Metroid Prime 3 thread: it's a fucking game for the Wii.

[Bloodwake]

So, I just got done playing some Metroid Prime 3 at GameStop, and I must say, I was pretty impresssed. There are some sensitivity qualms I have with it, but it's a new direction for the franchise (with voice acting, objectives, and character interaction) and I think it all works out very well. The controls are decent, and there's not a lot of waggling, it's more point and shoot with platforming elements.

It's a GAME

for the WII

so I'm excited.

[y2kev]

I am interested in this "fucking game."

[demi]

I'm pretty sure I beat this already when it was released on Gamecube.

[Madrun Badrun]

I'm pretty sure I beat this already when it was released on Gamecube.

and I'm pretty sure that you would beat it again ten more times if it had achievements. 

[TakingBackSunday]

I need to see if my Gamestop has it.

[demi]

Gamecube isn't technical enough to have such a system, so I beat it on a single playthrough

[Smooth Groove]

Bloodwake, how are teh graphics?  I needz to know. 

I'm pretty sure I beat this already when it was released on Gamecube.

beat Prole to the punch. 

[tiesto]

Sorry, the first Metroid Prime didn't do it for me, and I heard so many bad things about the second I stayed away. Call me when Metroid Dread (hopefully) materializes...

[Madrun Badrun]

Sorry, the first Metroid Prime didn't do it for me, and I heard so many bad things about the second I stayed away. Call me when Metroid Dread (hopefully) materializes...

the second one isn't bad though, it's just not as good as the first.  It's still a 8.5-9.0 game.

[Van Cruncheon]

the second one is a 5.5-6.0 game. it's awful.

why would you want to play a last-gen fps, anyhow? sell your wii and buy a 360 + bioshock

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Metroid Prime 3

Samus and her Shitty Friends! Corruption is the Shadow the Hedgehog of the franchise. Hell, the Phazon Suit is black. SO HARDCORE.

[Bloodwake]

Like everything else on the Wii, the graphics aren't a lot to write home about. They are slightly better than the GCN games. The control is still a little bit touchy, but it's better than Red Steel, that's for sure. You might have to fuck around with the settings a bit for the sensitivity, and switch the shoot and the jump buttons around, but other than that, pretty decent on the controls as well... It still feels like a Metroid Prime game.

My BIGGEST qualm with the game is that the opening sequence I played felt A LOT like the opening to Halo 1 and 2, even down to an in-game calibration. Other than that, I was satisfied.

BTW, I just played through Prime 2, and it was entirely decent. Not as good as the first one, of course, but I don't see the hate. I mean, it is too linear compared to the first Prime, but it was still a fun playthrough with some fucking difficult boss battles and memorable areas.

[Bloodwake]

the second one is a 5.5-6.0 game. it's awful.

why would you want to play a last-gen fps, anyhow? sell your wii and buy a 360 + bioshock

Hi, I FUCKING HAVE a 360 and BioShock.

[y2kev]

The second one is just no fun. It smells like donkey doo.

bump for release!!1 omg

[TakingBackSunday]

Played it today, was pretty cool.  I don't really think the advanced controls are as awesome as everyone was saying they were, I was the most comfortable with the middle sensativity.  It just took a bit to get used to the new button layout, but after that it was really cool.  Played as far as the grapple lasso, tested that out, and left.  I'll definitely buy it down the line.

[CajoleJuice]

I'm selling my copy of MP2. Anyone want it? LOL

[y2kev]

I'm selling my copy of MP2. Anyone want it? LOL

I'm selling a copy of AIDS anyone want it lol

[drohne]

i'd actually be open to giving metroid prime another chance now that it's got freelook. i mean...if it wasn't on such a worthless console. which can't even handle freelook properly, come to think of it

[Smooth Groove]

What I don't get is why the graphics for MP3 are barely improved over MP2.  Wii is supposed to be 2x the power of a GC which is no next-gen but still significantly more powerful than a PS2/Xbox.  All I've seen them done so far w/the extra power is giving putting the widescreen option in games.  I can't believe that you would have to double the power of a GC in order to go from 4x3 to 16x9. 

[Robo]

What I don't get is why the graphics for MP3 are barely improved over MP2.  Wii is supposed to be 2x the power of a GC which is no next-gen but still significantly more powerful than a PS2/Xbox.  All I've seen them done so far w/the extra power is giving putting the widescreen option in games.  I can't believe that you would have to double the power of a GC in order to go from 4x3 to 16x9. 

lol

[y2kev]

Wii is marginally more powerful when it comes down to it, but it does have more texture memory. Like, a lot more. So it should have more varied textures, and even higher res textures....but the frame buffer or whatever is the same so that might ruin it.

The controls do work nicely, except for turning. The bounding box is still a bit too slow, but it's the best it's ever been on wii in mp3.

[Van Cruncheon]

the wii is NOT 2x more powerful in terms of demonstrable effects. the difference between the GC and the Wii is really the difference you'd get between a P3-500 w/ GeForce 1 and a P3-800 w/ a GeForce 2.

[Gay Boy]

Most wii games, including MP3 look like gamecube games yet somehow Mario Galaxy looks like a easily perceived step up from gamecube yet little else does.

