First Impressions: Bring Back That Metroid Feelin’!
Any self-respecting Gamecube owner will tell you that Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes are two of the system’s undisputed highlights. With these titles, Retro Studios flawlessly transformed the Metroid series from its side-scrolling roots to a ground breaking, first-person shooter (FPS). Based on this precedent, Retro hopes to again revolutionize the series with the Wii launch title, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
Corruption once again puts the player behind the mask of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran. The storyline deals with the origins of the notorious phazon substance from the previous games. Corruption spans multiple worlds as Samus seeks to stop her evil doppelganger, Dark Samus, from spreading the deadly phazon across the universe. In the meantime, she will have to contend with the likes of the space pirates and the ever-present metroid menace.
Retro keeps in tune with what made the past games successful while adding an eclectic mix of new elements to Corruption. At a point in the game, the phazon corrupts Samus herself. This corruption will allow Samus to go into “hyper mode.” In this mode, Samus’ abilities are enhanced, but not without a cost. While in hyper mode a corruption bar appears. This bar increases the longer the player remains in this state. If it fills up, Samus dies. The use of weapons while in this mode drains the phazon and thus the bar. Retro describes how resourceful players will be able to balance this gain/drain and stay in hyper mode for long periods of time.
In a departure from the Prime series, Samus will not lose her abilities at the beginning of the game. That being said, in Corruption there are a number of new weapons and gadgets for Metroid-hungry players to discover. The X-Ray Visor returns, which is used in conjunction with a new gun that allows Samus to shoot through walls. A new “command visor” enables players to remotely command Samus’ ship. The player will utilize the ship’s abilities to surpass obstacles such as doorways blocked by rubble.
In Corruption, the switching between beam weapons of the Prime series is kept to a minimum. Instead, as in Super Metroid, each successive beam possesses the skills of previous ones. Retro gave up the multiple beam format in favor of placing emphasis on the staples of Samus’ arsenal: the blaster, missiles, and grappling hook.
Where the game will differ most is in the control scheme. The Wii’s nunchuck attachment is used to move Samus, while the player uses the Wii remote to aim and turn. When the remote is centered, the player aims freely with crosshairs, but if the player wants Samus to turn all he or she has to do is move the remote to the edge of the screen. Never fear Prime loyalists, for the lock-on targeting system is still available.
Aside from movement, the Wii’s controls bring the degree of interaction between the player and Samus’ world to an unprecedented level. Samus’ grappling beam is no longer just a glorified vine, but is used in a multitude of ways. When the grappling beam indicator appears, a flick of the nunchuck’s accelerator activates the beam. Attaching the beam to an object, the player can pull back on the nunchuck’s analog stick and rip it away. The uses for this movement include accessing barred doorways and removing space pirate weaponry in mid-battle.
Another innovative addition is that the player must use the Wii remote to activate certain switches. A switch may be near a locked doorway. Walking up to it, Samus’ free arm appears and grabs onto the switch. The player must then use the Wii remote to align the switch in the proper way to activate the mechanism. As expected, when the player moves his or her arm, Samus’ arm responds in the same manner.
The graphics and sound of the game in the E-3 demo are similar to that of Echoes. Retro states the visuals are sill being fine-tuned and will reflect the Wii’s superior technology. Upon release, the game will flow at a solid 60 FPS and allow multiple enemies on-screen at a time. The sound in the promo, while reminiscent of the past titles, still works well for the game. As the saying goes, “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and with this in mind Retro includes the same top-notch environmental noises and atmospheric music of the past two titles. Voice work will also have a heavier presence in the game. Those gamers who suffered third-degree burns on their retinas from reading massive in-game text will no doubt welcome this fact.
Sorry multiplayer fans, pray for a new Phantasy Star because you aren’t going to meet your online fiancée in Corruption. Retro stated they put all their efforts into creating a dynamic singer-player experience, foregoing notions of online play. This however does not preclude the use of the Wii’s Connect24 feature to possibly download new suits or levels.
