Gaming Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion

[Semjaza]

There supposedly are art galleries and such to unlock... I'm hoping a sound test too. Never know. In the meantime, Timesplitters 2 is still kickass :).

[NorykoAngelcry]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i]
[B]In the meantime, Timesplitters 2 is still kickass :). [/B][/QUOTE]

[COLOR=darkred][SIZE=1]Yes. . and now if my friends would ever get off the GAMECUBE, I could get back on, and whoop up some more! >_<

As for the art gallery, that seems interesting. I am sure Metroid has a great sound track, and I would like to have a CD put out with the games sound track. ^_^ [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]Well, I went and reserved a copy of Metroid Prime today (haven't seen anywhere to reserve Fusion), and I'm getting quite excited. They didn't have a demo disc with a playable demo, though, and I was really looking forward to getting to play it, even if only for a few minutes. That was disappointing, but overall, I'm still very excited, and I can't wait till I can go pick it up. This game looks totally awesome, both in terms of gameplay and graphics! I can't wait to see what new beams and other power-ups have been added, and also how the old ones, like the Spazer and Wave Beam, have been updated. This is definitely the game that I'm most excited about this year.

As for Metroid Fusion, well, I'm excited about it, but not as much as Prime. I'm still trying to decide which to play first, though I'm leaning towards playing Prime first. I suppose I could play through them both at the same time, though... But anyway, I just hope that Metroid Fusion is as good as Super Metroid. From what I've seen and heard of the game, though, I don't think I have anything to worry about. :)[/color]

[ssgogetalevel5]

I don't know if I should get Metroid Prime or not. I can eitheir wait to the 18th or get another game tommorow. I still can't decide.

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]Hmm...seeing as I haven't played Metroid Prime yet, I can't really tell you that it's a good game, but from what I've seen and heard about it, it's looking to be a fantastic game. Apparently, Retro Studios has managed to make it feel a lot like the previous Metroid games, only in a first person view, so if you liked the first three Metroid games, they're saying you'll like Prime.

If I were you, I'd wait till it comes out, and play it, before deciding if you want to buy it or another game. It is only about two weeks before it comes out. Personally, I'm confident enough that it's going to be good that I reserved a copy.[/color]

[James]

[color=royalblue]Oh boy...I wasn't expecting such awesome responses to this game! Read for yourself...[/color]

[quote][i]Fran Mirabella, IGNcube:[/i]
When we got a hold of Metroid Prime, I polled around the office to see who might be interested in checking it out with me. Unexpectedly, David Smith who isn't exactly your largest GameCube supporter was all too willing to join in the hunt for evil, and likewise I remembered that former IGNPS2 editor, also Smith's roommate and a good friend of mine, Dave Z. is a huge Metroid fanatic. So, we all decided we would engage in the Retro Studios developed goodness together. A part of me also wanted to do this because I'm a little out of control when it comes to the franchise. That is to say, I've got the collectibles, I know Samus Aran is 6'3" and 198 lbs., and my favorite game of all-time, when I'm forced to choose, is Super Metroid. In a way, having Smith and Zdyrko around was a good way to keep me in check, because on the one hand I was likely to be overcritical, but also I might get a little too excited about the smallest accomplishments. With this system of checks and balances in order, we got to work.

The game kicks off very much like the store demos that are available now. Above Tallon IV, Samus Aran explores a devastated Space Station and finds that the Space Pirates have been up to no good again. Sure enough, Samus ends up parking her ship under the cover of rain on the uncharted Tallon IV. What Metroid fans will be happy to hear is that Aran begins with absolutely nothing. We won't spoil the details, but by the time you arrive on Tallon IV the only thing you have is your blaster. You cannot roll into a ball, charge your blast, shoot missiles, or anything of the sort. For me, this put an indescribably huge smile on my face. It was the first big sign that Retro Studios and Nintendo had not forgotten what the series was about -- exploration and the thrill of being rewarded for it.

