Metroid Prime: Corruption

By Mathew Kumar Published 16 May, 2006

A tale of waiting in line.

This is the game, apparently, that Nintendo just didn't want me to preview. You see, Retro were kind enough to give the E3 punters a demo which was, roughly, twenty-five minutes long. A serious investment of time. Nintendo, or at least the floor monkeys, didn't seem to know that, so the first day the lines were so long, and so static, that it was a waste of time. Day 2, of course, they've got a plan in mind. They'll limit everyone to about 10 minutes. Which means that by the middle of the demo, roughly, you're kicked off. So, therefore, I need to wait in line about 6 times, ensuring I time it right half the time so I can play it from the middle onwards (continuing someone else's game) to ensure I get all the way through it.

This was a nightmare. I honestly thought I had it cracked when I managed to bamboozle someone from what I assume was Nintendo Germany into telling me I could have a full game of it, if I sat in this weird rotating platform which had three demo units. Of course, roughly halfway through the level he changed his mind.

And then the next time I managed to get a go, I was instantly kicked off by the requirement that a VIP be allowed to play. But I mean, honestly. Who is the bigger VIP? Some random jerk? Or all the faithful Eurogamer readers, who are waiting on finding out exactly what I think of Metroid Prime: Corruption? Which I can't tell them unless I get to play the game? Eh?

Well, let me promise you that eventually I did get to play the entire demo. Um, well, almost all of it. I got all the way to the boss, who, shockingly, is Ridley. Which means Samus has fought, and killed, Ridley loads more times than you'd expect to be able to kill someone. Even if that someone is a gigantic evil space pterodactyl.

Not that I managed to kill him. I, uh, got kicked off again.

I doubt anything happened if you did manage, though. Probably a screen that said something like 'Thank you for playing the E3 demo.' Which I'm pretty sure won't be in the final version, so that's okay that I missed it.

'Metroid Prime: Corruption' Screenshot 1

But of what I did play, what did I learn? Well, it most definitely is a Metroid Prime game. The interface, of course, is where the real difference lies. While movement is controlled using the nunchuck, the other controller acts as, essentially, a laser pointer that you point at the screen to aim, and you point at the edges of the screen to turn left and right or look up and down. This makes aiming feel incredibly natural, but has the interesting effect of making of turning around or looking left and right terrifically un-natural, which means you'll be strafing about everywhere. Of course, Metroid Prime's trump card when it comes to rotation has always been the ability to lock on to opponents, and it doesn't disappoint here, as using the lock-on makes battles superbly intuitive. Despite that, however, I'd expect, and greatly prefer, that that moving the pointer around on the screen also moved the viewpoint (a system more akin to the stylus input in Metroid Prime: Hunters, for example).

The demo features Samus arriving in a spiffy looking (new?) variation on her ship at a base under attack by Space Pirates. Instructed to go and get some generator working for some reason or another (base defenses, probably) she heads off, full of optimism, to face a level which features just about every interaction that you could expect demanded of her (handily!) Merely opening doors requires such a wide range of interactions it's practically thrilling. By far, by far the best feeling has to be opening the doors that use a twist turn locking mechanism. To open them, you twist the lock (twist the controller) pull the lock (pull the controller) and push it back in again (push the controller). It feels great. Exactly like opening a door!

Which, when we think about it, should really be less fun than playing golf, or tennis, or something. But it's a revelation, somehow.

Even though in Metroid Prime: Corruption you're doing all of these things and interacting with the world in what is ostensibly a new way, it's exactly the same Metroid Prime we've come to know on Gamecube. Particularly, say, when using the morph ball, as that is entirely the same as on the Gamecube, for example. She doesn't appear to have any new, Wii specific abilities (at least not in this version, which we are told is very early and not, in any way, representative of the final product, but it's so polished it must at least slightly) and neither does anything about the game appear to be particularly new. It's just a Metroid Prime game on the Wii.

What is of interest to fans of the series is the appearance of another bounty hunter mid way through the level, a rather icy fellow who appears, in the style of Iceman, flying on a trail of ice to rather depressingly save Samus from a overwhelming Space Pirate attack (I mean, she's Samus. She can take care of herself, damn it!) I initially assumed this was Noxus, the ice themed enemy from Metroid Prime: Hunters, but now I'm just not so sure, as not only does he look different, he also appears to be an ally. What this means for the plot of the mysteriously subtitled Metroid Prime: Corruption I just don't know, and neither was anyone else at Nintendo talking.

