Prime was an absolute masterpiece. The way they took the essence of the originals, wrapped it up in 3D-ness and made it work so perfectly was amazing. That very first moment (aside from the training level type thing) when you step out of the craft into that swamp, and the rain is falling onto your visor…that just set the tone for me, and I knew I was playing something special. OK, the scanning was a tad laborious (or at least I thought so, especially later on when all I wanted to do was get stuck in) but apart from that I can’t fault it. The level/area design was inspired, especially Phendrana Drifts as mentioned. It wasn’t that the type of locales (e.g. snow etc) were especially unique, but the fact that the environments themselves were so cleverly thought out. I’m probably the only one too, but how hard was that Meta Ridley dude?!

I have to admit that I never actually got round to playing Echoes; at the time of release I just knew I wouldn’t have enough spare hours to devote to it. It’s tempting to pick it up now, but with so many other games up and coming I daresay it would get left behind, and I ‘d rather not start it at all than just leave it hanging a third in. One day…

I'm pretty psyched about Corruption, but having not even held a Wii controller yet, I'm still unsure as to how it will play, and whether it will work. I thought the controls on GC Prime worked perfectly, and hopefully the Wii controls will integrate just as seamlessly. Everything else about it looks Metroid-tastic, so fingers crossed.

Everything was so wonderfully alien about the first GC Prime, the sounds and environments were so fresh - even the tired 'elemental levels' concept. I think it was possibly my first experience of an FPP (First Person Platformer?) and remember having to look down every time I jumped until becoming spatially aware enough to leap around with wild abandon.

Didn't get very far with the second outing though, I was hoping Samus was going to land on an equally alien and new planet but what I saw was all too familiar for me to devote the time to it. I'm sure I missed out on some amazing moments. However, by passing on MP2 I still hungry enough to be finnin for the Wii version. The easy of controls will be key though - I ditched Metroid Hunters because the stylus control just didn't sit right with me...

Both Prime games have been great, the second fell under the radar for many and that maybe down to the speed it was released (though the game was arguably more involved and equally as engaging). I thought Hunters was interesting though.

If only more first person games had level design as good as the Primes.

I still find the acronym for the third game quite disconcerting however.

I didn't "get it" first time round. I loved it. But I didn't understand it. SO I fumbled my way through it.

Then.

Then it all clicked, I saw that it was essentially an oldschool 2d game with a 3d coat... I could see the levels that were in 3d in 2d in my mind. It's like they planned the game in old school 2d then 3derised it.

Beautiful.

Its not so much of an alien fork of the Metroid concept that you can't then pick up a 2d one aswell... genius.

Once you get into the lone bounty hunter scouring an alien planet vibe, it completely envelops you. To the point that you are compelled to do the research and find the secrets... although finding secrets was less secret more a bonus to comprehensive exploration.

I am going through the same process again with Prime 2... I've got to about 10%, I need to reboot that and hit it in a session or four... you just know you're going to be rewarded.

I've still not played my copy of Prime, which I'm very ashamed of. It will have to be something very special to knock Super Metroid off of it's throne in my book (loved that game). I finished Fusion a while back and it's not as good as Super Metroid, the level design is too sequential to make it truly great.

Is it just me or was the last Castlevania game (DS one, can't remember what silly subtitle it had) basically super metroid with different graphics.

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Nintendo has snubbed the loyal band first to take the DS home by releasing a new, improved model,...N64 was the only console in the Japanese giant's history to escape the makeover.

All my love is for Prime right now.

There were some mean sections to both games. The Phazon Mines (Prime 1) segment on hard mode took me about 30 attempts as it's a big stretch with no saves and a mini-boss encounter at the end, I never got stressed at it though - it was just pure evil. I killed a Space Pirate there before and his dead body went crazy! Screaming all over the place and flying up and down the corridor, all over the walls. Mega scary, it was like that death scene on Nightmare on Elm St 1 where she gets dragged about the bedroom.

It disgusts me the amount of people who didn't like Prime 2. People saying it was too hard an all that crap. It takes me a while to get really good at games and I remember only spending around 1-4 attempts maximum on the bosses.

I love the dark world aspect, along with it's not too taxing puzzles. Brought back some nice memories of LttP. The Dark Aether was ace. Tons of moody reds, pinks and purples all over the place. Breaking up the scene by shooting them light beacons was an ace idea, and made a slight escape from the corrosive environment, as well as giving you a dread feeling of claustrophobia - and I'm not even claustrophobic!