It didn't take long before I got the feeling of Super Metroid all over again. As we tried to navigate the 3D worlds we found there was access to much more than you might expect. We managed to push our way into Magmoor Caverns -- a very hot place -- and without the Varia Suit our energy began to deplete. This was all at the beginning of the game, and it felt just like old times to have to hightail it back to a cooler area and make the mental note that we could return at a later time. There were many corners of the huge world that desired to be explored, and as we did just that we found that the to-do list became exceedingly large; ice patches blocked access to energy tanks, platforms were too high to reach, and ball passages were littered everywhere. Example: I'm in the Phendrana Drifts, the ice area, and I see a sheet of ice blocking a hole that leads downward. After scanning it, I realized it must be melted. It was a very long time before I returned to explore that pathway. This is one example of at least 100. You see so much -- grappling hooks, magnetic ball tracks, ice beam doors, etc. -- that you realize you must return to later. Indeed, this is no shallow and flawed attempt to create the Metroid universe. In my mind, it is more perfect and faithful to the original 2D games than I could have possibly every imagined.






Furthermore, in terms of pure gameplay design I found myself in awe at how much attention to detail there was. The gameplay is incredibly varied -- more than any Metroid before it. Retro Studios throws a massive amount of cleverly designed platforming stages at you in addition to puzzles and action sequences. If there's one thing that is consistent and extremely well done throughout the entire game it is the pacing. You are rewarded at every corner. It may be something as simple as completing a 2D-esque ball puzzle carved into a wall or using one of the visors to reveal something you never thought was there, but there is always something. I can't stress how rewarding Metroid Prime is to play.

It offers up an incredibly detailed and cleverly conceived gameplay experience that radiates with the kind of polish that Nintendo coats its Legend of Zelda series with. Even the much-debated controls work wonderfully. Many don't know how to label Prime: first-person shooter or first-person adventure. I've come to accept that you can call it whatever you want, but this is Metroid brought into 3D. If you want to call it a first-person shooter, though, don't go trying to pick apart the controls. There is no dual analog movement for very good reasons. Platforming, for starters, would be extremely complicated trying to use dual analog. With the installed control system, platforming is easily the best it has ever been in first-person perspective. Somehow there is an incredible amount of platforming required, and it never falters.

On the technical side of things, too, there is a lot to fall in love with. Metroid Prime's engine is perhaps the most stunning I've seen on GameCube. Like the gameplay design, the foundation that supports it is very, very polished. Load times are nearly non-existent as you travel from world to world. It's just like the previous Metroids. Loading is hidden behind the opening of doors and traveling down elevators (a short process). Furthermore, the art direction is stunning, jaw-dropping, fantastic, extravagant, lavish, and every other positive adjective you can think of. The worlds look organic with totally unique architecture that will absolutely blow your mind. It's a completely believable sci-fi environment, and the art direction plays a huge part in that.





It's the same for the sound design, featured in Dolby Pro Logic II. The music, composed by Kenji Yamamoto who did the Super Metroid soundtrack, is once again pure genius. The atmosphere fits in almost every instance and there are an innumerable amount of audio cues that affect you. Naturally the sound effects got the same treamtment, many of which can be attributed to a fellow who actually works at Dolby. It's top-notch work all around, and you're not going to believe it even after you've seen and heard it.

We'll have the full review for you soon, but feel free to do yourself a favor and pre-order this game immediately. It is that good and offers up around 30 hours of true, unrepeated gameplay time from start to finish. That doesn't even include all the extras and secrets you can find.

Let me leave you with the most uttered word whilst playing Metroid Prime: "Wow!"
[/quote]

[color=royalblue]Okay...that's only one of many. Visit the below URL to read the full set of impressions! It's not Insider only, I think.[/color]

[URL=http://cube.ign.com/articles/376/376769p1.html]IGN Impressions[/url]

[Semjaza]

Nope, it's not Insider.

I thought the impressions from the two non-Cube guys were more interesting... Mostly because everyone knows Fran is in love with this game anyway. The PS2 guy could only come up with two problems he had with the game, and they were so minor that I can't even remember them.

Game Informer was really hard on this game at E3, but since then they seem to have really turned around. EGM supposedly hasn't been this excited about a game since Halo (according to a guy that works there). I expect some really good reviews :).


Two reviews are up... IGNCube's (Fran) and Gamers.com's (a writer from EGM). Both gave very high scores.

[ZeroBlade]

Well, here's IGN Review. And thanks to my great links... Here's the full IGN review my friends. Enjoy!