Metroid Prime: Corruption is the kind of game that seems nice, good, even, but it's has really gained nothing from the translation to Wii (simply a matter of being an FPS, I suppose). It was probably the most uninteresting game on the entire stand. But in the overwhelming sensory overload that is E3, I'm still not sure if that means anything.

Metroid Prime: Corruption is due on Nintendo Wii at some point in the future. Gosh darned tight-lipped Nintendo!

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About Mathew Kumar

Read more articles from Mathew by visiting the Mathew Kumar archive page.

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Comments (82) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • faux_carnation #1 6 years ago

    First! This article makes me uneasy...

  • L0cky #2 6 years ago

    You have to wait in line. We get it already.

    I've always been dubious about turning in fps with the Wii controller. This is the only thing that stops it being as good as a mouse.

  • lambtron #3 6 years ago

    "It was probably the most uninteresting game on the entire stand."

    It is a new metroid game - if you don't like the Wii controller fair enough but I find it VERY hard to believe that a new metroid game wasn't interesting. Who is Matthew Kumar anyway? Seemingly the master of underwhelmed hyperbole. And someone who dislikes both Zelda and Metroid. Probably not the ideal candidate to bring us info on those games then...

  • Xerx3s #4 6 years ago

    So a reporter that instantly likes the games is better? He gives his oppinion on what he thought, live with it.

  • Triggerhappytel #5 6 years ago

    I've gotta say, I was really looking forward to this, but TBH I don't want totally more of the same. I've really enjoyed the Metroid Prime games, but got a bit bored of Echoes because it felt like a re-hash in so many ways (hence I haven't finished it yet).

    I have no doubt Retro & Nintendo can deliver, I just hope Corruption is sufficiently new for fans of the series.
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 08:36

  • sir_tripod #6 6 years ago

    It looks interesting but I'm not sure I'll be picking it up straight away.
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 08:37

  • sharpfish #7 6 years ago

    That aiming system sounds a bit too ass-backwards to me, I was/am really looking forward to this game but I assumed it would use a kind of mouse look with the wiimote like a PC FPS, a perfect oppurtunity squandered if they make your force scroll/push the edges to rotate... It sounds like it may just be better with the GC controller that I played the other primes with.

    Time will tell. :)
    Edited by 2 at 16/05/06 @ 08:36

  • L0cky #8 6 years ago

    Pushing a button to go into look mode seems a better option than pushing the sides of the screen.

  • indotoonster #9 6 years ago

    You have to wait in line. We get it already.

    My sentiments exactly.

    It was mildly annoying the first time, but to read YET ANOTHER article by Matthew prefaced with a whinge about stuffy, sweaty queuing at E3 is just bad writing...

  • stonypoint #10 6 years ago

    Isn't queuing sort of mandatory at E3?

  • krudster #11 6 years ago

    Really, you have no idea how bad the Nintendo stand was this year. I've been 7 years running, and this was beyond a joke.

  • Psi #12 6 years ago

    Sorry for getting you kicked off dude

  • Mr_Whacker #13 6 years ago

    Same shit, different machine? At E3?? Whatever next?

  • Yeevle #14 6 years ago

    I usually strafe everywhere in FPS games anyway, to be honest it has me interested the way the controls are setup. I might just buy this new fangled console afterall. :D

  • login_name #15 6 years ago

    "Really, you have no idea how bad the Nintendo stand was this year. I've been 7 years running, and this was beyond a joke."

    7 years running huh? Sympathy for Mr Privileged....doesn't have the same ring to it.

  • JetSetWilly #16 6 years ago

    You have to wonder what his impressions would be like had he been able to simply stroll up and play the game for as long he liked. Clearly the mechanics of getting to play Metroid affected the mood in which he assessed it - so much so that he felt the need to devote a third of the article to moaning about it.

    But like was said in the Zelda thread, it's a bit lame to bash a franchise for having the elements that define that franchise. Too much sneaking about in MGS4? Too much shooting things in GTA4? Come on, you can do better than that.

    And please, give your feedback to Retro so they know where they're going wrong and what they're doing right. If no-one tells them how can they fix it?

  • spliffhead #17 6 years ago

    Most reports on this game are singing the praises of the "Door opening" mechanism with the remote, how natural it feels.

    Cast your minds back to the mega budget/flop "Tresspasser", developed by a flight sim company and the S'perg himself. That had a very similar feel i.e. Your mouse was your hand, you would use it to interact with all objects in the game, door handles, guns windows, crates, buttons, dino poo etc.

