A very well done follow up, to one of gamecube's best titles.
User Rating: 9.5 | Metroid Prime 2: Echoes GC
Far to often the lack of a drastic change leads to a game being labeled a re-hash or a "1.5" but in the case of Metroid I think the lack of change to the basic gameplay did nothing but help the title. It took most of us a while to get used to the gameplay mechanics of Metroid Prime and I don't see why the push to have it changed in Echoes. The big change I would have to say is the change of paces, Metroid to this point seems to be alot faster moving and a bit quicker as far as the pace of the action goes then any of the prior versions. The storyline seems to be following a similar Metroid angle but with a bit of a Twist, So for Metroid fans its more of the same good stuff rolled into this pack as there was in the past. The one big change I found that was for the better was the drastic change in the area's Samus finds herself running though, Finally they have upgraded from the standard: Cave Cave with Red Walls Side of Mountain Side of Red Mountain And have offered the player some truly fantasic visuals in many of the game area's but don't worry there is still lots of standard cave and cave like settings. As is the case thus far the game appears to be long and will have the player returning to cleared area's to unlock a door to get a weapon or health pack, but there seems to be less backtracking in Echoes at this point in the game then there was at this point in the Original Metroid Prime. Just for the size of the guide there looks to be lots to do so I think few will be able claim this game is short by any means. The sound and sound track seems fairly similar to most other Metroid titles although the case of the sound track seems to have picked it up a bit in some area's this is also something you will notice when dealing with area "Bosses" its a nice change of pace and something that didn't go unnoticed The Summary in a nutshell is this, If you enjoyed Metroid Prime, you will love this game all the best aspects of the original as well as some new twists which I have really enjoyed to this point its a well done follow up and few will be able to claim otherwise, For those who didn't enjoy the original there is not enough of a change that would really change that view, But all and all its a solid title and a must own for anyone who has a Gamecube -Z
