Overview#
Metroid Prime Remastered brought the 2002 GameCube classic to Nintendo Switch with completely rebuilt visuals while maintaining rock-solid 60 fps performance. This project required solving unique challenges at the intersection of legacy systems and modern engine architecture.
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Role: Software Engineer IV
Studio: Nintendo — Retro Studios
Metacritic: 94/100
My Contributions#
Performance Engineering#
The remaster had demanding performance requirements: consistent 60 fps on Nintendo Switch hardware while running significantly more complex rendering than the original.
Even shipping with a single frame being dropped was not acceptable, so all performance spikes needed to be resolved.
Optimization work included:
- Systematic profiling to identify bottlenecks
- Algorithmic improvements to AI and gameplay systems
- Memory access pattern optimization for cache efficiency
- Frame budget management across subsystems
Legacy Code Modernization#
The original Metroid Prime was built on completely different technology. I established patterns for porting 20-year-old code to work with our modern engine architecture.
Challenges addressed:
- Bridging legacy scripting systems with component-based architecture
- Adapting old update loops to modern multithreaded resource management
- Maintaining gameplay fidelity while enabling modern rendering
Multithreading & Resource Management#
I solved race condition issues in the room streaming system (a critical problem where async resource loading conflicted with game state).
Solution implemented:
- Reworked game area loading to use modern resource/token locking system
- Ensured thread-safe access to shared resources during room transitions
- Maintained smooth streaming without visible hitches
Technical Challenges#
Porting a classic game isn’t just about making old code compile. The original Metroid Prime made assumptions about:
For the time being, I am not able to publish details publically.
Each of these assumptions had to be carefully identified and addressed while preserving the precise feel that made the original a classic.
Skills Demonstrated#
C++ Performance Profiling Multithreading Race Condition Debugging Legacy System Modernization Memory Optimization 3D Math