Metroid Prime Trilogy

Review - 100% Prime Metroid

Despite the rather lacklustre best efforts of first-person shooter pretenders such as Red Steel, Medal of Honor: Vanguard, and The Conduit, the Nintendo Wii's FPS crown remains firmly atop the head of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the third all-action instalment of Nintendo's long-running and exclusive sci-fi franchise - which was released way back in 2007.

Representing a near-insurmountable wall of quality for any forthcoming FPS title to clamber over, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption tops the bill on the newly released Metroid Prime: Trilogy, which transplants Corruption's acclaimed Wii Remote interface into series original Metroid Prime and hit sequel Metroid Prime 2: Echoes to create an enhanced and more intuitive Metroid experience. And wow, what an experience it is.

For those unfamiliar with the Metroid Prime series, its ongoing premise is pleasingly simple insofar as it sees muted and helmeted heroine Samus Aran battling evil Space Pirates as they spread chaos (and Phazon mutation) throughout the stars. In adding gameplay depth and player incentive, Metroid Prime titles are known for providing a brief taste of Aran's multitude of weaponry and abilities before narrative circumstance intervenes and strips them away - returning them gradually by bestowing vital upgrades through the completion of specific mission objectives. Factor in a relentless stream of satisfying close-quarter action and a smattering of always challenging boss encounters, and you've pretty much got the Metroid Prime formula.

Beyond the instant and obvious appeal of three FPS classics crammed onto one disc and freely playable in any order, playing the Trilogy provides an interesting glimpse into how developer Retro Studios has subtly altered the fundamental load-out of Aran from game to game in order to attract fresh gamers and ensure existing fans remain keen on return visits to the series.

Specifically, the original game starts by depriving a fully equipped Aran of all but the most basic Arm Cannon before unleashing the player on their quest. However, Echoes allows the player to retain the cannon, its standard charge shot, and also core Morph Ball manoeuvrability. By comparison to the original, Corruption sees the player virtually armed to the teeth from the outset thanks to the Arm Cannon, charge shot, Morph Ball and also the Morph Ball concussion bomb.

Such upgrade access might seem inconsequential in the grand scheme of things - not least because there's a wide-ranging variety of upgrades to be found - but finishing one game and jumping into the next is significantly more appealing knowing that not all accrued armaments and abilities will be lost after investing double-digit gameplay hours across a single adventure.

Unlike the majority of first-person shooters, fluid gameplay progression in the Prime series pivots on near constant use of a visor-based scanning system situated within Aran's helmet. When activated in its basic form, the visor instantly illuminates on-screen enemies, structures and environmental points of interest for the player to investigate. While most scanned items provide often trivial background information that's added to Aran's logbook for relaxed perusal, some deliver gentle narrative nudges that help the player tackle environmental puzzles without leading them by the hand.

As players move through successive missions they will also secure visor upgrades that provide even greater insight and abilities thanks to the delivery of bombing runs from Aran's gunship, the application of X-Ray and Thermal vision views, and even the location of objects through sound waves.

Also, scanned and recorded samples of local lore and all newly encountered biological creatures, mechanical adversaries, and mission bosses see the player awarded with redeemable Metroid credits. These colour-coded credits can then be traded in the Trilogy main menu for a variety of related novelties, concept galleries and music-based extras.

Effective and rewarding gameplay padding aside, Metroid Prime: Trilogy arrives as a standout videogame release for two reasons:

The first is the Trilogy's ability to draw players deep into the unfolding action and staunchly refuse to let go. Moreover, a sore ass, aching thumbs and painfully dry eyes have long since been attributes that denote quality gaming, and Trilogy offers up more than 30 hours of particularly memorable discomfort. And while the three games contain thinly veiled environmental exploration that actually boils down to forced backtracking through largely linear level design, it's unlikely you'll care given that every planet, every structure, every upgrade, every creature, and every boss is so lovingly crafted that immersion is inescapable.

Then there's the Wii's much talked about lack of processing power, which, while usually seen as a point of detraction in most reviews, actually serves to complement the two original GameCube titles as the jump in quality from one through three isn't quite as jarring as if the package combined PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 games. That being said, each game does provide a definite step up in overall quality, culminating in the undeniable beauty of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - which ably shows that criticism regarding the Wii's apparent lack of graphical oomph should be aimed at lazy developers as opposed to the host hardware.

While Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is the only episode native to the Wii, and significantly more tuned to Wii Remote and Nunchuk interaction as a result, there's no denying the overall pedigree created as a result of tweaking and attaching the original Metroid Prime and its Echoes sequel. Prime and Echoes may not have door lock and grapple hook motion sensing, but both benefit hugely from the integration of Corruption's basic control system. With the entire package more than standing the test of time in terms of gameplay, design and presentation, enthusiastically recommending an immediate purchase of Metroid Prime: Trilogy is an absolute no-brainer.

As essential to the Nintendo Wii as The Orange Box is to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Metroid Prime: Trilogy oozes Phazon-imbued class at every turn and is, without doubt, the console's definitive FPS package. If you've never sampled the universe of Samus Aran, then now's the time to crawl out from beneath the rock you've been living under in order to get better acquainted with the all-action bounty hunter. And, if you're a long-serving close personal friend, honour that friendship by adding Metroid Prime: Trilogy to your collection anyway.

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