It was only a few weeks ago we had said the bar for a remastered title has been risen with the release of the brilliant Dead Space. Well…that bar has just been bumped up a few more rungs thanks to Nintendo, who have just stealth dropped Metroid Prime Remastered.
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It’s years since the game was first launched on the GameCube way back in 2002. But it’s back and it’s as good as you remember. Maybe even better.
Prime was a ground-breaking instalment in the Metroid series as it turned the game into an FPS. Prime is considered not only one of the best Metroid games ever, but also one of the best games ever.
A Definitive Metroid Prime
This could have been just a straight port with a bit of upscaling and a little nip/tuck as the original game still holds up well. But to their credit Nintendo have gone above and beyond that to craft the definitive version of the game.
The first thing that really hits you is just how good the game looks; with everything looking like it’s been totally redone. From lighting, to the particle effects, to the textures. Everything looks as good as you remember but it’s all set to modern standards.
This oddly means that a remaster of a 21-year-old game is actually one of the best looking games on Switch. One which is even better looking if you have an OLED console.
More Than a Refresh
Dig beyond the visuals and you’ll find the core of the original release beating away under its new shiny coat. This may be a turn-off for some, but it’s a real testament to how good this was to begin with. The level design, and how the game’s mechanics exploit it, have truly endured.
Though it has made a few tweaks and added a number of options to how you control things. Which is a welcome addition considering the state of Switch GoldenEye 007. You can play with the original GameCube layout or the motion movement option from the Wii version. There’s also you a more modern layout if you just want to get stuck in.
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And though each is very different you can switch between them when you like and more impressively, each of them feels great to control. Taking only a few secs to really dial into the unique features, this actually changes up the flow of the game as well.
There are also a few new quality of life options that have been added to the game. For example, there’s a colour blind mode.
Prime Remade, Bar Raised
Metroid Prime Remastered is the ultimate and definitive version of the game that has ever been released complete, with all the extras from every build of the game, all the control options from every version of the game and all wrapped in a stunning new visual style.
The hardcore may not be happy there is no “new” content. The extras featured in the Dead Space remake will see this comparison made for other top-tier remakes.
However, when you are a true cornerstone of gaming you really leave nothing on the table first time out. So this time around all that was needed was a few coats of modern polish to really shine for a whole new generation.