Looking through the lens of the Combat Visor, it’s easy to believe it’s a window – your way of assessing the sour ecology of Talon IV. But it’s actually a mirror, reflecting Samus Aran’s heartbreaking determination as brilliant beams of light illuminate the dark, dusty hallways. Two decades later, Metroid Prime’s smarter visual flourish has lost none of its impact. Is it because of the quality of this remaster, which occupies a rare ground between faithful emulation and safe reconfiguration, or because the first foundations sketched out by Retro Studios have largely escaped the slow decadence of time? It’s hard to say, but I can tell you that Metroid Prime Remastered is a triumph.
RAPID DATA: Metroid Prime Remastered
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Release date: February 8, 2023
Platform(s): nintendo switch
Developer: retro studies
Editor: nintendo
I was 13 when I first drove the bounty hunter onto the inhospitable surface of Talon IV, following an explosion aboard the Orpheon, a space pirate frigate destroyed by biological experiments. Looking back, I now realize that I was too young to fully appreciate the accomplishments of this game. I’m 33 now, and Remastered is like seeing Metroid Prime for the first time. A calm and contemplative adventure where the balance of power shifts little by little. Not by repairing the damaged Varia suit, slowly expanding its abilities with hidden Chozo technology, but by gaining a better understanding of the altered alien flora and fauna around you. It hurts you, it stalks you.
inspect the unknown
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Metroid Prime is supported by vibrant imagination and powered by meticulous attention to detail. That was true of the original, though the atmosphere is certainly heightened after a careful remastering process. The hiss of a power suit under the weight of movement, the audible crosstalk as visor modes overlap, the loud exhalation of air as Samus’ energy shield is splattered with plasma. It all combines to create a sense of place so severe that the Arm Cannon quickly feels like a direct extension to your fingertips, more than ever now, with the introduction of a (sometimes finicky) dual analog control option. with the “classic”. schemas’ and ‘pointer’.
Almost all of Metroid Prime’s history is passed down in the environment and through accumulated written records. At the time, it was a somewhat unconventional narrative structure; in the context of modern first-person adventure games, this still feels revolutionary. There’s a freedom to Metroid Prime’s core design that’s as intimidating as it is exciting. Getting lost isn’t a mistake, that’s the point; an opportunity to conquer hilly terrain that always finds a way to fold in on itself. Activating your Scan Visor won’t remind you of forgotten mission objectives, but it will let you know more about every accidental object around you. The three-dimensional map is as difficult to read today as it was a long time ago, and I continue to believe it is designed as such to sabotage concerted efforts to return to normalcy.
I don’t know why I remember this, but there were plenty of tasteless comparisons between Halo: Combat Evolved and Metroid Prime in 2002. I feel inclined to contribute my part to this absurd legacy. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary featured a high-definition visual overhaul that, while technically impressive, took away much of the charm and character of the 04 facility. . By contrast, Metroid Prime was only heightened in its remaster, with its maze-like corridors and corridors gaining a scale of depth and level of detail the GameCube couldn’t offer, not without our imaginations filling in the blanks.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
ready to go
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Metroid Prime Remastered gives just a small glimpse of what we can expect from Metroid Prime 4. This impressive remaster appears to be running on an updated version of Retro’s proprietary RUDE engine and delivers detailed visuals and a smooth 60-frame performance. per second on Switch. Additionally, there are new character models for Samus Aran and many of her antagonists, as well as a refined control scheme to help ease friction.
There is real authenticity to the presentation, even with the introduction of new textures and geometries. This all helps push Metroid Prime Remastered through some of its toughest areas: the headache of navigating dark facilities with the thermal visor; the slow arc of combat against multiple antagonists; the simplicity of Morph Ball puzzles. While Metroid Prime isn’t a difficult game by any stretch of the imagination, the save state limitation is perhaps the biggest sign of GameCube-era antiquity, given the analysis that must be performed in each quadrant of sprawling spaces (and the secrets that may lurk within), they must spawn largo Sections due to a poorly timed side attack can feel somewhat strenuous.
There are some rough edges, but Metroid Prime Remastered is worth the occasional chip. Metroid Prime is to first-person shooters what Super Metroid was to side-scrolling platformers: it’s unique and special; inspiring generations of gamers to dream of more immersive worlds and driving countless game designers to try to deliver them. That Metroid Prime can resonate as much today as it did 20 years ago is a testament not only to the quality of the remaster that Retro Studios (and a legion of associated development teams) have delivered, but also to the fundamental design strength. . underlying. . Metroid Prime Remastered is not just a stunning reminder of why the original is one of the best GameCube games, but a cogent argument that it should be one of the best of all time.
Metroid Prime Remastered has been tested on Nintendo Switch OLED, with a code provided by the publisher.
Metroid Prime Remastered: Price Comparison
(opens in a new tab)
(opens in a new tab)