Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Preview

By Kristan Reed Published 15 August, 2007

Not long now.

Never mind Super Mario Galaxy - the one forthcoming Wii first party title that has me frothing with giddy expectation is the latest in the Metroid Prime series. After the majestic beast that was 2004's Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Retro Studios latest offering was always going to get the red carpet treatment from us - appropriate, given that Nintendo's swanky new offices are literally next door to the Queen's modest abode in Windsor.

Presented with a near-as-dammit finished build, we played through the first five per cent of the game, encompassing two bosses and a few of the early weapons and armour upgrades. First impressions? No great change or evolution in the gameplay or graphical stakes, but a significant overhaul in how you play the game - to the extent that it still ends up feeling fresh and interesting.

The premise for this one is, as the title suggests, corruption. The final part of the trilogy kicks off six months after Echoes, with the Galactic Federation’s network computers (the Aurora Units) all rendered useless thanks to a virus. Having managed to shut down the network quickly, some of the Aurora are still operational and give Samus a head-up on what the problem is. To cut to the chase, entire planets are being corrupted by something that's launching "enormous seeds" called Leviathans into them. That 'something' - although not spelled out in the portion of the game we played - is Samus' long-time nemesis, Dark Samus.

Keep it dark

'Metroid Prime 3: Corruption' Screenshot 1

Punch in the same symbols by pointing to them.

[small spoiler alert]Apparently Dark Samus defeats Samus and the other bounty hunters, and corrupts them all with 'Phazon' in the process - a corruption that the Galactic Federation uses to enhance the hunter's powers. These Phazon Enhancement Devices, allows Samus to go into a state known as the Hypermode. Now, although it promises to grant her super-powered weapons that are essential to take down the so-called 'Phazon impediments', it drains her health to use them - so, in effect, on a time-limited basis. Nevertheless, she now has the tools to take on Dark Samus..[end spoiler]

In the practical terms of the early part of the game we played, this corruption of the space station means that all sorts of essential operations are out of action, and it's up to Samus to go around and fix certain things before she can strike back. For example, at the start you must bring the power back online so that the planetary defence system can once again repel the Space Pirates busily making a nuisance of themselves - as usual. Over the course of this no-doubt-epic adventure you'll be travelling to multiple planets ("each with their own unique landscapes and dangers") to halt this ongoing corruption.

However, we didn't get that far into the game to enjoy these lovely new powers (we'll have to wait for the forthcoming review for that) - but we did get a good feel for the controls, duked it out with a few bosses and played tourist to the visuals to get a solid first impression of what to expect.

Controls first, then: as you'll no doubt already be aware via the various hands-on to emerge from the last two E3s, it's another first person title to employ the regulation 'point, aim and shoot' system, where the nunchuk's stick controls movement, and the Wii remote controls the camera and aiming. Although I'm not about to jump on the bandwagon of complainers, there are certain situations when it works perfectly, and others where you seem to end up in more of a muddle than you would under 'normal' circumstances. Let me explain.

Assault and buttery

'Metroid Prime 3: Corruption' Screenshot 2

Handy having a shiny sovereign ring.

While wandering around the confines of the ship, scanning items, and picking off the odd space pirate, it feels great. It feels fluid, intuitive, responsive, precise. All the things you'd hope it would be, basically. The ability to lock-on, too, adds greatly to the sense of being in control, allowing you to strafe with ease, and get shots on target. Better still, more advanced difficulty levels force you to aim within the lock-on reticule in order to gain a hit, ensuring that skill is still a factor even when you're relying on the lock-on time and again.

Where it seems to feel less than satisfactory is when you're under huge pressure - such as during the boss encounters. As per usual, these tend to take place inside an arena-like environment where the giant enemy sits in the middle and gobs acid, white energy balls and electricity at you while you hot foot it around, strafing it in circles. The general idea is to repeatedly perform the dash move to keep out of the way, and then lock-on and target its weak spot for MASSIVE DAMAGE. Ahem. Dashing is fairly inelegant, though, as you end up bounding around, losing your lock-on and often looking the wrong way. Once that's happened to you, getting the reticule centred again costs you precious seconds, and you'll end up losing health in the process of wrestling with getting it all back on track. I'm probably making it sound like a bigger deal than it is, but the point is that there are moments when the controls hinder more than they help - but on balance the general degree of precision they offer more than offsets moments of clumsiness. Maybe over time we'll learn how to use it more effectively.

While we're on the subject of the first boss (known as the Berserker Lord if you get around to scanning it), he appears to be harder than he actually is - in typical Metroid Prime fashion ("I've never seen anyone get past him," admits the Nintendo rep). But success isn't far away, once you shoot the glowing red balls around his chest area - this forces him to shoot giant white balls of death at you - but shooting them right back at him opens up a weak spot which you can then unload everything you've got into. Standard laser fire's fine, but if you want a quick kill, then pressing down on the dpad unleashes your newly acquired missile attack. After a typically satisfying death animation sequence it's onto the next section - arguably the first 'proper' part of the game.

Grabbed

Shortly after this we gained one of Samus' trademark upgrades - the grapple. By locking onto certain obstacles (such as grates, rocks, broken doors and even enemy armour - as a mini boss section revealed), you can cast your Nunchuk forward to 'throw' the grapple towards your target. Once attached, pulling the Nunchuk back towards yourself in one swift motion yanks the attached item towards you. It immediately felt quite natural, and, more importantly, a lot of fun. It also immediately added a new puzzle layer to the general exploration, forcing you to think about whether to blast something out of the way, or simply attach the grapple and pull it.

'Metroid Prime 3: Corruption' Screenshot 3

Looks quite similar to the last one, doesn't it?

Needless to say, the morph ball comes into play early on too, with a couple of sections for us to play around with - including one where you you have to time your leaps to co-incide with little gusts of air. Either you'd have to studiously avoid them, or time it just right so you ended up with a bit of wind assistance to see you across a gap. Control, once again, felt slick, responsive and intuitive - certainly no complaints here.

Occasionally you might come across a door entry system that requires you to twist the lever like you would in real life, or line-up a pattern until four bars appeared on the screen. Both felt like typical Wii mechanics in as much that they didn't really add anything to the game other than, perhaps, a degree of immersion to otherwise mundane tasks. Whether we'll still appreciate the novelty value of it 20-30 hours through the game we'll let you know.

