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Metroid Prime: Hunters ds Game Reviews
Metroid Prime: Hunters
Critic Score
Metascore: 85 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.4 out of 10
based on 55 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 95 votes
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Rate this game

Who is the Galaxy's Most Elite Bounty Hunter? Before Metroid Prime Hunters, the answer was easy. Now that six other ferocious bounty hunters have gathered to challenge Samus, the title is up for grabs. Engage in intense four-player deathmatches either locally or against players from around the world with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Battle with seven elite bounty hunters, each with unique alternate forms and specialty weapons. Customize your multiplayer matches with over 20 expertly designed arenas and seven intense modes of play. Unlock multiplayer features by completing an all-new single-player mission in Adventure Mode. [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: Nintendo
GENRE(S): First-Person Shooter, Action
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2006

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Yahoo! Games
Metroid Prime Hunters is simply amazing: It lives up to the pedigree of the series, the graphics are unbelievable, and it's the first truly excellent portable first-person shooter. It delivers in both single- and multiplayer in a way few games ever have.
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100
GameShark
The controls are immaculate, and aside from a few plat-forming issues I had, works fantastically for all aspects of the game.
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100
Detroit Free Press
The game moves fluidly, with very little slowdown. The environments tend to repeat (even on the first planet I'd occasionally get lost because several corridors all looked the same), but the detail is surprisingly nice for a DS title.
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100
Adrenaline Vault
The multiplayer, however, is where this release shines. This is by far the most successful implementation of Nintendo's WFC service as of so far, and stands as an essential buy for anybody interested in experiencing the online capabilities of the DS.
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100
Times Online
This is a cracker. A lot of thought has clearly gone into making the most of the DS’s touch-screen capability here, and it works gloriously. Sure, you still walk down dark corridors blasting anything that moves, but here you are in control as never before.
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97
Gaming Nexus
The sheer number of things to do and modes to play is epic, an honor previously reserved only for top-tier console titles and never even considered on a handheld.
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94
Nintendojo
This title offers something that literally can't be found anywhere else; and fortunately, because of theextended development time, managed to improve upon Nintendo's Wi-Fi service as well.
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92
Games Master UK
"Mario Kart" was good, but this is a cut above. [May 2006, p.52]
90
GameCube Europe
This is an awesome game, with a huge, huge scope; to its credit, it pulls everything off without a hitch.
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90
NGC Magazine UK
This is easily equatable with PC shooters or even classics like "GoldenEye." [May 2006, p.22]
90
Gamers Europe
This is an awesome game, with a huge, huge scope; to its credit, it pulls everything off without a hitch.
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90
Electric Playground
What the franchise loses in the transition from console to handheld, it makes up with intuitive control and the best multiplayer the DS has to offer. You'll be playing this one for a long time.
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90
GameZone
Metroid Prime: Hunters is a phenomenal game that uses the DS to its fullest potential in terms of graphical ability and innovation.
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90
Console Gameworld
The best handheld first person shooter on the market, the best multiplayer Metroid game, and one of the best reasons to own a DS.
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90
PGNx Media
Metroid Prime: Hunters is excellent and shows that FPS can be well done on portables.
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90
Worth Playing
The single-player mode is compelling and fun, the graphics are above par, controls are super-precise, the sounds are perfect, and multiplayer makes owning a DS worth every penny.
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90
DailyGame
Finally, a handheld FPS that doesn't suck. It may not break new ground, but it's still great fun.
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90
N-Insanity
Astounding.
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90
Da Gameboyz
With a great single player component and an even better multiplayer one, this game's overall score is only slightly hurt by the fact that the end of each level in single player is repetitive and the controls take some getting used too.
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90
Games Radar
Hunters is strictly for the hardcore, bloodthirsty gamers who live for fragfests. Moving Metroid from a slow-paced adventure to a nail-biting wrecking ball of explosions was a risky trick, but damn did it ever work.
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90
GamePro
Approximately as big as Metroid Prime on the GameCube, it's hard to imagine how Nintendo squeezed Hunters into a tiny DS cartridge. Metroid Prime: Hunters is a very polished game, suffering more from small quirks than actual flaws.
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90
IGN
Metroid Prime Hunters is easily the best handheld first person shooter developed to date, even with its somewhat high learning curve and cramp-inducing control.
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90
eToychest
The solo campaign is somewhat lengthy, though nowhere near that of Prime or Echoes, but thankfully it is overshadowed by an online component that is truly the meat of the experience anyway.
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90
GameSpy
The controls are varied in style; thankfully there's something for everyone in play, although sometimes the touch screen jumps feel strange in stylus mode.
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88
Cheat Code Central
