Metroid Prime Remastered Review – The Second Coming

Metroid Prime was first originally published by Nintendo back in 2002 for the GameCube, and it was one of the most celebrated games of its time. Retro Studio, a new developer at the time, impressively translated what was a 2D game into a 3D environment and added a gorgeous first-person perspective. And as we will now discuss in our Metroid Prime Remastered review, they have attempted to do so again.

There is a legacy attached to this game, and it’s safe to say that it is still among the finest GameCube titles to ever be published. Now after two decades, this classic was just remastered for the Nintendo Switch, and Retro Studio has once more showcased its skills as some of the best in the business.

Story And Setting

Metroid Prime is the first installment in the ‘Prime’ narrative, and it is set between the events of Metroid and Metroid II. And for the game, the studio created a comprehensive plot which was seen to be a significant departure from other titles in the series. Before significant battles, short cutscenes are shown, and an object’s backstory is extracted by a scanner in the heads-up display. 

The planet Tallon IV, where the Chozo race once resided, is the setting for the game. When a meteor hit the planet fifty years ago, the race perished, and this meteor not only carried a creature known to the Chozo as “The Worm,” but it also contaminated the planet with a mutagenic substance that the Space Pirates later named Phazon.

The Artifact Temple created a gigantic containment barrier emitter in the Tallon Overworld area to lock the meteor’s energies and influence within the crater where it crashed, which the Space Pirates seek to destroy or bypass to get greater access to extract the Phazon. The twelve Chozo relics scattered around the world govern the confinement field.

Concerning the protagonist, we play as Samus, a bounty hunter by trade, chasing down the evil Space Pirates. The player’s goal then is to go through the planet of Tallon IV to search for twelve Chozo Relics that can open the way to the Phazon meteor.

Gameplay

While the remaster’s main selling points may be its upgraded graphics, improved sound, and multiple difficulty options, the essential gameplay mechanics are more or less the same. You play from a first-person perspective, blasting foes and making use of different gadgets and weapons along the way.

Samus’s journey through Tallon IV is filled with exciting new power-ups, allowing players to uncover previously unreachable areas. These upgrades, including ammunition packs and increased health, serve as enticing motivators for players to continue exploring different regions.

However, it’s important to note that some key items such as the morph ball and grapple beam are initially available because unfortunately they have been lost due to an explosion. This may seem like a setback but it isn’t, the game does an excellent job of introducing players to the functionality of these basic powers before delving deeper into the core gameplay experience.

It’s time to move beyond what is already well-known and discuss the changes in the remastered version of Metroid Prime. One of the most noticeable modifications for those who have played the original game is the updated controls. In this remastered edition, the default control scheme has been switched to the popular “Dual-Stick” setup that has become standard in many shooting games, and this allows players to move with one stick and aim with the other, providing a more intuitive gaming experience.

Earlier I said “Modification,” but it’s more appropriate to say “Addition” of a new control scheme to the already extensive list of options available, because all previous control schemes remain intact, ensuring that players can choose the one that best suits their preferences. There are now a total of four controller options to choose from; Dual-Stick Controller, Pointer Controller, Classic Controller, and Hybrid Controller.

The Dual-Stick Controller is the default option, using the left stick for movement and the right stick for camera control. The Pointer Controller, inspired by the Wii’s Metroid Prime Trilogy, allows players to aim through motion controls with the controller or Joy-Cons. The Classic Controller, based on the original game, has players aim with the left stick while holding ZR.

The Hybrid Controller merges elements of Classic and Pointer, allowing players to move and aim through motion controls when holding ZR. It may take time to master, but it’s a unique way to play the game for fans of this control method.

The ability to move around while aiming and looking around puts Metroid Prime Remastered really close to the run-and-gun shooter genre, though it’s anything but. One thing is for sure though, encounters, exploration, and backtracking are even more fun and smooth because of the new controls.

Visuals And Performance

Metroid Prime’s remastered version shines in its visuals and aesthetics. Players who have never experienced the game before would be hard-pressed to believe that it is a 20-year-old title because the “Remastered” in the title doesn’t do it justice. The developers didn’t just upgrade the resolution or add an HD filter, instead, it seems like they entirely redesigned the character models and remade the textures from scratch.

The attention to detail is stunning. From the condensation on Samus’s visor to the rain droplets that roll down the visor screen, every aspect has been carefully crafted. The rain droplets even change direction upon impact with a surface. All these features make the game truly immersive, and my favorite one is Samus’ face being reflected on the visor screen when firing a beam from close proximity to an object.

The music contributes significantly to the game’s immersive atmosphere, rivaling other titles that cast players as lonely wanderers in alien landscapes, such as Dead Space. It effectively cultivates a sense of isolation, crucial to the game’s experience.

Though the autosave has been a tradition for most games for a long time Metroid Prime Remastered decided not to follow that tradition. There’s no autosave here, and there’s not even a manual save option in the menu. To save their progress, players have to backtrack to the save stations scattered around the map. 

Verdict

I can say without a doubt that Metroid Prime Remastered is one of the best remakes I have ever seen. The integration of modern technology with a classic gaming experience has elevated the game to new heights, and the revamped visuals, aesthetics, and control schemes make for a fresh and exciting adventure.

Retro Studios has raised the bar for remastered games with their work on Metroid Prime, and whether you’re a fan of the original or just a gamer looking for a new challenge, this title is a must-play. So, if you own a switch, don’t hesitate to dive into the world of Metroid Prime. Trust me, it’s worth it. 

This has been our Metroid Prime Remastered Review. While you’re here, consider checking out some of our other articles. 

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