Familiar

In terms of how the game's shaping up technically, that's an easy one - it hasn't really changed or moved on a great deal since the last one, with the early levels, at least, giving the impression of Retro Studios wanting to keep the look and feel consistent, rather than go for a dramatic overhaul. Given that both Metroid games were arguably the best looking titles on the Cube, we're not exactly complaining, as it's still a slick looking game with plenty of nice effects that look sweet even on a big screen.

'Metroid Prime 3: Corruption' Screenshot 4

Eat this.

One thing we did notice over the course of the first couple of levels is the Retro appears to have given Corruption a more cinematic push, with a greater emphasis on longer animated cut scene interludes, and more characters to talk to on your travels. Whether this approach extends to the rest of the game we'll have to see, but it's a promising venture into making the game feel a little more 'alive' than previous the almost 'silent movie' approach of old.

With the review code a matter of days away, we're certainly looking forward to getting stuck into the next Metroid - and being tested to the very limit once again. Check back soon for our in-depth thoughts on this first-rate Wii exclusive.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will be released on October 26th. The US version is due on August 27th - expect an import review around its release date.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (95) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Charroux #1 5 years ago

    Cannot. Wait.

  • Nillsens #2 5 years ago

    "The general idea is to repeatedly perform the dash move to keep out of the way, and then lock-on and target its weak spot for MASSIVE DAMAGE. Ahem."

    lol internet

  • mingster #3 5 years ago

    MP bosses are hard enough as it is withought having to wrestle with a control system as well.

    I never could do the final boss in its final form on the gamecube metroid prime had to give up in the end after 50+ retrys at it.

  • menage #4 5 years ago

    If I would buy a Wii, I would buy it for this. Hell, I would buy it for the soundtrack alone.

  • Killerbee #5 5 years ago

    Quite simply, this is my most anticipated game right now.

    The first Metroid Prime is one of my favourite games of all time, so it's encouraging to hear that, by and large, the transition to the Wii control scheme has worked. A bit more in terms of a story is a good idea. I hope the bosses are as varied and interesting as they were in MP2 - although they were bloody hard in places, I reckon that game was spot on in terms of boss design.

  • The-Bodybuilder #6 5 years ago

    Now THIS is the wii game that may sway me to the wii.

  • DB2k #7 5 years ago

    it's cool n all.. but is this it? I mean the Wii can't realyl do anything graphically more impressive than the gamecube? I thought the first few titles for sure would jsut be GameCube graphics but I was expecting to see something a little more enhanced from the games coming up now.

  • Nesty #8 5 years ago

    "Dashing is fairly inelegant, though, as you end up bounding around, losing your lock-on and often looking the wrong way. Once that's happened to you, getting the reticule centred again costs you precious seconds, and you'll end up losing health in the process of wrestling with getting it all back on track"


    hardly anything new there, that happened with old cube control scheme too. that dashing mechanic is just a pain in the hole.

  • ZuluHero #9 5 years ago

    love the series - and i bought a wii on launch for this! Lots to do over the winter months :)

  • hokuto_no_rob #10 5 years ago

    Level-based :(

  • Triggerhappytel #11 5 years ago

    "Level-based :("

    Is it? Ah shit, the freedom and exploration were definitely two of the strongest aspects of the series so far.

  • Sebo #12 5 years ago

    I'm totally underwhelmed by the sounds of this. I liked Metroid Prime, but after 20 hours in I gave up cus everything was just too much of a chore in it. Echoes is sitting under dust, I barely scratched the surface of that and only picked it up cus it was a fiver.

    I really don't think this is an example of the "fun" which Miyamoto has been preaching just moments ago......

    And totally agree with the gamecube graphic statements. I know the Wii is underpowered in comparison to the other two, but this looks totally like a Gamecube game and that does not amuse me. Graphics aren't everything, but I didn't pay £180 just for a new control scheme....

  • Caimbeul #13 5 years ago

    how responsive are the controls?

  • Santino #14 5 years ago

    "Level-based :("

    i'm guessing in the same way that the previous prime's were, when u would take a lift between areas now its just between planets instead. I really cannot wait for this game.

  • Pooley #15 5 years ago

    It's sounding pretty excellent. Nice preview, though I did have to skip a few bits so I wouldn't spoil any of the story.

    I wonder if I've got enough time to play Prime and Echoes again before this is released...

  • Rirekon #16 5 years ago

    Really enjoyed the DS version so looking forward to this immensely

  • krudster #17 5 years ago

    Yes, it's level-based in the same way as before - taking lifts between areas.

  • decibel #18 5 years ago

    "Whether this approach extends to the rest of the game we'll have to see, but it's a promising venture into making the game feel a little more 'alive' than previous the almost 'silent movie' approach of old."

    NOOOOO. The Silent Movie approach is the REASON Metroid was good you fool! FUCK VOICE OVERS AND SHITTY AMERICAN SPACE MARINE CHARACTERS :(

  • ProfessorLesser #19 5 years ago

    How spoilery is this article?

    And by spoiler, I'm referring to anything we didn't already know about it, like how you solve ANY puzzles, or something about settings, or... you know. The stuff I just want to find out fresh for myself when I play it.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #20 5 years ago

    God this game is gonna rock.

    But I must admit to feeling a little bit frightened by the control system.

    The first two Metroid: Prime games were pretty much perfect for me when it comes to the control system. Thats not to say that I don't think it will work with the nun+mote, but I fear that some of the smoothness that comes with knowing the control system well will be lost.

    Also, am I the only one who cannot finish Echoes?

    There was a flying boss near to the end who kept dipping in and out of water which I found too hard to beat. The acid water and small platforms didn't help matters either :(

  • Irien #21 5 years ago

    Regarding the graphics, surely the big plus will come from having full widescreen (ie. extra pixels) and prog scan, rather than just stretching things that the old scart cube games would have done?

  • afghan_jones #22 5 years ago

    " I didn't pay £180 just for a new control scheme.... "


    Actually, thats exactly what you did.

    Also, how have we got this far without someone saying :

    'OMG If EG didnt like the controls they must all be hook-handed junkie retard spakkers who just cant use a Wii-mote!'

