Never tried Metroid Prime? Then we'd have to assume there's only a slim chance you're going to be in the market for a compilation that squeezes both Metroid Prime GameCube titles and the nifty Wii follow-up onto a single DVD. And if you are a Metroid Prime enthusiast, you'll have to have deep pockets to splash out another £45 on a couple of minimally updated old games plus one that you've almost certainly already got.
That's the Trilogy dilemma - exactly who is this thing pitched at? Because as brilliant as its components may be, there isn't the level of fan service you'd see in something like Valve's PC games, which are filled with DVD-style developer commentary. And it certainly isn't one for the expanded audience of casual players, because all versions of Prime require a big commitment of time and energy.
Hopefully we've got it all wrong and this is exactly the thing you've been waiting for, in which case it's fantastic value. Three complete adventures, each rated at over 90% at the time of release (a lofty 97% for the first one), make this the pick of the New Play Control series.
The first Metroid Prime was one of the most critically acclaimed titles on GameCube, and the finest 3D update of a 2D series we'd seen since Mario 64 and Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. One of the best things about it was a control system that enabled the developers to blend first-person shooting with precision jumping - the first time the combination had ever been managed with any degree of success - and while the follow-up stuck to the same formula, everything changed with the launch of Wii.
Corruption was the first game to really nail first-person controls on a console that, certainly on paper, seemed ideally suited to the genre. Given the freedom of the Wii remote, the Metroid Prime gameplay became faster, its levels more vertical and its enemies somewhat tougher. You could quickly spin the camera 180 and direct the targeting cursor anywhere on the screen with a flick of the wrist.
Consequently, the pacing of the game and the type of challenges you'd face had to be tuned to match a speedier Samus Aran, and there were other Wii-specific touches such as twisting/pulling motions for opening doors. It might not have been quite as hot a game as the original but the controls couldn't be faulted.
Now those same controls are in the first two games, with the result being that both feel less challenging when confronting bosses. It could be because we're so familiar with them after all these years, but hulking great monsters that we remember struggling with for ages on GameCube tend to keel over much faster on Wii.
The structure of the earlier games is otherwise unchanged. Samus gets robbed of her equipment and spends the rest of the adventure exploring some truly spectacular locations in search of her missing gear. Bosses give up crucial bits of stuff, such as weapons and visors, and you're required to backtrack to spots where (with any luck) you noticed an unreachable area or tantalising locked door earlier in the game.
Enemies respawn every time you re-enter a room, but by the time you return with some of the more powerful weapons, creatures that once had you scarpering in fear can be brushed aside with no trouble at all. Few games give you Prime's sensation of burgeoning power.
Aside from the controls, the GameCube titles benefit from Corruption's achievement system, which rewards you with medals for accomplishing certain tasks. You can swap them for unlockable items, including the option to save screenshots that can be emailed to your friends. All three games run at 480p in widescreen, so they've never looked better. Maybe this is what you've been waiting for...
Martin Kitts
New and improved!
Achievements You win coloured tokens for hitting various milestones such as killing a set number of enemies or reaching a certain stage in each of the games. And for completing tasks in a stylish way or without taking any damage. Very Xbox.
Snapshots Probably the best of the unlockable extras (that we've seen). You can grab a screenshot at any time, and if you've got some sort of arty program on your PC you'll be able to make some excellent forum avatars and wallpapers and whatnot.
Targeting You can still use the Z-targeting feature to lock on to enemies, but it's only really useful when you're fighting ones that zoom around all over the place. The manual aiming is very accurate and satisfying to use with the Wii remote.
// Overview
Verdict
In the unlikely event you're curious about Metroid but don't own any of the games on this disc, there's a seriously massive amount of gameplay per pound here.
well now thier slightly easier. nabbed a jap copy of The first with an english patch months ago. the new controls do indeed make the game feel fresh aagain.
They have also given Corruption a few tweeks as well so its definately the definitive version of all three games. Not sure if its worth getting if you already own all three though.
Could be worth it if you don't have the other too and don't mind trading in corruption to shave a couple quid off the price though.
i watched ign's video review last week and from what i could see prime 1 has also been updated visually: full bloom lighting,cleaner textures and 16:9 support.
i'll be picking this up just for the first game with wiimote controls. it's my 2nd favourite gamecube game (after resi 4) and i can't/won't play the original anymore with analogue sticks for aiming so this is most welcome.