    Just pointing out it's not the first time this has been done, but as everyone seems to agree, it's the first time it's being done right.

  • Blerk #18 6 years ago

    This makes aiming feel incredibly natural, but has the interesting effect of making of turning around or looking left and right terrifically un-natural, which means you'll be strafing about everywhere.

    o_O

    I have to say, I've not read anything which removed my concerns about the Wand. This helps even less - I thought the thing was "made for FPS games"?

  • #19 6 years ago

    This reviewer makes me nervous. I agree that you don't want a fanboy reviewing titles, but he seems to have no love of the franchise either, (as with the Zelda review), and I get the feeling that his review will turn out to be useless with the benefit of hindsight.

    The IGN reviews are somewhat more positive, although there are negative elements too. On the whole, Kumar seems like a poor choice for the job... :(

  • smoison #20 6 years ago

    I can totally understand where the reviewer is coming from. It looks exactly the same as the other 2 GC metroids...

    The ease of using the Wiimote on a FPS might not be as easy as everyone thought, there is a reason PC users still refuse to use gyroscopic mouses i guess...
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 09:18

  • stonypoint #21 6 years ago

    Was the Nintendo stand just poorly organised (as some seems to be saying) - or was there _really_ so much people, particularly with Nintendo??

  • krudster #22 6 years ago

    There was a spiral design that made for really inefficient use of space. Once you entered the stand, the only way out was to wade past about 400 people all crammed in 20 to a pod. It was by far the most inaccessible stand of the entire event. It looked lovely, but was totally impractical.

  • zErOb_cOOl #23 6 years ago

    I'm sorry. I'm not against the Wii, and I'm buying one if they are released at a reasonable price, but this looks shit.

  • Genji #24 6 years ago

    How would this control method be more intuitive on a bigger TV? Isn't the remote supposedly different from current lightguns in that your aiming depends on your movement of the remote, not where you're pointing on the screen?

    I'm just curious, is all. I would be very surprised if there wasn't an option in most games to change the sensitivity of the movement, just like PC mouse sensitivity.

    At any rate, I'm pretty ambivalent to this preview, and to E3 previews in general. Not that it's the reviewer's fault - it can't be helped that he got so little time to play it.

  • stonypoint #25 6 years ago

    @Krudster: Valid points about the queuing then... Thanks!
    Regardless, I'm convinced already, I'll be getting a Wii... And Metroid, and Mario Galaxy... Oh dear.

  • bionutz #26 6 years ago

    It feels great. Exactly like opening a door!.
    or even more out of context:
    Opening a door feels great!.

    lol!
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 09:43

  • wizbob #27 6 years ago

    "what did I learn? Well, it most definitely is a Metroid Prime game" What is this shit? Editor!

  • oerhoert #28 6 years ago

    <em>Metroid Prime: Corruption is due on Nintendo Wii at some point in the future.</em>

    No it's not. There is no such thing as a Nintendo Wii. It's due on Wii. Simple.

  • JHuxley #29 6 years ago

    @Blerk - it sounds like the Wii could work very well for FPS games, but for some reason Retro chose to use a stupid point at the edge of the screen to rotate thing.

  • erp #30 6 years ago

    "But like was said in the Zelda thread, it's a bit lame to bash a franchise for having the elements that define that franchise."
    my thoughts exactly. if you don't like these games - or if you've had enough of them - then just don't play any more of them. it's really dumb to criticise these games for, well, what makes them the games they are.

  • Aysir #31 6 years ago

    I love the way people start to bitch if their fave series on thier fave console gets put down a notch or two. Honestly I always feel the same when it happens to my favourite games. If he srews up facts then you can bitch, but to criticise the guys opinions just cause they don't match with yours is always funny.

    "my thoughts exactly. if you don't like these games - or if you've had enough of them - then just don't play any more of them. it's really dumb to criticise these games for, well, what makes them the games they are."
    Arguments like that never worked for games like Ratchet and Clank, Soul Calibur3, Dynasty Warriors ect; why should Zelda and Metroid be exempt?
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 10:03

  • plok #32 6 years ago

    "Metroid Prime: Corruption is the kind of game that seems nice, good, even, but it's has really gained nothing from the translation to Wii"

    yet he previous said (a few lines above)...