  • Sebo #23 5 years ago

    @Irein

    Hopefully....... cus it doesn't look great at the moment

  • ManicDrunkMonk #24 5 years ago

    @JohnnyWashnGo

    That was about 50% into the game, you just had to take your time with it, it took about 30mins to do.

    MP2 always had the weird situation of making it seem like the Dark World was harder due to the energy lose, but actually it always had the easier bosses due to the light beacons.

    This looks great, as long as they keep the exploration of the first two Prime games. Those complaining about graphics clearly didn't read the article, given that he suggests it's more to do with keeping in line with the previous games. Halo 3 has had similar criticism levelled at it for doing exactly the same thing.

  • krudster #25 5 years ago

    It's non-spoilerific. The only vague spoiler (which has been in the press release for months) is in spoiler tags.

  • ManicDrunkMonk #26 5 years ago

    ^Indeed the spoilers here have been public for at least a month.

  • viper_h #27 5 years ago

    Telling you exactly how to kill the first boss is a spoiler.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #28 5 years ago

    @ManicDrunkMonk
    "That was about 50% into the game, you just had to take your time with it, it took about 30mins to do."

    50%?

    Really?

    Oh bugger, I thought it was near the end :(

    I have too many other cube games to finish before I can get back to Echoes :(

    BTW: As my TV has only one component input which is currently used by my PS2, can anyone tell me if there is a significant difference in visuals between the RGB Scart cable and the component cable for the Wii?

  • Santino #29 5 years ago

    "Also, how have we got this far without someone saying :

    'OMG If EG didnt like the controls they must all be hook-handed junkie retard spakkers who just cant use a Wii-mote!'"

    Congratulations on being the first and probably only person then :/ why try and stir something up?

  • krudster #30 5 years ago

    The first boss is really a tutorial boss, so describing it shouldn't come as a great shock to anyone.

  • Hog-lumps #31 5 years ago

    I just hope the checkpointing is better in this one...........

  • Killerbee #32 5 years ago

    Telling you exactly how to kill the first boss is a spoiler.

    In fariness, the tactic described is used in both MP1 and MP2 for various boss encounters, so nothing fans of the series won't have done before. It's like saying a Zelda game has a boss that you have to use your newly discovered bow + arrow to shoot its eye... happens in every game in the series!

  • JohnnyWashnGo #33 5 years ago

    "It's like saying a Zelda game has a boss that you have to use your newly discovered bow + arrow to shoot its eye... happens in every game in the series!"


    Argh!!!

    I have never played a Zelda game and was looking forward to playing Phantom Hourglass... but with that devestating spoiler I may as well forget about it O_o

  • captain-future #34 5 years ago

    In terms of how the game's shaping up technically, that's an easy one - it hasn't really changed or moved on a great deal since the last one, with the early levels, at least, giving the impression of Retro Studios wanting to keep the look and feel consistent, rather than go for a dramatic overhaul. Given that both Metroid games were arguably the best looking titles on the Cube, we're not exactly complaining, as it's still a slick looking game with plenty of nice effects that look sweet even on a big screen.

    Oh come on... that's just a nice way to say that it's GameCube 1.0 graphics.

  • Sebo #35 5 years ago

    @afghan

    And that on top of the £300 I gave Sony for same old games but better graphics. Boy is the games industry shafting me

  • Sid-Nice #36 5 years ago

    Echoes afghan_jones's sentiments. The success of the Wii is driving me crazy; all this casual gamer party fun shit is all part of the Nintendo corruption.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #37 5 years ago

    "Echoes afghan_jones's sentiments. The success of the Wii is driving me crazy; all this casual gamer party fun shit is all part of the Nintendo corruption."

    Seriously?

    You find games that provide entertainment and are fun to play somehow wrong?

  • Sebo #38 5 years ago

    I keep on reading this on here, and I just don't get. Why do gamers feel so threatened by the Wii and casual gaming?

  • afghan_jones #39 5 years ago

    "Why do gamers feel so threatened by the Wii and casual gaming?"

    Because it feels dangerously like the Wii could drive the gaming industry to focus far too much resource on family friendly casual party games at the expense of all else. Basically its like if all tv channels became ITV1 and just started pumping out dumbed down light entertainment and no one made edgy, adult or controversial programming anymore.



    "And that on top of the £300 I gave Sony for same old games but better graphics. Boy is the games industry shafting me "

    If you got a PS3 for £300 then well done you. but yeah, I do think Wii is a bit of a gyp as they could have just released a peripheral set for the cube and it would have delivered the same thing. Obviously not a wise business move for Ninty to take but it just narks me off when people go on about it being the 'cheapest' console. Well, yeah, technically but for what you get its by far the most expensive.

  • Santino #40 5 years ago

    why are you talking about this shit in a prime 3 preview article section? take it to the forums or a sales thread. This isn't a casual game whatsoever either so don't feel threatened or anything.

  • GingerNathan #41 5 years ago

    "afghan_jones "

    Why is it that in every article that even mentions Nintendo you have to troll it with your fanboy crap. I have an idea if you don't like Nintendo keep out of these kind of articles, I think I speak for the majority when I say we don't want to be enlightened by your wisdom.

    As far as MP3 is concerned, it and Bioshock are the games I'm most looking forward to getting - can't wait.

  • Sebo #42 5 years ago

    I don't think Nintendo had any option in this to be honest. They would be dead and buried if they'd tried to go head to head on graphics etc with Sony and Microsoft in this console generation. They had to differeniate themselves and tap a new market, just so happens that market has turned out to be huge.

    Got to use an analogy here though. I generally hate pop music, but I don't feel threatened by it. There should nearly always be "proper" bands making proper music because there will always be that market.

    No matter how many casual gamers arrive and how many casual games come out, I still think there will be games released which cater to the more serious gamers.

  • afghan_jones #43 5 years ago

    "why are you talking about this shit in a prime 3 preview article section?"


    True enough.

    But then technically, he started it...


    @GingerNathan

    Didnt think i was really but there you go. To be honest, yeah I might come across as anti-nintendo at times which Im not really, I just dont like the fact that a lot of people seem to treat the Wii as some sort of second coming and pretend everything else on other platforms is shit and boring but with more graphics or something. Just feel someone needs to stand against the tidal wave of hype.
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/07 @ 15:21

  • Der_tolle_Emil #44 5 years ago

    Hm, maybe I should play Metroid Prime again. I never finished it because somehow I lost interest in gaming. Bought a couple of other games for the cube as well and I just did not enjoy them. Now I'm all back so I think playing one of the best cube games without a negative attitude towards gaming might be a nice. Couldn't hurt getting the story behind it either because I will definetly buy Metroid Prime 3.

