Straight to the point: Metroid Prime is simply the finest game on the Gamecube, and one of the greatest games ever made. This game is a triumph of the imagination, where the gamer is consistently immersed and engaged in a world unlike any other virtual game world from before. The gameplay is smartly executed and diverse in Prime. As playing the legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran, you will do everything from exploring huge vibrant worlds, to shooting down enemies, to solving puzzles, and to discovering the enchanting folklore of Tallon IV (the name of the planet where Metroid Prime takes place). Exploration is the fundamental approach of gameplay in Metroid Prime. Samus scouts environments for information using a special scanning visor, that scans certain objects. The scans are used for critical actions (eg. unlocking doors), and for background information and historical data. The data and logs scanned are a fascinating account which add so much understanding to the environment, its history, and recent news in relation to the game. It is by exploration where Samus finds out her critical objectives and missions, and the fact that there is consistently somewhere / something new to see represents the sheer exhilaration one feels just by even simply walking around. There are enemies of course in the environments, and they are all prepared to stop Samus from reaching her goals. From ghoulish pirates and creatures, to security orbs, and toxic vegetation, the enemies are just are diverse and interesting to scan as to fight. A.I. is very capable, with smart attacking and co-operation amongst themselves. Boss fights exist here too, and every one of them are epically memorable on their own. They are spectacularly creative, and they all require the gamer to replicate their creativity in order to defeat them. Level design is another unique aspect of Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime consists of a handful of "main worlds," but there are several seamlessly connected areas to explore within those worlds. There are several shortcuts and elevators to get around which are handy for the high level of exploration taking place. There are countless crevices, ledges, and platforms which Samus will have to master (in first and third person) to progress, which are itself a joy to discover to complete. Often there are multiple paths to take when exploring, which adds to the sense of a large seamless world Samus navigates in. Most of the gameplay takes place from a first person view, through Samus's transparent visor. Through this view, most of the exploration and shooting is executed. Samus has a "beam" which is used as a weapon that shoots out various ammunition, and performs several tasks for her. Her visor itself also has several modes that need to be adjusted according to the various hostile environments she visits and explores. There are several visor, beam, and other upgrades that expand upon Samus' abilities as the gamer progresses throughout the game. The third person view, or "morph ball" view occurs when Samus transforms into a energy ball, thus being able to travel through small and peculiar environmental spaces. Morph ball gameplay is one of the most unique aspects of Metroid Prime, and is very enjoyable. The control is the most surprising feat of Metroid Prime, considering its a first person adventure where basic action is controlled with only one analog stick! The analog stick in tandem with triggers allow Samus to look around, and manually aim if needed. Samus can auto target and lock on to most enemies which works very intuitively, but does not make the enemies all that easier. This is also the first game where jumping feels perfect for a first person game, which is critical to the exploration of the environments. The controls which may seem awkward at first, are perfect when one gets past the learning curve. The graphics are absolutely captivating. The game supports 480p, and 60 fps with rarely any slowdown and loading times. Gorgeous textures, lighting, and a vibrant colour palette lend to the lush worlds in Metroid Prime. The artistic direction is top notch, with all of the worlds, creatures, and environments blending seamlessly together in splendor. Everything from abandoned underwater ships, lush forests, historical ruins, boiling lava caverns, and sparkling winter wastelands are all impeccably designed. Even Samus's different visor and cannons react according to their specifications and environmental conditions. The sound is great, supporting Dolby Pro-Logic II surround sound. Everything from the bass of Samus's cannon, to the shrieks of Space Pirates, to the whirring of machinery and laboratories sound sharp and detailed. The soundtrack is an excellent moody blend of electronic fusion, with elaborate melodies accompanied by synthesizers and acoustic sounding instruments. It is arguably the finest MIDI sound quality ever in a video game soundtrack. If one can pick out flaws in this game, it would only be that there is a considerable amount of backtracking to do. This is intended since it is a adventure game, but it may get occasionally frustrating for some gamers who play sporadically. Also, while there is a hard mode (unlocked after completing normal mode), the replay value is definitely limited in terms of incentives to keep playing it once the campaign is beaten. Its a game that most gamers will finish once, and then pick it up again a while later only to be reminded of its greatness. Overall, Metroid Prime is a game that is a stunning achievement of game design. The game manages to be thought provoking, adventurous, and entertaining all at the same time. Very few games ever achieve this magnitude of overall excellence. This is why Metroid Prime is one of those essential games that must be played and enjoyed by gamers from all walks of life.
This game surprised the hell out of me. I’ll admit that I was one of those who scoffed the instant I learned that the new Metroid would be first-person. A Metroid first person shooter? That can’t be done. There’s no way ... Read Full Review
Metroid started out as a side scrolling adventure. Now Retro studios and Nintendo have changed the side scrolling legend to an awesome game in Metroid Prime. The game isn’t a side scrolling shooter. Retro studios ... Read Full Review
