Video Gameography

The first season of Game Informer’s Video Gameography explores the history of the Metroid series. After running down Samus' 2D outings, we’re ready to venture into the world of 3D with Metroid Prime.

Released on November 17, 2002 for Nintendo's Gamecube, Metroid Prime is often considered one of the best games of its era. However, to better understand Metroid Prime's influence we first have to go back to the tumultuous founding of Retro Studios. In order to develop Metroid Prime, Retro canceled four other projects, and even then many of its designers almost didn't survive development. In the end, Retro created a total masterpiece that feels ahead of its time. Join us as we talk about Retro's struggles, why Shigeru Miyamoto felt that the morph ball was essential to the formula, and how we almost saw Kraid in 3D. 

Join hosts Ben Reeves (@BenjaminReeves), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), and special guest, Game Informer's own Blake Hester (@metallicaisrad) for the next hour as we explore Metroid Prime's lore, development history, and lasting impact. 

If you'd like to get in touch with the Video Gameography podcast, you can email us at [email protected]. You can also join our official Game Informer Discord server by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the Video Gameography channel under "Community Spaces."

The first season of Game Informer's Video Gameography explores the history of the Metroid series. This week we're tackling Samus' acclaimed Game Boy Advance outing, Metroid Fusion.

Metroid Fusion launched on November 17, 2002 – the same day as Metroid Prime. Developed by Nintendo R&D1, it stars Samus as she explores a space station overrun by shapeshifting parasites called X. Worst of all, Samus is hunted by an X parasite that has mimicked her appearance and abilities: the SA-X. Metroid Fusion served as a return to the 2D gameplay of Super Metroid with modern improvements such as faster movement and traversal and a ledge grab. Fusion was critically acclaimed as one of the best GBA games ever made; some fans even consider it a rival to Super Metroid as the best entry in the series. Chronologically, Fusion served as the final chapter in the Metroid saga for decades until 2021's Metroid Dread. 

Join hosts Ben Reeves (@BenjaminReeves), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), and special guest Digital Eclipse editorial director Chris Kohler (@kobunheat) as we explore Metroid Fusion's lore, development history, and lasting impact. 

If you'd like to get in touch with the Video Gameography podcast, you can email us at [email protected]. You can also join our official Game Informer Discord server by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the Video Gameography channel under "Community Spaces."

The first season of Game Informer’s Video Gameography explores the history of the Metroid series. After running down Samus' classic debut and handheld outing, we’re moving onto the most influential entry in the series: Super Metroid.

Released on April 18, 1994 for Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Metroid sold well enough at the time, but its legend has only grown over time as more and more titles take inspiration from Samus' haunting adventure across the planet Zebes. Developed by Nintendo R&D1 with a staff of 15, and directed by Yoshio Sakamoto, Super Metroid is widely considered one of the greatest – if not the greatest – game ever made. In this episode, we talk about Super Metroid's grueling development, its unique approach to cinematic storytelling, the ways it surprised players, and how it helped spawn the Metroidvania genre. 

Join hosts Ben Reeves (@BenjaminReeves), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), and special guest, Game Informer alumni Joe Juba for the next hour as we explore Super Metroid's lore, development history, and lasting impact. 

If you'd like to get in touch with the Video Gameography podcast, you can email us at [email protected]. You can also join our official Game Informer Discord server by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the Video Gameography channel under "Community Spaces."

The first season of Game Informer’s Video Gameography explores the history of the Metroid series. After running down Samus' classic debut, we’re moving on to its polarizing handheld sequel, Metroid II: Return of Samus. 

Developed by Nintendo R&D1, Metroid II is largely viewed as the red-headed stepchild of the series. Samus’ encore outing launched on the Game Boy in 1991, which means it was limited in terms of presentation and scale. The monochrome graphics and zoomed-in perspective made exploration trickier than its predecessor, and the primary mission tasked players with locating and eradicating over 40 Metroids scattered across the map, a mission structure that hasn’t been implemented since. 

Join hosts Ben Reeves (@BenjaminReeves), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), and special guest, comic book writer/podcast host Chris Sims (@theisb), as we explore Metroid II’s lore, development history, and lasting impact, such as the fact that it’s received two modern remakes, both officially and otherwise. 

If you'd like to get in touch with the Video Gameography podcast, you can email us at [email protected]. You can also join our official Game Informer Discord server by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the Video Gameography channel under "Community Spaces."

Nintendo's dominant '80s run on the video game industry produced several hit franchises that remain important today. Metroid might not be a massive juggernaut like Super Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda, but it's still an icon of the industry ... and for good reason. 

In the first season of Game Informer's Video Gameography podcast, we're tackling Metroid. Developed by Nintendo R&D1 and produced by the creator of the Game Boy, Gunpei Yokoi, Metroid thrilled fans with its creative approach to platforming action. While most games gave you a set path to follow, Metroid dropped you into a haunting, alien world and let you freely explore to discover upgrades and ultimately save the universe from biological warfare. 

Join hosts Ben Reeves (@BenjaminReeves), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), and special guest, Game Informer's senior editor Dan Tack (@dantack) for the next hour as we explore Metroid's lore, development history, and lasting impact. 

If you'd like to get in touch with the Video Gameography podcast, you can email us at [email protected]. You can also join our official Game Informer Discord server by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the Video Gameography channel under "Community Spaces."

Most gaming podcasts these days do the same thing: round up the news and talk about the big releases of the week. There is nothing wrong with that, but our love of games isn't tied to a release schedule. Whether you're a hardcore fan or a casual player who only has time for a select number of games a year, the reason you fell in love with this medium is that you loved one game first. We want to put the focus back on some of our favorite franchises, explore how they changed over the years, and examine why they left a mark on the industry.

Video Gameography is a serialized podcast. Each season we'll explore a new franchise and why it's essential. In every episode, we'll examine one game in that series (starting with the first entry), talk about its lore, production history, and the impact it left on those who played it.

There is no shortage of great industry franchises we hope to cover: God of War, Halo, Grand Theft Auto, Doom, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, etc. However, our first season zooms in on Nintendo's iconic Metroid franchise. Did you know that Samus' iconic big shoulder design was a result of the limitations of the Game Boy? Or that she was originally named after the legendary Football/Soccer legend Pele? Or that Metroid Fusion is the only game in the series that can be completed with an item collection percentage of zero? 

Join hosts Ben Reeves, Marcus Stewart, and a collection of rotating guests as we examine your favorite gaming franchises. New episodes drop every Saturday, starting on October 16. It's going to be a wild ride. 

For more Game Informer podcasts, be sure to check out the GI Show, which covers weekly news and all the details on the big game releases, and All Things Nintendo with host Brian Shea which deep dives into Nintendo's library of games every week.