metroid prime review

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Average Ratings

Addiction Level	8/10
Graphics	9.5/10
Value for Money	8.3/10
Reviewer Rating	8.7/10
Overall Rating	7.9/10

83% Recommended5 out of 6 Reviews

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By Rocky Butler on 28th Aug 2003

Rocky Butler's Ratings

Value for money	10/10
Overall value	10/10
Rocky Butler's recommendation

Good Points

A Marvel in game physics and engineering. Reaches new feats and thrills for gamers everywhere.

Bad Points

Too much hype behind what should be a niche classic.

General Comments

For many players, Nintendo's Metroid games, 2D side scrolling shooters starring intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, were primary reasons to be a gamer in the late '80s and early '90s - the games were fantastically polished, very playable and will undoubtedly always be remembered as classics. So it came as wonderful news for Nintendo fans when the company announced that it was developing an all-new Metroid game for the GameCube, and finally, that game has arrived.

To begin, it's best to get the hyperbole out of the way. Metroid Prime is simply the best GameCube game to date, and it's also one of the best video games of all-time. Regular readers may remember that back in 2002 we said the same thing about Nintendo's Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, but as fantastic as that game is, Metroid Prime takes gaming as an art form to a whole new level. If you own a GameCube, you must own Metroid Prime, and if you don't own a GameCube, Metroid Prime is a perfectly good reason to invest in one.

The game is very true to its roots, and this is evident in every aspect of the gameplay. Admittedly, this doesn't immediately appear to be the case, as the game looks like a first person shooter, whereas the original Metroid games were 2D side scrolling shooters. But as soon as you begin playing you'll realise that the first-person perspective is merely superficial - the game doesn't play like a first person shooter, and it bears very little resemblance to the genre whatsoever. In fact, Metroid Prime doesn't really fall into any specific genre, as it's one of the truly rare games which places its emphasis first and foremost on the player's experience, and it's that foundation which makes the game special.

The one thing Metroid Prime doesn't do is go into any depth with its narrative, and this is perhaps the only major criticism which can be levelled against the game. You control Samus Aran, an intergalactic bounty hunter who has been tracking the Zebesian space pirates. As Samus knows of the space pirate's genetic experiments and the damage they've been doing to entire races, she makes it her mission to put an end to their obsession with playing God, eventually tracking them to a planet named Talon IV. As you explore this new planet, you'll uncover new secrets and discover that a whole race of highly intelligent bird-like creatures have been victims of the Zebesian space pirates. Needless to say, it's your job to rectify the situation.

Although it sounds as though there's a relevant amount of story behind Metroid Prime, the game tells it in a very matter-of-fact way, and if you didn't know better you'd be forgiven for thinking that Samus was a mute, as she never speaks a word. Instead, the game tells its story via a number of brief findings presented in the form of text which Samus will stumble across on her journey. But it doesn't really matter that character or plot development don't play a central role, because experience, atmosphere and exploration are at the heart of the game.

Gamers who remember the original games will also remember Samus' ability to curl up in a perfect sphere whenever she needed to, and this too has been brought to Metroid Prime flawlessly. When you press the sphere button the game will automatically switch to a third-person perspective, at which point you can move Samus with the left analogue stick. Moving in a ball allows you access to many passageways that are otherwise too small to enter, and as you progress through the game and earn new power-ups, you'll be able to access areas via naturally occurring half pipes, granting you access to secret missile upgrades and new parts of levels. Around a quarter of the way into the game you'll also be granted access to the game's magnetic rail system, which allows Samus to climb up walls that have designated magnetic tracks on them when curled up in a ball, something which fans of the series will be delighted to see.

The world of Talon IV is massive, and exploring it can sometimes be quite tricky, though you're aided greatly by Samus' map. As much of the game is focused on gathering power-ups, you'll find when you first begin playing the game that much of Talon IV is inaccessible, so you'll be doing quite a bit of backtracking once you've acquired the relevant suit upgrades. This isn't a problem though, because the game's environments are so massive and fun to explore you'll be only too happy to retrace your steps with your new powers.

The environments themselves are incredibly impressive - you'll find yourself moving from lava filled caverns to tropical waters to icy mountains and through ancient ruins, to name just a few locations in the game. Not only are they diverse, but they're incredibly well designed, so much so that many of them simply look natural. The game's complete lack of load times and its gorgeous graphics all contribute to immersing the gamer in this fabulous world.

On that note, it's important to point out just how good Metroid Prime looks - aside from a few very minor texture issues, it's one of the best looking games on Nintendo's GameCube, and that applies to every aspect of the visuals, right through to the introduction sequence and interface design.

The game's enemies are all well designed, the game maintains a solid frame rate, features some fantastic lighting, and to top it all off, is brimming with a myriad of little touches which make the game even more life-like. For example, walking under a waterfall sends water pouring down Samus' visor, and a bright light flashing can momentarily cause her face to reflect back against it. These sorts of details really bring the game to life. The graphics are complimented by one of the best soundtracks heard in a game for quite some time - the game's music is nothing short of breathtaking, and the sound effects are all carefully thought out so they provide the perfect sci-fi pseudo science feel that really brings the game to life.

Metroid Prime is an absolute masterpiece. It takes gaming to a whole new level, will last you a long time, and is an absolute must for any Nintendo fan, or anyone remotely interested in gaming. It's worth pointing out that Metroid Prime doesn't feature any multiplayer modes, so if you're looking for multiplayer gaming, you won't find it here. But as an experience, as a game and as a testament to the evolution of the industry, Metroid Prime shines brighter than any game released in a long time.

Total Respect: +1