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This is based on IGN reviews, because quite frankly I'm an IGN junkie. I have no idea how healthy that is because my brain is controlled by them.





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Exactly 20 years ago, NES owners immersed themselves in a game featuring a woman with a long past and ready for battle. When Samus Aran first appeared on screens in August 1987 a beautiful new franchise was born. After Metroid's creation came Metroid II: Return of Samus on Nintendo's Game Boy system. Afterwards came the highly accepted Super Metroid on Nintendo's new Super Nintendo. While the highly popular Metroid 2D Sidescroller franchise continued on to the Gameboy Advance in games like Metroid: Zero Mission and Metroid Fusion in its 2D glory, something else was created that would take the franchise in a completely new direction.

On Nintendo's Gamecube system, Samus Aran was reborn in a beautiful 3D first-person perspective: Metroid Prime. This game was immediately a must-have title, with top-of-the line graphics, immersive gameplay, and the charm of a Metroid game--Samus had definitely been reborn. Metroid Prime had a certain feel to it, a feel that something new had been created.

After it came Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and important step in the series, for it introduced Samus' super powerful doppelganger: Dark Samus, Samus' old enemy Metroid Prime reborn. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes hit it again like its predecessor, but something was different. Something was missing.

But whatever was missing was made up for in the newest title in the Metroid series: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption on the Nintendo Wii console. This game also features a 3D first-person perspective, and the game shines gloriously.

The game was originally meant as a launch title, to be released on Nintendo Wii's release date. However, the game was pushed back more and more until it finally got the definite release date of August 27. However, it was worth the wait: The amount of work put into the game really pays off, and its beauty immediately stands out from other Wii games.

The game runs in 480p resolution at 16:9 at 60 frames per second, and features bloom lighting. If you watch it on your TV in person, even in 480i resolution, the graphics look astonishingly beautiful, even from the minute you pop it in. A chorus plays epic, moody music, and a light-blue, sprawling image appears on the screen, which is then swallowed whole by a black entity, which immediately puts the idea of Phazon and corruption in your mind, exactly what Retro wanted.

Wii uses 12cm discs, with more space than Gamecube, plus more powerful RAM and better processers. This really comes out with how big and beautiful the environment is. It's colorful, filled to the brim with hi-res textures, and just so amazing to look at. The 3D models are extremely well done. The two models that look the most beautiful are Pirate Troopers and Samus' PED Suit. Both models are jam-packed with detail and colors. The Pirates have a brown, red, and pink skin color, covered with blue and white as the colors of Phazon. They're amazingly drawn. Samus' PED Suit, an enhancement of her Varia Suit that allows her to use a "Hyper-Mode" is also extremely detailed and has several different colors, and it's always a treat during in-game cutscenes to get a good look at this suit.

Graphics aren't the only place where this game shines. Its gameplay is also a winner. We all know FPS games haven't always had the best control scheme on the Wiimote. Retro has taken note of this and done something about it. The fruits of their labors have produced an easy-to-use an intuitive control scheme, which should be used as a reference point for FPS games to come. One thing about this game is that Retro has tried to use the Wiimote and nunchuk to improve interactivity. You will come across switches you need to use to activate certain things in order to get to the next area. This will involve twisting the Wiimote, pushing and pulling it, and moving it slowly across the screen. One cool thing is that you can use the Wiimote to weld broken power boxes.

The game is segmented. At some points it will be a full-on first person shooter, where you will be fighting multiple enemies at a time, in non-stop fast-paced action that will have you on the edge of your seat. At other times, it is an adventure game, in which you will be exploring new places, finding upgrades for your suit to get to new places, and solving puzzles and that good ol' Morph Ball. While it seems as if the adventure game player would shun this game for its FPS aspect and vice versa, the game is actually great for people on both sides. It's extremely enjoyable.

Here's the question: "What happens when I get bored?" It's true. Many times people get bored of first person games fairly fast. But trust me, I can never see this happening with Metroid. Sure, there's no multiplayer, and surprisingly I've seen the game get quite a bit of criticism for that (they're Halo fantards btw). However, this game features some new and old elements that will always keep you coming back. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption features a rewards system. By scanning certain creatures and lores, by getting a number of kills, and by sending Friend Vouchers to your friends with the game, you can unlock certain types of credits. You need a certain amount of each kind of credit in order to buy a different unlockable. Some unlockables include a screenshot taker so you can show off to your friends, bumper stickers for your gunship, and a bobblehead with your Mii's head to put in your gunship. The game, of course, also brings back the Scan Visor, which means scanning everything is essential if you want that 100% complete. Lastly, addictive gameplay and beautiful visuals will keep you coming back for more.

So, with the best graphics seen on the Wii so far, intuitive and engaging gameplay, a rewards system, and the overall beauty of a Metroid Prime game, Samus is in as Metroid Prime goes out...and it goes out with a BANG.

Final Score (Average):

9.4

I'd go with a 9.8 as well...There is room for improvement but didn't really flaw any either..

Not entirely. The fact is, they're basically copying the MP3 style and adding a few features to make it better such as you can choose the area on-screen where you can leave your reticule and the camera won't scroll.