The soundtrack for both games is equally as mind-boggling. Whenever a Super Metroid remix came in I'd cry with joy, just knowing that people still love that old stuff so much that they're doing remixes and throwing them in new titles that most people won't 'get'. I can't wait to hear what they throw into Prime 3.

The artwork galleries are fantastic extras. I'd love some of that stuff printed out in high resolution for my walls.

The end of the Phazon trilogy, eh? I'm gonna miss that funky blue Kryptonite stuff. I can see Samus donning a proper Phazon suit this time where she actually becomes one with it or something (hence the game title), similar to the X parasite on Fusion.

I wonder where they'll take things next? Perhaps a 'true' Metroid 5 featuring the Fusion suit and the X parasite?

I can't describe Metroid that well. I get too excited and my English goes to shit.

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The level design. People like Bungie need to play 'Troid and take note. I love it how each little area is totally bespoke with no repeated scenery anywhere. Each little crack and crevace totally individual. My god, the work that goes into these games.

I think Nintendo left out the CTRL+C...CTRL+V function on the GC dev-kits.

I absolutely love the Metroid Prime games It's the way they've managed to take classic Metroid and transfer it straight over to a 3D game intact without ruining it's essense which I feel make them genius pieces of work.

They both totally drag me in, cant get enough of the totally alien atmosphere - also the way they've handled narration through scanning is another excellent touch which adds even more to the feeling of exploring.

That forthcoming Wii version looks incredible - I wish I hadnt watched the vids now! I'll still probably explode when I have it in front of me anyway.

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Yeah - and you still get people shouting "WEURGH!! It's not the same as Metroid! It's gone all FPS!" at the same time as... "Where's meh dual stick control!!!?!"

F**k off. Turds. As if it's NOT classic 'troid.

These folks missed out on Jumping Flash - that's the problemn I think.

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I never watched any vids for Prime 2 man. Although I've already broken that rule with Prime 3. ; ;

Too bad it's not a Wii launch title. I need meh fix every 2 years. It's gonna be bang on with that controller.

The narration is very similar to Marathon and it makes the game world seem larger than the components within it. It's as though the entire landscape of narrative events is happening in the corner of your mind. Ultimately, it gives weight and purpose to the gameplay.

The Chozo lore in the first prime framed the game beautifully.

Wasn't there a Prime release where the Research text was spoken to you?

Would that be for the blind players then?

LOL. Seriously, I never heard that. And I don't think I'd want human voices in the game unless the audio was handled by NOJ.

Yes! The music in Prime is delicious. That’s the one thing that kept me sane when I had to keep restarting after being beaten by Meta Ridley (grumble) – the menu screen music is ace. The way you see the molecules floating about and then you get the squelchy intro twangs before the main theme kicks in. Awesome. (OK, that is a minor part of the overall score, but it's the first example that sprung to mind!) You have to be so careful when creating a score for these types of game, and they nailed it completely.

Its refreshing to read that there are people who enjoyed the exploration as much as I did, as both prime games have been critised for containing too much backtracking. Now, backtracking is term that I dont fully understand, I understand what the term means just not the context in which it gets used. I mean isn't the whole point that you are given a large non-linear world to explore, that requires you to return to prior discovered areas for further exploration, th areas in Prime are not some throw-away level that no longer has any importance in progession.

Totally agree. This is why I think that scanning is such an amazing feature, as reading the pirate logs in particular gave you sense that as you the player moved forward so was the world around you. It proves that you dont necessarly have to witness to a cutscene/real-time event to create the illusion that you inhabit a living, breathing world.

Slightly off-topic but its great to read a Wii related topic that doesn't turn into next-gen graphics drudgery or HD wank fests.

"The way you see the molecules floating about and then you get the squelchy intro twangs before the main theme kicks in. Awesome. (OK, that is a minor part of the overall score, but it's the first example that sprung to mind!)"

That's not a minor point mate. Remember when real magazines such as Mean Machines used to give percentages for presentation? The standard of which these games are presented is absolutely perfect. I admit, I couldn't do any better myself and I work in that sector (I could if I was given 6 months to work on just 3/4 screens mind ). Everything fits just perfectly.

Saying that... I'd love a job working on title screens. Too bad I don't have a degree.

"Slightly off-topic but its great to read a Wii related topic that doesn't turn into next-gen graphics drudgery or HD wank fests."

Again, when I was playing in RGB last night the quality was eye-blisteringly good. It was as good as VGA and I'm not taking the piss. Keep your eyes open in Cash Generator or whatever... I picked up a 14" flatscreen Sony Trinitron for £35 (they were around £240 when they came out) and I've never looked back.

