My Thoughts On... Metroid Prime

With the recent release of Metroid Prime Remastered I figured the time had finally arrived for me to play the game though to completion. This wouldn’t be my first time playing the game. A few years ago I picked up the Metroid Prime Trilogy on my Wii U, got my Wiimote and Nunchuck ready and dived into the first title. At this time I hadn’t played any other Metroid games properly and the awkward controls were enough to put me off. I didn’t have the connection to the series to really push on. In fact, I never even reached the surface of Tallon IV. With the remaster providing modern controls (with gyro aiming!) along with a modern coat of paint, I finished off the final maps of Fire Emblem Engage and got straight on with Prime.

By now I’ve played most of the 2D games (with the odd exception of Super Metroid) and my mind was filled with questions about how the Metroid formula would translate to 3D. For me the platforming element, with increasingly slick 2D control schemes, is so key to the experience. What would a Metroid without this feel like? Would there be lots of awful 3D platforming to navigate even with the refined controls?

I needn’t have worried. For one thing, the 3D platforming is pretty well done. The thrill of discovering an upgrade to get beyond a previously impassable door, jump or pile of rubble is still front and centre. The combat is good but not key to the experience - this isn’t an all out FPS. There’s a satisfying level of difficulty to it. Navigating around when using the morph ball is also incredibly satisfying and well adapted to 3D movement.

In addition there are the visor upgrades. The visors are something which can only really work as they do from a first person perspective, adding a fresh element to the discovery of the world so key to the Metroid feel. It’s good they work so well given how key they become by the end of the game.

We still have a wide variety of environments to explore, a great soundtrack and that classic Metroid atmosphere. The remaster is incredibly well done too, especially on the graphical side. This really looks and feels like a newly released game.

I only really had two gripes. The smallest is that I’d have liked the transition out of the morph ball to be a little snappier. It feels weirdly slow compared to the transition in. Not a huge deal but it did break the feeling of fluidity the rest of the movement has. More of an issue was the hint system. This isn’t a complaint that the system exists. I think it greatly enhances the game for those who want to use it, guiding exploration. Rather, for me there were a few times I was waiting for the next hint with no real way of knowing when it would come. I think it might be nice if there was a way to trigger it on demand reducing time exploring aimlessly or combing through the map to find the next place to go. I’ve made much of the 2D Metroid experience earlier in this piece, of which exploration and discovery is so key, but a guiding hand doesn’t necessarily contradict that in my opinion.

However, these are only very minor gripes. Overall I loved the game. It even got me back on my Wii U booting up Prime 2, though I think I will wait and see if we get a remaster. If I’m honest, the 2D Metroid games still have the edge for me, but I think it’s great that we have both. They can co-exist very nicely, providing two different flavours of Metroid experience. Roll on Prime 4!