Kotaku has contacted a Nintendo of America representative to discover whether there’s any truth to the Star Fox-Metroid Fusion Saga rumour which was doing the rounds on the web yesterday. As expected, Nintendo of America replied with the standard ‘we don’t comment on rumour or speculation’. I guess we will just have to wait until E3 to find out.

The Paul Gale Network, which is renowned for posting rather obscure rumours, claims that the game Retro Studio’s is working on for Wii U is a Star Fox and Metroid collaboration. We already know that Retro Studios are possibly working on a Star Fox title for Wii U, although this idea sounds a little too far-fetched. All will be revealed at E3 which takes place in just a few weeks.

• Some folk at Retro Studios wanted to develop a new ip that involved 3rd person sci-fi action with intense aerial combat.
• Others apparently were leaning towards taking the Star Fox helm.
• Nintendo sees Retro Studios as a very competent developer and worked with them in creating the hybrid title of Star Fox – Metroid: Fusion Saga.
• The title has multiple gameplay mechanics and needed a wide staff of talent to incorporate the many ideas.
• The story begins as you control Fox McCloud and the Star Fox team on deep space mission in your Arwing, flying through a Meteos-like stage. As you enter a light speed warp, there’s a collision with an orange ship (Samus’) and the game continues with you now plummeting to a planet as Samus in her craft. You’re in mild control of her ship, using the Wii U controller to look around and touch screen press the lit up buttons to prepare for impact (while the TV stays locked on what you see out of the cockpit). You’re now on land, as a “yet again” stripped down Samus Aran with the most basic of weapon abilities, in first person perspective, traversing through this unknown planet.
• The game switches off between intense Arwing space and planetary battles as Fox makes his way to the planet that Samus crashed on and a Metroid Prime-like experience of gameplay as Samus on this planet, gradually uncovering its mysteries, leveling up, etc.
• The Star Fox stages represent what the series is best known for, including the chatter and coming to the aid of the rest of your team, all range mode battles, and on rails stages.
• The Metroid part of the game puts you alone, void of human or any talking character contact, and like the Prime series, sees you gaining upgrades, battling bosses, and in this case, repairing your ship.
• The game is said to be epic in size, scope, ambition.
• The pacing has been perfected to not interrupt what the feeling is behind either franchise, since Star Fox is more often known for being acceptable to have short sessions with and Metroid rather the opposite. You can opt to continue playing either just Samus’ part or Fox’s part without crossing over for much of the main game (or play it as it’s scripted back and forth), but will eventually have to complete both, as the characters will ultimately meet up.
• There will be later parts in the game where you do get to control Samus’ ship and fly it Star Fox style.
• Likewise, Fox McCloud will be controllable by foot (both the above and this bullet point represent a period in the game after the two sides meet up) and be played via 3rd person perspective. Think of Jet Force Gemini with Fox’s known agility as he’s portrayed to having in the Smash Bros. series. (Fox will move more like Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden and less like he did in Star Fox Adventures).
• Though a tentative title, the idea behind the story of “Fusion Saga” is both a play on the fact that the two series are fusing together into one game and of course, a storyline behind Andross using Metroids to enhance himself, his army, etc.
• Star Fox – Metroid: Fusion Saga is wholly a satisfying adventure game as Samus, an equally electrifying aerial combat game as Fox, and something that delivers an exciting, special change that fans will love.
• In consideration was the Star Fox portion having 4 player co-op online, but instead the game will have leaderboards for time and percent complete for all parts of the game and multiplayer will be simply versus mode based.

US retail emporium Best Buy are selling the fairly controversial Metroid: Other M for the ridiculously cheap price of $7.99. Admittedly the game did receive rather mixed reviews from the gaming press. If you were previously sitting on the fence about buying it, then now’s the perfect time to do so.

French Nintendo site NintendoTown has posted a batch of hot new Wii U rumours. First up is Metroid is currently in development and is being built using the Unreal Engine 3. A tech demo of Metroid Wii U has been shown to a few select people and the game is a joint venture between Nintendo and Retro Studios.

Another rumour, which was previously posted on AdWeek a few months back, is that Nintendo is in talks with various media companies in an effort to secure Video on Demand titles. The rumour itself implies that there will be a built-in application on the console’s dashboard similar to those on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The last rumour, which is possibly the hardest to believe, is Nintendo has Google Android running as the operating system for Wii U. This clearly sounds far-fetched but stranger things have happened. We should find out for sure about all these rumours at E3.