  • skybluesam86 #45 5 years ago

    People have been spoilt if they don't think this game looks gorgeous.

    I still think Smash Bros: Melee looks good, even now.
    There's nothing at all wrong with the Wii's graphics when in the right hands. It's just most devs seems to be concentrating on shoehorning some clumsy Wiimote controls onto a sub-Cube graphics engine.

  • Eighthours #46 5 years ago

    Kristan, is the voice acting embarrassingly shithouse? Still going to buy the game, obviously (love the MP series), but I'm wondering whether Nintendo's peculiar disease is abating or staying the same.

  • Kazzahdrane #47 5 years ago

    I want this so bad I can taste it. The only reason I haven't got my Wii chipped and ordered an import copy is that Super Paper Mario and Bioshock should keep me playing happily until October 26th (and Phantom Hourglass is out a week before MP3 too).

  • Sebo #48 5 years ago

    @Sky Blue Sam

    When you look at the quality of graphics of some of the stuff that is coming out on the other two, it's hard not to think the Wii is too far behind.

    I don't need the Wii to be on a par with those two to keep me happy with it, graphics aren't everything, but when I look at this game and think "yeah, that could have been done on the cube", it's hard not to think that the machine isn't anything more than an innovative controller.

  • Santino #49 5 years ago

    "Kristan, is the voice acting embarrassingly shithouse? Still going to buy the game, obviously (love the MP series), but I'm wondering whether Nintendo's peculiar disease is abating or staying the same."

    +1 we want to know MOOOOAAR, although from the vids seen so far it sounds pretty decent.
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/07 @ 15:39

  • rudedudejude #50 5 years ago

    I love the way all the hardcore are crapping their pants that the Wii's gonna take over the world and turn the games industry into the equivilent(?) of X-Factor :D

    Go Ninty! Never played a metroid game before but I'll probably check it out :)

    Gotta love that Europe crappy release date, thanks Ninty :)
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/07 @ 15:53

  • SniperWolf #51 5 years ago

    Sounds just like the previous games, wasn't a fan of Echoes so will wait and see what this turns out like. For me Bioshock has made all other games look like crap, including Halo 3, Metroid corruption. I'm still looking forward to games like COD4, Mario Galaxy, but Bioshock is the first game in years to make me say WOW when I played it.

  • Hamflank #52 5 years ago

    Sebo: "it's hard not to think that the machine isn't anything more than an innovative controller."

    Then what is the PlayStation 3? Nothing more than a graphics upgrade from the PlayStation 2? How is that better than a new way of controlling games?
    Edited by 2 at 15/08/07 @ 16:30

  • remote #53 5 years ago

    i love my wii, but i'm not looking forward to this that much... found the first prime to be a bit of a grind..

    When is a new 2D metroid coming out??? the 2d games are way better!!

  • afghan_jones #54 5 years ago

    Hamflank, that is just idiotic and I suspect you know it. By that logic, you could just play all your games on a Master System or something and the only difference between that and PS3 would be graphics as far as you could tell.

    Yes graphics are one of the most immediately obvious benchmarks when it comes to differences between the console generations but to suggest that they are the only differences is just silly.

  • dcangel #55 5 years ago

    Sebo - There should nearly always be "proper" bands making proper music because there will always be that market...

    Just a random point of curiosity - what do you consider to be "proper" music?

    Anyway. Can't wait. MP3:C was really what sold Wii for me, just as MP sold me a Gamecube. Don't let us down, guys...

  • penhalion #56 5 years ago

    Yea I think Bioshock kind of set the bar for interactive FPS games. Poor Metroid. They delayed you so long that you've become second best in your field.

    I don't count Halo 3 or any other straight FPS as being in even the same league as Bioshock and Metroid.

  • skybluesam86 #57 5 years ago

    Sebo: I'm not trying to say that the Wii can compete with the PS3 and 360, just that you can't possibly call a game like Corruption 'ugly'.
    It looks utterly fantastic.
    If the hardware is capable of pulling off stuff like this, Mario Galaxy and Brawl, then I'm more than happy.

  • The12thMonkey #58 5 years ago

    I can't express in words how much I'm looking forward to Metroid Prime 3, so I'll just leave it at that.

    However, that is not to say that I don't have reservations. I do have reservations, sure. Voice acting has always been a gripe of mine. As far as I'm concerned, FF12 set the new level to which all other "serious" games must aspire in terms of English language voice acting (MGS series doesn't count, since there is a fair bit of "not taking itself seriously" in there). I literally had to run away when I heard the voice acting on the Blue Dragon demo, and it's enough to put me off ever buying it, even though I thought the battle system had some promise.

    So yeah, Metroid Prime 3. Halo 3. Super Mario Galaxy. Resident Evil Umbrella Cronicles. FFXI expansion... the end of this year is looking dangerous for my wallet.

  • afghan_jones #59 5 years ago

    @sky blue sam

    I dont think hes calling it ugly as such, its just that in this day and age we all get a bit used to 360/PS3 graphics and presentation as being the status quo and so a game like this, whilst good for the tech it is on, is always going to disappoint a bit on the visuals.

    Its probably more noticeable on an FPS than on a party game, or more cartoony title though.

  • krudster #60 5 years ago

    The voice acting reminded me of Dark Forces, oddly enough!

  • Carrybagma #61 5 years ago

    Samus talks? Hope not..

  • Nikanoru #62 5 years ago

    I'm not too worried about the voice acting, I mean, hell, even Super Metroid had voice acting.


    they didn't really add anything to the game other than, perhaps, a degree of immersion to otherwise mundane tasks.

    Heh, you just described every single gameplay mechanic in the history of gaming, ever!



    "Level-based :("

    Is it? Ah shit, the freedom and exploration were definitely two of the strongest aspects of the series so far.


    Yeah, some of the "backtracking (I hate that fucking word) makes more sense" comments have me worried. I hope to Christ that it's not a linear shooty shitfest like Halo and nearly every other game these days. I hope to Christ that it retains its living, breathing world with connections and hidden areas and secrets in every corner, not just crap that happens to sit neatly along your narrow linear path like every other modern piece of mindnumbingly boring shit that comes out. For this, let us pray.