[bork]

Remember when Metroid was a 2D exploration game, and not a fucking first-person shooter?     I know they did this with their other franchises, but Metroid screams to be a third person adventure title.  The 3D Castlevanias are fucked up, so Metroid could easily step up and make the proper transition from 2D Metroidvania to 3D.

I'll give this game a chance whenever it releases here, I suppose.  Meanwhile I have Gundam to fuck with.

[Bloodwake]

Eh, I enjoy them myself. I mean, the Prime series is DEFINITELY not Super Metroid, but they are good games.

[y2kev]

Most wii games, including MP3 look like gamecube games yet somehow Mario Galaxy looks like a easily perceived step up from gamecube yet little else does.

It's just an effective use of the tech. Bright rim lighting, nice, rounded, simple geometrical objects, incredibly bright colors, tons of personality. It's not doing anything technically that the other games aren't, I'd wager. Other than the lighting. MP3 does look pretty good. Not like OMG good, and they shouldn't be using HDTVs to show it in stores (not that anyone cares anyway, i guess), but good. MP has held up well and looks relatively clean on HDTVs.

[Bloodwake]

The reviews are out:

IGN: 9.5 http://wii.ign.com/articles/815/815424p1.html

1up: 9.0 http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3162330&sec=REVIEWS

[Fragamemnon]

The reviews are definitely along the lines of "feels like a polished version of its predecessors". Which is sort of  to me but at least it doesn't apear to be as shitty as most Wii software. Then again, I often wonder how fair it is that the Wii gets away with having such terribly dated visuals on the review-had this game been released on any other platform the reviewer would be obliged to call it dated and dock the score as a result. Wii gets a free pass in that regard in both reviews, and that is IMO a shitty way to critique.

[Fragamemnon]

double post

[Rman]

The reviews are looking good.  I honestly did not expect such high scores.  I though it would rate more in the 7-8 range.  But great for Wii owners looking to play something other than shovelware and mini game collections.

[y2kev]

It looks actiony, which is good. Cause I really am not one for scanning and reading scrolling text logs of 15 words a piece written by Trekkie wannabes.

NEW LORE ENTRY: CHOZO built these CAPACITORS during the CHOZO WAR. THEY ARE GREEN.

[hyp]

gametrailers - 9.6

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24117.html

i'm definitely going to gamefly this game, and if it turns out to be good i'll probably keep it.  nice to see some decent reviews at least.

[tiesto]

The reviews are definitely along the lines of "feels like a polished version of its predecessors". Which is sort of  to me but at least it doesn't apear to be as shitty as most Wii software. Then again, I often wonder how fair it is that the Wii gets away with having such terribly dated visuals on the review-had this game been released on any other platform the reviewer would be obliged to call it dated and dock the score as a result. Wii gets a free pass in that regard in both reviews, and that is IMO a shitty way to critique.

Well, reviewers tend to go by the graphics capabilities of the platform and how it looks relative to other games on that same platform at around the same time frame... This has always been the case, pretty much, and MP3 does look better than nearly all of the Wii games out now (though Mario Galaxy and Brawl still look heaploads better IMO).

[Fragamemnon]

Well, reviewers tend to go by the graphics capabilities of the platform and how it looks relative to other games on that same platform at around the same time frame... This has always been the case, pretty much, and MP3 does look better than nearly all of the Wii games out now (though Mario Galaxy and Brawl still look heaploads better IMO).

I think that's OK for a while, but we are at a point where next-gen systems have been out for a good while now. I sorta think it's better to judge a game to its contemporaries regardless of platform, else you reward substandard efforts becasue of weak competition or punish great games because of strong competition.

Though I can see the other side of the coin as well.

[hyp]

the introduction of voice overs & happy friends is fucking lame imo. 

[The Fake Shemp]

It actually was moderately fun to play, but I wouldn't buy a Wii for it.  The Wii killer app is still going to be homebrew interactive porn.  LET'S GO HOMEBREW SCENE MAKE IT HAPPEN.

[Oblivion]

Well, reviewers tend to go by the graphics capabilities of the platform and how it looks relative to other games on that same platform at around the same time frame... This has always been the case, pretty much, and MP3 does look better than nearly all of the Wii games out now (though Mario Galaxy and Brawl still look heaploads better IMO).

I think that's OK for a while, but we are at a point where next-gen systems have been out for a good while now. I sorta think it's better to judge a game to its contemporaries regardless of platform, else you reward substandard efforts becasue of weak competition or punish great games because of strong competition.

Though I can see the other side of the coin as well.

Well, it still got a lower score than Bioshock, tho.

[etiolate]

Gamecube isn't technical enough to have such a system, so I beat it on a single playthrough

Actually dems, I think they put in achievement like systems in Prime 3.

[etiolate]

The reviews are definitely along the lines of "feels like a polished version of its predecessors". Which is sort of  to me but at least it doesn't apear to be as shitty as most Wii software. Then again, I often wonder how fair it is that the Wii gets away with having such terribly dated visuals on the review-had this game been released on any other platform the reviewer would be obliged to call it dated and dock the score as a result. Wii gets a free pass in that regard in both reviews, and that is IMO a shitty way to critique.

