Publisher: Nintendo, www.nintendo.com
Ages: seven and up.
Parental
Advisory:
Some Violence
The latest in the popular Metroid series is a formidable 3D title for the GameCube. Fans of the original Metroid series will like what they find in Nintendo's Metroid Prime. And even if you've never heard of the Metroid series, you'll discover an outstanding game experience.
Metroid Prime effectively captures the eerie solitude and claustrophobic exploration of the original Metroid games of the '80s and successfully updates it with cutting-edge, 3D gameplay. It seems that interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran is searching the unexplored planet of Tallon IV to stop a band of Zebesian space pirates. Here, as Samus, you navigate the varied landscapes of the planet Tallon IV through an intriguing first-person perspective.
The game lets you switch between "visors" that alter the view. Some visors offer radar displays that track and target the enemy, while others let you scan objects, identify heat signatures, detect environmental anomalies, and more. Throughout, you gain new abilities, which, in turn, let you uncover more secrets. The game features fun moves such as "Morph Ball," which lets you explore tight spots, bomb through walls, and roll to safety. The game also comes with a good assortment of weapons that include a power beam, wave beam, ice beam, and more.
Gameplay involves lots of exploring. While Metroid Prime is basically a first-person shooter, the open-ended nature of the game, the thoughtful pacing, and the emphasis on exploration make it a refreshingly different experience. Interestingly, the game has no levels, just one vast land to explore.
Controls are well done and easy to learn, and the graphics are spectacular and detailed. One aspect, jumping from place to place in the game, is particularly easy when compared to that in most first-person shooters.
Overall, Metroid Prime is one of the finest games we've seen on the GameCube. Those looking for a thoughtful exploration experience that has its share of action should definitely take a look.
