When this game was announced, people assumed it would be a total failure. This game proves the polar opposite of that.
Starting after the events of Metroid (Zero Mission), bounty hunter Samus Aran arrives on a Space Pirate Frigate in orbit around Tallon IV to research the destruction brought upon it by Parasites. Samus clears up the mess, but has to escape. Whilst escaping the Frigate before it was destroyed and crashed onto Tallon IV, Samus is caught in an explosion, causing her to crash into a wall, and lose most of her abilities. Samus therefore lands on Tallon IV to find out about the spread of the substance called Phazon. Samus needs to find the source of the Phazon and eradicate it and what it entailed, a Metroid grotesquely mutated beyond sentience known as Metroid Prime.
Gameplay style. Unlike every other FPS game out there, Metroid Prime isn't an ordinary FPS, but rather a vast adventure full of risk and reward alike. You have to hunt for what you want; it's not given to you on a plate. And I like that, it gives me a chance to be sucked into the environment as if I were Samus herself.
Throughout the game, you are required to hunt for twelve Chozo Artifacts that will grant you access to the source of Phazon, the Impact Crater. These Chozo Artifacts are very well concealed; it requires the knowledge of your surroundings and the very precise use of your equipment.
Power-ups are a-plenty in this game. You will find a plethora of stuff to keep you amused and make the game a little easier to digest. The items you get, too, get better and better as you progress through the game, to the point where you become a human arsenal. It's also a collection of some of the best weaponry and power-ups I have ever used.
Graphics. Nowadays, it's nothing special. But!, in 2002, no-one had seen such amazing environmental design, and a fully-working ecosystem. Not until Halo came along, but THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT. The particle effects are very well done and the game, physics-wise, is great. The entire game feels natural, not artificial, despite being an artificial medium.
Sound. The sounds are natural and realistic, to the extent that I feel like I'm inside the environment. The enemies' sounds are very cool, and add a feeling of natural depth to the game.
The music in this game is amazing. I would play through the entire game again, purely because of the soundtrack. In fact the soundtrack from the entire Metroid series is like sex to your ears. Each area and event fits in with the music, which not to mention is awesome in itself. No area has a mismatch in music, and perfectly fits, as if it was plug to socket. You will love the audio from this game. Guaranteed.
The control. It's not like other games; Metroid Prime doesn't utilise the C-stick and the control stick properly. Instead, the control stick controls Samus' movement, and the C-stick controls Samus' weapons. The D-pad controls Samus' visor, and the A button is the fire button. It's not like games similar to it.
The L shoulder button is for lock-on, and the R button is the free aim button. Whilst locked on, you can side-step and quickly jump from side to side if need be. It's very useful, and you will need to use that occasionally during bosses.
Speaking of which...
The bosses in the game. Some are easy as pie, though some can be pretty tough cookies on your first try. The idea would be to scan them, then use the ideal tactic to attack the boss. It's really simple. Some bosses are unique in their attacks and abilities. Though the first boss' main attack is his laser breath, which is supposed to be really damaging. Really? It's like a kiddified Godzilla. Oh well...
That's not to say I don't have criticisms about the game. The first problem is that some enemy respawning is some what inappropriate in some areas. It sort of kills the point of the game you're playing. Also, some areas can be awkward to get around. On my first playthrough, it took me a number of tries to get though the Phazon Mines. The difficulty there is really bad. It's painful, but in the end, it wasn't all too bad...
Ending opinions. Metroid Prime is one of the best games ever made, nay the best FPS game ever made. It's undeniable how much fun I had playing this. No wonder this game defined the GameCube.
FINAL VERDICT: 98%