With a single teaser image, Nintendo has raised the hopes of Metroid fans once again.

Metroid Prime 4 Trailer - E3 2017 Watch on YouTube

Metroid Prime might be the high point for the entire franchise - bringing its now legendary exploration and sci-fi combat into three dimensions while greatly expanding the scope of the original title.

Metroid Prime went on to have an entire trilogy before shifting gears with Metroid: Other M, which sadly failed to impress. Now Nintendo is confirmed it's getting back to basics in the best way: With a fourth Metroid Prime.

To be clear, this is just a teaser image. There's no sign Nintendo has any gameplay at hand, let alone a cinematic trailer for the game on Nintendo Switch.

But since Metroid hasn't seen a core game release since the Wii was a major console, Nintendo's acknowledgment that it's heard the fans is a start.

Let's hope the new game lives up to what came before.