Tip: Jeff C

A whole host of never seen before artwork from the Metroid franchise has been uploaded by Retro Studios artist Danny Richardson. The incredible art work contains images of Omega Metroid and a very early take on Mecha/Metal Ridely. You can check out more of the Metroid artwork here.

Nintendo UK and Europe has announced the games that Nintendo 3DS and Wii owners can enjoy on the Virtual Console this week. There’s Metroid for the NES, Strider which launched on the Sega Megadrive, and 1^st Class Poker & BlackJack and Battle of the Elements for DSiWare

Prepare yourself for the return of the original NES classic Metroid, re-released on the Nintendo eShop  this week, and see how the whole saga began! As the legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran, you will once again be able to take on the Space Pirates and their leader Mother Brain to bring peace to the galaxy. The original Metroid adventure introduced the unique blend of exploration and high-octane action that has characterised the series ever since.

Wii owners will also be able to journey into the future this week as another classic game from the past is released on Wii Virtual Console. Launched in 1990 on the SEGA Mega Drive and set in the year 2048, Strider is lauded as a classic its era. You take control of the legendary Strider, Hiryu, and by using his trusty plasma sword called “Cypher” and athletic platforming abilities you must travel through a futuristic landscape battling the wicked Grandmaster Meio and his colourful minions. The classic action in Strider will take you back to the vintage era of Mega Drive gaming in the 1990s.

Also, there’s great fun to be had on Nintendo DSiWare this week in the premium casino game, 1^st Class Poker & BlackJack, which includes the likes of Ohama, pineapple, Texas hold ’em, double flop hold ’em and many more casino classics in this thrilling game. If you are up for a challenge then get ready to battle through 40 mind-bending missions and master the Legendary Elements when Battle of the Elements arrives on the Nintendo DSi Shop & Nintendo eShop.

Nintendo of America has revealed the treats it has in-store for North American Nintendo 3DS owners. You’ll be able to grab the original Metroid from the Nintendo Entertainment System as well as a playable demo for Sega’s Crush 3D. As I mentioned earlier, European Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to get their hands on Punch-Out!! and Super Mario Bros. There will also be a playable European demo for Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Nintendo Europe has issued a press release which states that this March is set to be the biggest month ever for Virtual Console as Nintendo announces a bumper crop of classic games set to launch via the Nintendo eShop and Wii Shop Channel. Here’s the full details:

The month of March heralds a wide range of interesting games to download including a chance to replay where it all began for Samus Aran when the original Metroid from the NES becomes available to download on your Nintendo 3DS. Those of you who are looking forward to the upcoming release of Kid Icarus™: Uprising can download the Game Boy title, Kid Icarus™ Of Myths and Monsters allowing Nintendo 3DS owners to become better acquainted with the angelic angel Pit and his action-packed adventures!

Dust off your stethoscope and get ready for some pill arranging action with the classic Game Boy puzzler Dr Mario™, finally arriving to the Nintendo eShop. March will also see the long awaited arrival of the classic SEGA Game Gear line-up including Dragon Crystal™, Shinobi™ and Sonic the Hedgehog™: Triple Trouble.

Wii owners are in for a treat this month when Mega Man X and Mega Man 5 become available on Wii Virtual Console and Super Street Fighter 2 is the first Virtual Console title with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection functionality which allows fans of the legendary fighting franchise to challenge each other online. You will be treated to even more of history’s best 2D fighting and sidescrolling action in Strider and Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge respectively.

The month of Virtual Console will kick off this week with two NES classics in the form of the original Super Mario Bros.™ and Punch-Out!!™,  both available via the Nintendo eShop. Mario and Luigi have been rescuing princesses and battling Bowser for over 25 years and you now have the chance to play the ultimate classic on your Nintendo 3DS.

Used games retailer JJGames has decided to put this stunning Samus Aran sculpture up for auction on eBay. The 165cm sculpture is made from a variety of defunct Nintendo games from the Japanese publisher’s legacy systems, like the Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64. Here’s the eBay link as it’s only going for $11.

Nintendo Europe has announced that Metroid II will be appearing on the Virtual Console section of the Nintendo 3DS eShop this Thursday and will be priced at £3.60/€4.00. Nintendo of America has yet to announce when the game is coming to North America.