This is the point I was trying to touch upon in another thread - these people on the forums who have the gall to call themselves gamers have no clue about or appreciation of the medium. They always miss the point, it's almost like they just want a totally passive and linear experience, but then if presented with a game that fits that description it's berated for having no freedom or gameplay (both of which they dont have a clue about either anyway), indeed when given a game which is 100% pure gameplay it's slated for being repetitive!

Gaming's biggest problem is it's audience - hopefully this will change as new audiences are tapped into.
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Sometimes I feel I'm the only person in a 100mile radius with any love for anything half-decent. It's best to just ignore others at times Saur, and it's totally pointless trying to persuade people what's good for them as well. Try working in Gamestation for a few weeks. You'll get fired for assault.

I do ignore them man -

I'm OK where I am because I'm around a lot of people who are proper into their games, I dont NEED forums to talk about my interests. I post here because of the people on this site are safe.

But ONLY here!

It's depressing that the shit gamers in general chat has a negative effect on the popularity of so many games. Untold games in the last gen which are absolute joy to play arent given even a fraction of the recognition they deserve.

Viewtiful Joe and FZero GX especially.

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The irony of this statement is, that its current gamers that are moaning that games will be dumb-downed and simplified as new ways are found to attract new audiences. Specfically hate towards the DS and Wii, as many gamers think that all games will turn into party games or the so called "non-game".

Backtracking? Who said that. If Prime's setup is similar to Super Metroid then it isn't backtracking, it's exploration as each area yields more as Samus is upgraded. That's the best thing about Super Metroid and I'm assuming from the outpouring of love here that Prime is the same.

Another thing that people bitched about in Super Metroid was respawning enemies. Again missing the point. It's completely intentional not only to keep the exploration challenging, but also as a necessary puzzle mechanism, with the freeze shot. I love the way you can harvest energy from some of the baddies too. I used to do that right before a save point to make sure I was maxed out ready for my next foray into the unknown.

I really must play Prime. From what you guys have posted it sounds brilliant.

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BBC news
Nintendo has snubbed the loyal band first to take the DS home by releasing a new, improved model,...N64 was the only console in the Japanese giant's history to escape the makeover.

It is! You should play now. Take a day off work

I love Prime and I think Echoes is even better. I love the dark Samus and light/dark theme. Very well used in game, not many make it work so effecitively.

Echoes is hard in places but that just makes it better. What knocks you back just makes you stronger and when you have figured it out, it makes you feel like a god!

Apologies for heading slightly off-topic, but that game is just too awesome for words. At first I just razzed through it, but once you properly learn the controls and what you can do with Joe, it just becomes a work of art. It’s absolutely genius (and it makes you feel like one hell of a cool dude when you’re nailing special move after special move!)

Back to Prime, I agree with Madbury that backtracking is completely the wrong word to use, and shows no knowledge of what the game is about (either that, or they don’t know the meaning of the word which they are using, which is even more distressing).

God it sounds so similar. There's a real pinch point in Super Metroid where you have to use a specific weapon in a specific room. You simply can't progress without working it out. It took me fucking hours of exploration and trial before I finally uncovered the secret and it felt bloody awesome.

Pants and bra, work sucks ass big time.

If you have a US machine I can send you the Fusion suit and Hard mode via memory card (the only way to play )

Luckily, my mate played normal mode before me (I was busy with Res Evil and unlocked hard mode for me to play so I jumped right into that.

hard mode really is the only way to play - there are certain segments that need proper memorising, then once you finally survive through to the save room you can forget about it feeling mega-accomplished at the same time.

The PAL, Japanese and US v1.2 version have Samus voice-overs in quite a few of the cut scenes, which weren't in the original US release. I can't remember whether some of the Research stuff is read out to you, but it might have been. I think the US v1.2 release is the Players Choice version with the Echoes demo. I've got the PAL version somewhere, but it is still sealed...

Sorry to go off topic - but yeah this game truly is a work of genius. What I'm always thinking about is how a team can sit around and come up with gameplay ideas like this and actually pull it off so beautifully! It's depressing that people dont appreciate the sheer amount of work that's been put into Joe's game system, especially the gaming press.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_YpZxIC69o

I've uploaded one Joe vid (and one joke/trick boss vid) so far to my little section on YouTube - there are more to follow but I'm obsessed with Godhand right now!

Back to Prime - Madderz you HAVE TO get on this game right NOW! You can cane both of them in succession then onto the Wii version!

I know it's been mentioned here already, but the music in MP is sublime - the progression of the soundtrack feels as organic as the game world, & unfolds as the story does. From the moment Samus touches down on Tallon IV & the synthesised score fades in, it's obvious that it's something very special.

I have the OST in my car at all times

Most of the "professional" journalists and, depressingly, several games developer peeps I know just found the game "too hard". In reality, the game isn't hard it just needs to be learnt. You can breeze through Joe once you know what you're doing but getting there takes effort.

It does get me going that people don't play games in their fullness. That's like reading half a book or listening to half a symphony. Only once you've fully played a game do you begin to appreciate and understand it.

I was actaully quite physically and mentally drained after killing

SPOILER THE METROID PRIME SPOILER

Doing those game back to back would be one helluva an acheivement.

Like folks have said a totally cohesive game world... you can't say enough about it.

Prime 2 has been bouncing around my brain for a while now... I need a time machine!

You need to write a fucking review!

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BBC news
Nintendo has snubbed the loyal band first to take the DS home by releasing a new, improved model,...N64 was the only console in the Japanese giant's history to escape the makeover.

Nice one. YouTube is blocked at work, but I’ll check it out later tonight.

It’s a bit far out, but how awesome would a VR version of Prime be? The visor style view would lend itself perfectly, and it would be ace to jump around inside some sort of semi-gravity chamber, as if you were in Samus’s suit. Knackering, considering the ground she covers, but fun all the same.

That would be absolutely mint - I think the Wii version's implementation of the new controller will go a long way in adding to the atmosphere too. Using the Grapple Beam as a weapon as well as a tool, actually controlling it with your own movement will feel wicked! I saw something new with opening doors aswell - if you have to do that using hand/arm movement too - WOW!

I'd love to see some new, freaky method of controlling the menus and scanning aswell. I loved the scanning in the Prime games, the way they allow you to absorb the narrative at your own pace, which also doesnt intrude or break up the game in any way was pure class.
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Yeah that’s a great point about the Wii controller. It’s really going to give a more tactile feel to things, and that is definitely going to add to a game like Prime.

I think that’s the beauty of the Wii – yes, it allows non-gamers to easily get involved, but it also adds another layer for regular gamers who appreciate how games can play and feel. Imagine shooting out your grapple beam – you fling your arm forwards as if it’s actually part of you…you feel the rumble in the controller, just as you would feel a jolt if it were really shooting from your arm…I don’t mean to start a graphics debate, but something like that adds far more to the immersion and atmosphere than any amount of HD-ness could.

Yeah... But.... Have you seen the 360 in HD! Even if you gave me Samus' Varia suit and the ability to morph into a ball for real it couldn't compete with the experience of seeing more pixels on a flat screen. Some people I just don't know. Fucking Nintendo fanboys
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BBC news
Nintendo has snubbed the loyal band first to take the DS home by releasing a new, improved model,...N64 was the only console in the Japanese giant's history to escape the makeover.

I was gonna post again but I can't. I'm truly lost for words. I can't describe how pumped I am for Prime 3. There's only so much shit a company can take after being backed into a corner before it totally explodes. Think of the shield system on Mars Matrix, that's what Nintendo are about to unleash on us with this control method.

Fair enough - most stuff will likely be novelty, movements in place of what could be simple button presses. I say bollocks to all that - I'm thinking along the lines that games should have been like this from the very beginning, with buttons being the 'EO' mode we've all gotten used to over the years.

If we had this control method back in 1980 instead of the 2-button joystick we'd have evolved into two types of gamer by now... the VR gamer who actually dons the headset and enters a world where true strength, skill and agility is required to pull the tasks off... and the couch potato gamer who sits there getting fat, eating burgers, confined to a 40" Samsung LCD screen.

I simply can't do with anyone that isn't looking forward to this console.

Totally agreed - NOBODY and I mean NO BO DY! Is as l33t as Lucas Barton! He would never dirty his hands using a control pad, like the great one once said; The Power Glove.....it's so baad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKOnP-6QANQ

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I had to find faults in the preceeding months for the DS launch... I couldn't quite decide if I was being a ripened fanboy... but the concepts were flying out of my brain soo fast that I couldn't beleive that Nintendo just wanged another screen and a touch screen together for some tax dodge.

The Wii.... I saw a video of some dude playing Prime 3, and you just can't, I mean, he locks onto a door or something, moves his hand forward, the on screen arm moves forward at the same rate, twists his arm, the arm twists... the door opens... it's just freaking mind bending levels of immersion. Don't get me started on the grapple beam whip flicking thing. These are my hands in the game space... for less than £200!

