From beginning to end Metroid Prime just sparkles. This is one fabulous and thoroughly enthralling achievement.
What you didn't know was how the new first person perspective would tie in with the more traditional gameplay aspects. Would it become a pure shooter? What about the Morph Ball? No worries because the traditional elements blend perfectly with the new perspective.
Metroid Prime once again places you in the Varia Suit of Samus Aran as she battles nefarious Space Pirates and the life-sucking Metroid. You start out on a spaceship about the orbit of a planet named Tallon IV. A distress beacon brings Samus running to find that the Pirates are going all Dr. Jekyll performing some kind of nasty biological experiments. Eventually you land on the planet's surface and will have to regain your suit's armor as well as your weaponry on your way to solving the mysteries at hand. Along the way you'll find regular series mainstays, the Morph Ball, the Wave and Ice Beams as well as a few new wondrous toys.
Sounds like traditional Metroid stuff right? So what's with the first person business? What originally seemed a blasphemous departure from the series' traditional third person perspective, is really a genius innovation. The developers took this idea and ran with it not only adding a new look to the series but adding some new elements that firmly re-establish Metroid as an adventure game first with the emphasis on exploration.
One of these new elements is the visor system. As you are now inside Samus's helmet you're granted access to her assortment of visors; each one allows a different view of her surroundings. You're granted a standard Battle Visor that allows a plain view of things; this is the default setting in which you'll engage in battles. The Thermal Visor picks up on heat sources and the X-Ray Visor allows Samus to see things that are hidden from plain sight. It's the Scan Visor though that really adds the most to the game.
Throughout the game you'll have to scan your surroundings to gain the most information possible. Sometimes scanning is optional--you can choose to scan the hieroglyphic-like writings on the walls of an ancient structure to learn the history of Tallon IV and its previous inhabitants or not. It is up to you. Why would spend time in doing so? The percentage of scanable items you cover are recorded in the pause screen. The more you scan the more goodies you unlock. More often though, scanning is necessary to your success. You'll often have to scan your foes to discover their weak spots and you'll have to scan elevator panels in order to activate them. Some people may find all the investigation a little time consuming but if you want to learn all you can about Tallon IV and your enemies, you will be need to explore as much as possible.
Retro Studios even used the story line the play up the exploration angle. Once you land on Tallon IV, everything is a mystery. What are the Space Pirates doing in their experiments? What is Phazon and what role does it play? What is this planet's significance? Who are the creatures who used to dwell here? Samus knows none of this in the beginning so you're forced to go all CSI and hunt down the answers.
Over the course of your exploration you'll be surrounded by an engrossing atmosphere. I can't say it any more clearly; this game draws you in like no other. You literally feel as though you're actually in Samus's boots as you traverse the terrain of Tallon IV. It doesn't hurt that the graphics in this game are unsurpassed on this generation of systems either. The level of detail is nothing short of astonishing. Whether you’re in the depths of the planet surrounded by fire pits or high up on the icy plateaus, every room of every section of the planet has its own distinctive look.
Music is scarce in Metroid Prime but the overall sound is fantastic. There are times when the background music goes almost silent and in this way is as close to duplicating a silent movie as games have come. Many times you'll be left to your work with very little instrumentation as you enjoy the sounds of the world. Walk through the rain forest like opening area on Tallon IV and you'll notice just how much love went into bringing this game to life. There are little effects added to the smallest of features like the electronic whirring as you scan your surroundings that really help to draw you in. All enemies sound different from the giant Sheegoths to the tiny War Wasps and if an enemy roars at you, you know it means business.
Everything here screams polish. This includes the map system. Samus employs a completely 3-D map available on the game screen and on the pause screen. You're able to move it in any direction and zoom in on any section you choose (sections of the map even light up to emphasize your objectives). Whereas maps in games usually range from completely uselessness to utter hindrance, Prime's map is actually useful. Due to the size of Tallon IV it often becomes necessary. In fact the world is so large that sometimes if you don't use the map you'll find yourself wondering where exactly it is you must go. It's only a small concern but it can be a hindrance to your progress.
Although Prime is a first person game it is not a shooter. I repeat it is not a shooter. This is an adventure game through and through. Unlike other first person games which put a gun in your hand and point you in the direction of your enemies, the emphasis here is not on combat. If she were a comic book hero Samus would be more Batman than The Hulk using her smarts, gadgets, and investigative instincts to get the job done. However there is fighting to be done and when it's time to throw down Samus is no pushover.
When you land on Tallon IV you'll only have your Power Beam which works as it always has; tap the A repeatedly for small blasts and hold for a charged shot. This works the same way with all the beams. You'll be charged with the task of recovering your gear and finding new toys like the Wave Beam. The game also grants you--once you have the appropriate power up--the ability to combine your beams with missiles for a special super damaging attack which is great for the more advanced enemies.
The various beams make their return as do Samus's suit upgrades. Each upgrade--whether a new suit, canon, or Morph Ball upgrade--figures in well to the gameplay; no one is more important than the other and they all allow you to access new areas. Speaking of the Morph Ball. How this is handled in the new first person is a stroke of brilliance. The game switches to a third person perspective when Morph Ball is activated. This may sound clumsy but it works without a hitch. You'll even get a side-scrolling view in some areas. How's that for the good old days?
There are weapons galore and you'll need every one because there are enemies out for blood; each with great A.I. and their own patterns for attacking. They will challenge you but despite their merciless nature, the game is never unfair and rarely becomes frustrating. Difficulty is well balanced, ramping up as you progress and gain more power ups.
Metroid O.G.s will surely feel some nostalgia as they play through Prime. The guys at Retro Studios obviously did their homework. Yes Metroids are done in most efficiently by the Ice Beam and the missile combo. Yes, you fight against Ridley--a souped up Ridley--but Ridley nonetheless. Yes, you can use the bombs in Morph Ball mode to propel yourself into the air. This game is Metroid all the way. Series vets should not be turned off by the new perspective and gameplay elements as they only add to the game's atmosphere.
One concern arises. Due to the new perspective, you'll use the analog stick to move and can only look around if you hold down the R button. Strafing can only be achieved by holding down the L button. This hurts when you're in the midst of a heated battle as you have to struggle find actually find the enemy. Another way to position the camera would be useful but in a game this good it almost feels like nitpicking.
Fantastic graphics, great sound, gameplay that enhances and ties in to the design of the game, Retro Studios has produced a seamless marriage of first person and adventure genres and has created a world that--maybe more than any other--draws you into the game and makes you feel as though you're actually there. From humble beginning to triumphant end, Metroid Prime is a fabulous achievement; one that series vets and noobs alike should play even if they have to buy a GameCube to do so. Play this game.