Samus is back, after not being in her own game for quite some time. Metroid Prime is not a 2D action game, but an adventure shown through first person perspective. Metroid's jump from 2D to 3D has sparked some debates, in which one side argues that the game sucks and Metroid should have stayed 2D, while the other praises the game like it's the best game ever. Well, I don't think it's the best game ever, but it still is a great game.

Gameplay: (95%)

Basically, the gameplay is the same as the 2D Metroids: shoot down baddies with your blaster while exploring. And there's a LOT of exploring to do in 'Prime. The areas are large, and your pretty much have to explore every part of the land.

There are a lot of different type of enemies in 'Prime, ranging from armored bugs to those extremely annoying Metroids. Some can be taken out with a few simple shots, while others can only be taken out by certain weapons. You'll collect new blaster types during your adventure. You'll have to collect items during your adventure. No, it's not a Donkey Kong 64 collecting-fest in which you collect hundreds of several different items. You collect Artifacts, which are scattered across the land.

Controls: (85%)

The control scheme is good for the most part. There should have been an option to change the controls, however, as some people may not like the defualt control scheme. A button shoots, B shoots, Y fires a missle, X switches to Morph Ball mode, L locks onto enemies/scans, R aims, and the Z button brings up the map. Pointing the C-Stick in a certain direction will change your Beam weapon, that is, after you collect 'em. The control pad will switch Visors. Certain visors are best used in certain environments or against certain enemies.

Visuals: (100%)

Truely excellent, Metroid Prime is one of the best games graphically on the GameCube thus far. Environments are beautiful and extremely detailed. Enemies look great, especially since this is the first time several of these enemies have appeared in 3D. Samus herself looks way better than her SSBM character model. Her armor is sleek and shiny now!

Sounds: (95%)

Metroid Prime also has an awesome soundtrack. Some of the tracks are remixed classic tracks, while several ones are new. Each area in 'Prime has its own distinct music that really fits in well with each area. There is no voice acting in Prime, because no one really talks. Some of the enemies make noises though, but that's about it.

Replayablility: (80%)

Metroid Prime should take you quite a bit to finish, since each area is very large. After beating the game, though, there's not much else to do. If you have a GCN-GBA link and Metroid Fusion (GBA), you can play 'Prime with the Fusion suit and/or play the original Metroid (NES).

Final Words:

Those who aren't fans of FPS may not like 'Prime, however. But still, give it a try. Metroid Prime is an excellent game and is a game that you may want in your GCN collection.

Score: (91%) A

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