Volume 9

To be honest I don't see how Metriod can ever go 3D....not to mention I don't really see how it could handle plot. I've seen some of the Graphicing and I must admit they are pretty but I want to see them in action for myself. Well time to get to playing. See you on the other side.

All that stuff I said before.....forget it. Metriod can go 3D and has very well. Now on to the meat of the Review...

With easy to read maps and numorous other very interesting things thrown into the mix I have to say that Metroid Prime is quite possibley the best First Person game out on a console. You might notice that I didn't call it a First Person Shooter. There is a good reason for that. Metriod Prime is every bit about exploration as it is about blasting anything that moves. The control scheme makes switching weapons and visors a breeze. Only a few things really bother me about gameplay but most are only technical. Here's one: every upgrade, save some of the beams, that you get in Metroid 2: Return of Samus, and Metroid 3 (Super Metriod) you get at some point in this game. Considering this is in effect "Metriod 1.5" it doesn't really make sense....but hey...Samus keeps losing her stuff before each game anyway, so why complain? One of my other complaints however, I have to say is that while the game does do a good job of ramping up the difficulty as you progress...sometimes...the baddies just seem to easy to kill. Of Course...after I beat it I unlocked hard mode...I'm almost afraid.

Fluid and sharp Metriod Prime has exceptional graphics. Another title with obvious use of dated graphics for small things it actually doesn't detract from the game. Instead it's hardly noticable, with only one action making it noticable. When something explodes in front of Samus you can see her face. Samus, I will add, had blue eyes and yes...she blinks. All of the creatures in the game are quite well done. The Beam weapons all look great and the bosses....well...look beyond just great... Especially the later ones.

I'm almost speachless by the sheer quality of this game's sound: Step in goo, you hear it; Fall a long way, it sounds like it hurts when you hit the ground (though true to Samus, her suit absorbs the impact); The Charge Beam sounds like the Charge Beam; and all the music....ah..the music....simply.....exquisite.

The best I've had the pleasure of using in a long time. The C stick switches your weapons, A shoots, B jumps, X is your morph ball, Y is your missle, Z map, L lock on, R manual aim, and you move with the Analog. Not having a strafe button per say will get on your nerves after a bit and might mess ya up....but not for long.

Pretty straight forward. While the controls take some getting used too the game gives you plenty of time to learn before throwing you into anything to deadly. Fair warning though, this game is not a walk in the park. Far from it in fact. And if you don't get enough the first time...the game does have a Hard Mode.

It's a Metroid through and through. It's one of the best games I've ever played. It's one I will own. Metriod Prime is a buy.

Draco Gives it a ten of ten.

Draco's Game Reviews © Ben C. Broome 2002+