[quote]November 11, 2002 - Nearly two decades ago Nintendo created a sci-fi
adventure that pushed gameplay design boundaries to new limits. Named
Metroid, for the energy-sucking creatures featured in it, the
franchise
debuted on the NES to make a larger splash in America than Japan.
Knowing it
had only laid the foundation for greater things to come, though,
Nintendo
went on to create sequels on the Game Boy and Super Nintendo.
Regarding the
latter, Super Metroid proved to be one of the most detailed and
creative 2D
games ever, offering up fantastic vertical platforming and unbridled
exploration of the moody worlds. In the wake of that, it has been
called one
of the greatest games of all time by numerous publications.

Since then, fans of the series have been clamoring for another
addition to
the series. However, due to the dying popularity of 2D gaming and the
increasing complexity of 3D, Nintendo avoided the Metroid franchise
for many
years. But that didn't stop Metroid fanatics' pleas and eventually
with the
onset of its new GameCube technology, Nintendo gave in and began
development
on Metroid Prime in mid-2000 at newly formed second-party Retro
Studios.
Only then, doubts began to set in that an American studio could bring
the
franchise into 3D, and the eventual confirmation that the series
would be
handled from a first-person perspective seemed blasphemy.

Astonishingly, the final product is anything but that. Instead,
Metroid
Prime has undergone the same brilliant translation into 3D that
Nintendo's
acclaimed Legend of Zelda franchise has. Indeed, one of the greatest
game
franchises of all time is totally reborn on Nintendo GameCube,
replete with
nearly everything that made Super Metroid so stellar and perhaps even
more.
From the amazingly polished gameplay design to the gorgeous visuals
and
atmospheric soundtrack, Metroid Prime is unquestionably a must-have
masterpiece and a show horse that all forthcoming adventure titles
will be
judged by.

The Facts

* The return of Samus Aran and the Metroid franchise
* 3D first-person adventure game with third-person elements
* Morph into a ball and navigate small tunnels, ride half-pipes,
magnetic
tracks and more
* Use bombs in ball mode to gain access to otherwise unattainable
areas
* Traverse a crippled spaceship and explore the vast worlds of Tallon
IV
* Take advantage of Samus's many powers using new suits that enable
her to
gain new abilities and revisit earlier worlds to uncover many hidden
secrets
* Master Samus's combat, scan, and visors -- elements crucial to your
success
* Explore each area to find many familiar weapons, such as the Wave
Beam,
Ice Beam, and some all-new ones as well
* Advanced 3D engine draws beautifully detailed worlds with massive
geometry, crisp textures, lighting and particle effects and more at
60
frames per second
* Flawless camera system blends first- and third-person views in-game
* In-game cut-scenes highlight the action
* Totally immersive, focused on single-player game
* Traditional Metroid style adventure with numerous boss figures and
power-ups
* Supports progressive scan for HDTV users
* Runs in Dolby Pro Logic II with capable stereo setup
* No widescreen setting
* Connect to GBA's Metroid Fusion to unlock extra goodies
* Unlock art galleries, difficulty settings, and more
* 25+ hours of gameplay

Gameplay
Metroid Prime is an action-packed adventure set in the first-person
perspective that takes place just after the events in the original
Metroid
(NES). It has lead character Samus Aran, a bounty hunter by trade,
chasing
down the evil Space Pirates. Their intention is to use a genetic
mutagen
called Phazon to create a super army and take over the universe.
While the
installments in the series before have never been home to deeply
involving
storylines, Metroid Prime breaks the shell to offer up one of the
most
intriguing and read-worthy sagas yet. Equipped with a scanning tool,
one of
many useful features of the Power Suit that protects the hunter's
body,
Samus Aran can uncover important details about the past and present.
As the
player, it's easy to become absorbed in the grim tale, and
furthermore
because you save all data to your log book, it becomes a practical
novel of
research data available at any time. Next to Eternal Darkness:
Sanity's
Requiem, it's one of most well done story concepts on GameCube yet,
which is
an especially rare treat given that it's based on the Metroid
franchise.
Moreover, the solitary nature of being a bounty hunter on the
unfamiliar
planet of Tallon IV makes understanding the plot all the more
rewarding and
immersive.



The prevailing gameplay style, polished and refined, is perfectly
representative of the standards laid down in Super Metroid. In fact,
Prime
manages to bring nearly every major element of the series, sans the
Screw
Attack and Dash Boots, to this new adventure. Like before, the focus
is
exploring the massive, uncharted planet around you. As Aran, you
begin your
quest with nothing. Your most important Power Suit features -- the
ability
to roll into a Morph Ball, jump higher, carve through ice, etc. --
must be
gained through exploration and persistence. The general progression
teases
you with sights of inaccessible doorways, out of reach platforms, and
often
caustic environments that require suit upgrades. For example the
lava-filled
caverns of Magmoor require a suit upgrade to shield you from the
heat, grey
doors call for the Ice Beam, and numerous elevated platforms demand a
special pair of boots. These upgrades are only a few of the many. It
is this
delicate and sophisticated balance that makes Metroid Prime the
incredible
design accomplishment that it is. It is one massive world tied
together by a
handful of elevators and secret passages. The rewarding sensation of
discovering new areas and powering up your arsenal of weapons and
tools is
unmatched.

Complex puzzles play hugely into this design. Around every corner
Metroid
Prime demands that the player figure out something. Occasionally it's
simple
and at other times it requires drawing on everything you've learned
to that
point, but it is always gratifying. This system of awarding you for
even the
smallest of your efforts makes it extremely difficult to travel to
the
nearest save station and take a break. There is always something
tugging at
the back of your mind, begging you to try out your newest skill and
solve
what may have previously seemed like an impossible puzzle. In
particular,
Retro Studios has taken hold of the many opportunities that arise
from
Samus's ability to change into a Morph Ball. You must use it in
half-pipes
to speed to higher points and quite often the camera switches to a
2D-style
perspective to reveal mazes and pinball-esque designs. One of our
favorite
puzzle environments submerges the Morph Ball underwater. Only with
the
clever detonation of bombs and exploiting the lessened gravity will
you make
it to the exit. Moments like these are littered liberally all over
the
worlds, which keeps gameplay from getting repetitive. It also easily
makes
Metroid Prime the most diverse and complicated in the series. It is
not
remotely easy or passive in any way, which is exactly what we adore
about
it. Likewise, the pacing of the design and balance is the best we've
seen in
years. It's truly remarkable.

Meanwhile, action and shooting also factors largely into the
experience.
Again, the balance is a throwback to the previous Metroids where
every
section of the world has some kind of life in it. The combat system,
like
Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time before it, adheres to a lock-on
mechanic to simplify shootouts in the 3D world. Couple this with the
fact
that the controls are not dual analog, and it should be clear that
Metroid
Prime is not intended to be your traditional first-person shooter.
Exploration composes the bulk of the quest, and enemies are merely
there to
inject the game with a healthy dose of action. In fact, fighting
enemies can
often be a puzzle itself. There are a lot of cleverly designed
creatures
that require scanning them to find weakpoints, and making use of that
information is very important. Some are more simply defeated and
others take
diligence. The Space Pirates that have invaded Tallon IV present the
biggest
threat, but the creature list is pretty huge overall. Wasp-like
insects
swarm Samus when you near their hive, snarling Baby Sheegoth -- the
guard
dogs of the icy Phendrana Drifts -- charge you at first sight, and
mechanical drones unleash rapid gunfire onto you if alarmed.

That is but a small portion of the list, and there are other foes
that cause
trouble in a more subtle way. For example, one particularly neat
beetle-like
creature vacuums up Samus in Morph Ball form and ejects you out the
nearest
exit. As a whole, the controls work perfectly for the game style, and
combat
can still be very intense and satisfying. As a matter of fact,
artificial
intelligence is handled pretty well and ramps up as you progress
deeper on
your journey. Namely, the Space Pirates begin to take cover when
attacked,
leaping huge distances to gain a better vantage point. They can be
very
aggressive, sometimes working in teams. If you have any apprehension
that
the said lock-on system will not provide a challenge, think again.
Things
get very difficult. The only qualm we have with the combat, is that
you must
repeatedly engage in the same battles. It's meant to be faithful to
the
previous Metroids, where enemies reappear after you leave a room, but
with
the increased difficulty and complexity it can seem unfair at times.
It's
debatable, however, and once you've honed your skills enough it
shouldn't
pose a major problem.