A welcome addition to the DS. This is one system that is kicking ass as far as support goes. The online multi-player component is just the icing on an already deliciously rich cake. A must-purchase for shooter fans.
Read Full Review
87
Gamer 2.0
This is probably the best first person shooter you’ll ever play on a handheld. Then again that may not sit will with Metroid purists given the series roots as an adventure title.
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86
GameSpot
Precise controls and a worthwhile multiplayer mode are the highlights of Hunters, a Metroid Prime game that feels more like a first-person shooter than the GameCube games.
Read Full Review
85
WHAM! Gaming
A great achievement for the DS that should be worth the wait for fans of the series and those dying for a fully-fleshed out FPS with online capabilities on the dual screen system.
Read Full Review
85
Nintendo Power
Hunters is new-school, action-packed, and a great addition to the growing collection of Wi-Fi titles. [May 2006, p.86]
85
Armchair Empire
Metroid has been taken into first-person shooter territory and has done so with a rock-solid multiplayer experience.
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85
Deeko
Boss battles in a Metroid game are always something to behold, but the confrontations in Hunters are somewhat lacking the grandeur the Gamecube titles possessed.
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85
Play Magazine
Metroid Prime: Hunters is born from incredible pedigree, and it certainly shows. [May 2006, p.56]
85
Game Informer
While the single-player adventure falls just shy of the grandeur of some Metroid games, the new multiplayer game positively electrifies the experience. [May 2006, p.111]
83
Game Revolution
It's high-quality work all the way, from the production design to the responsive (if crushing) controls and utterly smooth online play.
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83
Digital Entertainment News
Don't buy this game expecting an experience like the GameCube Metroid Prime titles. This is Quake with a thin layer of Metroid paint. But hey, that's okay if you like Quake.
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82
BonusStage
Not only does the DS again innovate the industry by allowing players to utilize the touchscreen as a pseudo mouse look, but the inclusion of online multiplayer extends this game well past the single player mode.
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80
NintendoWorldReport
Hunters is really two games; one is fantastic, the other is not. One is easily worth buying if you have good access to wireless Internet, while the other feels slapped together to dupe hardcore Metroid fans and to put "Action-Packed Single-Player Mode!" on the back of the box.
Read Full Review
80
EuroGamer
Not a life-changing experience (if you discount the coming years of physiotherapy on my arms) but it is an astoundingly competent first-person shooter. While the multiplayer mode is a flimsy experience unless you have friends you can rely on, the single-player mode offers a worthy adventure even for players who don't ever expect to take the game online.
Read Full Review
80
1UP
FPS fans should appreciate the rich Metroid universe, and Metroid fans should recognize the technical achievements NST pulled off. Then everybody can be happy.
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80
GamerFeed
The game's controls take a bit of time to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, you'll realize NST has done an extraordinary job in bringing Samus to the Nintendo DS...You'd be hard-pressed to find a better online title for the Nintendo DS.
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80
GameCritics
If nothing else, Hunters establishes itself as a solid and important entry into the Metroid canon with new elements like peripheral characters and a revamped game structure packaged in a more streamlined, enjoyable adventure than its immediate predecessor. For that alone it deserves respect.
Read Full Review
80
AceGamez
What Nintendo has really done with this game is set the bar extremely high for any future portable FPS title that even wants to be considered above average.
Read Full Review
80
Edge Magazine
The singleplayer adventure is yet another sprawling, puzzle-heavy artefact hunt which, truth be told, is far bigger than we had any right to expect. [May 2006, p.89]
80
games(TM)
Broken arms aside, Metroid on the DS is a smooth, attractive and compelling FPS that shows what the machine is capable of, cramming in a fulfilling multi-player mode to boot. [May 2006, p.106]
80
Pelit (Finland)
Metroid Prime Hunters has the Metroid Prime atmosphere, but suffers from simplified content, which is not compensated in any way in the adventure mode. Nice multiplayer options, though! [May 2006]
80
N-Europe
The most explosive (and fun) multi-player game out there for the DS. You will love it if you strive to master the controls.
Read Full Review
80
Extreme Gamer
Nintendo DS fans along with Metroid fans will be happy with the expansive multiplayer side of Metroid along with a solid FPS experience in the adventure mode.
Read Full Review
80
Computer Games Magazine
Hunters is a grand handheld shooter with as darling an interface as you could hope for. Everything else--and ther's plenty--is gravy. [July 2006, p.90]
80
Boomtown
The potential of the technologically disruptive DS is just beginning to be exploited. Metroid Prime: Hunters is a great game, and one that really should shift systems. Buy it, play it, and you’ll understand.
Read Full Review
79
GameBrink
A decent FPS single player game with an excellent online component.
Read Full Review
77
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Thankfully, the control works well and makes for adequately thrilling online multiplayer...well, as thrilling as a four-player king of the hill match can be. [May 2006, p.109]
70
My Gamer
It was like the developers couldn’t decide whether they wanted to make a killer single player mode or a killer multiplayer mode. So instead, players have to settle for average in both departments.
Read Full Review
70
PALGN
For single player only experience, this game is [60] and below. If you've got the friends and a WiFi connection, the game is [an 80] and above.
Read Full Review
65
netjak
Too many of my experiences with this game were about boredom and annoyance.
Read Full Review
60
G4 TV
This feels like yet another genre shoehorned poorly onto hardware that just isn’t equipped to handle it.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 95 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