E X P L O D E

Keep your ideas to yourself. Anymore excitement and I'll need to start cutting myself in an attempt to calm myself down.

From what I've seen of the Wii version it looks MINT visually too though. I'm so glad they didn't try and change the look/style for MP3 in a Zelda kind of way.

Oh and I just had to get some Joe loving in too - Magnificent 5 is not a cheap way of dragging out the game, its an arena of HERONESS!!!!

100% hear you man - I like a little kid when it comes to stuff like this!

Using the controller as a sword aswell - my word man, I'll have to issue a warning to people; DONT visit me while I'm playing Bleach in Full-on Sword Heroness Mode!

I've noticed a lot of people are already bitching about "Every Wii game using the sword as a controller" - whatever.

Being able to physically fight my way through the Dragon Quest universe will blow my mind! And Bleach! - Bleach looks SAVAGE!

Also bear in mind that the relative positions of the Remote and Nunchuk are tracked - it's actually possible to activate moves by using different arm positions. Like bussing out proper Dragonball poses to activate special moves = stupid, silly, but utterly essential fun!

Gaming conventions which are completely standard are totally beyond these people. They actually dont realise that bosses have PATTERNS, you learn the pattern and *gasp* you dont get damaged and the boss dies! O_O WOW!!!11!!11onehundredandelevenpointoneone

Same like they go on about PN03 being "Repetitive" - there are a set amount of situations they have set up for you, you are free to work out a routine for each situation and then the game throws them at you for you to tackle as quick as you can. Learning how to instantly recognise a situation and recall how to tackle it with my Glowsticking Diva perfectly is what this game is about and it's digital cocaine!
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Yeah doesn’t that boxing game in Wii Sports use the nunchuck and remote as your two arms? That’s what it looks like in the videos I’ve seen. That’s just unreal, and to be honest my mind boggles at what this type of control system could do to games. I remember back in the day people were saying how natural Tekken felt with your four limbs mapped to the four face buttons of the PS controller…this just takes it on another level completely.

Has anyone actually managed to blag a go on the Wii yet? That first go is going to be RAD. And I don’t fling that word round willy-nilly I can tell ya!

Perhaps we'll see a Rad Racer update!!

Raad Racer!!1

I have it well planned out.

Open the box and give contents a real good sniffing.

Totally re-organise the lounge for the perfect set up - plenty of space for leaping around and bussing hero posses!

Lock the door and take the phone of the hook.

Then press 'ON'.

Head comes OFF!!!

Another new addition in Corruption is that you get a chance to go other planets. Now I imagine you don't get chance to explore space but I think it would be pretty cool if you could (to a limited degree at least). I think it would be a good opportunity for side-quests, like placing derelict space stations or alien ships for you to explore.

I ought to be slapped. Seriously. o_O

For some reason, I couldn't get into the Prime series, I dunno, to me, the series started and ended with legendary Gumpei Yokio before his untimely passing, however, after having stuck on Prime Hunters this morning. How. Fudding. Wrong. Was. I?

I've been missing out. Big time. I can admit it. Hearing the chatter about Corruption is really salivating. The Wii is without a doubt the next step in immersive gaming and MP3 will undoubtedly go onto prove that...

Mental note: Gotta pick both up for Massive Damage on Backwards Compatibility!!1!

YEah! Lock yerself indoors and play all three consecutively. You'd be looking at about 90hours total gameplay. D:

Hunters is a buzzing little game. Multiplayer fun on that is endless. Honestly though mate, the GC games make it look like a mini-game.

Play with headphones.

I'm gonna mate, has to be done.

Luckily, both can be picked up relatively cheap these days.

Do you have Relics of Chozo?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics_of_the_Chozo

You need to download this as it is very good. It is from Super Metroid though. Metroid games are very good in everything in the graphics, sound and story. Reading the text in the Prime games puts you on edge, nervous at times. It messes with your head!

Hmm I meant to quote Geoff D but it did not?

Not gameplay related, but this thread gives me the chance to post my favourite box arts (again!)

Regarding multiplayer in Hunters - I'm not keen; I've played it online a couple of times, but didnlt get on with the death match atmosphere - I much prefer the brooding solitude of the single player game

What did peeps here think of Metroid Zero on the GBA?

I loved it; it was slightly too easy but that didn;t hamper my enjoyment of it at all - lovely fluid controls, a peach to look at & superb gameplay.

I just love being in the Metroid universe.