Lv.4 GAMES Releases Fan-Made Metroid Prime Origins NES-Style Tribute Game

To mark the 40th anniversary of Metroid on August 6, 2026, an amateur group calling itself Lv.4 GAMES released a fan-made tribute titled Metroid Prime Origins—a full, downloadable game that reimagines the opening of Metroid Prime through a classic 8-bit, NES-era lens. The project wasn’t just an homage in name: it aimed to translate Prime’s identity into 2D action, and for a short window it was available online before Nintendo moved to shut it down.

Release window, platform, and availability

Metroid Prime Origins is explicitly non-official, but it was presented as a complete fan game and—at least while it was live—free to download. The concept is built around two major inspirations: the NES-style visual direction and the feel of Prime’s mechanics. The creators describe it as combining “the best of both worlds,” taking clear graphical cues from Super Metroid while claiming modern improvements in responsiveness and presentation that wouldn’t have been possible under original hardware constraints.

How it plays: Prime scanning meets NES-style action

While the aesthetic leans old-school, the core gameplay is meant to follow Prime’s template. The game includes Prime’s scan visor concept: instead of simply serving as a visual effect, scanning is used to examine enemies and expand a bestiary described as detailed. Controls are also structured to support a more modern action flow, with distinct button assignments for different functions.

In a reported hands-on description from a PCGamer test, aiming is handled with a two-trigger scheme: free aim mapped to the left trigger, and target lock mapped to the right trigger. The same report notes that this setup makes it easier to hit enemies without needing uncomfortable repositioning. Movement uses a grappling mechanic as well, and testers and players describe the traversal as unusually fluid for a project of this style.

Fan-made production choices and technical claims

The team behind Metroid Prime Origins also shared a set of development clarifications. They stated that no generative AI was used, and that the sprites and music were created by fans. They also said the lore was rewritten and made denser based on the NTSC version.

Nintendo takedown follows quickly

Despite the game’s careful framing—as a tribute timed to Metroid’s anniversary—Nintendo moved against it shortly after it appeared. After the takedown, it was no longer possible to download the game, the trailer was removed, and even a previously archived download link vanished from the Wayback Machine. The project’s lead creator acknowledged being on Nintendo’s radar, saying it wasn’t necessary to be reminded of it.

With Nintendo distributing 2D Metroid titles less frequently in recent years—Metroid Dread in 2021, followed by Metroid: Samus Returns in 2017—the timing of Metroid Prime Origins made it feel especially timely to many fans. Unfortunately, the window to try the tribute was brief, and Nintendo’s removal appears to have fully cut off access.