There have been rumours circling of a Metroid Prime Remake for a while now, and at last, Metroid Prime Remastered broke out of containment. Now that we’ve had time to analyse this GameCube basic, let’s see what’s been finished to deliver it to the Change.
In 2002, not solely had it been eight years since Tremendous Metroid, however Metroid Prime additionally efficiently moved the collection from 2D to 3D. Set between the unique Metroid and Metroid 2: The return of Samus, the place all however one of many Metroids hasn’t been worn out (because of Samus). 2002 was a superb yr for Metroid followers, with the sequel to Tremendous Metroid; Metroid Fusion, additionally releasing concurrently.
For Prime, you’re not deprived should you’re new to the collection. The sport will let you know what’s wanted to know, and it’s additionally the primary Metroid sport to be stuffed with readable lore. The story begins aboard a Area Pirate ship. After receiving a misery name and coping with some lethal experiments that destroy the ship, Samus provides chase to a well-recognized foe which leads her to the planet Tallon IV. The planet comprises a number of environments, all interconnected by tunnels or elevators with doorways and areas inaccessible till you may have the appropriate potential or weapon to progress. Very like with the opposite Metroid video games, there may be that exploration the place you make your approach and work out the place you possibly can go and the place to return to later. Consequently, Tallon IV isn’t really that expansive, however they get loads of worth from how the areas interconnect and all the completely different paths that slowly grow to be usable within the bigger open areas.
For on a regular basis that has handed, Metroid Prime was and continues to be a superb sport. Retro Studio captured the essence of the unique video games and translated it into 3D. As a substitute of turning Metroid right into a first-person shooter, it manages to play as an action-adventure sport. Fight can nonetheless be powerful, though I discovered it far more manageable with an additional 20 years of expertise since final time and the brand new management scheme. The lock-on helps too. Platforming in first-person video games generally is a bit dicey, however with Metroid Prime, I by no means felt like a missed bounce was because of the sport. When you get the Area Leap, shifting across the massive vertical areas is even simpler. One factor that also will get irritating is shifting morph ball Samus onto the extra finicky platforms. A few of the missile expansions are irritating workout routines in delicate actions and persistence.
Visually, Metroid Prime Remastered is far more than cleansing up textures for HD. When it was re-released underneath the Metroid Prime Trilogy on the Wii, it already had some enhancements. Remastered brings the sport into Excessive Definition, and it seems to be higher than it has any proper being. It helps that the sport already seemed nice on the time, with cool results like how the setting and lighting would influence Samus’ visor. Even in any case these years, it’s nonetheless cool to get a glimpse of Samus’ face within the visor reflection or briefly see the visor fog up when strolling by way of a jet of steam. General the unique sport design holds up by making the bigger areas extra distinctive, together with the 3D variations of basic Metroid creatures.
The music additionally takes the acquainted Metroid music gamers know and love and makes it even higher. Even after a few years away from the sport, the tunes immediately took me again. Phendrana Drifts is a stand-out for me, however replaying the sport makes me want it was simpler to hearken to the soundtrack.
For individuals who have performed the sport earlier than, the very first thing you’ll discover on the up to date controls, which default to twin-stick controls. This does make the sport really feel fairly completely different to the basic controls, that are additionally included right here should you desire. It nonetheless feels important to have the lock on within the new management scheme, because the fast-moving critters of Tallon IV might be laborious to hit with out a lock. The management scheme can be added with the Wii re-release, permitting you to bust out the movement controls. When you’ve got the GameCube controller adaptor sitting round, you possibly can play it because it was initially supposed. I’m pleased with the brand new controls, however it’s nice there are a number of choices for many who need them.
Metroid Prime Remastered emphasises the significance of exploring and remembering the place to backtrack to make use of new abilities. There may be the naked minimal of steering the place you’ll get an elective immediate to level you the place it is best to go subsequent, however not the trail there. In the event you do discover you’re having a tricky time or wish to deal with exploration, there’s a informal setting to assist with fight.
If you wish to 100% the sport and get all the scans, you’ll be spending loads of time in Samus’ scan mode. It’s nearly the precursor to Batman’s detective imaginative and prescient, which I additionally would use approach an excessive amount of as an alternative of the traditional view. There are numerous lore and creature scans to gather and browse, I admittedly spend an excessive amount of time making an attempt to gather the whole lot. You’ll want to scan one thing earlier than you kill it – there’s no going again at factors.
Metroid Prime Remastered provides a basic sport a brand new lease on life while concurrently constructing anticipation for the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4. For now, all of us have to maintain our fingers crossed that Nintendo is giving Prime 2 and three, and extra GameCube video games, this stage of remaster remedy. In the event you’ve solely gotten into Metroid in newer years or performed Prime again within the day, this sport is value trying out.
Ranking: 4.5/5
