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Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Age: 20 Posts: 11,799
| Metroid Prime 2:Echoes Review
First Metroid game I ever played was Super Metroid on the SNes. I only played it casue the cover looked cool, and i just had randomly picked a game from blockbuster in which to rent. I fell in love with the game, and had to rent it two more times to beat it (no internet to help back then). I was disapointed the N64 didn't carry a sequal to it, and I had long thought Metroid would never be revised, not even the gameboy had accepted another Metroid game. Then Metroid Prime was released, developed by Retro Studios. Metroid Prime was an amazing game, well thought out. The story was interesting, though taking place before Metroid II: Return Of samus. Metroid Prime II, also developed by Retro Studios, follows the same storyline as Metroid Prime, and takes place before MEtroid II, right after Metroid Prime.
Gameplay 9/10: Gameplay has not changed from Metroid Prime, though there are new and unique powerups. Though I feel cheated without the wavebeam, icebeam, and plasma beam I have grown to love. Metroid Prime II replaces the time honored beams with 3 new beams, Light beam, dark beam and annihilator beam. Three beams that work off ammo. Basicly, ammo system works like this. One dark shot uses one dark ammo, a charged dark shot takes 5 dark ammo, one light shot takes one light ammo, a charged light shot takes 5 light ammo, and one annihlator shot takes one dark, and one light ammo and a charged annihilator shot takes 5 dark, and 5 light ammo. The game also features two new suits(light and dark suir), and new enviroments to explore, including parallel universes, that require shifting between them, like in games such as Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, or one of the Capcom Zelda games on gameboy color. Light aehter and dark aether have entirely new units, and some old units. though Old units have been given new skins, and some upgraded abilities. Dark Aether's enviroment has a poisionous atmosphere. It is rather annoying, until the dark suit is aquired, because Samus must move between little bubbles that are "safe zones". the game features new puzzles, which are not so hard u must look for help, but not easy that u have to actualy think. the light/dark system can become rather repetative, moving to the dark world which is the same as the light world but with darker colors and some missing doors. However, it isn't to frustrating that I want to give up.
Powerups, like in the last game are scattered and there are optional powerups, like beam combos. Alot of the old items are gone, there is no gravity suit, which is replaced by a disapointing gravity powerup. All visors have been replaced, by I hate to say rather useless visors, which serve very little functions. Some other itmes have made it into the game, like the grapel beam. There is also items that were features in older metroid games, but not in the last prime like the Screw attack. One of the newer upgrades is the screw attack, which allows for a similar function as in the 2d games, and allows for long distantce.
One thing that was featured in the last gmae, and has been upgraded in this one is the scan feature. Scanning creatures allows for knowledge on weaknesses, and other interesting info. Scanning is different, a scanable object now is color coded, which has changed from the last game where only a yellow box appeared. An object that has not been scanned will appear as blue or red, blue being an unscanned, but unimportant object or a creature. Red object is important to the mission, or contains story infro. a scanned object will appear completely green. Anything that cannot be scanned remains the same color. This helps to distinguish when you wish to go on the scanning mission to get 100% for that ending you want.
The game controls are much the same, and though many have been annoyed at this, I beleive it is a good controller configuration.
Multiplayer has been added to it, and though I have not had the pleasure to play it, I have heard good things about it, whith some drawbacks. I cannot rate this cause I have not tried it.
All in all, gameplay has changed dramaticly, but the game keeps up its amazing ability to captivate my interest.
Graphics 10/10: Graphics are stunning. Samus herself looks much better. The enviroments look improved over old Metroid Prime enviroments. Dark aether looks great, and the contrast between light and dark in both worlds is really amazing. Effects like fog on Samus' visor, or splashes of water really give the game a more realistic feel.
Sound 8/10: The Music is amazing, there is no doubt. However some of it is just remixes of Metroid Prime I music. Old time tunes remain from the glory days of Metroid. Unit sounds have not been updated, and there is few distinctions between all the creatures. Most sound Identical to what was experienced in Metroid Prime I.
Story 10/10: A game is just a game, until a story is added. The Metroid Prime II story is an indepth one. Though playing through the game, you may get the basics of it, and if you are fine with that so be it. Anyone who is more interested, can find logs, which contain story data. The Stroy is obtained by scanning dead bodies found on the floor, or by scanning computer which holds data. The game also features a return of Metroid Prime, which this time has taken Samus' Phazon suit from Metroid Prime. Though we have already had a good samus versus evil Samus in a previous game (Metroid Fusion). However, this small recycling did not take away from the story.
The story has some repetative elements, like a meteor of phazon, and a peaceful race that must fight to survive(sound familiar? same sort of plot as the Metroid Prime offered). However, jsut enough differences exist for me to still thoroughly enjoy it.
replay value 8/10: The game, like Metroid Prime, or all metroid games is the game becomes dull playing it to many times. Except for the desired endings, there is nothing to go back and beat it again. Though I am one to go back and play this game, there is little point in beating it again. Multiplayer however may be a reason to play the game repeatedly. Multiplayer usualy has the ability to bring players back to annihilate your shit talking friend.
Overall 9/10 the game is really, truely amazing. The game plays like it's predecessor, and has many new features to keep you amused. Graphics are stunning, and the music is really nice. The Story is really interesting, though many elements similar to Metroid Prime's plot exists. Like most adventrue games, playing through the game several times becomes boring, unless you want to collect those items or scans to get the perfect ending, or try your hand at hard mode. All in all, it was well worth the money, and moves up on the gamecube, and all time games, best of list. |
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