    "Merely opening doors requires such a wide range of interactions it's practically thrilling. By far, by far the best feeling has to be opening the doors that use a twist turn locking mechanism. To open them, you twist the lock (twist the controller) pull the lock (pull the controller) and push it back in again (push the controller). It feels great. Exactly like opening a door!"

    To me that sounds like a bit of a contradiction!

    Does he think its big and funny to annoy Nintendo fans!!! Zelda and now Metroid...he's walking a fine line!! a fine line I tells you!

  • sickpuppysoftware #33 6 years ago

    I agree that you don't want a fanboy reviewing titles, but he seems to have no love of the franchise either

    Considering Nintendo themselves are trying to aim beyond their traditional fanbase I think it's great to use someone who doesn't wet their pants every time Mario or whoever appears.

  • JetSetWilly #34 6 years ago

    Contrast this though with Matt Cassamassina's hands-on article over at IGN. A self-proclaimed Metroid whore, but still able to show balance and draw attention to things that don't work as much as things that do.

  • NoCodeNed2 #35 6 years ago

    *If* opening doors is the best thing about the game then they have screwed this up.

    Metroid Prime: Door Opener?

    Zelda: Legend of the Jam Jar Unscrewing Prince?

    sorry, couldn't resist.

  • abeit2 #36 6 years ago

    Sorry for being of topic but when will the preview of warioware wii appear. Heard its a great use of the control.

  • ali-uk #37 6 years ago

    "No it's not. There is no such thing as a Nintendo Wii. It's due on Wii. Simple."

    Kinda petty? It's made by Nintendo - therefore I think he can call it the NINTENDO Wii. As for the game, well, I agree the controls don't sound too great, and sounds like a rehash of Metroid Prime. Ah well, not entirely sure I'm getting a Wii anyway.

  • JonFE #38 6 years ago

    Let's hope Retro reconsider the reported "point at the edge to rotate" stance and implement some mouse-like mechanism. While I really want to enjoy CG's Metroid prequels, my aged mind still refuses to comprehend why they didn't include a control scheme that would utilize both thumbsticks (one for moving, one for looking), if only as an option on MP2: Echoes, which was released after Halo defined console FPS controls.

    The Wii is supposed to take control issues out of the gaming troubles equation -so that potential audience would expand- but this sounds like a step in the wrong direction.

  • ProfessorLesser #39 6 years ago

    DAMN! Damn, damnit damn damn! Damn damn damn damn....

    Controller issues aside (DAAAAAAAAMN! Damning damn!)... other hunters? Saving Samus?! Fuck off will they.

    I'm not going to like this game :-(

  • Teeth #40 6 years ago

    Is that because it's an FPS?

    :)

  • krudster #41 6 years ago

    WarioWare coming tomorrow.

    I think Mathew's both a Metroid and Zelda 'whore' that's simply being honest with what he saw. Don't assume that just because he's less than thrilled that he's some kind of anti Nintendo crusader, far from it.

  • JetSetWilly #42 6 years ago

    @krudster

    It's a bit of a shame then that his tone sometimes reads like he's taking cheap swipes at those franchises.

    Too many other impressions cite similiar concerns to Matthew's so I never thought he was making it up. His honest appraisal of the controls really needs to get fed back to Retro. Is that possible?
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 11:00

  • tiddles #43 6 years ago

    if you don't like these games - or if you've had enough of them - then just don't play any more of them.

    What if you really like them, and want to play more, but feel the franchise isn't going far enough into new territory (barring controller tweaks)?

  • JetSetWilly #44 6 years ago

    @tiddles

    A very good point. It's very difficult to achieve. Resi 4 being the only example that instantly springs to mind of a franchise evolving into something more brilliant than before.

  • Eighthours #45 6 years ago

    Let's hope Retro reconsider the reported "point at the edge to rotate" stance and implement some mouse-like mechanism.

    Hopefully they'll offer both configurations. I think both MP3 and Red Steel are currently going totally the wrong way with their present control set-ups, and hopefully the E3 feedback will help them make the right decisions going forward.

  • ST.. #46 6 years ago

    I wanted to like the MP games but ultimately they were about as much fun as being wide awake during a colon operation. Really.

  • Keimar #47 6 years ago

    So much for the FPS killer-control

  • tiddles #48 6 years ago

    It's very difficult to achieve. Resi 4 being the only example that instantly springs to mind of a franchise evolving into something more brilliant than before.

    My own view is that the original Metroid Prime pulled this off pretty well... but since then they haven't really done enough to build on their original achievement.

