Gaming Target - GameCube: Metroid Prime

Written by Chris Woodrow on July 13, 2001

First Impressions: Is 4 a prime number?

At Spaceworld 2000 Nintendo revealed one of the most intriguing and most waited games ever. This game was Metroid Prime, which is now being developed by Retro Studios. One year later at e3 2001, a short, yet awe-inspiring 10-second clip was shown and had the audience stand to their feet and beg for more. It was finally here!

Since Nintendo hasn't released much information about Metroid, we are pretty much left guessing what it will have to offer. Our only source of information is that brief and brilliant 10-second clip. We know Metroid Prime will be in 3D (unlike the older ones) and viewed from a first person perspective. In addition, we know that the game will offer enormous bosses, extravagant weapons and exciting power-ups! We hope for tons of dark and scary cinematic cut-scenes and videos too!

One the biggest upsets for Metroid Prime was the fact that it will be a First Person Shooter. When Retro Studio's released this information, many Gamecube and Metroid fans went nuts! They wanted another 2D adventure, but that just wouldn't be. But, since they have had time to think about it, they are happy with this move because, the game will still focus on adventure and exploration and of course those sweet power-ups. Many were worried about this move to 3D, but many were worried about the same thing for Zelda! So, if Retro was smart, they would take some notes from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Another aspect of Metroid Prime we know is the usage of HUGE bosses. One of the best parts of the older Metroid's was wandering around and running into unbelievably large mini-bosses and main bosses. Kicking the crap out of these gigantic creatures, when you were so small made you feel very powerful. And we think Retro knows this and is going to use this awesome concept.

Possibly the most important part of Metroid was the o-so powerful and plain cool, power-ups! This added so much depth to the previous games and a bit of strategy. If you didn't have the Super Bombs, you couldn't blast your way through certain doors. If you didn't have the grappling beam, you couldn't get over large gaps. It was great! Going back to get power-ups so you could access other areas you couldn't before gave the game a more adventurous feel to it, and added down right more fun. The power-ups are a must have in Metroid and we hope that we get a lot of them and most of the classic ones (screw attack, speed booster, wave beam) too.

The biggest mystery for Metroid Prime is where does it fit in the storyline? From the other games, the whole Metroid race was destroyed. If all the Metroid's are gone, and the game doesn't focus on them, why would it still be called Metroid? Or maybe, the story will be based BEFORE the other games! No, that's not it either, because in Metroid (NES), Samus Aran had never heard of the Metroid's until the Galactic Federation called upon her. Well, whatever Retro Studios does, we're sure it will be pure genius. Until the game is released, we will never know.