidYouKnowGaming? video that investigated this game, as well as Metroid 64 and Metroid Tactics. Valkyrie existed as a series of prototypes on Nintendo DS and 3DS, which were built over seven years. It began as a multiplayer deathmatch game on DS, with a very small team of 5-6 people working on it, one of whom was a character modeler. This version of Valkyrie was intended as a standalone version of the multiplayer modes in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime Hunters. It was in development for four months as "Phase 1", and Samus was the only playable character, with players controlling her in differently colored suits, such as orange and purple.
Despite the stylized Samus in the leaked concept art, the in-game model was faithful to her prior depictions. The second Samus in the concept art features glowing accents on her suit; these were intended to help players see each other from a distance in-game. The boss in the leaked concept art was also modeled, and was described as a "legless, crustacean-like creature with mantis arms and articulate mandibles". Bosses served more like obstacles, with players having to contend with them, and each other.
Because Next Level Games was inexperienced with developing for handheld consoles at the time, the programmers on Valkyrie had trouble making it. It was eventually shelved by Nintendo four months later, and Next Level was tasked with making Dark Moon. After that game was completed however, Nintendo asked Next Level to resume production on Valkyrie, commencing "Phase 2" of development. Valkyrie now had a larger development team, and they were creating it from scratch for more advanced hardware, either the 3DS or Wii U. An anonymous modeler likened his work to the quality of a PlayStation 3 game. The battlefield environment was set in a space station, and a new boss was created that resembled a tripod inside an orb. When shot, it would open and change its form. It was inspired by the tripods from The War of the Worlds. The modeler left Next Level before the end of Phase 2, so he did not know if they were ever implemented.
Like the Echoes and Hunters multiplayer modes, players would be able to collect power-ups to enhance their abilities mid-match, such as Missiles, Speed Boosters, teleportation items and stronger Beams. Parts of the environment were destructible, giving players access to more upgrades, alternate passages and strategic attack points. Morph Ball tunnels were also present. Eventually, Valkyrie was cancelled for a second time when Kensuke Tanabe tasked Next Level Games with creating a four player co-op game based on Galactic Federation soldiers, resulting in Federation Force.
==Artwork==
Boss design 1.png
Boss design 2.png
==References==
ru:Игра серии Metroid для 3DS
Category:Unreleased Games