  • TripSkyway #49 6 years ago

    Good preview. I was pretty worried about the turning on the videos I have seen. UBI soft seem to have taken the same aporch with Red Steel. I guess unlike a mouse the remote has to be pointed at the screen(and sensor underneath it), to see where its moving to. So if you keep turning left through you will run out of screen and need to reset it. A mouse can be picked up and moved back to a nice spot on your desk, without it registering movement. The remote would need to be aware of when it's being reset, and when its being used for turning. You would probably need to press a button or something, which might be even less intuative than the current system.

  • JetSetWilly #50 6 years ago

    Can Matthew confirm whether he tried the other controller setup? His review sounds like he used the expert setting but I believe there was also beginner setting. If so, what was that like?

  • Cyhwuhx #51 6 years ago

    .::: Like these two?

    ---

    Aiming the Arm Cannon was done in two ways in a demo at E3 2006, using the Wii's main controller to direct Samus's aim:

    Casual Mode - This works by having setting the screen (or part of it) of the equipment the game is being played on as a "box". If the point calculated from the controller (the sight of the Arm Cannon) is inside the box, aiming is done without moving the camera. If said sight is outside the box (that is, Samus' view), the camera will move in the direction of the sight. In the demo this was the standard control mode.

    Expert Mode - This works by having the view move as the sight is moved, as in a general FPS. In the demo at this was accessed by pressing the Back button on the Wii's main controller.

  • beep #52 6 years ago

    My problem with the games industry and all who report on it is the over emphasis on graphics. People will moan about a different way of playing the same game but in the same breath will rave about the exact same game with better graphics. What's the fecking difference?

  • JonFE #53 6 years ago

    "Hopefully they'll offer both configurations."

    Agreed. If there is one thing that I honestly loathe in gaming is the lack of control customisation (and subtitles, but that's another matter :).

  • kangarootoo #54 6 years ago

    @lambtron

    "And someone who dislikes both Zelda and Metroid. Probably not the ideal candidate to bring us info on those games then..."

    I disagree. An objective nay sayer is a far better source of info than an enthusiast. its like taking a skeptical friend with you when you go to buy a car. A review/preview/whatever is there to inform you, not to agree with you or somehow validate your preferences.

    I can honestly say with my hand on my heart that I have never read a review and felt bad because the reviewer didn't agree with my own tastes. I just don't understand where that frame of mind comes from.

  • Krun #55 6 years ago

    So the controller is basically a light gun with a tilt switch?

    It very worrying that turning round is awckward.

  • Colonelkurtz #56 6 years ago

    I think it's fine a non-nintendo fanboy prewiev the nintendo games. Personally i hate prime and love zelda, but the fact that he doesn't prefer the setup or development of these games don't change what i feel about them. Since alot of people in this thread are hardcore nintendo fanboys, i'm guessing even Shigeru couldn't change your mind about how much you love a nintendo game.

    Fact is, when someone who loves a game franchise prewievs it, more often that not the only thing that will be said is that you should buy it, and nothing about eventual niggles there could be. Trough this preview i get a impression of the game which seems more honest than some raving fanboy preview.

  • Genji #57 6 years ago

    I recently heard that there was some sort of a middle ground between "raving fanboy of games" and "hates the games".

    It must be a legend. Such a place couldn't possibly exist in real life.

  • neonlok #58 6 years ago

    Telepathic.Geometry
    16-May-06 09:11:34

    This reviewer makes me nervous. I agree that you don't want a fanboy reviewing titles, but he seems to have no love of the franchise either, (as with the Zelda review), and I get the feeling that his review will turn out to be useless with the benefit of hindsight.

    The IGN reviews are somewhat more positive, although there are negative elements too. On the whole, Kumar seems like a poor choice for the job... :(

    Agreed. Only the other day did I say everyone has their own opinions, and that Nintendo should still consider criticism from consumers and gamers. However, Matthew Kumar, seems to be criticising the E3 stand more than the actual game. As a media student, the connotations is more than obvious. True if a game isn't as good as it is, then point it out. After all we all have the right to make judgement on your "First Impression". Although I hate to do this, but the reviewer seemed biased, it just sounds like he doesn't like the Metroid series and his article has been affected by that.

    Don't get me wrong. I don't want someone that loves the series to have done it either. I wanted a neutral first impression as a game. Preferably somone whos played the game, but is being objective about the new game. Somehow his article, wasn't a good read. Not because he spent most of his time ranting on about queues (we get the point! You were sweating and it was horrible, and I am sorry but what about the game?)

