A creative and addicting version of Metroid Prime as a pinball game. It's worth playing, or at least neat to try out!
If you’ve ever played Metroid Prime for the GameCube you’ll see many things that are familiar in this game; the levels, creatures, abilities, weapons, and items. It kind of gives you this feeling of, “Oh! I remember that!” once you see them. Almost like a time warp of the first 3D Metroid game. It really does capture the originality of this game.
When first playing this game, I found that this was an instinctively creative way on using Samus’ curious Morph ball; as a pinball. Seems Nintendo wanted to extend the use of the morph ball that just getting though small spaces and escaping from you enemies as you’ve done in Metroid Prime for the GameCube. In this game, you play as Samus when she is in her morph ball mode (although Samus can go out of her morph ball mode and use her arm cannon during a few minigames), trying to gain the high score or best time. Simple right? Well, yes and no. Getting high scores are challenging, which is good, but not just by hitting the ball back and forth through the levels. It requires obtaining items, defeating enemies and the game has a good amount of activated special modes. That’s the fun part. Trying to score higher and higher, boosting your confidence and abilities. But the thing is, it can be a little weird trying to use the controls on the touch screen.
I don’t think Metroid Prime Pinball was designed for the use of the Nintendo DS’ touch screen but for its dual screen. Both screens combine as one large pinball table for Samus to bump around in, instead of having to use one. Though there is a little space between the screens, Samus moves around realistically enough for you not to worry and make you forget that the gap is even there.
The controls are very simple and easy so you don’t have to mash the buttons around trying to figure out how everything works like you would do when you’re at your friends’ house playing against him/her on their new fighting game. There are a few ways to move the flippers to bump Samus around, but my favorite would be using the L and R buttons, where I can use both my hands to get the actually arcade pinball feel and enhance my gaming experience. I’m guessing that’s what the rumble pak was included for.
The rumble pak wasn’t really a great feature in the game, even if it is optional to use. It doesn’t really change the feel or the way you play the game. It often becomes useless since you later on forget that it’s even rumbling. It can be an annoying noisemaker as well, if you’re playing it on low volume or in a mute area.
The graphics were perfect for the game. I loved how the regions in Metroid Prime were designed as a pinball level. As you unlock more and get deeper in the game, you can’t wait to see more. Also, I liked the remixes of the music that you’d here in, yup, Metroid Prime. I think you will be surprised to hear the music in the Pirate Frigate level all you hardcore Metroid Fans.