Even though it lacks some of what made its predecessors so special, Corruption is an impressive game worth playing.
+ excellent control scheme that is utilized exceptionally well
+ new and old gameplay mechanics work quite nicely together
+ hand-holding can be appreciated by those who thought Prime and Echoes were too difficult
+ boss battles are a real treat and some of the best moments in the game
+ impressive visual design
Cons:
- voice-acting and contact with hospitable beings takes away the trademark feeling of isolation the series is known for
- the game feels more like a standard first-person shooter and less like a bizarre adventure
- streamlined level design and a generous hint system make the game a bit too easy
- load times will leave you waiting for doors to open more often than you would like
Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes immersed gamers in worlds that were left for them to explore and discover in ways that have never been done before. They revolutionized the way a first-person adventure game could be played. The third and final entry to the superb series Metroid Prime 3: Corruption succeeds in bringing the series to the Nintendo Wii and is a fitting conclusion to the Metroid Prime trilogy; however, it's missing some of what made Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2 so unique and so mind-blowing. It often feels more like a typical first-person shooter than an isolated action adventure. On the other hand, Corruption introduces the best control scheme for the series so far and provides the fantastic Metroid elements you'd expect.
The story in Corruption may be the most involved of any Metroid game before it, but don't expect anything special or to have much time taken away from playing the game because of it. Interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran is called by the Galactic Federation to aid her fellow hunters in purging a peculiar virus that has infected a number of important Federation supercomputers. Without going into detail, things go awry before the hunters begin their mission, and Samus has her work cut out for her, sending her across a variety of different planets to continue the mission. The main plot is told straightforwardly this time around, through brief cutscenes and, new to the Metroid series, occasional voiced dialogue, but there are still lore entries to scan for plenty of interesting backstory. The plot serves its purpose by providing incentive to keep playing and only paves the way for Corruption's gameplay, which is polished and well-formed.
Obviously, since the Metroid Prime series transferred to the Wii, it needed a new control scheme to fit the new controllers. It is without a doubt intuitive and accessible and proves that the Wii is capable of producing good shooters. Aiming and turning are done by pointing the Wii remote at the screen, and the Nunchuk is used for maneuvering. Shooting and jumping are interchangeable between A and B, and you can lock-on to enemies with Z. Controlling Samus feels effortless and more natural than before and is simply easier to master than with the GameCube controls. However, there are some moments when you'll need to pull and twist levers using the Wii Remote that feel a bit awkward. Thankfully, you're always able to perform the tasks easily, and there aren't too many of these moments to make this much of an issue.
You'll be happy to know that plenty of traditional Metroid Prime mechanics have made the GameCube-to-Wii transition as well. You'll study objects and enemies once again with the scan visor, solve a multitude of clever, entertaining environmental puzzles that utilize all your abilities to progress to new areas, and enter morph ball mode to squeeze Samus through tight spaces and traverse through mazes. The grapple beam also makes a return, but this time around you'll not only swing from grapple points but also rip off objects and enemies' shields by flicking the Nunchuk forward, then back, which feels great while performed in both combat and puzzle-solving. These old features are as satisfying as ever and work seamlessly with the new controls to make Corruption's core gameplay excellent.
You'll also still collect new weaponry and abilities as you progress through the adventure. Most of these unlockable items have returned from the previous Prime games, including the plasma beam, spider ball, x-ray visor, and several more. New upgrades include the nova beam, which works with the x-ray visor to shoot through certain walls, ice missiles, which freeze enemies and lava, and grapple voltage, which is a grapple beam upgrade used to drain or energize certain panels to unlock doors and passageways. And of course you can still search for optional missile expansions and energy tanks on your journey (although they're not hidden as well as before). What's different about collecting new weaponry in Corruption is that new beams and missiles replace old ones unlike in Prime and Echoes, where you could switch between beams whenever necessary. This makes the combat less strategic and firefights quite easier.
Samus acquires the Phazon Enhancement Device (PED), a suit upgrade, early on in the game that is the most significant addition to shooting. The PED suit allows Samus to enter hypermode, which escalates Samus' attack power. However, Samus' energy is drained while in this mode, and staying in hypermode too long will cause Phazon overload, forcing you to use up all of your Phazon right away. You'll acquire hypermode upgrades for several of Samus' abilities throughout the adventure. Samus has a new ship in Corruption, and it plays a bigger role in the gameplay this time around. It still acts as a save station, but now it's used to travel between different planets throughout the galaxy with the push of a button (but no, you won't be traveling through space Star Fox-style). And with the use of the new command visor, you can dictate your ship to land, fire missiles, and pick up and drop objects while on foot.
Samus' abilities are put to the test by a variety of exciting boss battles. Even though these battles are much less challenging than before, they are still some of Corruption's most impressive moments. You'll be required to use beams, missiles, morph ball, hypermode, grapple beam, and virtually all of Samus' powers to dispatch a multitude of extraterrestrial and robotic bosses. After an absence in Echoes, Samus' life-long pterodactyl nemesis Ridley is back, whose battles are once again some of the best, if not the best in the game.
Even with many fantastic features, Corruption still falls a bit short when compared to its predecessors. This is because some of what made Prime and Echoes so outstanding is ignored here, and some changes make the game feel much more like an ordinary shooter. The feeling of being trapped and isolated on a bizarre world is gone thanks to voice-acting, interaction with Federation soldiers and other hunters, and use of the ship. A linear and less complex level design and a charitable hint system lessen the freedom to explore and discover new paths on your own, not to mention make the game easier. Players who thought the exploration in the previous Prime games was too tedious will appreciate this, but this may displease Metroid enthusiasts. The pacing of the game is also sped up by the changes, making it more compatible to that of your average first-person shooter.
Corruption is yet another visual treat in the Metroid series, especially artistically. Environments from a thorny jungle, to an advanced sky town, to an abandoned Federation frigate are striking, detailed, and moody, and enemy and boss designs are creepy and exotic. Samus has never looked better, especially when sporting her PED suit, and even her ship has a cool new design. Corruption's audio is generally very good, enhancing the threatening atmosphere of the levels; however, aside from a few boss battle themes, the game lacks the abundance of memorable tunes its predecessors had. Voice-acting is few and far between and is decent at best, but because it takes away the sense of isolation, it would have been better off not included.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a great game with polished gameplay and fantastic controls, but you can't help but compare it to its superb predecessors and feel a bit disappointed. You simply don't feel the same sense of wonderment that made Prime and Echoes so immersive and breathtaking. However, the game stays true to its roots by providing the gameplay elements derived from its predecessors while appealing to newcomers with an easier difficulty. The game still comes highly recommended to both Metroid veterans and newcomers, as both will enjoy the accessible control scheme and splendid gameplay formula, so overall, Corruption is a solid game and a suitable finish to the Metroid Prime trilogy.
Score: 8.7/10