A few words of warning before you think about playing Metroid Prime: You're going to lose sleep for a couple weeks. Your garbage will not get taken out. The kitty litter won't get changed. You may even lose your appetite when it's time to put the controller down for meals, but that's OK, because the dishes wouldn't get done anyway. A game this incredible doesn't wait for when you have some free time--it hooks right into your brain and won't let go, sucking your life away just like the infamous Metroid alien parasites themselves. You just will not want to stop playing. So after a couple weeks, you're going to be one tired, hungry, sorry-lookin' (and possibly a bit smelly) mofo, but you'll be smilin' ear to ear like you just won the lottery and the Super Bowl on the same day. Metroid Prime is that good.
As it did with Zelda and Mario before it, Nintendo (with its partners at Retro Studios) has taken one of the most beloved franchises of all time (Super Metroid was Number 1 on EGM's own top 100 games list last year) and brought it into full 3D in a way that is faithful to the games before it and a stunningly original experience.
Prime is definitely not your typical first-person shooter; it's about platform-jumping your way through a vast world; exploring; solving puzzles; and locating new weapons, power-ups, and secrets along the way. But when it does come time to exchange fire with the bad guys, Prime is among the very best. You need to constantly think in order to avoid the strengths and take advantage of the weaknesses of the different enemies, from the truly frightening boss monsters down to the tiny alien flies. Combat is a deeply satisfying mix of reflexes, and the kind of strategic thinking that requires you to ask: Which gun will inflict the most damage, or any damage at all? Should I wear a different visor to better see what I'm shooting at? Is that enemy vulnerable only from the back? Do I need to wait until my foe opens its mouth or charges right at me or retracts its spikes? Am I better off rolling into a ball and getting the hell out of town?
It's so damn friendly, too--the game eases you into the action like a doting mother, teaching you about all your controls within the game, then slowly adding abilities, tougher enemies, and new areas to sustain an impossibly high level of excitement from the opening scene until the final credits roll. Before you have a chance to get stuck, a helpful report always comes in detailing where you need to go next. It never tells you how to get there or what to do once you arrive--it just gives you the location of the next major event. (Hardcore purists can turn this hint system off in the Options menu.) And along with an ingenious and indispensable 3D map, you can make your way through the complex interwoven levels with minimal hassle.
And not only does it play great but, oh my, does it ever look good doing it. No game has ever approached the level of graphical detail found in Prime. On any system. Ever. Period. Every chamber, every hallway, every single room is unique and fully fleshed out. No repeat or cookie-cutter tools were used here. A breathtakingly exotic yet eerily believable alien world has been created as your giant playground to explore. In terms of style and technical ability, Prime is an absolute thrill just to look at.
Oh, and you'll want to crank your stereo. Whether it's screeching monsters, the whir of your gun charging, or the fizz of sparks on a busted computer, the effects are excellent across the board. Along with great remixes of old Metroid tracks and new haunting favorites you'll find yourself humming, Prime's audio is more than just good--it demands, and keeps, your attention.
Our only real complaint is with one aspect of the controls. The creators were trying to simplify things when they decided to use one button for looking up and down and another for strafing side to side, but actually, this setup often becomes more complicated and time consuming than the standard practice of using the second analog stick for both tasks. The excellent lock-on tracking system and otherwise great button layout minimizes most problems, but now and then, a particularly stressful fight or steep platform path will make you wish Nintendo had implemented the dual-stick setup--or at least included the option. To be fair, the scheme here does work better for simple jumping maneuvers, but a button to lock auto-centering on and off would have given all the benefits, and much less of the finger fatigue, of constantly holding in the shoulder buttons.
Ordinarily, we would penalize a game for that sort of thing, but the rest of Prime is so above-and-beyond the quality we all expect from even triple-A titles that its strengths more than make up for its one debatable weakness. Get this game--even if you have to buy a GameCube to play it.
The intense yet strategic combat of Halo. The ingenious level design and devious puzzles of Zelda's best dungeons. The intriguing story, moody atmosphere, and spooky thrills of Resident Evil. The new Metroid stands with the very best of modern games in almost every important respect. Well, except sound and graphics, where Prime surpasses them all. The amount of time, skill, and dedication that obviously went into crafting and polishing this game just completely blows my mind. Videogames, regardless of what system they are for, just aren't supposed to sound this good, look this detailed, be this large in scope and this fun to play all at the same time; it's like the best title from six years in the future fell through a time warp. Besides one aspect of the controls (why not include the option for a dual-analog stick setup like most other first-person games?), it's hard to imagine any complaints even the most cynical gamer could have with Prime, right down to its impeccable pacing and difficulty level. It's a joy to play and nearly impossible to put down until it's all over, and even then, a stash of secrets and cool unlockables await. Whether you're new to the series or (especially) if you're an old fan with lofty expectations, Prime is better than you can imagine. An absolute masterpiece, a modern classic, and probably the most fun I've ever had playing a videogame.
Mark:10
I never thought it would turn out like this. My wildest hopes for a U.S.-made Metroid first-person shooter peaked at "passable." Well, Retro Studios, I owe you an apology-- Prime is the best GameCube game yet. First, know that it's not an FPS. Mark might wish it controlled like one, but I don't--the Zelda-style lock-on combat is spectacular, and jumping feels surprisingly natural. Amazingly, it plays like Super Metroid, only in full 3D. I could ramble on about the spectacular boss fights, ingenious power-ups, and amazing music, but instead I've gotta go buy my friend Chris a copy of Prime. I bet him two years back that this new Metroid wouldn't even earn a Silver Award. I'm glad I was wrong.
Shane: 10
Man, I really don't know what to say. I was totally ready to hate on Metroid Prime prior to experiencing it first-hand, but the minute I set foot on Tallon IV's lush overworld, I was a believer. If you're a fan of the Metroid series, you'll be happy to know that Prime embodies everything you love about it: the amazing atmosphere, the sprawling world, and, most importantly, the seamless flow. But even if you've never played a Metroid game before, Prime will still impress you; the visuals are untouchable, the gameplay is tight, and the mood is hauntingly captivating. It is simply mind-blowing on so many different levels--you must experience it.
Miguel: 10
Visuals: 10
Sound: 10
Ingenuity: 9
Replay: 8