Additionally, you will have to face off with about a dozen mini-boss
and
boss figures. On a much larger scale than figuring out basic enemies,
the
bosses all have some weakness that must be exploited. As you acquire
more
skills, the requirements for defeating each boss become more
imposing.
Equally impressive is that nearly every boss figure towers high above
Samus.
We found the collection of foes to be some of the best and most
cleverly
designed we've faced in a great while. It's another element of
Metroid Prime
that exudes the kind of polish that Nintendo so consistently delivers
to its
Zelda series. Needless to say, we were very happy with the boss
sequences,
and we're positive you'll find them very gratifying.

In its entirety, the package screams sky-high production values from
start
to finish. Everything about Metroid Prime is absolutely amazing. Just
as we
experienced total elation with Zelda's transition from 2D to 3D (The
Ocarina
of Time, 1998), we can now enjoy that same caliber thrill with
Metroid
Prime, which is every bit as fantastic as Super Metroid. Make haste,
and add
Prime to your GameCube collection.

Graphics
Aesthetically, Metroid Prime is one of the most gorgeous games we've
ever
seen. It owes its beauty to two major components: art direction and a
technologically impressive engine. It is so extremely rare that we
see a
game bring both elements together so tightly. In Metroid Prime's
case, the
art direction is probably the more fantastic of the two. Retro
Studios'
artists have created a completely believable style for this science
fiction
fantasy. Borrowing concepts from the original designs in Metroid and
Super
Metroid, Retro's stunning art vision is generously spread across
several
uniquely themed environments; the verdant rain-soaked overworld,
steamy
magma-filled cavern, and hazy mining facilities make up but a few of
the
diverse areas.

Even more extraordinary is that every new section of the world you
enter
looks completely different thanks to brilliant architecture; the
Chozo Ruins
are off-kilter, dry, and crumbling, Phendrana Drifts' walls are
carved from
ancient ice that radiates with a blue glow, and Magmoor Caverns is a
maze of
claustrophobic, lava-filled passageways. The attention to detail
continues
to a more microscopic level, as you can cast your gaze in almost any
direction and see something you may not have noticed before; flocks
of birds
soar under the hot sun, indents or juts on walls and flooring are
cause for
a more organic feel, bridges are not square or obvious, but instead
intertwined branches or fallen rubble, and every wall has a different
set of
cracks and chips. If Retro Studios has proven one thing, it is how
extremely
valuable artistry is for establishing the mood of a game and
immersing the
player. There are few 3D videogames that can hold a candle to this
visionary
masterpiece.

Naturally, that accomplishment is only possible with the backing of
equally
ambitious technology. The programming team at Retro Studios has
constructed
a flexible engine that is capable of drawing these detailed and
sometimes
massive environments at 60 frames per second with no slowdown. At
first
glance it may not seem like the worlds are high polygon, but with all
the
subtleties and organic architecture there is a lot going on.
Furthermore,
the character rendering is truly jaw-dropping. Samus, the various
creatures,
and the gigantic boss figures are all tremendously detailed. There
are a few
in-engine cut-scenes in the game that could easily be mistaken for
full-motion video. For example, one incident that unfolds as you
defeat the
final boss will take your breath away. Indeed, it's very often that
Metroid
Prime will have you second-guessing how the engine is capable of so
much.

That's not to say it's perfect, however. Textures are complex and
plentiful,
even crisp from far away, but up close the quality falters.
Furthermore, the
much-talked-about bump-mapping technique, used to give textures more
depth,
is nowhere to be found. It seems likely that these drawbacks are a
product
of keeping Prime running at 60 fps with so much diversity and
intricacy.
Nonetheless there are a host of other effects that easily overshadow
what's
lacking. For starters, the visor effects such as Infrared and X-ray
prove
incredibly accurate. Unbelievably, every object has a sensible heat
signature; machinery displays as dark blues and black while living
creatures, lights, and other heated objects light up in orange and
red.
Likewise, the X-ray visor is so precise it even reveals the bones in
Samus's
hand. There are also a handful of atmospheric conditions that affect
Samus's
visor: condensation builds from passing under a waterfall or through
steam,
static and veins of electricity brand the screen when Samus interacts
with
energy-charged objects, and raindrops and splashes of water create a
temporary refraction of the world around you. The numerous
eye-popping
effects -- so many we can't detail them all -- pull you into the
world and
don't let go.



