So Vorodi said that Sylux had a “great backstory with threaded storytelling that’d make him a great use for future games” but then later Tanabe clarified that Sylux was initially designed by NST as just another one-off for Hunters before he asked them to keep his backstory a mystery so Tanabe could reuse the character and give him his own backstory.
The consensus is that Vorodi had a backstory in mind, but when Tanabe made the request he thought Tanabe intended to save the backstory and expand on it for a future game, rather than make his own. Hence the claim. Tanabe either forgot or never saw it.
But then if Sylux was designed as just a one-off like the other titular hunters, that means his backstory would’ve been something simple and to the point. Not something with “threaded storytelling.” But the more I think of it… And I do acknowledge my personal delusions and bias…
I think Sylux was supposed to highlight the corruption of the Federation; Either as a victim or a corrupt member who got ousted for it. Because before Hunters we got Fusion in the mainline series, which ends with the revelation of the Federation’s corruption via its investment in unethical weaponry as Samus is now apparently on the run from them.
Vorodi, like the rest of us, was intrigued by the idea of a corrupt Federation and probably also assumed/hoped we’d see more of that conflict between them and Samus over it. So when he designed Sylux, he designed a character that highlighted that corruption, hence the Shock Coil being a Federation weapon that utilizes banned technology; Again, a way to connect to how their twist in Fusion was making a weapon out of a banned creature.
So it’s “threaded storytelling” because it ties into Fusion, a game that occurs later in the timeline. And it makes Sylux a good use for future games, specifically set post-Fusion. Because if Sylux is an anti-hero then how do him and Samus reconcile their initial opposition yet shared beef with the Federation over the same reasons? If Sylux was ousted for corruption, mayhaps he’s recruited by the Federation to hunt down Samus as they offer redemption, a way back into the fold since they’ve changed their mind and now agree with the sentiments that got Sylux castigated.
In the end Tanabe had something that… could still lean into the idea of Sylux representing the corruption of the Federation if his successor Tabata chooses to go that direction. Ngl I really hope she does; Imagine Prime 5 having Samus deal with Sylux and his Mochtroids being a menace. Samus defeats Sylux and destroys the Mochtroids and the original Metroid they were cloned from once and for all, but the 100% ending is the Federation finding Sylux alive but injured…
Then comes Prime 6, which takes place right after Fusion. It’s revealed the War Hawks have pulled strings to employ Sylux and get him pardoned or promise it as a reward. Combining Federation assets with Sylux’s own to take out Samus. Sylux is triumphant to earn his “redemption” when really he’s learned nothing new at all from this; Quite conveniently, his hatred for the Federation dissipates as soon as they validate him.
Samus finally kills Sylux for good and then posts incriminating files on the War Hawks she gathered throughout the game; Because this is an idealistic world, the War Hawks are arrested and the Federation is at peace, opening up for Samus’ good terms with them in Dread.