William T. gave it an8:
Controls a little uncomfortable, the level design a bit confusing, the action repetitive, but still one of the best games you'll find on the DS.

DJ T gave it a7:
This is a great playing great looking game! A good game on the system and a perfect addition to the overal Metroid franchise. The casual gamer should stay away... it's an action adventure, and if you aren't playing it everyday until you are finished it, you may forget about where you left off and it becomes a little tedious. Otherwsie, it's a great adventure!

Andrés P. gave it a10:
I'm so excited with this game because this game is a mix between awesome graphics and great multiplayer, If you have friends with the ds you'll have much fun.

Jared C. gave it a7:
Metroid Prime Hunters is one of the best action games for Nintendo DS. Ya right. Some may wonder why is it rated T for Teen. Well the game is slightly difficult and hypnotysingly confusing. And I got lost half way point. By that time, you don't want to play the game anymore because it just gets plain old boring. The only fun part of the game is multiplayer. But nobody I knew wanted to play it. Well, first of all, I got stuck and was completely lost and there was no hints to get you out of the situation. Besides, I was dissapointed to that fact that there were no aliens or other species jumped out at you and have a huge invasion of bugs or whatever and try to defeat them all. But on the other hand, it started out that you parked your ship and jumped out. Walking around a bit traveling through doors. From my opinon, I think that the creator was loosing ideas for jabbing in quick action scenes in there. I bet ya' that he tried to make it suspenseful and, as the genre reads: Horror, he wanted you to be suspicious to what's going to happen next. He very well did that you very much but he did a poor job overall. The game is truly exciting and undeniably thrilling, which grabs your attention by the amazing 2 minute introductory video that swictched your stress to excitement. And multiplayer is very fun, but only for a couple of times and then it just gets boring after a while. My complaint to this whole video game here is that it was by far way to challenging and difficult to get used of. They lost ideas of action scenes once and a while. And all you did for most of the time is walk around scanning things 24/7 and shooting little plants that are blocking the way. That's all it is. Well, anyways, it still was a brilliant thrilling game. It's good but not great, just rent it from the store but don't waste your money on a 40 dollar game that you'll never play. Just for the heads up.

Josh H. gave it a0:
Grossly pales in comparison to Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission. I want my 2D metroids back! Unfortunately, Nintendo is more likely to hear the screaming, foaming-out-the-mouth prepubescents who want their FPS-lite because their parental bigots won't let them play the better, more mature FPSes out there. For shame.

A Jay gave it a10:
Great graphics, fantastic controls, solid single player, and one of the best miltiplayer games ever leave nothing to be desiered!

Mike gave it an8:
DOWNSIDES: well, on one hand as soon as I finished the game, I was a little disappointed to find that the game had repeated itself in so many ways (time limit to escape, only 2 main boss designs, me really wanting syluxs' ship, etc.) plus, there was the added fact that gameplay was still basically shoot anything you see cuz you're your only ally. UPSIDES: However, in all fairness this was still an awesome title, I mean, how many first person shooters for handhelds are there, much less those with the ability to free roam, not only that but (when used correctly and with some practice) the touch screen provides an intuitive and innovative conrol style (providing your not a jittery fighter or someone who constantly taps the screen making them jump the whole time you fight.) Also, this is one of the few handheld titles in 3D (and pretty good 3D for a handheld) and that had almost cinematic quality cutscenes, and the multiplayer works great, I have never dropped a connection due to a bad server or bad components in the DS itself.

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