Review of Metroid Prime Remastered: An arm-cannon throwback
Our Verdict
Metroid Prime is one of the best games in action history, and now it gets an upgraded release that sets a new high-water mark for remasters across the industry. Gorgeous visuals, fantastic control options, and stunning sound design, all make this the best way to play Samus’ stellar sci-fi epic
Like many other players, I have a small list of titles like Breath of the Wild, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, Super Mario Galaxy 2, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and Bloodborne that are (subjectively) ideal for me. There are a few titles on this short list that accomplish all they set out to do, and they do it extremely well.
Among the games is Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime comes to mind whenever I hear the peculiar tumbling of notes from the GameCube launch screen's music. To be fair, that and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Even now, when I launch the game, the opening portamento trills and synth stabs still give me the chills. It's a genuine sci-fi epic.
Metroid Prime, the first of Samus Arun's three-dimensional adventures, excels at all it sets out to achieve. Metroid Prime is a pioneer in fusing action-adventure platforming with first-person shooting techniques. Many games have attempted to recreate its enchantment in the twenty-one years since its debut, but this remaster shows that it remains the best.
Metroid Prime Remastered is a meticulously remastered version of a beloved game, with improved graphics, seamless controls, and astute QOL tweaks. It's obvious that Retro Studios has put a lot of effort on honing its own style; every frame shows this. After all, the studio that originally created the original is the best one to provide a remaster of a classic like this.
If you're new to Tallon IV, you may be wondering why everyone is talking so much about it. Samus' 2D adventures are effectively translated into a Metroidvania in Metroid Prime, although (obviously) in 3D. The objective is to destroy opponents, amass a weaponry cache, and retrace your steps. Although you are in control thanks to the first-person perspective, it really does seem like a 3D Super Metroid game.
When an abandoned space ship sends out a distress signal, Samus Aran investigates and discovers her archenemy Ridley among a few terrifying stowaways. Samus tracks the enormous robot-pterodactyl-space pirate as it attempts to escape, but she breaks apart and loses her abilities upon reaching Tallon IV, a nearby planet. She now has to go across this universe in order to discover the scheme of the space pirate, discover Ridley's intentions about the Metroids, and eventually restore her abilities.
You shoot foes for the most of your time in Prime. However, there is also a good amount of platforming, boss battles that are intense, searching foes and artifacts for clues, and solving environmental puzzles using Samus's arsenal of weapons, visors, and the fabled morph ball. Throughout its action-packed 12–15 hour duration, Prime skillfully ekes out several gameplay components despite the abundance of content.
Samus is first isolated by Metroid Prime. She is all by herself, and her first steps on this inhospitable world are a combination of excitement and fear. However, Prime goes above and beyond the 2D games in the series by allowing you to really feel as if you're stranded in a foreign land.
However, the sensation of wonder and discovery that this additional layer really brings is priceless. With rainfall trickling down her arm as she aimed Samus' arm cannon to survey the Tallon Overworld's rich flora, her initial impressions of the foreign planet felt even better. Naturally, it might be intimidating to include shooting, platforming, and even ball-rolling gameplay into a game.
Do you fear that you will fire adversaries in three dimensions? To avoid being struck, lock on to your opponent and strafe around them. Platforming: what about it? In Metroid Prime, the leap is satisfyingly floaty, and you can even change your velocity and direction while in the air. Samus makes a smooth transition to the third dimension while maintaining the core Metroid experience.
Prime also wants you to have a look around. There are eye-catching doors wherever you look, well-placed opponents, and strategically placed ledges and cliffs. In order to satisfy your curiosity, the title also gradually reveals abilities like missiles, the morph ball, and many more. Every gap in a wall or opening in a tunnel that doesn't lead to something wonderful is really remarkable.
Tallon IV is a dangerous planet, which is another reason why you need all those additional missiles. More dangerous animals may be found in each region than in Australia. There's a beast, flying insect, predatory plant, or a host of other hazardous alien species in every chamber. Blazing off is half the pleasure, but there are so many enemies that you have to think about them.
To survive in this environment, you have to employ all the tools at your disposal, and it's always a pleasant feeling to beat a new opponent. Some indicate weak places with flashing red appendages, while others need you to scan them so Samus can destroy them with a certain visor or weapon. It feels great since you can't go very far by merely blasting your way through Tallon IV.
