A preview of "Metroid Prime Hunters" was featured at E3 2004, which players control different colored variations of Samus in a deathmatch. A demo version, titled "Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt", was included as a pack-in game with the Nintendo DS when it launched in North America on November 21, 2004. As a single-player game, it consisted of training scenarios with no specific plot, while the multiplayer portion allowed up to four players to compete via the Nintendo DS' local wireless communications. GamesRadar wrote a positive review for the demo, citing it as "a fine showcase for demonstrating what the hardware is capable of". In early 2006, a preview video for "Hunters" was made available for download through the DS Download Station. A playable demo was also available from the Download Station in North America.