    God, please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please don't make MP3 suck.







    I'm totally underwhelmed by the sounds of this. I liked Metroid Prime, but after 20 hours in I gave up cus everything was just too much of a chore in it. Echoes is sitting under dust, I barely scratched the surface of that and only picked it up cus it was a fiver.

    You are a sad, sad little man.


    but yeah, I do think Wii is a bit of a gyp as they could have just released a peripheral set for the cube and it would have delivered the same thing. Obviously not a wise business move for Ninty to take but it just narks me off when people go on about it being the 'cheapest' console. Well, yeah, technically but for what you get its by far the most expensive.


    AH HAHAHAHAHA! ......hahaha....oh boy. "It's not expensive for what you get!" You do realise that sad sonyfan-in-denial argument has been repeated and killed off many times even at launch time, right? I'm sorry, but that lastgen console with a new graphics card shoved in is not what I call good value for money.

    Yeah, the Wii is the most expensive console of all, guys. You heard it here first!



    I just dont like the fact that a lot of people seem to treat the Wii as some sort of second coming and pretend everything else on other platforms is shit and boring but with more graphics or something. Just feel someone needs to stand against the tidal wave of hype.

    Guess what kid, I didn't like the fact that the PS2 was hyped as the second coming (by Sony, mostly) while it was the most technically weak piece of crap of the big three (and it didn't even have anything else to make up for it, like motion sensitivity or a game download service of any sort, like the Wii has!), and I felt someone definitely needed to stand against the wave of hype back then. But look what happened with that, huh? it turned out pretty damn good in the end.

    Don't be sad because a different company than your preferred one has won the public this time. Remember that Sony had their (more than) fair share before this.



    Hamflank, that is just idiotic and I suspect you know it. By that logic, you could just play all your games on a Master System or something and the only difference between that and PS3 would be graphics as far as you could tell.


    No, THAT is just idiotic because those old consoles go so far back that their lack of technical capabilities limited what could be done gameplay-wise. This is just not the case with the last generation. There is absolutely no gameplay on the PS3 that cannot be achieved on, say, the original Xbox. And don't try to pretend there is.

  • smurphs #63 5 years ago

    wow, that was a long one.

    I just hope the bosses are easier, I loved the exploration in MP1 and found the boss battles booooring. Why don't they just give yu the option to skip if you've failed a boss, say, 5 times?

  • miiiguel #64 5 years ago

    it kinda lacks the wow-factor, doesn't it? I mean, artistically.

    I guess everybody has to finish his own fight.

  • Santino #65 5 years ago

    "it kinda lacks the wow-factor, doesn't it? I mean, artistically."

    speak for yourself man, in my opinion from what has been seen and heard its up there with the very best.

  • Nikanoru #66 5 years ago

    it kinda lacks the wow-factor, doesn't it? I mean, artistically.

    Ehhh... the hell? You must mean technically?

    When I first saw <a href=http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/1428 17640120070812041207.png>this</a> and <a href=http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/1315 30721520070812041259.png>this</a> I definitely went "wow". Artistically that looks awesome. And I know it's not gonna look as impressive when compared to in-your-face pixel closeups of some games on the other consoles, played on a high def LCD screen. But the whole design of the game just has me giddy, more than most other upcoming games. I wonder if they have Andrew Jones on board again, but if they don't, they're definitely doing a great job without him.

  • Santino #67 5 years ago

    Nikanoru,

    nice pics there, i remember reading a while back (on ign i think) that andrew jones was indeed on board for this.

    oh and after reading miiiguel's comment again...its obviously means nothing and was just something negative to say before he added a 'finish the fight' in, as somehow that 'other' game is relevant here :/

  • yagisencho #68 5 years ago

    "BTW: As my TV has only one component input which is currently used by my PS2, can anyone tell me if there is a significant difference in visuals between the RGB Scart cable and the component cable for the Wii?"

    I can't speak to Scart, but going from composite to component is like going from black and white to color. Everything was suddenly sharp and text, legible.

    I'm interested in this game, but I never finished the GC games. =/

  • MouzerMalti #69 5 years ago

    did graphics have a makeover??

  • Tomo #70 5 years ago

    Mehtroid Prime

    aaahhaa.

  • tobsen #71 5 years ago

    I loved the first Metroid Prime, but the second felt like a weak rehash to me and I left it alone after I was five hours in. Unfortunately the third looks and sounds a bit like a similar experience would be waiting for me.

  • declaration #72 5 years ago

    I don't really care how crap the graphics are. In fact, I wouldn't mind if they were ps1 standard.

    Because at least I'll never be one of those muppets who play FPSs with analogue sticks. How last generation is that?!? I swear some people would buy a 360 for the graphics if it only had a dpad.

    I can sit back in my sofa and play a good FPS whilst relaxing at the end of a days work. I can't tell you how many years I've been waiting for that.

  • famous_roy #73 5 years ago

    Bioshock.... then this. This is the definative year to be a gamer, good lord.

  • afghan_jones #74 5 years ago

    @Nikanoru

    "There is absolutely no gameplay on the PS3 that cannot be achieved on, say, the original Xbox. And don't try to pretend there is. "

    Yes, there is actually.

    Take something like Dead Rising. hundreds of character models onscreen at the same time, if you had tried to do that last gen they would have looked like fucking stickmen.

    "AH HAHAHAHAHA! ......hahaha....oh boy. "It's not expensive for what you get!" You do realise that sad sonyfan-in-denial argument has been repeated and killed off many times even at launch time, right? I'm sorry, but that lastgen console with a new graphics card shoved in is not what I call good value for money. "


    Im not sure why thinking the Wii is expensive for what it does makes my a sonyfanboy but whatever. For what it delivers over previous generations the Wii is expensive for what it physically is, as evidenced by the fact that unlike all other consoles for a long time, Nintendo profit from the hardware. With the exception of the online service, any Wii game could have been produced for the GC with a peripheral add on.


  • Sebo #75 5 years ago

    Anyone playing bioshock, halo 3, and then MP3 and not expecting to be dissappointed by the latter?? Honest question. I will be playing both and don't think MP3 is going to be that great.