Equally important is the lighting model found in Prime. Nearly
everything
that moves produces beautiful, vibrant lighting. The shots from
Samus's gun,
the beams that radiate out of the Morph Ball, and the varying
overcast of
colors that set the mood in the environments exploits the very robust
lighting GameCube is capable of. It produces a lot of depth by
interacting
with the detailed architecture, and the desire for bump-mapping is
lessened
because of it.

To top it all off, those with a progressive scan capable television
can
benefit from a truly gorgeous display. Metroid Prime looks incredible
with
the blazingly fast framerate and myriad of effects. Unfortunately,
there is
no widescreen support.

Sound
It should come as no surprise that Metroid Prime is home to the best
sound
design yet on GameCube. The Kenji Yamamoto composed soundtrack is
every bit
as characteristic and pleasing as Super Metroid was before it. For
very good
reason, too, as Yamamoto was the original composer. The Japanese
surprises
with incredibly versatility, twisting together light atmospheric
melodies
that hang on the air and driving industrial beats, which give it a
distinct
modern tinge. As soundtrack done completely with MIDI, Yamamoto
proves that
redbook audio can be overrated. Heavy drums, piano, voiced chants,
clangs of
pipes, ominous electric guitar hooks, and many synthesized effects
produce a
distinctly alien mood. More impressive is that there are a lot of
subtle
audio cues that affect the player during the experience. When
fighting the
music gets very aggressive and perhaps after you've beaten a boss
you'll
find there is a more driving beat that parallels your excitement.
Naturally,
many themes from the previous games have returned too. You'll
recognize them
frequently, but Yamamoto has been keen to add new flavor to them. The
same
goes for the celebratory melodies heard when kicking off your quest
from
your last save point or finding a power-up. So, both fans and new
Metroid
followers alike will find the listening experience absolutely rocks.

[/quote]

[ZeroBlade]

[quote]

Complimenting the high quality soundtrack, Metroid Prime comes chock
full of
a sound effects library to die for. There has been great attention to
detail
from the foreign growls of the Space Pirates to the screeches of the
alien
insects. Every mechanical sound that Samus's Power Suit utters is
almost
exactly as you imagine it would be. Add to that, the environment
around you
is littered with random noises, whether it is the hiss of a nearby
steam
vent or the cranking of a nearby elevator there is a lot to absorb.
The
atmospheres just seem to echo and blend perfectly with the overlying
soundtrack.

Mixed in Dolby Pro Logic II by a member of Dolby itself, Prime is a
stellar
treat for the ears that we can find few issues with.
Closing Comments

Metroid on the NES was one of the first epic games I ever
experienced. My
brother and I, at the age of about seven, spent weeks and months
questing
through the password-enabled adventure. It had a certain charm to it,
and
even if I couldn't describe it then it made an impact on me. Then
along came
Super Metroid in 1994, and I was totally blown away by how brilliant
it was.
It was a perfect videogame in my mind. It was edgy, home to a
fantastic
power-up system, full of awesome bosses, and the gameplay style was a
soul
mate to me.

Needless to say, I have an unhealthy obsession with the franchise.
So, when
Metroid Prime was finally announced I was both thrilled and
frightened to
see how it would turn out. But after several years of very hard work,
Retro
Studios and Nintendo have translated the same genius of Super Metroid
into
3D with very few casualties. Because of that, Metroid Prime has not
only
become my most beloved title on GameCube, but also one of my most
treasured
games of all time. I'm not sure where I place it, but it's very high
on the
list.

If I had to make one personal observation, it would be that the
change to
first-person perspective was brilliant for its move to 3D, but not
perfect.
I felt comfortable (even in awe) 90% of the time, but there are a few
boss
fights where it can frustrate. It's extremely rare, but something you
should
be aware of going into it. It's nothing that sours the overall
quality,
though.

That said, I would recommend Metroid Prime as an absolute buy -- skip
the
renting facade -- for every owner of a GameCube. It's a real
collector's
item. You'll want to keep this one even after your done spending 30+
hours
with it. The only reason one would avoid it is if action/adventures
are not
part of your narrower taste in games. If you fall into that category,
you
have no idea what you're missing out on.