    Any case my thoughts on this, as said before, is we can't really judge yet. Not from a short play period. So if people want to be skeptical about the controller, then thats cool, if you think its good, then well done. BUT!

    and I am Saying BUT. Don't judge totally on this article! Play it for yourself (when it comes out read reviews, not first impressions) to judge for yourself. I am kinda getting tired of people assuming and presupposing facts that don't even exist.

    Anyway. I am sure it will be a great game anyway ;) And another good point from TG. With hindsight we all look like silly billies. LOL

    Also: graphics werent Nintendo's interest in the Wii anyway. Deal with it Matthew.

  • neonlok #59 6 years ago

    "I think it's fine a non-nintendo fanboy prewiev the nintendo games. Personally i hate prime and love zelda, but the fact that he doesn't prefer the setup or development of these games don't change what i feel about them. Since alot of people in this thread are hardcore nintendo fanboys, i'm guessing even Shigeru couldn't change your mind about how much you love a nintendo game.

    Fact is, when someone who loves a game franchise prewievs it, more often that not the only thing that will be said is that you should buy it, and nothing about eventual niggles there could be. Trough this preview i get a impression of the game which seems more honest than some raving fanboy preview."

    Oh so does that go for non-fanboys who do all they can to prevent you from buying it? HAHA jokes.

    Oh and I much prefer less ranting about queues too. Its official, I don't like the style of the reviewer. I am sure hes a nice lad though

  • JonFE #60 6 years ago

    Thankfully, IGN is also reporting the two different cotrol setup's that Cyhwuhx posted and Gamespy reports that the wii controls work very well (but with an iffy learning curve), while Gamespot also reports the same concerns as Matthew, so, maybe, there is still hope...

    It is just sad that the two different control schemes (assuming they both exist and make it to the final game) were not explained before-hand, so that reporters could try both.

  • JetSetWilly #61 6 years ago

    @Cyhwuhx

    Cheers for that.

    So, by the sounds of it Matthew played it on casual. Would have been nice to know what he thought of expert.

  • jmctavish #62 6 years ago

    I'm sure if you were able to sit down with this game in your home, you'd love it. I don't think Metroid Prime is the sort of game you'd enjoy in an E3 environment.

  • aerisdead #63 6 years ago

    Hello everyone,

    I trust everyone who has 'cussed me bad' over the past two articles (this one and my first impressions of the Wii Zelda) are reading this comments thread as it is probably also exploding into a big argument as to if I 'like' Nintendo's franchises or not, and if I'm a good writer or not, and so on, so I thought I'd finally take a chance to wade in now that, you know, jet lag has worn off and I'm not spending most of my time in a sensory deprivation tank blowing huge chunks of LA out of my nose (that would be the fault of the terrible air, not cocaine. It's not that glamorous.)

    Indeed, now that I've wasted a paragraph on a self-aggrandizing aside, as per usual, I should get to the meat of my response. Firstly, sorry if everyone is now bored of my 'tales of E3' that I'm beginning each article with. As some have clocked on, it's to show you the state of mind I was in when I got to play. Notice how I went through some awful, awful rubbish and still practically wet myself with joy while playing Mario Galaxy? I understand it's almost always 'OH MAN I HAD TO WAIT IN LINE FOR HOURS' but oh man! I had to wait in line for hours! Some games paid me back, some didn't. You'll be pleased to know that I don't think any of my coming previews stress that quite as much.

    Secondly, these are absolutely first impressions. That's the point. In the case of Metroid, Nintendo swear blind that what we've seen won't represent the final product at all. But they've put out a very, very polished demo if that is the case. And, you know? I'm perfectly allowed to take issue with what I see as dodgy control and a beloved franchise not reaching the heights it should. I love, love, love (I could go on) Zelda and Metroid. Love them to bits. But I can't stand by and watch these games just go on the way they have forever. Zelda 64 may be my favorite game of all time, but Wind Waker wasn't better, and with hella twitchy control, Wii Zelda won’t be better unless there is a depth that I can't see yet (and I, more than anyone else, want to be shown that there is.) The same with Metroid. Okay, so, I'll happily admit I still prefer the 2d titles, but the Metroid Prime games were a watershed for FPS(ish) titles. Corruption looks like more of the same, when I'm sure it can offer something more. Don't get me wrong - all the demos hint at something more, but in the case of many of them, Nintendo still has a lot to prove.

