GameCube
Metroid Prime
| Graphics: Sound: Gameplay: Overall: |
8.38 8.42 8.39 8.41 |
| Votes: | 74 |
| Reviews: | 2 |
Rate this game
Review this game
| Reviewer: SixNineSoFine | Date: May 18, 2024 |
| Possibly the most successful genre shift for an established franchise in gaming. Back when previews were coming out for this game many were skeptical, naturally as every Metroid game had been 2d up to this point so the success of Prime cannot be understated. Calling Prime an fps is selling the game short, it's more of an adventure game in the vein of Zelda than it is a shooter even though there is plenty of that but my point is that it's the best of both, a unique mixture that blew away everyone's expectations.
Graphics: 10 I don't think anyone would take issue with how Prime looks, it's a gorgeous game that has aged fairly well thanks to the beautiful art direction. Every area is distinct with its own fauna and life forms/enemies which helps things keep feeling fresh as you explore. The different visors you find are one of my favorite visual treats of this game. The thermal in particular looks amazing and is one of those things that look distinctly Metroid. The different weather effects on your helmet is also an amazing touch, seeing the cold and steam effects on your HUD is one of those things that helps immerse you in the world. Sound: 9 One of this game's greatest strengths is the atmosphere thanks in large part to the sound design. The music and sound effects for each area are tailor made to impart feelings of grand discovery, impending danger, and sometimes melancholic isolation. My favorite track is the theme for Phendrana Drifts. Gameplay: 8 As I said previously this is closer to a Zelda game than it is Metroid. I say this because combat is focused on targeting and strafing which works incredibly well. Enemies often have weak points that can be exploited using movement and later on with different beams that you unlock. Super missiles are pretty OP like in Super Metroid but in my opinion this is a good thing, I like feeling powerful. Bosses are massive and have a grand sense of spectacle to them, the titular Metroid Prime is a fittingly tough cookie and the Riddley fight that precedes it also kicks ass. The ONE thing holding this game back is the triforc- Uh i mean Chozo artifact hunt that gates you off from those cool boss fights. It's padding and isn't enjoyable especially on repeat playthroughs. Overall: 9 One of the greats. A significant moment in the history of Metroid that is still talked about to this day and for good reason, it's an amazing game. Never have I seen a game demolish expectations like Prime, it had negative public perception initially, a troubled development cycle (look into it if you're interested in game design), the weight of a classic Nintendo icon on its shoulders and despite all that was incredibly successful. Forgive the incoming bad food analogy but this is the Prime rib of the GameCube, a delicious meal that should be savored and thought about long after you finish it. You can unlock image galleries for scanning 50% of creatures, beating the game on hard mode, collecting 50% and then 100% of items. The fusion suit can be used if you have a GBA link cable and a GBA with Metroid Fusion attached. You can sequence break to get the space jump early by using the lock on feature. If you hold still Samus will mess around with her arm cannon controls, fun little detail. |
|
| Reviewer: Bamfs34 | Date: Dec 12, 2016 |
| My definition of a perfect game
Graphics: 10 The visuals in this game were as good as the Gamecube could offer and the game ran in 60 fps. The areas are varied taking you from the ruins of the overworld to the extremes of heat that were the Magmoor Caverns (lava) and the Phendrana Drifts (frozen tundra). Sound: 10 The sound quality was never lacking and all of the music perfectly fit the area where it was happening. Gameplay: 10 This is where this game shines. Everything else was top notch but the gameplay elevates it to perfect. The Metroid gameplay of free exploration lends credence to exploring this massive multi-location world for objectives and power-ups. The interaction is first person shooter but not overly action based. The battles are intense but short lived letting you get back to exploring the world or solving the puzzles. I am not saying that the gun battles aren't satisfying they just aren't the only focus. If you start to get lost the game will give you a hint to point you in the right direction based on the upgrades you have acquired; but you can also gain weapons upgrades from finding hidden caches in earlier areas. The scan system lets you gain as much or little of the story as you desire. If you want you can scan everything or alternatively scan only what you need to progress the story. Either way you will be taken on a journey through the universe the game creates. The story is paced well, not leaving you wanting more or asking why the game ended so early. Overall: 10 Metroid Prime offered a complete game experience. It is the pinnacle of what the science fiction genre can offer. It blends the atmosphere of a top notch sci-fi game with the action and gameplay of a modern day shooter. It is a complete package that has not been replicated to this day. |
|