Metroid Prime is an instant classic that you will use to measure
forthcoming
software by.

-- Fran Mirabella III



Presentation
Metroid reborn in 3D, and an impressive sci-fi fantasy to boot.
Awesome
menus. Design is great from concept to execution. Few games are this
polished.
10.0

Graphics
A stunning art vision that deserves major recognition, jaw-dropping
world
architecture, and volumes of pretty textures. At 60 fps with
progressive
scan support, there are few that compare.
9.0

Sound
The original Nintendo composer delivers another opus and
fantastically
designed sound effects compliment the mood with Dolby Pro Logic II
support.
10.0

Gameplay
A true masterpiece; an accomplishment that will be recognized for
years. It
is Super Metroid in 3D, and it's as complex and wonderful as any
gamer could
want. Any self-respecting gamer must own it.
10.0

Lasting Appeal
30+ hours to average completion. Requires much longer to earn 100%.
Unlock
art galleries, difficulty settings, and connect to GBA for extras. No
multiplayer, but like Zelda, do we need it?
9.0

OVERALL SCORE (not an average)
9.8

[/quote]

Unforunately we stil gotta wait til next week!!! *cries* Yes I know we can't double post but I had to since I went beyond the limit. :P

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]If you have to double post because you can't fit the whole thing in one post, it's okay. :)

Dang...I thought I was excited about Metroid Prime just from watching the latest batch of video clips. Now, after reading that and other previews/reviews, I can hardly stop myself from literally jumping with joy and anticipation! I really don't know how I'm going to be able to get through the next week, before it's released.[/color]

[James]

[color=royalblue]Yeah...guh! I'm amazed! Reading about the lighting...even seeing bones in Samus' hand...the water condensation...UGH!

It just sounds so amazing. The attention to detail seems incredible, even though this review has barely scratched the surface.

I definitely think two words come to mind here: Instant Classic. :)[/color]

[Charles]

I'm very excited to hear that the game is as open ended as Super Metriod.

It's very ironic to learn that Metroid Fusion will probably be more linear than Metroid Prime. Unlike Super Metroid, Fusion is more on mission based tracks. Since there's a navigational computer telling you where to go, unlocking new areas for you, it's just not as fun as Super Metriod. It's still a great game by any standards though.

Metroid Prime on the other hand, sounds awesome. I mean, this quote that was put up says it all:

[b][quote]It didn't take long before I got the feeling of Super Metroid all over again. As we tried to navigate the 3D worlds we found there was access to much more than you might expect. We managed to push our way into Magmoor Caverns -- a very hot place -- and without the Varia Suit our energy began to deplete. This was all at the beginning of the game, and it felt just like old times to have to hightail it back to a cooler area and make the mental note that we could return at a later time. There were many corners of the huge world that desired to be explored, and as we did just that we found that the to-do list became exceedingly large; ice patches blocked access to energy tanks, platforms were too high to reach, and ball passages were littered everywhere. [/b][/quote]

I was initially concerned that the platforming and famliar Metroid elements either wouldn't make it, or would be toned down significantly. But, the platforming aspects are supposedly handled very well.

The first person view mode, if anything should create a greater feeling of tension when it comes to exploring desolate corridors and such.

[Guest Morph]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i]
[B]I'm going to EB to pick up Suikoden 3 tonight, so I'm hoping I can check the game out. Prime and Fusion both come out November 18th, along with Nightfire, Medal of Honor and RE: Zero. Expensive day.
[/B][/QUOTE]

[color=indigo][size=1] o.o... I love the Suikoden series, I've played Suikoden 3, almost beat it too....

Back onto topic... Well Metroid Prime looks quite solid, although I don't have a GCN, I'll just ask my friends to lemme play it at their house. As for Fusion, I WILL be buying this game, MOST definately. I've always been a fan of their 2D Side Scrollers. Although Prime will bring a new challenge. Also, I really want to see how when Samus goes into a ball and it goes to a third person perspective how it will fair with the gameplay. I hope it does well because that seems one of the coolest features of the game.[/color][/size]

[NorykoAngelcry]

[COLOR=darkred][SIZE=1]*drools* Suikoden 3. . what a great game -- best opening I have ever seen. Excellent game, and a great ending (working on the other two characters now. . not going to say anything more). . oh right, back to topic.

