After a five-year hiatus, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally resurfaced with a breathtaking trailer during Nintendo Direct. The trailer, set to an atmospheric soundtrack, showcased menacing new environments and a plethora of Space Pirates, all ripe for Samus Aran's intergalactic justice.
Jon Wofford, Retro Studios' lead UI artist, took to X (formerly Twitter) to unveil the modernized design of Samus' iconic HUD, which players will see through her visor throughout the game.
"Metroid Prime 4 has been a dream project," Wofford wrote, "and my favorite part has been designing, crafting, and animating Samusâs HUD. I learned a lot during MPR [Metroid Prime Remastered], and I hope it shows."
Wofford further detailed his creative process on ArtStation, showcasing numerous screenshots and accompanying descriptions. He credits his colleagues, including Jordan Johnson for his UI technology and Nina Morris for her work on scans, as well as his art director, Jhony Ljungstedt, for his vision and leadership.
Wofford's goal was to modernize the visor display while staying true to the Metroid Prime legacy. The outcome is a more minimalist, line-art inspired look, a stark contrast to the HUD featured in Metroid Prime Remastered. This redesigned HUD, while visually distinct, maintains its original technical layout.
"I think the trailer also does a good job showing that the HUD shouldnât bother trying to compete with the incredible environments, characters, lighting, animation, VFX... I am constantly humbled by the talent on this team," Wofford shared on X.
Wofford's UI design work extends beyond Samus' visor, encompassing in-fiction UI elements seen on various computers used by the characters in Metroid Prime 4. "Theyâre quite tiny in this shot," Wofford noted, referring to a screen capture showcasing these UI elements, "but one of my other fun duties on this project was to concept and art direct all of the UI seen on the screens in this area."
Wofford's dedication to crafting a seamless and immersive player experience shines through his passion for his work. It's a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire team that every facet of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, from the intricate HUD design to the sprawling environments, seamlessly blends together to create a truly captivating experience.