  • ManicDrunkMonk #76 5 years ago

    ^The very fact that you are comparing MP3 to Halo shows you either haven't played a Metroid game, or never understood the joy many of us get from the series.

    I will be buying all the games you mention and MP3 is likely to be the first to be completed.

    All this talk of the graphics makes me sad, I understand people saying the Wii is expensive for what it is but that doesn't remove the fact that developers will have to find innovative ways of using the new hardware.

    @afghan_jones

    Surely the success of the DS and the wonderful games that came out for it from a year after its launch should give you pause for thought?

  • afghan_jones #77 5 years ago

    "Surely the success of the DS and the wonderful games that came out for it from a year after its launch should give you pause for thought?"


    When the Wii has a decent library of games I might change my tune but for now Im not convinced. I also just dislike the igeneral perception that the Wii is some kind of wonder machine form the heavens that has/will change the world into a better place. As far as Im concerned it is a new controller, nothing more. And until the games are there to back it up, that is what it will stay.

  • Sebo #78 5 years ago

    @monk

    It's actually Halo I've never played, played both Metroids.

    I like the Wii, but I can see other people's points about what the other consoles offer. We are not just talking about graphics as pictures on a page. Better graphics make for more believable environments, and thus more immersion within a game. People are talking about the atmosphere in bioshock. I remember what the atmosphere was like on cube resident evil, but then playing the wiimake, after having played Gears of War ...I kinda felt things had moved on. I'm just worried that's how MP3 is going to feel.

  • ManicDrunkMonk #79 5 years ago

    ^Surely Gears is an example of a next gen game that really didn't live up to its hype. It was a decent game due to some interesting control mechanics, but it won't be remembered in years to come just because of its graphics.

    In contrast, Bioshock in a few years will be remembered for the art direction not its technical brilliance, along with the amazing set of ideas. Okami in a similar way will be just as memorable and that was put on 7 year old hardware.

    I understand people saying that the powerful consoles can output pretty amazing and atmospheric stuff, I just don't see this as being a glass ceiling for games on the Wii. A good developer will get what they want from the hardware one way or another.

  • Sebo #80 5 years ago

    I thought Gears was great on many counts. Certainly going to remember it more fondly than the Metroids.
    Edited by 1 at 16/08/07 @ 13:41

  • Santino #81 5 years ago

    "I like the Wii, but I can see other people's points about what the other consoles offer. We are not just talking about graphics as pictures on a page. Better graphics make for more believable environments, and thus more immersion within a game. People are talking about the atmosphere in bioshock. I remember what the atmosphere was like on cube resident evil, but then playing the wiimake, after having played Gears of War ...I kinda felt things had moved on. I'm just worried that's how MP3 is going to feel.

    Well i've been playing the bioshock demo a lot, and last night i stuck on metroid prime for a bit. and it is still every bit as atmospheric and i was immersed as i ever was when playing through. Great art direction stands the test of time.

  • afghan_jones #82 5 years ago

    "^Surely Gears is an example of a next gen game that really didn't live up to its hype. It was a decent game due to some interesting control mechanics, but it won't be remembered in years to come just because of its graphics. "


    Well personally I think it delivered on a lot of things and will be remembered for all of them not just graphics. It was overhyped but it still sells for full price almost a year on and the MP is always full on every game type, ranked and unranked.

    also, graphics do sell games to people. When you see a trailer for Gears, Bioshock, ifght night 3 etc you do really think 'wow' that looks amazing. Seeing a trailer for most wii games is just less impressive these days. Actually playing the games might well be a different story but I know the impact that the gears 'mad world' trailer had on people and that was all on the visuals.

    But on the other hand, look at games like burnout, black and God of war, all of which got some pretty damn good graphics out of last gen hardware, so it could be that Wii developers start to squeeze more out. I think they need to though, as when 9if) the hype dies down, they will need visual impact to sell games.

  • Sebo #83 5 years ago

    @afghan

    Firstly, I agree with what you are saying about graphics - they do sell.

    But....other things sell to.

    I would say adverts of people playing Wii Sports had more impact on the masses than a trailer of Gears of War.

    I think the real pressure for Nintendo and other Wii developer isn't getting better graphics out of this system (even though that is something I would like to see them do) it's finding new ways of impressing people with this control scheme.

    Wii has been bought because it offered something. Now it has to keep on doing that. I don't imagine Metroid Prime will be a big seller because pointing and shooting at the screen just isnt that appealing to the masses

  • Nikanoru #84 5 years ago

    Take something like Dead Rising. hundreds of character models onscreen at the same time, if you had tried to do that last gen they would have looked like fucking stickmen.


    LOL! Well thanks for that, I don't even have to make a counter-argument because you admit it's possible.

    Hell, there were plenty of games last gen with countless enemies on screen, mostly war-type games. Have a look at <a href=http://www.jonath an-howe.com/gamedesign/uploaded_images/Kingdom_Under_Fire__H eroes_2-774870.jpg>Kingdom under Fire</a> on the original Xbox. And those don't even look remotely like stickmen! Imagine what they could have done had they simplified the character models even slightly!

    Did you know Doom64 had hundreds of enemies on screen at several points in the game, and the hardware didn't even flinch? Sure, they were sprites, but they were damn good looking sprites, and it didn't matter shit for the gameplay. And remember, that's last-last gen.


    For what it delivers over previous generations the Wii is expensive for what it physically is, as evidenced by the fact that unlike all other consoles for a long time, Nintendo profit from the hardware.


    Sorry to LOL once again but oh god you are silly. Remember the Gamecube? Remember how it had noticeably superior hardware to the PS2, cost one-third less than the PS2, and despite that, still managed to be the only console to rake in a profit all the way through? Nintendo simply knows their shit better than you ever could.

    You're making the same dumb assumption (well, either dumb or -deliberately- false) that many sony fanboys make: hardware cost equals console quality. This hasn't been true since the ludicrously overpriced Neo-Geo, or the original Playstation, which, despite lacking bilinear filtering, lacking perspective correct texturing, lacking a proper basic z-buffer, lacking antialiasing, and featuring horribly unstable and wobbly jello-looking polygons altogether paired with games very often being in 256 colours, STILL cost a hundred bucks more than the Nintendo 64 which corrected all these flaws and had three times the processor speed to boot.


