#Metroid prime iso series#

Things you encounter or learn about in one part of the map (the Impact Crater/Artifact Temple) have implications in other parts of the map (the Phazon Mines). There's a very satisfying flow from area to area as your newfound abilities expand your ability to explore.

Prime 1 does a great job of layering its map, in a way that I don't think other Prime games do quite as well. Prime 1 really nailed both the map design and the environmental storytelling that, together with a unique sci-fi style, make a really great Metroid game. Has the best end game fetch quest since you can easily accomplish it without a ton of extra effort unlike the first two. I thought the implementation of the gunship was interesting, and I think that could still carry over to a single planet game. Skytown was cool, but a pain to backtrack through. Bosses felt like a step back from Echoes as a whole. Beam upgrades were disappointing since they were all just straight upgrades to the single available beam. I'm not a fan of the increased scope, I'd prefer to have a single very diverse planet than several that only demonstrate one or two environments. Prime 3 does a few things I like and a lot that I don't.

Worst end game key hunt of the trilogy, since practically every key requires end-game equipment and can't be obtained early. Would have been nice if Dark Aether had a bit more variety while still being as dreadful as it is. Enemies are a bit bullet spongy, and fighting efficiently leads to an annoying gameplay loop of using a bunch of ammo on every encounter -> busting a bunch of ammo caches between fights to reload -> use a bunch of ammo again. Ammo system wasn't necessary and shouldn't have been implemented. The Light Suit might be the single most empowering and gratifying powerup in the entire series. Features the highest highs of the trilogy with some of the best areas and bosses. I appreciate the more complex, labyrinthine world of Aether compared to Tallon IV, and the game is too good at instilling a sense of dread in Dark Aether. Prime 2 changes some things up, for better and worse. For the most part it did everything it set out to do well and is a great experience throughout. Prime 1 has the distinction of being first and creating the formula (well, kinda). I put 2 on top but I can easily see 1 being there, I felt that way for a long time. They have different strengths and weaknesses. It became a shooter more than a Metroid game, and for me, the disappointment that many would go on to feel with Metroid: Other M was felt first with Prime 3 (though Prime 3 is better than Other M). It's too linear, segmented, guided, and with the other characters, loses the sense of isolation and atmosphere. That game was magnificent, and though it lags a bit in the final stretch, it stands as one of the best games ever made, and definitely as one of the best transitions to 3D.

A decade from its release, people would go on to praise Souls games for doing a lot of things Echoes did, but got criticized for in its time. It was a bit ahead of its time, honestly. It was extremely difficult, but that was perfect, it felt like an accomplishment to survive the hostile world you found yourself on. The intertwining complexity of not just one but two echoing worlds that interlocked into each other led to flat out the best Metroid game we have had.

#Metroid prime iso series#

It's the unsung hero of the trilogy, but it's where the atmosphere/world building/level design/storytelling/mechanical prowess/boss battles of the series were at its highest. I'm personally going to go out on a limb to bat for Metroid Prime 2 here. Nintendo doesn't feel like the game was meeting the standards of the original trilogy, which is fine, since those are among the most beloved games of all time.īut with that out of the way, which of those did you think was the very best, and why? So I guess we'll be waiting for Metroid Prime 4 for a while, judging by today's announcement.