Let me starts by saying that I never owned or played the orignal NES Metroid.  My first exposure to the franchise came with it's SNES version Super Metroid.  That was enough to hook me for life.  One thing can be said in favor of Nintendo: their franshise game series rank among the best for any game system.  Metroid Prime is no exception.
I was a bit skeptical of the change in format from 2D platform to 3D shooter, but having played it (sometimes for hours on end), I must say that it's a thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable game.  In my opinion, it's possibly the best 1P perspective game available on any system (sorry to all those HALO fans who may disagree, but that game didn't impress me much).
First of all, the visual detail of this game is nothing short of remarkable.  The environmental effects on the visor are splendid, and the switch from 1P to 3P when using the morph ball adds a bit of variety to what has always been (to me, at least) a very tedious viewing type.  All the differnt environments on the planet are beautifully created, and the music, while not memorable, does add well to the aura of the game.
The controls take some getting used to, especially switching visors with the control pad.  Otherwise, no major complaints in that department.  What I really enjoy is the weaponry.  The addition of multiple view visors was a great touch.  Some favorites have returned, along with a few new, and impressive, additions.  One things I didn't like about the SNES version is that once you found all the weapon enhancements, you could leave them all on and play without having to think about which one works better fo which enemy.  Not true with Prime.  For instance, the Ice Beam (now a separate weapon instead of an enhancement) is effective on some enemies, while useless on others.  Some enemies change color, which corresponds to the weapon needed to defeat them.  Also, some enemies are invisible to the regular view, which forces you to fight with an alternate visor enabled (Thermal or X-Ray).  The addition of power combo weapons is also a definite plus.
I would have to say that this game is a definite candidate for a game of the year award, and it continues the Metroid franchise nicely.  5 Stars...at least until the next Metroid game comes out. ;-)
Let me starts by saying that I never owned or played the orignal NES Metroid. My first exposure to the franchise came with it's SNES version Super Metroid. That was enough to hook me for life. One thing can be said in favor of Nintendo: their franshise game series rank among the best for any game system. Metroid Prime is no exception. I was a bit skeptical of the change in format from 2D platform to 3D shooter, but having played it (sometimes for hours on end), I must say that it's a thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable game. In my opinion, it's possibly the best 1P perspective game available on any system (sorry to all those HALO fans who may disagree, but that game didn't impress me much). First of all, the visual detail of this game is nothing short of remarkable. The environmental effects on the visor are splendid, and the switch from 1P to 3P when using the morph ball adds a bit of variety to what has always been (to me, at least) a very tedious viewing type. All the differnt environments on the planet are beautifully created, and the music, while not memorable, does add well to the aura of the game. The controls take some getting used to, especially switching visors with the control pad. Otherwise, no major complaints in that department. What I really enjoy is the weaponry. The addition of multiple view visors was a great touch. Some favorites have returned, along with a few new, and impressive, additions. One things I didn't like about the SNES version is that once you found all the weapon enhancements, you could leave them all on and play without having to think about which one works better fo which enemy. Not true with Prime. For instance, the Ice Beam (now a separate weapon instead of an enhancement) is effective on some enemies, while useless on others. Some enemies change color, which corresponds to the weapon needed to defeat them. Also, some enemies are invisible to the regular view, which forces you to fight with an alternate visor enabled (Thermal or X-Ray). The addition of power combo weapons is also a definite plus. I would have to say that this game is a definite candidate for a game of the year award, and it continues the Metroid franchise nicely. 5 Stars... at least until the next Metroid game comes out. ;-)