A Little Metroid Action
During my trip to New Orleans this past weekend, I found a copy of Metroid Prime 3, and yesterday I had time to play it! I like the mood that the game sets, and it certainly looks like it will be awesome, but I do have a few early misgivings (fairly minor). I didn't realize how my brain is wired for the Gamecube controls until I really got into the Wii controls for the game. Although the controls are much more sensitive and realistic, I find that I really have to spend time focusing on my aim as well as my maneuvering. I was spoiled with the other controls--I could just keep hitting the fire button and spend all my concentration effort figuring out how to jump out of the incoming enemy fire. I am also having a difficult time adapting to the use of my right index finger as my fire button. This is set to be the jump button by default, but I felt I had to have my thumb in control of the jumps. Anyway, I miss my thumb being in charge of everything. I feel like a real newbie when I jump when I mean to fire and vice versa. I suppose it just takes a little getting used to. I am sure that by 5-10 hours of play the controls will become second nature.
One problem that I am worried about, however, is the same one that bothered me during Metroid Fusion. In the first hour of play the game is feeling somewhat linear, and there is too much interaction with other friendly beings. Ok, it must sound like I'm being obnoxious in complaining about this, but I really feel that part of what makes Metroid Metroid is that you have a completely foreign environment to explore and survive in. I like that feeling of aloneness and the feeling that I am in control of my fate. I like being stuck, forced to figure out how I can use my latest item to make progress in the vast world. But maybe I'm picky; I don't even like the hint system in any of the Metroid Prime games (but at least you can turn that off).
Even though I have a few complaints so far, I am judging too early; and I am confident that my issue with the controls will shrug off before long. That's the kind of challenge that I like to overcome. And I really haven't given the game enough time to get into any nonlinearity. But I haven't yet given the game the praise that it does deserve. Already it feels very much like the other Metroid Prime games, which are pretty solid. The game is beautiful, and aside from my thumb problems, controlling Samus comes very naturally and looks fluid on the screen. In fact, there's a much better opportunity to pull off some neat dodges by strafing, which was much more awkward in the Gamecube versions. And Samus's ship is plain awesome. I need to get people's friend codes again because there's some system in the game for sharing "points" with other people so that you can unlock bonuses. I had trouble getting the friend codes installed because my dad took my old Wii, and I got a new one. Then I got really really busy last semester, and I left my Wii in Houston during my summer internship. Anyway if you have a Wii, go get Metroid Prime 3! It's outstanding!
One problem that I am worried about, however, is the same one that bothered me during Metroid Fusion. In the first hour of play the game is feeling somewhat linear, and there is too much interaction with other friendly beings. Ok, it must sound like I'm being obnoxious in complaining about this, but I really feel that part of what makes Metroid Metroid is that you have a completely foreign environment to explore and survive in. I like that feeling of aloneness and the feeling that I am in control of my fate. I like being stuck, forced to figure out how I can use my latest item to make progress in the vast world. But maybe I'm picky; I don't even like the hint system in any of the Metroid Prime games (but at least you can turn that off).
Even though I have a few complaints so far, I am judging too early; and I am confident that my issue with the controls will shrug off before long. That's the kind of challenge that I like to overcome. And I really haven't given the game enough time to get into any nonlinearity. But I haven't yet given the game the praise that it does deserve. Already it feels very much like the other Metroid Prime games, which are pretty solid. The game is beautiful, and aside from my thumb problems, controlling Samus comes very naturally and looks fluid on the screen. In fact, there's a much better opportunity to pull off some neat dodges by strafing, which was much more awkward in the Gamecube versions. And Samus's ship is plain awesome. I need to get people's friend codes again because there's some system in the game for sharing "points" with other people so that you can unlock bonuses. I had trouble getting the friend codes installed because my dad took my old Wii, and I got a new one. Then I got really really busy last semester, and I left my Wii in Houston during my summer internship. Anyway if you have a Wii, go get Metroid Prime 3! It's outstanding!