Metroid Prime

Metroid Prime
Full Title	Metroid Prime
Developer	Retro Studios
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Gamecube
Release Date	US November 15, 2002 JP February 28, 2003 EU March 21, 2003
Genre	Action/First Person Shooter
Gallery	GH Gallery
Rating	ESRB: Teen

Metroid Prime was the first 3D Metroid game and the first game in the series in eight years. Though some fans were worried about reviving the dormant franchise in the form of a first person shooter, the game was ultimately successful.

Story

The story is set between Metroid and Metroid II: The Return of Samus. Samus received a distress signal and followed it. It brought her to a space pirate frigate full of biological experiments orbiting Tallon IV. After killing the Parasite Queen, the ship began to self destruct. While escaping, Samus ran into Meta Ridley and lost most of suit while escaping.

Samus follows Meta Ridley to the surface of Tallon IV. There she finds the remains of an ancient Chozo colony and a mysterious substance called Phazon.

Gameplay

The game is similar to previous games in the series in the fact that the player is in an open-ended world. The game is divided into six different areas connected by elevators. As the player uncovers new abilities, they are able to reach new areas.

The first person style gameplay lends itself to several innovations. The player is able to lock-on to targets, similar to the Z-Lock system introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Players can also use different visors to see differently. For example, the infrared visor is helpful when battling enemies that blend into their surroundings.

If the player has a Gameboy Advance and a copy of Metroid Fusion, players can connect the two games. Connecting them unlocks the original Metroid as well as the Fusion suit.

Legacy

Sequels

Metroid Prime has had two sequels: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and soon, the third and final Metroid Prime game, "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption", is scheduled for US release August 27, 2007. It has also led to two spin-offs, Metroid Prime Hunters and Metroid Prime Pinball.

Trivia

• A special version of Metroid Prime was bundled with the platinum Gamecube to promote Metroid Prime 2. It included a second disc with a Metroid timeline, an art gallery, and a trailer and demo for Metroid Prime 2.