I bought Metroid Prime about 5 months ago, and have beaten it 3 times so far. I've gotta tell you, this game is so great, that playing it three times just isn't enough. On my list of the twenty greatest games ever, Metroid Prime is # 2. That is saying alot, considering that the list also includes Splinter Cell, Goldeneye for the n64, and Halo 2's multiplayer.

In this review, I will give you a brief history of the Metroid series leading up to the game this review is actually about, Metroid Prime. The reason I am including this short history is so that people who have never played a Metroid game before will be somewhat familiar with the series.

But now let's get down to the basics.

The first Metroid game in the series was released in 1986 for the NES, and established the Metroid series. Basically, the game showed you that in the future, there is a bounty hunter named Samus Aran, and he must destroy a new species of alien called, you guessed it- Metroids! These creatures are being used by the wicked space pirates as biological weapons. So Samus flies to the planet Zebes to end the space pirate menace and the Metroid threat once and for all. He, in the end, fulfills his mission, destroying the space pirate leaders Mother Brain, Ridley and Kraid, and ends the Metroid threat once and for all! - Or so he thinks .... But the end of the game revealed a suprise... Samus is a girl!

The second Metroid game in the series was Metroid 2, released in 1991 on the Gameboy. The game continued the story, revealing that Samus had not actually completely destroyed the Metroids.  So she went to SR388, the home planet of the metroids, and defeated the space pirates and the Queen Metroid. However, before leaving the planet, Samus discovered a baby metroid, and took it back to the Federation for research....

The third game in the Metroid series was Super Metroid, released in 1994 for the NES. The space pirates are recovering from Samus' attack, and Ridley has stolen the baby metroid. Samus heads back to Zebes and destroys Mother Brain again, and barely escapes the planet bfore the space pirates' self destruct program destroys the planet.

The fourth game in the Metroid series is Metroid Zero Mission, released in 2001 for the Gameboy Advance. This game is actually an extended look at Samus' first trib to Zebes, and in it, Samus once again defeats the space pirates.

And now we come to Metroid Prime, the fifth game in the Metroid series, released in 2002 for the Gamecube.

Metroid Prime is the first game in the series that is 3D. It is also a first person shooter, another first for the series. The game's story line goes like this: Samus detects a distress call from a space station in orbit above the planet Tallon IV. She goes to it to investigate, only to find that the space station is a space pirate station.

She infiltrates the station, only to find that the Space Pirates are almost all dead, due to several experiments that have gone horribly wrong. She ventures on, eventually finding one of these experiments. She destroys it, which sets off the space pirates' self destruct system. She runs for her life, but another suprise is in store. Ridley is also trying to escape the station, and he flies away, trying to escape the station before it explodes. Basically, Samus chases Ridley to Tallon IV's surface, where the rest of the game takes place.

I won't reveal any more details, as this is only a review, not a walkthrough or a spoiler. I will let you know that what I just told you is actually less than a twentieth of the game's length.

This game is extremely long, so if you enjoy playing games for a while to beat them like I do, this game will fit you like a glove. However, the game is definately not for casual gamers, because the game usually takes between 15 - 24 hours of solid gameplay just to beat it, and even longer to find all of the secret hidden items that are all over the place on Tallon IV. This is not saying that Metroid Prime is boringly long, as the complete opposite is true. Metroid Prime's length is caused by the exploration in the game.

That brings me to another factor. This is not just a shooter where you run from room to room killing everything in your path. Metroid Prime is as much a strategy game and an exploration game as a first person shooter. In fact, you will probably spend as much time exploring and searching for weapons and items as you will battling swarms of enemies.

The alien enemies you fight in the game range from huge War Wasps to Space Pirates to a Gigantic rock monster. This also brings up a factor of the game: its graphics. Every detail is perfect no matter how close to a landscape or enemy you get. The graphics make you feel like you are a part of the action, as Space Pirates drop from the ceiling to fight you, or you explore a flooded cave.

The locations you play in are stunning, as they look real. As you play through the game, you will explore a lush jungle, a barren and desolate desert, a frozen white and snowy land full of caves and mountains, a Space Pirate mine, an ancient temple, and firey caverns filled with lava and fire snakes.

The game is brimming with boss battles as well. There are over a dozen bosses you must defeat in order to beat the game. Each and every battle is unique, and you will have to use your brain to beat some of them.

Metroid Prime is difficult, but most of the difficulty is due to challenging puzzles and frustrating bosses. If you stick to it, you can beat it in around a week and a half of consistent playing.

The gameplay is unique as well, as there are things that you can do in this game that you can't do in most other games. For example, you can roll up into a ball to navigate tight spots, and to explore every nook and cranny of the game.

The music in Metroid Prime is great as well, as it compliments the gameplay in every aspect. The music gets more frantic as you battle enemies or a boss, and then it is peaceful again after they are defeated.

As I said above, this game is one of my favorite games ever. In fact, that is the only reason I am writing this review. I gave this game 5/5 stars, but I would definitely have given it more if I could.

All in all, Metroid Prime excels in gameplay, graphics and music.

There is a good reason why it is a player's choice game, and I hope this review has helped you out in your decision.

