Metroid Prime Remastered is the first-person adventure the Nintendo Switch needed.
By now, the formula that defines a Metroid game is well documented. You start with all your weapons, you lose them by an explosion causing a malfunction of all your systems, you go through the painstaking process of regaining them, and you confront the final boss after thoroughly exploring a sort of maze-like dungeon of increasingly complex difficulty by the time you get to the end.
But what about Metroid in 3D? When Metroid Prime was released on the Gamecube back in November of 2002, it marked a revolutionary first-person shooter for Nintendo. From its humble beginnings in 1986 with Metroid on the NES, it marked the series’ first foray into both 3D graphics and first-person perspective. And while not all games transitioned into a new dimension well enough, Metroid Prime retained its atmospheric essence so greatly that by playing this new version, you can see how beautifully this 21 year old game still holds up.
Something that you instantly notice when starting Metroid Prime Remastered is the attention to detail. When Samus initially lands on the planet Tallon IV, you can hear the raindrops falling on her helmet, feel the lifelike waterfall effects in the forest and see Samus’ reflection on her visor when she’s hurt. In a gaming market full of remasters and remakes with varying degrees of quality, to see Metroid Prime with a remaster of excellent quality finally come out in full force on the Nintendo Switch is a welcome sight.
Metroid Prime Remastered also comes at a great time for the Nintendo Switch. Running at a crisp 60 frames per second. It has stunning graphics that will have you constantly questioning how Retro Studios got this running on the system. Each and every one of the available biomes seems carefully thought out and shines with their characteristic tones.
The visuals, for those who did play the original, are treated with absolute care as they seem exactly as you would remember them, but naturally with a ramped up aesthetic that takes them to the next level. As you descend upon a pirate ship ready to attend a distress call, it is evident the scope of this new adventure is bigger than any of those this series has embarked on before. The enigmatic alien planet next to you in full display is breathtaking as it alludes to where you will be traveling and exploring next.
The story of Metroid Prime is one of many risks as it opens up the lore of the Samus Aran universe, but it lands on its feet more often than not. The introduction of a more enriched lore is allowed by the logs found through the Scanning mechanic, as it lets you analyze your surroundings with your visor. It informs you of where you are, who you are up against, what kind of experiments they are doing, and the overall environment around you. The detailed descriptions are exceptionally well written, ranging from the material that a wall is made of to the biological compositions of all your enemies and their weakpoints. Environmental storytelling at its finest.
The narrative of Metroid Prime Remastered is also intrinsically tied up to the progression of your Power Suit, constantly being powered up and challenged with puzzles that reflect how to put those shiny new powers and abilities to good use. The legendary Morph Ball, which is one of the first powers you regain and changes your perspective to the third person, has some of the most active puzzles, testing your reflexes and timing skills on a constant basis if you want to discover every little mystery this planet has to offer you.
The combat of Metroid Prime Remastered is heavily rescued by the lock-on mechanic, giving you an intense excitement with each encounter. Being able to dodge when locked on also lets you move more fluently across the arena, with boss fights taking advantage of this new feature and progressively defying your skills. Several controller options, such as the Wii motion controls, for those nostalgic of that era, and Joy-Con gyro controls are available and appreciated for players of all kinds.
Certain platforming sections can be found a bit imprecise, as Samus cannot grab from a ledge and almost always falls unless you measure each of your movements well. Also, while the 3D map is certainly useful for getting around the different areas, only at several points in the story does the game give you a waypoint to work towards, so it is imperative to look for undiscovered areas to explore on your own to be able to progress. But once things work, that sense of frustration dissipates as the ever closer goal to uncover the truth of Tallon IV becomes clearer.
Music and sound effects, as with any classic Nintendo games, are of the utmost importance and quality. Composed by longtime collaborator Kenji Yamamoto, the ambiance is clearly defined by the intensity of the soundtrack. As soon as you enter the third area of the game, inside the heart of a volcano, the change of scenery is evident by the oppressive chants heard in the background. Metroid Prime Remastered is not messing around.
Finally, a somewhat labyrinthine treasure hunt to collect 12 artifacts needed to face the final boss near the end goes to show the deceptively simple design of this alien world. While it is linear in its approach, there is almost certainly a secret at every corner, and you will need to use all of the abilities at your disposal to gain the advantage.
Metroid Prime Remastered’s length is as you would expect of this series, ranging from 10 to 18 hours depending on your playstyle, with exploring every nook and cranny ranging into the latter. One of the most enriching experiences the game has to offer is beating the game on Hard difficulty, only unlocked after beating it the first time, taking your time to breathe in this thoughtfully crafted alien atmosphere in the process.
As a nice lasting touch, there are also several features you can try to unlock by analyzing and obtaining all of the Metroid Prime Remastered’s logs, gifting you with concept art, character model viewers and a music player to unwind after saving the universe the more you find. There are also several revelations to the true ending depending on the completion rate of Metroid Prime Remastered, which by now, we know, culminates in two sequels and a promising fourth one on the horizon.
The brilliance of the Metroid formula is its progression system. In a cutthroat and foreign planet, Samus Aran, also known as the Hunter, has all bets against her. And slowly but surely, by regaining all of her powers, arsenal and abilities, the player’s confidence to overcome the odds becomes ever greater and is ultimately rewarded with a timeless & challenging experience.
20 years on, Metroid Prime is widely regarded as one of the greatest games of all time, and it is easy to see why. This new coat of paint and a few convenient changes are enough to show that Samus’ first 3D adventure is extremely enjoyable, no matter how much time has passed.
