Ever since the announcement of the DS, Nintendo fanboys have been drooling over the thought of playing Metroid Prime: Hunters. The release of the Metroid Prime: Hunters demo back when the DS first launched gave fans a little taste of what was to come. The demo was unlike any of the other Metroid games. It felt more like a first person shooter than an adventure game. Sure Metroid Prime on the Gamecube was in the first person, but Metroid Prime stayed true to the Metroid formula and was primarily an adventure game. Sadly we would have to wait to get a taste of this new Metroid “shooter” as Hunters was delayed. But finally the wait is over. Is it really a Metroid first person shooter, or did Hunters stick to the Metroid adventure style that we’ve grown up with? Are the controls good? Is the game any good? Well I’ll try to answer those questions. Just let me start from the beginning.
The game is set in between the events of Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime: Echoes. The story starts off with the Federation intercepting a telepathic message on the whereabouts of the “Ultimate Power.” The Federation sends our hero Samus on a mission to discover what the ultimate power is and acquire it if possible. Samus isn’t the only bounty hunter on this mission though; six other bounty hunters are also after the ultimate power. Each bounty hunter has their own unique ability, which will make Samus’ job a lot harder. Samus must fend off these other bounty hunters, as she explores multiple planets in whats basically a big treasure hunt for power.
Fighting off other bounty hunters isn’t what this game is all about though. Despite a larger focus on shooting, Hunters is surprisingly not that much different from Metroid Prime on the GameCube. As you search through each planet, you acquire new abilities and upgrades for Samus. The new abilities unlock new areas on each planet. So of course there is a bit of back tracking. But the back tracking is split up around the different planets. So you’ll have to hike back to your ship after each boss you defeat which can get pretty repetitive. After each boss fight, a timer goes off and you have to make it back to your ship before the time runs out. To make matters worse most of the bosses are almost all the same. Despite the flaws, the game play is still solid. You’ll find puzzles all around, and even some morph ball action. Yes the morph ball is back, and that’s a good thing. Not to mention that as always the bosses are set up like puzzles. The bosses may not be as elaborate as they usually are in the Metroid series, they are still challenging. The single player alone can last players about 8 hours. Metroid also rewards you with a better ending if you complete the game with 100 percent, so you may find yourself playing single player a couple of times trying to collect everything.
Hunters is pretty much like every other game in the series and its truly worthy of the Metroid name. It has Samus exploring planets, back tracking, multiple endings, unlocking new areas with new weapons, kicking alien butt all over the place, and atmosphere. The atmosphere is as incredible as ever. There aren’t as many N64 games out there that look as good as Hunters let alone the DS. The graphics sets up the perfect environment for Samus on the DS. The looks of the other bounty hunters are quite creative. Samus looks really good as well including her weapon, and that’s good because you pretty much have to stare at it the whole game. Hunters also has some beautiful FMV’s sprinkled throughout the game. The graphics and FMV’s aren’t the only thing that sets up a good atmosphere. The music is as spooky as ever and helps to creates an eerie atmosphere. Not to mention that the music sounds great blaring through your DS speakers and of course, it sounds even better through head phones.
Atmosphere, puzzles, and adventure isn’t what make Hunters stand out though. The controls are what actually set Hunters apart from the other games in the Metroid series. The touch screen controls are very precise and allows this game and its players to concentrate more on the shooting aspect of the series. The touch screen controls are similar to a mouse and keyboard. Basically you use the touch screen to aim, the d-pad/buttons to move forward, back, strafe, and R&L to shoot & zoom in with the sniper scope. There are a few problems with these controls namely the learning curve that comes with having a unique control scheme. The biggest problem with these controls is comfort. Not everyone will find a comfortable way to hold the DS while using the touch screen. There is also an option to use the d-pad or buttons to aim, for those that would prefer that, though the game is really meant to be played with touch screen, especially since the puzzles in this game mostly revolve around shooting and precise aiming.
The Touch screen controls really shine in the multiplayer modes. It’s fast paced and you’ll need the precision and speed that comes from the touch screen. You’ll be able to play multiplayer with 3 other friends with single cart or multi-cart play. Or even better, you’ll be able to play with your friends and strangers across the world via Nintendo‘s WIFI service. For the first time ever on the DS, you’ll even be able to talk to your friends through your DS microphone before and after matches although sadly, you won’t be able to talk trash while you’re in a match. The multiplayer is quite deep. There are 7 unique Bounty hunters to pick from. Just like Samus’ morph ball, every hunter has their own unique alternate form and personalized weapon. Aside from the different playable bounty hunters, there are 7 different multiplayer modes and 25 different battle stages. Between the multiplayer and multiple endings, you may be playing Hunters for quite a while.
Is Hunters really a Metroid first person shooter, or did it Hunters stick to the Metroid adventure style that we’ve grown up with? Are the controls good? Is the game itself any good? I said I’d try to answer those questions. So for starters, Metroid Prime: Hunters stayed true to the Metroid series. Is it an fps or a so called first person adventure? I feel the single player stayed true to the Metroid series and is primarily an adventure game although the multiplayer is obviously geared as a straightforward shooter. The controls are quick, accurate and work great (with a little practice for some). Overall, Metroid Prime Hunters is a great game and I suggest at the very least, everyone try it out and make up their own mind.