It's amazing how gradually the planet, its adversaries, and even the intimidating monsters have become more hostile. Metroid Prime's bosses are amazing, room-filling beasts. Each one requires some problem solving as well as accurate shooting. Most, however, reveal a new skill or power, providing you with even more motivation to go back out into the world. You may explore new areas of the map as you gain new skills.
Overall, I believe Metroid Prime is a flawless game. I still remember epic scenes like the battle with the enormous stone monster Thardus, and places like Phendrana Drifts had just breathtaking music and scenery. The minute elements, like as the gratifying "pew" of lasers or the metallic thud of Samus' boots as he moves through the halls, add up, as Retro Studios skillfully and lovingly depicts every square inch of this game.
Thus, what is the quality of Metroid Prime Remastered? To be honest, I think this may set a new standard for remasters and somehow manages to capture the essence of the original in every manner. Despite having visited Tallon IV's universe several times over the years, I still feel as if I'm seeing it for the first time on Switch.
Utilizing part of the same code, Metroid Prime Remastered operates mostly on the foundation of the Wii version. In other words, this is a really sophisticated facelift. Yet Metroid Prime Remastered looks amazing while running at a steady 60 frames per second in 900p when docked and 60 frames per second in 612p when played handheld. This remake, I must admit, is one of the most visually appealing games on the Switch.
Samus' arm cannon, which you see for the majority of the game, looks amazing as it powers up and shoots laser blasts. It also gleams with a gorgeous metallic shine. Bosses and enemies seem more hideous than ever, their scales or bones sticking out like never before and dripping with fluids. However, Tallon IV's universe is the real attraction, with each location showcasing amazing detail, ambiance, and texture.
The Switch has excellent sound design overall, and Metroid Prime's music is a masterpiece. Modern TVs undoubtedly contribute to the experience, but the sounds of grunting alien species, lakes and waterfalls slicing across wide-open spaces, and Samus' gunship's strong propulsion all greatly enhance it.
Lastly, there are new control choices in the game. Gamers have the option of using the original GameCube single stick approach or the twin analogue system, which emulates many current shooters. Additionally, there are a plethora of motion control choices that let players adjust the sensitivity, choose whether to latch on to the target directly when locking on, and much more. It is impossible for someone to not discover a fun and fulfilling method to play.
Metroid Prime, in summary, has never looked, sounded, or performed better. It's a whole lot of fun to play it handheld with the amazing motion controls. Everything that made the original so amazing is here, meticulously and lovingly adjusted for a new generation. Retro Studios never compromises anywhere. In addition, the £34.99/$39.99 price point makes it simple for new viewers to start watching the series.
The game itself has very little to do with my one complaint. In addition to leaving out some employees who worked on the re-release, the credits for Metroid Prime Remastered reduce all acknowledgment to a single screen that reads, "Based on the work of Metroid Prime (Original Nintendo Gamecube and Wii Versions) development staff."
Both the original crew and the several teams who worked on this remaster are essential to the existence of both the game and the remaster. Some remasters by Nintendo are done well; Ocarina of Time 3D includes all of the original credits from the N64 version as well as the whole crew list from the remaster. Considering how much of a love letter to a classic the whole package is, it's a perplexing and unfortunate decision. Though I hope it's fixed in later versions, it shouldn't interfere with your enjoyment.
A masterpiece is Metroid Prime Remastered. A remaster that performs flawlessly in all it attempts to do. For some, just being able to play a favorite game on the Switch could have been sufficient, but this version breathes new life into the game with an amazing graphics makeover that showcases the capabilities of the Switch technology.
The game's title itself is an exciting blend of action-adventure, puzzle-solving, and spectacular first-person shooting gameplay that all promotes exploration. There are plenty of entertaining new goods, skills, and foes to defeat in every new region. You'll get 12–15 hours of some of the tightest, most thrilling, and most exquisite gaming experiences here. This stunning remaster of a timeless classic is being rereleased, and it's easily one of the greatest Nintendo Switch games to date.
Check out our Metroid Dread review after which you can go to our guide to the best Switch Metroidvanias for even more bounty-hunting action.