Samus' transition into 3D is a triumphant masterpiece that constantly amazes and surprises.
The story is, as per usual with Metroid games, pretty mysterious. Unlike the previous games, however, the story is explained in the game, you just need to look for it. Bits and pieces of the story are hidden around the game world and they are pretty interesting. The Space Pirates haven't learned their lesson yet and they are trying to strengthen the Metroid's to take over the galaxy and Samus Aran, the universe's best bounty hunter, has to stop them. Pretty standard but they go a more detailed and hidden route with it. Searching for the truth and the reason you are fighting is more satisfying than flat out being told what's going on. So go search to your heart's content.
The gameplay is where this game truly stands out of course. Metroid fans were livid when it was shown to be in first-person. They thought it would ruin it. They were dead wrong, it made a seamless transition to first-person and 3D. This isn't a first-person shooter but a first-person adventure. You move from room-to-room, fighting enemies and basically pushing forward as best you can, like in the other Metroid games. The difference this time is the 3D world to explore. No more simple vertical and horizontal maps, you now have a full 3D map to explore and it is huge. Most rooms are large areas that require combat or exploration to reach the exit and quite a few hold secrets.
The controls are hard to get used to at first but you soon get the hang of it. It controls with only one thumbstick, the other thumbstick (the c-stick) is reserved for switching your beam's properties, and have the ability to lock-on to enemies and objects of interest and this allows you to perform a quick side-step to in either direction to dodge incoming attacks. This control scheme seems alien, and it is, but it fits the game and you'll never blame the controls if you fail. The directional buttons switch Samus' visor that allows her to perform differently, such as being able to scan the environment.
Scanning the environment gives you information about your surroundings and enemies, giving you tips on how they are defeated, and it is sometimes needed to progress. There is the standard Metroid platforming, it's a major part of the game, and it is handled extremely well. It's surprising how well the first-person platforming handles, and with this many jumps to make it better handle well. The map is a handy tool in your exploring but the way the 3D maps are handled can get quite confusing in the larger areas. Like in other Metroid games, there are power-ups and abilities scattered about the world and each opens a new place to explore on the map. One such ability, the Space Jump, is used so often that it's hard to imagine surviving without it. Their are only a few bosses but they are mostly enjoyable to fight and the game will last you around 15 hours on your first playthrough, even longer if you go for all the secrets.
The audio is pure Metroid. It's haunting at one moment but suddenly intense when under attack. It melds perfectly with the gameplay and without it, the game wouldn't be the same. All that is needed to be said about the music in Prime is that is goes above and beyond average video game music.
The visuals in this game are stunning. Samus' character model looks exceptional considering you rarely see her and the environment steals the show when she is behind her visor. The HUD is incredibly fitting, it looks like you are looking through her visor, and the environment is gorgeous. There are multiple areas to explore, each with a different theme, and they are all huge and can't be fully explored on your first, second or even third time there, offering even more to see and take in. The enemy models are nearly as impressive but hold their own and look better than almost every other game on the market from this era. In short, Metroid Prime is one of the best looking games on the GameCube, and it holds up today.
PROs
- Finding the story is addicting
- Atmosphere is key here and it's stronger than ever
- Combat is simple, engaging and challenging
- Lengthy quest outlasts all other Metroid games one after another
- Abilities have place and rarely feel useless
- Map does it's job of keeping you on track
- Beautiful visuals
- Multiple themed areas
- Scanning adds a layer of life to the game
- A whole game of secrets waits beneath the surface
- Music is haunting and does nothing but add to the experience
- Excellent transition from 2D to 3D, it couldn't have been done better
CONs
- Controls feel alien at first
- Dodging feels unnatural
- Map can get confusing
- Long stretches without a Save Station can cause you to lose a lot of progress
Story: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Audio: 10/10
Presentation: 10/10