    In short: you seem to be blinded by bias, sir.

  • afghan_jones #85 5 years ago

    "Did you know Doom64 had hundreds of enemies on screen at several points in the game, and the hardware didn't even flinch? Sure, they were sprites, but they were damn good looking sprites, and it didn't matter shit for the gameplay. And remember, that's last-last gen. "

    OK... not really sure where to go from here. If you are happy playing Doom64 and looking at sprites and really dont feel thats different to what was delivered in Dead Rising then go for it. Personally I preferred Dead Rising on several fronts.

    "Sorry to LOL once again but oh god you are silly. Remember the Gamecube? Remember how it had noticeably superior hardware to the PS2, cost one-third less than the PS2, and despite that, still managed to be the only console to rake in a profit all the way through? Nintendo simply knows their shit better than you ever could. "

    Um, Im pretty sure the Gamecube was generally perceived as something of a commercial failure wasn't it?

    Also, I noticed you didnt challenge the assumption that the Wii is expensive for what it physically is.

    Its £180 for a console that tech-wise isnt a massive leap up from the GC/PS2 which are half the price, with an added peripheral. (Plus in reality, you need a second Wiimote set which is another £45.)

    In the end, I may be biased by my opinions of how well the Wii actually delivers when measured against it's hype, but I would hardly suggest that you are entriely unbiased and subjective either so lets just call it a day without anyone needing to resort to childish LOLs or namecalling.

  • Nikanoru #86 5 years ago

    OK... not really sure where to go from here. If you are happy playing Doom64 and looking at sprites and really dont feel thats different to what was delivered in Dead Rising then go for it. Personally I preferred Dead Rising on several fronts.


    Hahaha, oh I just knew you would be going for the Doom64 bit instead of the paragraph I wrote before it. I was actually hesitating to put that in because I suspected you would.

    But that's beside the point anyways. OH YOUD RATHER PLAY OLD DOOM THAN DEAD RISING OH FINE THEN is exactly the kind of comment I'd expect from someone like you, instead of picking up on the fact that it was meant as a reply to your "hundreds of enemies on screen can't be done on older consoles" which is completely delusional.

    Nice try though!

    But, again I point you to my earlier paragraph about the Xbox games.


    Um, Im pretty sure the Gamecube was generally perceived as something of a commercial failure wasn't it?


    What the hell does that have to do with anything? Once again, you see to have conveniently forgotten what you typed just a few posts up! Silly man. I'll refresh your memory:

    For what it delivers over previous generations the Wii is expensive for what it physically is, as evidenced by the fact that unlike all other consoles for a long time, Nintendo profit from the hardware.

    Then I mentioned the Gamecube making a profit (despite being cheaper AND more powerful than the PS2), and I do believe all "recent" Nintendo consoles have been the same but I'm not 100% on that. I guess in your world, bringing the Cube's sales numbers into the picture suddenly makes your comment less wrong! I mean, I thought you only wanted to talk about the cost of the physical hardware (see below)? Well, whatever.


    Also, I noticed you didnt challenge the assumption that the Wii is expensive for what it physically is.

    /rolleyes

    I don't know if you've ever seen a Wii, in person. It literally is three DVD cases large. That's what you "physically get", two Gamecubes + a roll of duct tape + the best motion technology currently on the market + a front-loader that takes two disc sizes (no idea how expensive that is to make) all in the space of something that's nearly handheld size.

    Next you'll tell me the PSP has no business costing as much as it does cuz it's only 300 megahurts!!! I can buy a pc like that off a flea market for ten bux!

    Wait, that's a Sony product. Nevermind. ;)

    It's no more expensive for what it is than the PS3. Which just isn't any better than the 360, let's face it.

  • afghan_jones #87 5 years ago

    "it was meant as a reply to your "hundreds of enemies on screen can't be done on older consoles" which is completely delusional. "

    Ok they can be done, just not very well which was kinda the whole point really. you'll note in that screenshot that they arent in a detailed environment filled with other items, all with their own physics. Plus theres a lot less characters there than in the more frantic Deadrising sections.

    "Um, Im pretty sure the Gamecube was generally perceived as something of a commercial failure wasn't it?


    What the hell does that have to do with anything? "

    You were the one who said GC was better than PS2 and made a profit all the way through, stating that Nintendo clearly 'knew their shit' when they chose not to take a loss on the hardware. my point was therfore relevant as in actual fact Nintendo's strategy was clearly flawed in some way as evidenced by the commercial failure of the GC.


    "I don't know if you've ever seen a Wii, in person. It literally is three DVD cases large. That's what you "physically get", two Gamecubes + a roll of duct tape + the best motion technology currently on the market + a front-loader that takes two disc sizes (no idea how expensive that is to make) all in the space of something that's nearly handheld size.

    Next you'll tell me the PSP has no business costing as much as it does cuz it's only 300 megahurts!!! I can buy a pc like that off a flea market for ten bux! "

    I really meant more in terms of what the Wii delivers for the cost. Basically the motion tech is the only significant new feature over what has gone before. I suppose only you can know why exactly you feel the PSP of all things is now relevant but I would say, enjoy that flea market PC and enjoy all the games you can play on it whilst on the bus/train/outside etc.

    I would also suggets you ask yourself some searching questions as to why you feel it is necessary to fire personal insults at people who disagree with you. Thats how the Nazis got started you know.

  • Nikanoru #88 5 years ago

    Thats how the Nazis got started you know.


    HAH. Godwin's Law.

    I win.









    But I'll continue anyway.

    Ok they can be done, just not very well which was kinda the whole point really. you'll note in that screenshot that they arent in a detailed environment filled with other items, all with their own physics. Plus theres a lot less characters there than in the more frantic Deadrising sections.


    There's blimps and everything. There are other screenshots too with trees and all that. And like I said, those character models are quite detailed, they could lose a bit of that detail and spend the resources elsewhere.

    Regardless, no that wasn't the whole point, don't try to twist it. If you remember this thing started by me saying there was no gameplay type that couldn't be done in principle on the original Xbox. And there still isn't, at least not as far as we've seen up until now. And I doubt we will see anything in the future, judging by all the standard FPS/racing/football fare that's being pumped out across all gaming platforms on a daily basis.

    Not that I care, mind you. I still love my SNES.