  • JetSetWilly #64 6 years ago

    @aerisdead

    Thanks for taking the time to respond and clear up where you stand with regard to these franchises.

    Do Retro get to see this sort of feedback? I'd hate for them to mess up MP3 just cos no-one told them about the problems.
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 14:36

  • peterfll #65 6 years ago

    @aerisdead

    Sorry mate, when I open "Empire" every month I don't want to read how the reviewer found that the cinema was hot and the toliets were dirty before he sat down to watch MI:3, I just want to know if the film is any good.

    Likewise, when I get to work and write an e-mail to my boss he doesn't want the first paragraph to be whinging about how bad my commute into the office was.

    You lost me after the first sentence or so of your second article. I want to read about the game, not how long it takes to queue up - or how badly designed the Nintendo stand was (Krudster - take note).
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/06 @ 15:08

  • HolyJebus #66 6 years ago

    I don't understand why they don't use the wand to control Samus' head movements instead of the aiming reticule. Leave the crosshair in the centre of the screen the whole time and move the whole screen with the wand instead. That solves the turning around problem too.

  • JetSetWilly #67 6 years ago

    I don't understand why they don't use the wand to control Samus' head movements instead of the aiming reticule. Leave the crosshair in the centre of the screen the whole time and move the whole screen with the wand instead. That solves the turning around problem too.

    That's what "expert" mode sounds like it does but sadly it seems Matthew didn't get to test that setup.

  • HolyJebus #68 6 years ago

    By the way Matthew, I enjoyed your articles. I like a bit of comedy with the previews. I thought that's why everyone comes to this site. There's plenty of other sites that do straight up previews. That's not my bag, so that's why i'm here. Don't listen to all the bitching moaners.

  • ProfessorLesser #69 6 years ago

    I'll have you all know that I'm not worried about the controls. At all. Even if they aren't changed between now and release, Expert Mode sounds like it would be fine.

    No. What I'm worried about is this new bounty hunter that Matthew hints at. If he ends up being a character from Hunters on the DS, I can guarantee I won't enjoy this game. I can just feel it in my blood - the hunters from Hunters should be left well alone.

    I am painfully sceptical about this direction for Corruption. I'm just going to have to hope and pray.

  • jmctavish #70 6 years ago

    Same here Prof. I'm concerned about all the talk of this being a "FPS" and a "shooter". The previous two games on the GC were nothing like shooters and they were better off because of it.

  • neonlok #71 6 years ago

    HolyJebus
    16-May-06 15:17:06

    "By the way Matthew, I enjoyed your articles. I like a bit of comedy with the previews. I thought that's why everyone comes to this site. There's plenty of other sites that do straight up previews. That's not my bag, so that's why i'm here. Don't listen to all the bitching moaners. "

    no need for justification everyones got their own taste in articles. Atm it seems you're bitchin. Don't rant me mate ;) You got your views and I got mine. End of 'bitchin'

  • ChocNut #72 6 years ago

    The article was an accurate description of his experience - which is important.
    Not EVERY article has to be pre-digested entertainment.

    This is a very important game we're talking about. So far from my analyses of MP3 it's not living up to expectations.

    This is METROID people - if they turn it into another generic FPS when it was one of the last few games to attempt to be a decent exploration game I'll be flatout disgusted and I'd be more than willing to bitch and moan about it. The queuing paragraphs were probably there to highlight the fact that his views might have been biased by the extreme environment - which BTW is nothing like queuing to see MI:3 at a film premiere.

  • #73 6 years ago

    @ peterfll "Sorry mate, when I open "Empire" every month I don't want to read how the reviewer found that the cinema was hot and the toliets were dirty before he sat down to watch MI:3, I just want to know if the film is any good.

    Likewise, when I get to work and write an e-mail to my boss he doesn't want the first paragraph to be whinging about how bad my commute into the office was.

    You lost me after the first sentence or so of your second article. I want to read about the game, not how long it takes to queue up - or how badly designed the Nintendo stand was (Krudster - take note)."

    If anything of the above was relevant to the experience, why not write about it? You can clearly see that the bad design of the booth (he's been even kicked out!) really influenced his experience.

    In your analogy, it would be more like "they wanted to show me a preview of the movie but the sound wasn't working, the picture was upside down and I had to stand on my head to see it. Oh btw the movie was 4 hours long".

    I do not have issues with this article ("Krudster - take note" ;) ).