My good friend Steve's girlfriend works at Circuit City. . they have these Lanyards with a two sided laminated picture -- one side Metroid: Prime and the other Metroid: Fusion -- A great collectors item if I do say so myself ^_^

About the game. . Oh wow. . I just keep watching different demos, or looking at shots of in-game images. . It is just . . too much for me, I can't wait till this comes out -_- luckily, I hope I have the day off, so I can kill the night away. . (if my check lasts that long. . >_<) Well. . all I can do is hold my breat *passes out*

[EDIT] Just had to change the date I had in there. . put up the wrong day on accident [/EDIT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Schrat]

Oh yeah, just pre-orderd Prime baby...Cant wait til Tuesday!

[Semjaza]

My EB said it will be getting the game in this afternoon. It's only one day early, but hell... I am going to drive up there and get it anyway lol.

I'd assume everyone reading this has a GC... But I was looking around ads and there were quite a few deals. Like at Target, if you buy a GC, Metroid Prime is only 20 bucks. At Circuit City, you get a coupon a gift card for buying GC and MP, and MP only winds up costing like 5 bucks lol. Prime and Fusion both come with these cool little animation cels there too.

Anyway, if I get it I'll write some quick impressions heh. I think we can all assume this ia a great game though lol.

[ZeroBlade]

I can't get mine til Wednesday *cries* My inside man at my local store says that they didn't get it yesterday cause the bigger companies wanted more copies of the game on release. So I'm screwed til then and I CAN'T WAIT! *loses it*

[Semjaza]

My friend preordered it for me at EB over the weekend... Apparently they will only give it to people who preordered it today... Everyone else tomorrow. Who knows if this is true lol.

I don't know if anyone played the demo yet, but it's pretty cool. I had a lot of fun with it before the stupid GC reset. It was weird getting used to the controlsl I kept trying to play it like it was Timesplitters 2. Not to say the controls are bad, but it's certainly different lol.

Other random things I've read up on... The game supports progressive scan and Dolby Digital II for people who can use it (that'd be me :D) and uses only two blocks to save. The manual is pretty cool, I've seen scans and such of the pages... Lots of nice art, and a really detailed history on Prime and Fusion that thought was interesting. It fills a lot of plot holes.

[Schrat]

Yeah I Preordered mine on Saturday, as everyone can see in my previous post ;) , Well I read on PGC that most GameStops are getting the game in today, so I called the gamestop that I preordered the game at and the guy kinda hesitated and then said you can pick it up tommorow, so Ill be playing all afternoon, god cant wait!!!!!!

[ZeroBlade]

I lucked out a bit... I went to see my people at my local store and they said that since I'm such as good customer, informant, and friend that they'll sell me a copy tomorrow (tuesday). I'm so happy! Now I gotta do all my homework so I can be Samus' slave...

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]*swears long and hard* ...Stupid Best Buy, isn't getting it in till the stinking 20th! Gah! *more swearing* ... *sulks in a dark corner* ... *mutters* [size=1]Dangit, I can't take this waiting anymore. Why can't it just come out on the same day everywhere?[/size][/color]

[Turkey]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Desbreko [/i]
[B][color=indigo]*swears long and hard* ...Stupid Best Buy, isn't getting it in till the stinking 20th! Gah! *more swearing* ... *sulks in a dark corner* ... *mutters* [size=1]Dangit, I can't take this waiting anymore. Why can't it just come out on the same day everywhere?[/size][/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

You think that's bad? My local Toys R' Us has it right [B]now[/B], and I have to wait until Thursday to go get both, and a friend borrowed my GC, so I won't be able to play any Metroid until the weekend, since my brother's the only person I know with a GBA.

[ZeroBlade]

Ight this question is for those kats who blasting some pirates right now.... What ya think of the game? I should be gettin mine later today so I'll give my 2 bits later...

[Semjaza]

<--------- Playing it now :D.

I'll edit this later hehe.

[RicoTranzrig]

I got Metroid Fusion today...and I have to say it's very sweet :whoops: There's that same mild creepiness found in Super Metroid. Nice static cutscenes to look forward to...


BTW: This game is very, very addicting...