A thrilling end to the trilogy
| Platform | OVERALL |
|---|---|
| Wii | 9.20 |
| Overall | 9.20 |
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Metroid Prime 3: Corruption opens on a space cruiser, where Samus and several other bounty hunters have been called to help out the Galactic Federation. A virus, seemingly of Space Pirate origin, has been unleashed on a number of Aurora Units - biological supercomputers that manage the vast computer networks of all major Federation facilities. The networks have been taken down, and it's up to Samus - along with some help, to bring them back online. Firstly I need to explain the context of this review. I had read players complaints that it was too easy on the game's "normal" mode, so I decided to jump straight to Veteran difficulty seeing as I already knew the basics from Metroid Prime. (I must also note I haven't played MP2: Echoes so I don't exactly know much about it gameplay-wise). I also used the Advanced aiming mode for Samus' weapons. You may wish to use something easier, but from my experiences with this game, you don't need to be scared about trying the harder difficulty. There is a nice, gradual learning curve and the game lets you get used to the control style before throwing you into the action, although not too late either. Plus there is also Hypermode to unlock once you finish the game. Unlike in previous versions of Metroid, you don't lose all of your equipment from the start and already have a substantial amount of gear such as the Space Jump and Morph Ball abilities. However, that does not imply that you won't be getting anything more for your efforts. Instead of switching between different beams like in the previous two games, they are now "stacked" on top of each other. This allows you to open up new areas and fight different enemies without having to fiddle around switching between weapons. This method hearkens back to Super Metroid albeit without the ability to select different weapon combinations. Also, instead of having an individual ice beam, it has now become integrated into a missile upgrade. This wouldn't be a Prime game without the involvement of that little creepy substance called Phazon and, now that Samus has been exposed to the element and the Federation got their hands on a Space Pirate stash of the stuff, you now become equipped with an upgrade called the PED or Phazon Enhancement Device. This basically acts like a supercharger for your weapons allowing you to deal a lot more damage. This comes at a price however, because it is fed by your energy tanks and the more Phazon you use, the less life you will have afterwards and this is an excellent reason not to use it as a gameplay crutch - I commend Rare and Nintendo for this because there were too many "hold-your-hand" moments in Zelda: Twilight Princess. It also feeds directly into the game plot and lets you feel an emotional connection with the changes going on in Samus' body. The controls in Corruption are very intuitive and even challenge you to do your own aiming (advanced mode) instead of locking-on and firing without thinking. The context sensitive controls such as plugging in energy cells and turning door switches really helps you connect with the game. Some reviewers complain about it being a little awkward but, as I've said in my SSX Blur review, it's usually because you're not concentrating enough on how your doing it. For me everything worked perfectly and I was not once thinking why an action didn't occur, and if I did, it was only before realising that I wasn't doing it right in the first place. The level structure in Corruption is also new. Instead of having to traverse an entire planet in one game, there are now several different planets and locations for you to visit thanks to Samus' trusty ship with each world having multiple landing platforms to access. This also gives you the added benefit of saving your progress and recharging your energy before setting out for more. Each of the planets you visit are entirely unique which really helps you immerse yourself in the environments and focus on exploring the wonderfully crafted worlds - from ancient, overgrown temples, to flying cities to the clean, militaristic tidiness of the Galactic Federation outposts, to the dark and sinister tunnels of the Space Pirate Homeworld they are all diverse and all captivating. Bryyo, for example, made you genuinely feel like you were alone on a completely alien world on which an ancient culture once thrived. This also spurs you on to learn about each of the different inhabitants of the worlds and the backstory to the events in the game. You do this by using the Scan Visor which is very much improved over Metroid Prime. There are 3 visors in the game which are the Scan and Xray visors as well as a new visor called the Command Visor which lets you order your ship to do specific tasks and land on newly discovered platforms. It also adds another element to the gameplay with certain puzzle-solving benefits if you take your time to scan what's around you. Where mission objectives are concerned there is plenty of variety from basic search and destroy missions, to sequential puzzle-solving situations. The action in this game is practically non-stop and really keeps you on your toes towards the end. There are also plenty of times in the game that let you slow down to take in your surroundings. You will even find yourself a little anxious about entering an unexplored room because, after scanning several dead bodies and finding they've had the life sucked out of them, you start to dread what will be on the other side. That being said, the game is far from frustrating and even though you may die the first time (or several) in a boss/enemy fight you don't end up feeling cheated. You feel like you've learned something from the initial encounter and are ready to take a boss/new enemy head-on. The bosses in this game are really fun to fight and make use of all the necessary weapons in your arsenal. Many are also huge and each one is very unique. Graphics in Corruption are a step up from the previous games and quite vibrant at times, showing that there is plenty of room to move for developers. It also reinforces Nintendo's philosophy of gameplay over visuals. That is NOT to say this game isn't beautiful, because the artistic elements of the game are more vibrant and detailed than ever and never cease to make you stop and stare. Understandably they don't have the high definition clarity of a powerhouse console but, again, you never really notice it because of the sheer variety. The sound is also excellent and really makes you feel like you're finishing the epic finale to a trilogy. My only gripe with it though is that it still uses the tiresome midi/synth music which unfortunately becomes noticeable after a while. However, it still holds up as being a good accompaniment to your environments and lets you enjoy the game. With all this in mind, Metroid 3 Corruption is a game that lives up to it's reputation as being a benchmark for other games to follow. It provides you with enough action to keep your heart racing, yet drops your jaw with tranquil vistas and seemingly vast worlds. If you haven't at least played the original Prime and looked at Prime 2's events you won't really gain the full potential of the excellent backstory. That being said, you won't be disappointed either. I also recommend you look up my videos of the Gametrailers retrospective and check out the Metroid Manga which has been translated from Japanese into English. This really helps you understand the role of characters in the backstory and gives you a basis for what this game is trying to achieve. So if you want a fun game for the Wii, this is another one to add to your library. Now go finish the fight!! |
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Posted by selbie Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:49:50
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robio (3m)
Now here's a review I can't agree with.
However unlike the famous GS review it's well written.