    You were the one who said GC was better than PS2 and made a profit all the way through, stating that Nintendo clearly 'knew their shit' when they chose not to take a loss on the hardware. my point was therfore relevant as in actual fact Nintendo's strategy was clearly flawed in some way as evidenced by the commercial failure of the GC.


    What?

    Let's summarise this:

    Your "point" was that Nintendo was making a profit on the Wii from the beginning and you took this as proof that their console MUST be too expensive for the physical technology that you get. And you wrongfully assumed this was the first console in a long time to do so.
    Then I mentioned that, actually, the Cube made a profit all the way through, which, by your logic, would make it "expensive for what you get" yet it was more powerful than the (more expensive and money-losing) PS2.
    This negates your original argument, I'm not sure what else you're seeing in it.


    As for the rest....


    I really meant more in terms of what the Wii delivers for the cost. Basically the motion tech is the only significant new feature over what has gone before. I suppose only you can know why exactly you feel the PSP of all things is now relevant but I would say, enjoy that flea market PC and enjoy all the games you can play on it whilst on the bus/train/outside etc.


    /facepalm

    I don't even know where to begin.

    NO, of course I'm not going to buy an old PC and play that on the bus. That was the whole point of my (sarcastic) comment.

    YOU'RE the one talking about the price versus what you physically get. What you physically get with both the Wii and PSP is miniaturised technology which is always more expensive.

    And now you're all of a sudden supporting my argument there! Well, great. If you're suddenly counting "playing new games, on the bus" as something that you "physically get" then I hope you don't mind if, besides the dual motion and pointer tech, I count all the Nintendo franchises on the Wii, all other new games coming out, the free game that comes with it, the 100% perfect backwards compatibility with all games (the Wii is the only console to feature this currently, btw) and the Virtual Console which is frankly the very best download service of the three, mainly because of (as has been quoted by Eurogamer several times) the full-length meaty RPG (or adventure, platforming etc) experiences it provides.



    But, whatever. By Godwin's Law you lose this argument by default anyway.

  • Sebo #89 5 years ago

    Afghan, I don't know where you get the energy to have an argument every day. I'll have some of what you are on please.

  • afghan_jones #90 5 years ago

    @Sebo

    Im just a confrontation magnet.


    @Nikanoru

    Oh no, you won. I guess its all over. You are right, Nintendo are beyond reproach and games peaked somwhere around 1993 beyond which everything has just been shit but better looking or something.

    I hope you enjoy the hollow fleeting glow of what is apparently a great victory.

    Edit: Nikanoru, just found out what Godwins Law actually is and its the dumbest thing Ive ever heard. If an online discussion goes on long enough it will mention anything and everything. I now lay down the rules of 'Afghan's Law' - anyone who makes reference to the fall of the Roman Empire automatically loses and must ritually disembowl themselves. I have said it and it is therefore so.

    Godwins Law. Load of old cock.
    Edited by 1 at 17/08/07 @ 14:26

  • Nikanoru #91 5 years ago

    afghan_jones:

    First of all, uhm, I think you're taking the Godwin's Law comment just a bit too seriously. ;)

    Yet you don't seem to understand it. It's not about the mere fact that Nazi's were mentioned in an argument, it's the fact that apparently, someone ran out of things to say, so instead resorted to the insult of comparing their opponent to one. And when one person runs out, the other "wins".

    But again.... don't take it too seriously. ;)



    And no, I'm not saying gaming peaked in 1993. I'm just providing some counterweight to views like yours, according to which, apparently, the Wii is a piece of crap from the eighties that can barely handle friggin tetris, let alone any modern games with three or more enemies on screen that the other consoles are somehow magically equipped for. Let's face it, FPS games with big explosions were possible ten years ago as well.

    No, in reality the only limiter is the game developer's creativity. No, I don't believe gaming can't get any better, just that it's for the most part not a question of processor speed at all. Again, there's virtually nothing out right now that can't be done, gameplay-wise, on the Wii.

    In reality, visuals are the only significant "negative" on the Wii aside the advantages it has. And even then you'd look mighty silly to call RE4, Mario Galaxy or MP3 "ugly" games.

  • citizenHUNTER #92 5 years ago

    Sebo:


    "I'm totally underwhelmed by the sounds of this. I liked Metroid Prime, but after 20 hours in I gave up cus everything was just too much of a chore in it. Echoes is sitting under dust, I barely scratched the surface of that and only picked it up cus it was a fiver.

    I really don't think this is an example of the "fun" which Miyamoto has been preaching just moments ago......

    And totally agree with the gamecube graphic statements. I know the Wii is underpowered in comparison to the other two, but this looks totally like a Gamecube game and that does not amuse me. Graphics aren't everything, but I didn't pay £180 just for a new control scheme...."

    Couldn't agree more, plus personally I find the old school boss battle idea mind numbingly annoying. The first Metroid on the Cube was enough for me, got bored of endless wandering back and forth and horrible Cube controls. Can't they just do FPS controls!? I guess it'll at least be a bit better on the Wii for looking around tho.

  • GingerNathan #93 5 years ago

    Just to let some of you know the US magazine, Nintendo Power have just reviewed Metroid Prime3, they gave it 10/10. Before some of you start shouting that it's a Nintendo magazine so it doesn't count, you should know that they've only ever given one perfect score out before and that was the Gamecube release of Resident Evil 4.
    Besides, regardless of any bias, the score does imply that Retro have made a cracking game that won't disappoint.

  • afghan_jones #94 5 years ago

    @Nikanoru

    Actually Godwins Law is really only about mentioning the Nazis in any discussion given enough time, it was only through use on internet forums that it later picked up the idea of 'winning' when someone else mentioned it.

    "apparently, the Wii is a piece of crap from the eighties that can barely handle friggin tetris, let alone any modern games with three or more enemies on screen that the other consoles are somehow magically equipped for. "

    Dont remember ever saying that, maybe you could point out exactly when I said that.

    But Im not shocked as seeing some of your posts in other threads has shown you have a chronic inability to discuss anything rationally without namecalling or fanboyism.

    bye.

  • Nikanoru #95 5 years ago

    Dont remember ever saying that, maybe you could point out exactly when I said that.

    Oh come on. You think you're kidding anyone? You would totally love to believe that. And of course you haven't said that literally, it's called "hyperbole".

    Bye. ;)