Evil waits below the surface…
- NA release: 18th November 2002
- JP release: 28th February 2002
- EU release: 3rd April 2003
- Developer: Retro Studios
- Publisher: Nintendo
- NGC Magazine Score: 97%
- Mods Used: Remastered


Before 2003, I had zero experience with Metroid, but after seeing the reviews of Metroid Prime – which was releasing close to my birthday – I ended up getting both Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion for my birthday, both of which were wonderful games, and Retro Studios did a truly tremendous job translating the Super Metroid formula into 3D, even if it did cost them all their other games (which Nintendo cancelled so all focus was on Metroid). As I had the Remastered version on Swich sitting around and haven’t played that version, I opted for that version as they don’t mess with the gameplay, other than option control options

The controls were always one of Metroid Prime’s biggest points of criticism, with a single stick to move and turn. However, this choice does lead to Prime’s more unique combat competed to other shooters, with a reliance on lock-on and strafing, letting you focus more on using the various tools available. The lack of dual analogue of the original did make it a bit of a pain when having to do platforming, so the option for dual analogue in the remaster makes this even better without having much impact on the combat.

The game is all about discovery and exploration anyway. One of your main assets is your scan visor, which gives you information on every creature in the game as well as all sorts of logs, background information and various hints that will help you work out where you can and can’t go with your current toolset. The information from the scans give you an immense amount of information on the wildlife, the planet you land on (Tallon IV), the Space Pirates and the mysterious substance infecting the planet, off of it is great to read. Although if you want to collect 100% of scan data, you have to be extremely careful as you can permanently miss bosses and a few others.

The world of Metroid Prime is also a wonder to explore, with some stunning sights and ruins that have a feeling of functionality to them. Each room starts off as a challenge so your first time though an area will take a while (especially as you want to search everywhere), then once you find a few more abilities, you’ll be able to swiftly go through areas with ease. Samus will find new weapons (which also function as keys), get a double jump, find a grappling hook, upgrade her morph ball to use half pipes and magnetic rails, and find new visors to get another view of the world.

These visors allow you to see heat sources or invisible objects (and enemies) that you wouldn’t otherwise see, and also are great at showing the immense amount of detail put into the game, form how every detail of the world has its heat set up to see through the thermal visor, or hidden areas with the X-Ray visor. Even little details like seeing Samus’ bones in her arm cannon, in the position of her finger matching the icon of the corresponding weapon. It all comes together to make the world feel truly alive.

Even the treasure hint at the end, where you have to find 12 hidden keys, is something I thoroughly enjoyed, using only the hints given in the game and avoiding looking it up online. It’s just a wonderful experience both unlocking an ability and remembering something you could previously not get past, or exploring a previous area and noticing something new due to an ability you’ve now got. Translating such a wonderful type of game into a luscious 3D world is truly magical.

Fave
Frankly, we’re a bit gooey-eyed about Metroid Prime (which has nothing to do with the fine mist of bug-juice in the air). It’s seamless from start to finish, and the mix of genres – first-person shooter, platformer, puzzler and more – sends tendrils of gaming pleasure into the deepest parts of your soul. It has elements you’ve seen before in all sorts of games, but never have they been baked together into such a lovely, meaty, spicy pie.
Al Bickham, NGC Magazine #79
Remake or remaster?
The Switch remaster is extremely well done.
Official Ways to get the game
Metroid Prime Remastered is available on the Nintendo Switch.
GameCube Games by Date
2002: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2003: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2004: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2005: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2006: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec