Metroid Prime Review (no fat)

Game Description

You’re Samus Aran, the most famous interstellar bounty hunter ever. Your mission is to hunt down the Space Pirates who were responsible for killing your parents. Though the FPS element is present throughout the game, there are also scenes where the narrative is in the third person and apart from shooting, this game offers an ample amount of exploration, jumping and puzzle solving… as befitting for a sci-fi setting.

Metroid Prime - Game play

The Space Pirates have taken over the planet Tallon IV and are currently engaged in producing mutant monsters using the chemical Phazon. This chemical released from a meteor strike was responsible for wiping out most of the life in Tallon IV, including the Chozo, a peace loving group who had raised the orphan Samus. Clad in a Space Armor given by the Chozo, Samus traverses the planet and fights the Space Pirates and other mutant monster-like bosses.

Four types of visors are available for Samus to scan the planet - her Combat visor, Scan visor, Thermal Visor and X-Ray Visor. The Combat visor is her default visor with which she can see enemies and shoot them. The Scan visor is used to scan any area she has entered for any enemies. Some enemies can be detected only using their body heat and the Thermal visor is used for such people. The X-Ray visor, as the name suggests, can see the X-Ray of her enemies. When Samus uses this visor and raises her hand to shoot, you can actually see her bony hand…cool.

Again four types of weapons available - Power, Wave, Ice and Plasma. The Power beam is her default choice and can be used to shoot bursts of super heated energy. The Wave beam is used to disarm energy fields of opponents. The Ice beam is used to freeze her attackers and the Plasma beam incinerates them with a burst of super hot lava. Apart from these four, she also has a limited number of ballistic missiles and bombs at her command.

Metroid Prime does not follow any levels in its game. It is just one continuous expanse to explore and take out enemies. The game environments vary from dry and crumbling Chozo Ruins to icy Phendrana Drifts to hot and claustrophobic Magmoor Caverns. Samus can also curl up into a ball called Morph Ball. This allows her to traverse certain terrain much easier. When she is balled up, the narrative switch to third person and the switch between First person and third person looks very seamless and natural.

Metroid Prime Controls

The controls are very precise and help in coping with the 3D game. The Left and Right buttons are used to target the enemy. The Z button brings on a 3D map which will show the position of Samus as well as possible locations of the enemy, in addition to the paths to traverse the region.

If anything, Samus jumps a lot in this game. However, the jumps are done very nicely and she seems to respond at the slightest jab.

Metroid Prime Audio

The music has been synthesized in Midi but still sounds excellent. The various moods of the game, like suspense, panic, calm are portrayed very well with the help of the audio. While Samus is fighting the enemy the music changes to an upbeat and edgy tempo.

Sound tracks from previous versions in the Metroid Prime franchise have been remixed and included here… these should help experienced Metroid Prime fans get involved with the game.

Metroid Prime Video

As you enter an elevator or open a door, the region behind it is automatically loaded. Thus you experience no time lag and the game moves at a constant 60 frames per second. When there are numerous enemies, some freezes in the game will be seen but they are very minor.

The highlight is the various special effects which can be seen through the visor of Samus, including her own reflection… cool again. Plus, when she enters a hot cavern, the visor fogs up and when it rains, raindrops trickle down her visor…lets not repeat ourselves (but cool again!)

Metroid Prime Summing Up

This is one of the best video games on GameCube. Apart from exploring and combat, it offers puzzles ranging from the simple to the complex. The game maintains its slick presentation and sheer entertainment value…a collectable.

Metroid Prime Cost

Metroid Prime currently retails for $14.99.