Well from Mark Mcdonald:

Enough of the quibbles -- let's get into Corruption's major accomplishment: the graphics. Or should I say, the artwork. After a few relatively simple early areas, Corruption blooms into colorful and elaborate designs that are thick with atmosphere. The veiny organic walls of a living spaceship pulse and blink at Samus' squishy footsteps; strobe lights and giant steaming tubes give a claustrophobic enemy stronghold a foreboding you feel in your gut; rusty machines creak and whir to life, their intricate clockwork mechanics telling the story of an ancient alien culture better than text or a voiceover ever could.

Amazing as it is to say about a Wii game, Corruption contains some of the best visuals in gaming, period. It can't always mask the hardware's technical limitations (pixelation every time you're up close waiting for a door to open, for example), but in most cases the lighting, attention to detail, and wonderfully cohesive and imaginative art direction more than make up for the Wii's lack of raw horsepower. Put it this way: I found myself wandering through rooms two or three times just to look at them. How many games on any system can you say that about?

The problem with your way of critiquing is that Super Metroid would be a 6 due to its severely dated visuals and lack of tech flourish.

[Fragamemnon]

The problem with your way of critiquing is that Super Metroid would be a 6 due to its severely dated visuals and lack of tech flourish.

I said you judge a game's technical merits based on a comaprison between its contemporaries. Truly, by 1994 standards, it's sex on a stick.

Also, the game looks like a DX7-ish FPS running with no AA at low resolution. Art can go far, but not THAT far.

[Van Cruncheon]

mark macdonald's a huge wii apologist, too.

[Fragamemnon]

mark macdonald's a huge wii apologist, too.

I figured as much.

WHy on earth is it so hard to get an honest review of a Nintendo game? It's been like this ever since the N64 days.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

mark macdonald's a huge wii apologist, too.

he's also the BIGGEST Metroid Prime fan of all time, and I say this as his friend. his original review says something about how it's not just the best game of the year it's the best game of the next five years and like playing the future. or uh something.

[Van Cruncheon]

because most of the non pc gaming journalist set grew up with the nes and have HUGE nostalgiac priapisms for nintendo franchises. nintendo defined the way they think about games, just as the pc defined how me and you consider them. well, the amiga helped me, too.

[Smooth Groove]

To be fair, the 1up guys did say that at it was disappointing for them to see MP3 the first time because its prequels were considered to be beautiful and MP3 didn't look anything close to being a next-gen shooter.  However, after playing MP3 for awhile, certain aspects of MP3's visuals were still able to awe them because the art direction is so great.  MP3 is obviously not going to be a gigantic leap over the GC games.  However, from a technical perspective, it can't be a worse experience than playing God of War 2, which most people could still enjoy. 

[Shuri]

I honestly can't believe how SHIT the design for the enemies are. They look like prototype low polygons ennemies from Halo; and also holy crap at how you have to shoot them 10 times with your blaster to take down those space pirates or whatever.

I'll be picking this up because i have NOTHING to play on the wii and the thing has been gathering dust except for my random games of simcity snes

[Mondain]

so far a few hours in I find MP3 to be much better than Bioshock, and especially appreciate the addition of heroes to look out for; but of course it's not as pretty as that 1UP guy claims it is, ultimately it's a widescreen GameCube game and it reeks of last-gen

ultimately it's more of the same, if you liked past games in the series you'll love it, if not then it won't change your opinion

it also has very, very little scanning for those who hated doing this

[Smooth Groove]

Mondain, did you like the Space Pirates?

[Mondain]

uh yeah, they look cool and are fun to fight with

[Howard Alan Treesong]

[Oblivion]

mark macdonald's a huge wii apologist, too.

WHy on earth is it so hard to get an honest review of a Nintendo game? It's been like this ever since the N64 days.

  You mean Gamecube days, right?

[bagofeyes]

How come this aint out in taco japan?

[etiolate]

Because it's a western developed title.

And I actually think art design goes a LONG way, such a long way that it normally outlasts technical oomph.  It is why Metroid Prime looks better than Halo now, despite less techinical stuff like the once treasured bump mapping.

[Van Cruncheon]

but metroid prime doesn't look better than halo

[Smooth Groove]

but metroid prime doesn't look better than halo

It's 60fps though.  Huge difference from Halo's 30fps w/slowdown 

[y2kev]

Halo only slows down a little in the end. That I remember. My memory of the game is kinda bad. :\

Halo only has a tiny bit of bump mapping anyway i thought

[bagofeyes]

It looks way better than halo

[Van Cruncheon]

yeah, but mp's dx7-era "special" effects and lighting were weak, plus some of those textures are aieee

[Oblivion]

Halo 1/2 weren't 60 fps?

[Smooth Groove]

yeah, but mp's dx7-era "special" effects and lighting were weak, plus some of those textures are aieee

Halo didn't have enough variety in its textures though which kinda hurt some of the levels.  What do you think of Killzone 2?  TVC thinks it looks like crap 'cause all the colors are the same.