Thanks for reading! -Bubba"Samus"
I bought Metroid Prime about 5 months ago, and have beaten it 3 times so far. I've gotta tell you, this game is so great, that playing it three times just isn't enough. On my list of the twenty greatest games ever, Metroid Prime is # 2. That is saying alot, considering that the list also includes Splinter Cell, Goldeneye for the n64, and Halo 2's multiplayer. In this review, I will give you a brief history of the Metroid series leading up to the game this review is actually about, Metroid Prime. The reason I am including this short history is so that people who have never played a Metroid game before will be somewhat familiar with the series. But now let's get down to the basics. The first Metroid game in the series was released in 1986 for the NES, and established the Metroid series. Basically, the game showed you that in the future, there is a bounty hunter named Samus Aran, and he must destroy a new species of alien called, you guessed it- Metroids! These creatures are being used by the wicked space pirates as biological weapons. So Samus flies to the planet Zebes to end the space pirate menace and the Metroid threat once and for all. He, in the end, fulfills his mission, destroying the space pirate leaders Mother Brain, Ridley and Kraid, and ends the Metroid threat once and for all! - Or so he thinks.... But the end of the game revealed a suprise... Samus is a girl! The second Metroid game in the series was Metroid 2, released in 1991 on the Gameboy. The game continued the story, revealing that Samus had not actually completely destroyed the Metroids. So she went to SR388, the home planet of the metroids, and defeated the space pirates and the Queen Metroid. However, before leaving the planet, Samus discovered a baby metroid, and took it back to the Federation for research.... The third game in the Metroid series was Super Metroid, released in 1994 for the NES. The space pirates are recovering from Samus' attack, and Ridley has stolen the baby metroid. Samus heads back to Zebes and destroys Mother Brain again, and barely escapes the planet bfore the space pirates' self destruct program destroys the planet. The fourth game in the Metroid series is Metroid Zero Mission, released in 2001 for the Gameboy Advance. This game is actually an extended look at Samus' first trib to Zebes, and in it, Samus once again defeats the space pirates. And now we come to Metroid Prime, the fifth game in the Metroid series, released in 2002 for the Gamecube. Metroid Prime is the first game in the series that is 3D. It is also a first person shooter, another first for the series. The game's story line goes like this: Samus detects a distress call from a space station in orbit above the planet Tallon IV. She goes to it to investigate, only to find that the space station is a space pirate station. She infiltrates the station, only to find that the Space Pirates are almost all dead, due to several experiments that have gone horribly wrong. She ventures on, eventually finding one of these experiments. She destroys it, which sets off the space pirates' self destruct system. She runs for her life, but another suprise is in store. Ridley is also trying to escape the station, and he flies away, trying to escape the station before it explodes. Basically, Samus chases Ridley to Tallon IV's surface, where the rest of the game takes place. I won't reveal any more details, as this is only a review, not a walkthrough or a spoiler. I will let you know that what I just told you is actually less than a twentieth of the game's length. This game is extremely long, so if you enjoy playing games for a while to beat them like I do, this game will fit you like a glove. However, the game is definately not for casual gamers, because the game usually takes between 15 - 24 hours of solid gameplay just to beat it, and even longer to find all of the secret hidden items that are all over the place on Tallon IV. This is not saying that Metroid Prime is boringly long, as the complete opposite is true. Metroid Prime's length is caused by the exploration in the game. That brings me to another factor. This is not just a shooter where you run from room to room killing everything in your path. Metroid Prime is as much a strategy game and an exploration game as a first person shooter. In fact, you will probably spend as much time exploring and searching for weapons and items as you will battling swarms of enemies. The alien enemies you fight in the game range from huge War Wasps to Space Pirates to a Gigantic rock monster. This also brings up a factor of the game: its graphics. Every detail is perfect no matter how close to a landscape or enemy you get. The graphics make you feel like you are a part of the action, as Space Pirates drop from the ceiling to fight you, or you explore a flooded cave. The locations you play in are stunning, as they look real. As you play through the game, you will explore a lush jungle, a barren and desolate desert, a frozen white and snowy land full of caves and mountains, a Space Pirate mine, an ancient temple, and firey caverns filled with lava and fire snakes. The game is brimming with boss battles as well. There are over a dozen bosses you must defeat in order to beat the game. Each and every battle is unique, and you will have to use your brain to beat some of them. Metroid Prime is difficult, but most of the difficulty is due to challenging puzzles and frustrating bosses. If you stick to it, you can beat it in around a week and a half of consistent playing. The gameplay is unique as well, as there are things that you can do in this game that you can't do in most other games. For example, you can roll up into a ball to navigate tight spots, and to explore every nook and cranny of the game. The music in Metroid Prime is great as well, as it compliments the gameplay in every aspect. The music gets more frantic as you battle enemies or a boss, and then it is peaceful again after they are defeated. As I said above, this game is one of my favorite games ever. In fact, that is the only reason I am writing this review. I gave this game 5/5 stars, but I would definitely have given it more if I could. All in all, Metroid Prime excels in gameplay, graphics and music. There is a good reason why it is a player's choice game, and I hope this review has helped you out in your decision. Thanks for reading! -Bubba"Samus"