If Steve W never liked metroid games then why are you reading this article and posting a pointless question? I haven't played a metroid game before but may consider it now as this seems like a well put together package which would be good for any Nintendo fan to give a go.
Jesus you must hate pretty much every game this gen then. What with open world games making you drive down the same streets and AA that insists you go back to previous areas.
I bought a Wii on Saturday, £145 in ASDA. Played a few games on it and was more than just a little disappointed. I know Redsteel is an older game but it looks like a really poor PS2 game. Then I picked up Metroid Prime 3 yesterday for £8! Excellent. I've not enjoyed a Nintendo game as much since the N64 era. Worth buying the Wii for.
Yeah the Trilogy is now on the most wanted list after reading that review. Really like Corruption and I have to say it stands up with the Halos and Killzones.
Madworld and Overkill are defo buys along with Twilight Princess. I've No More Heros sitting waiting for some play time.
Yeah the Trilogy is now on the most wanted list after reading that review. Really like Corruption and I have to say it stands up with the Halos and Killzones.
Madworld and Overkill are defo buys along with Twilight Princess. I've No More Heros sitting waiting for some play time.
If you don't mind things a little more colourful and cartoony, I'd definately recommend Zack and Wiki, De Blob, Little King's Story and Punch-Out!! - Four great games and all completely different from each other.
It still amazes me that Sony/360 fanboys continue to state that there are no good games worth playing on Wii. - Just because the Wii's more core titles don't get the blockbuster, blanket-coverage that something on the higher-spec systems might get, that doesn't mean that they don't exist. Admittedly, you do have to wade through more shovelware crap. No Nintendo/Wii fan would dispute that. A price paid for being the most popular and cheapest-to-develop for system.
I listed some upcoming titles on another thread to illustrate why I wouldn't be getting bored with my Wii any time soon, such as Muramasa, Monster Hunter Tri, Sin and Punishment 2, No More Heroes 2, Red Steel 2, FF: Crystal Bearers, Fragile, Darkside Chronicles, Dead Space Extraction, Tatsunoko vs Capcom, SM Galaxy 2, Metroidther M, New Super Mario bros, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Boy and his Blob and others. - Most of these titles (I'm told by Sony/360 fanboys) are too Japanese/unheard of/obscure to get excited about.
This is the problem many Wii core titles come up against. General ignorance as to what's out there and being developed for the system.
De Blob and Little Kings Story are defo buys as well. You're right though, there is a large amount of shovelware out there. Probably because of the large user base and cheap developement costs for the Wii. Yet, there's quite a few little gems there as well. It does take a little effort for the Wii to draw you into a game but stick at it and it has games that match any system. Corruption alone was worth buying the Wii for IMO.
Well MP3 was the very reason I chose to buy a Wii last year, so yeah I guess it was for some people.
Big fan of the Metroid series, even bigger fan of the Prime series, I adore Prime 1, it's my favourite Metroid game yet, and even though I have all 3 already, i still felt the urge to get this. I pre-ordered months ago, hopefully it'll arive today.
I think the Tweeks they've made to Prime 1 & 2 really do change the way you play the game a lil. It seems to flow better. Fightings a hell of a lot easier too.
I am definitely going to buy this (though not necessarily at launch which is today) i have the original Prime on GC but not the others and i would love to use the Wii gun controls.
This is one of those rare occasions where I wish I had a Wii. I loved both Prime games on the GC, and really want to play Corruption. The only other must-have is Twilight Princess, and I have that one the GC too. No point shelling out on a Wii just for four games and some tat just to wave my arms around to. I can wave my arms around for free.
Oh, the dumbing down of English continues, and it does annoy me so. Steve W & Monkey, the word you're both looking for is THEY'RE, as in THEY ARE, not "there" or "their".
Right, rant over. Now if only I could eradicate the idiotic misspelling that is "definately".... grrr....
Oh, the dumbing down of English continues, and it does annoy me so. Steve W & Monkey, the word you're both looking for is THEY'RE, as in THEY ARE, not "there" or "their".
Right, rant over. Now if only I could eradicate the idiotic misspelling that is "definately".... grrr....
Sorry I have just noticed my spelling mistake I got put off by how boring the mp series is.
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ther M, New Super Mario bros, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Boy and his Blob and others. - Most of these titles (I'm told by Sony/360 fanboys) are too Japanese/unheard of/obscure to get excited about.