    @ ProfessorLesser "No. What I'm worried about is this new bounty hunter that Matthew hints at. If he ends up being a character from Hunters on the DS, I can guarantee I won't enjoy this game. I can just feel it in my blood - the hunters from Hunters should be left well alone."
    Agreed. This sounds like a deep, deep misunderstanding of the whole Metroid-atmosphere. It's really interesting how Samus looks like Samus in Super Smash (which is practically a comedy game), yet here I really have my doubts. But we shall see.
    Edited by 2 at 16/05/06 @ 19:15

  • nightsparkle #74 6 years ago

    i actually read through the whole comments section, and gladly i found out that there's an expert setting that let's you move samus's head instead of the recticle. problem solved!

    BTW i admire the reviewer for daring to make people think.
    in his honest review, he wasn't affraid to criticise some aspects of the game, even though he knew a lot of people just aren't ready for it. i pitty the people who can't critically look at a game, even if it is your favorite. you should go slap yourselves in the head.

  • nightsparkle #75 6 years ago

    quote from Trip SkyWay
    I was pretty worried about the turning on the videos I have seen. UBI soft seem to have taken the same aporch with Red Steel. I guess unlike a mouse the remote has to be pointed at the screen(and sensor underneath it), to see where its moving to. So if you keep turning left through you will run out of screen and need to reset it. A mouse can be picked up and moved back to a nice spot on your desk, without it registering movement. The remote would need to be aware of when it's being reset, and when its being used for turning. You would probably need to press a button or something, which might be even less intuative than the current system.
    end of quote



    mouse control is different. with the remote it would be done this way:
    point it a little to the right- moves view slowly to the right
    point it farther to the right- moves view faster to the right
    point it back at the center- nothing

    so you see, in this way you don't need to press a button to make your view the defalt standing position. you just have to get the remote to the neutral center position.

    while with exact mouselike controls it would go like this:
    point it a little to the right- moves view slowly to the right
    point it farther to the right- moves view faster to the right
    point it back at the center- view goes back to starting position

    so you can see, it is a fact you can't have totally precise mouse control with a remote. in that way, a mouse is much better. however, a remote is just much cooler to handle, it's like Virtual Reality. immersion is what it's all about.


  • Carrybagma #76 6 years ago

    Gimme the ancient artifacts mannnnn

    zzzzzz

  • cardboardMonster #77 6 years ago

    ...But in the overwhelming sensory overload that is E3, I'm still not sure if that means anything.

    /remembers slating of Ridge Racer 6 for "lack of excitement" and subsequent "miraculous turnaround" review.

  • peterfll #78 6 years ago

    @zerotohero

    What's to say that sometimes film reviewers don't have a shit time at the cinema because the sound isn't working, or the projection is less than perfect? I still never see them write about it.

    Humour is one thing, but constant whinging at the top of two articles that's supposed to be about two GAMES is something else. Those of us who have pointed this out aren't the ones bitching you know......

  • tentonipete #79 6 years ago

    for fucks sake, mate, noone gives a shit about how long you had to wait in queues. stop talking about it.

  • kasabian72 #80 6 years ago

    Actually, isn't reporting on E3 more than just about the games? It's about the event itself, the experience of being there, the exhiliration/frustration of it all. Now, if he did a review of a game that he did at home and included stuff like "and i had to wait forever for my bean burrito to cook in the microwave....", then that would be unneccessary.

    I'm with the ones who want reviewers to tell it like it is. If they were outright bashing the game or making actual snide comments by trying to be clever or witty then i would get upset too. But reading his impressions, i didn't get upset cause i didn't get the impression he was doing that. Then again, i'm not a Metroid fan so it didn't bother me one way or the other.

    To be honest, after reading most of these Wii reports, i'm getting slightly more doubtful about the graphics on many of these games and doubtful about how 'fun' and 'ideal' the wii-mote is supposed to be. But one thing is not in doubt: i'm still gonna get one. The motion sensor is just a nice addition/option, their exclusive games/franchises keep me coming back, the potential for great(if not hd) graphics s there, online capabilities this time around, etc....all at around $200? Sign me up.

  • geek-chic #81 6 years ago

    Matthew Kumar really isn;t that good....is he?

  • Balfa #82 6 years ago

    Eurogamer, I've been silent on this for too long now, but where on earth has your proof reading gone? Every article I've read in the last month or so has been filled with grammatical errors and typos. Come on, clean up.