By Chris Jackson
PLATFORM: SWITCH | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
When Metroid Prime was originally revealed back in the early 2000s, many fans were doubtful whether the series’ first foray into 3D would be a success. But they needn’t have worried, as Prime was received with unanimous applause upon its 2001 release and has gone on to become known as one of the greatest games ever made. However, it could certainly be argued that its notoriety isn’t quite at the level that it really ought to be, as despite selling almost three million copies across the Gamecube and Wii, Metroid Prime (and indeed, the series as a whole) has never quite received the plaudits it truly deserves amongst the wider gaming audience.
In this first instalment of the series, bounty hunter Samus Aran finds herself on Tallon IV, at the site of a meteor impact that contaminated the planet with poison. With her suit damaged, Samus must regain her abilities and make her way home. But it won’t be that easy, as the poison has corrupted the planet’s inhabitants, and there’s also the small matter of the Space Pirates who are seeking to utilise the poison for their own nefarious means… As Samus explores the planet, she’ll amass an arsenal of visors and weapons that allow her to get increasingly closer to taking down her enemies and solving the planet’s mysteries.
With Metroid Prime Remastered, this bonafide classic has received a new lease of life with its timeless gameplay bolstered by updated graphics and the addition of a less finicky control scheme to bring it in line with modern sensibilities. There are no real major changes to speak of at all; apart from a few minor tweaks and adjustments here and there, this is very much a remaster in the purest sense of the word, taking a classic game and making it more visually appealing for today’s audience. Gone are the fuzzy graphics of the original, replaced with much sharper and more detailed HD visuals that provide an enticing backdrop for your journey across this alien planet. The new controls make the game much more pleasant to play, too, finally allowing players to opt for a dual stick/camera control combo which is much more in line with modern sensibilities. Sadists can choose to revert back to the original Gamecube controls if they want to, or there are options for motion control (similar to the Wii version of the game) or a combination of classic and motion.
Other than the updated visuals and controls, the original game remains the same as it always was – a fantastically atmospheric trawl through an unfamiliar alien land filled with secrets, puzzles, massive killer bugs and murderous space pirates. Even more than twenty years after its initial release, Metroid Prime‘s gameplay is up there with the very best in its genre. Those thinking of revisiting will be more than happy with this update, and any newcomers would be hard pushed to find a better jumping-in point. Prime stuff indeed.
