Metroid Prime Preview
Now that the initial outcry of the first-person perspective that Metroid Prime has taken is over, we can now focus on describing a highly anticipated sequel to an 11 year old franchise.
Metroid Prime seems to be taking the best of each of the first person and side-scrolling perspectives and merging them into what will be a compelling experience. Much of the outcry from the fans on the announcement of the expected 3rd to 1st person transition occurred due to the possible game limitations of playing from a 1st person perspective. Retro Studios, with guidance from Nintendo, have seemed to overcome this important issue. Many journalists who have played the game report that the transition to the morph-ball is flawless, and Samus’s change back is smooth as well. For many of the game’s elements which require a 3rd person perspective, the game puts you into the 3rd person, which makes things less complicated when dealing with objectives.
Let’s focus on some of the interesting gameplay aspects. Equipped to Samus’s helmet insides are a myriad of lights and meters. One of the most important capabilities is the visor itself. Deciding which visor to use at which time could possible save you from a human-hungry bug with a bad attitude. There are four types of visors…Thermal (for heat sensitive but hard-to-see objects), Scanning (presumably to scan for a bosses weak points), X-Ray (to gauge an enemies strength, or possibly for identifying an object), and Combat (your default visor). Each of these will play a crucial role and will help in completing the objectives. For example, by using your Thermal visor, you are able to detect enemies behind walls. The morph ball is crucial for you to progress in the game. Just like in previous Metroid games, you are able to travel through “pipes” to reach new areas.
Samus can also earn a special spiderball. With this strange object, you can use the various spider tracks to gain rapid ground and morph on-the-fly into hidden crevices and unlock secret areas! This item, like many, will presumably be available after you defeat a boss.
The graphics themselves are extremely intricate and perfectly convey the type of atmosphere you would expect from an alien environment…closed in with a dread of nausea; not fully knowing what’s around the next corner. Metroid Prime offers a bevy of worlds to traverse; the most incredible being the snow-like level. The amount of detail each of the worlds contain is fabulous; only seeing them will do justice. Everything from fog to shimmering light, to the effects of your cannon-blast are incredible.
Simultaneously launching with Metriod Fusion for the GBA, Nintendo plans to offer link-up capabilities for MF and MP. Nintendo hasn’t divulged too much information as to what you can actually do, but they are quoted as describing it as “simply unbelievable.”
Retro Studios hasn’t released all the details for their highly anticipated game, but I’m sure we’ll see a steady buildup of media over the next few weeks. I can’t wait for November 18th!
Final Score: 8.5