Anniversary: 20 Years On, Metroid Prime 2 Represents The Franchise At Its Experimental Best

Picture: NintendoFollowing up on Metroid Prime was by no means going to be straightforward. Though many (this author included) have been sceptical of Retro Studios’ talents to maneuver Metroid into the 3D, first-person realm, the staff not solely managed to place its personal spin on a longtime Nintendo franchise efficiently, nevertheless it additionally created one of many biggest video games of all time.
How on earth are you imagined to prime that? Properly, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes doesn’t fairly attain the identical heights as its predecessor, and it’s usually thought to be the lesser entry in an eventual trilogy (although to be sincere, even the worst Prime recreation is best than the vast majority of video games on the market). That mentioned, it should all the time stay considered one of my private favourites within the franchise because of its daring experimentation with parallel worlds.
Though parallel worlds have been hardly a model new idea again in 2004 (heck, Zelda: A Hyperlink to the Previous managed it greater than a decade prior), its implementation in Prime 2 blew away my fledgling 15-year-old thoughts. It basically modified the way you strategy exploration: by introducing a lethal ambiance inside Darkish Aether that slowly damages Samus if she merely touches it, it’s essential to utilise ‘security bubbles’ scattered all through the setting to keep up your well being.
Darkish Aether — Picture: Nintendo
What this implies, then, is you may’t cease and grasp about such as you might need completed in OG Metroid Prime. Except you’re safely ensconced in a everlasting bubble, it’s essential to keep on the transfer. There are even bubbles you can activate on the fly, however these received’t stick round for lengthy; quickly sufficient, they’ll shrink right down to nothing, and also you’ll both have to activate it once more, or just leg it to the closest secure spot.
Crossing between Aether and Darkish Aether actually highlighted the variations in tone between every area. The previous is a bit quieter and extra forgiving, whereas the latter simply continuously fills you with dread with its purple color tones and formidable ‘Warrior Ing’ enemies. Despite the fact that not many people have been eager on this, it actually helps to combine up the exploration facet, since Prime 2 doesn’t profit from spectacular biomes like Phendrana Drifts from the primary recreation.
Greater than something, it’s maybe probably the most distinctive, experimental function from the whole Metroid franchise. Positive, Metroid Dread launched the E.M.M.I sections, Fusion added within the SA-X enemy, and Prime 3: Corruption included quite a lot of neat motion-controlled mechanics to make the most of the Wii. However Metroid, as superior as it’s, has all the time performed it fairly secure with new concepts, and Prime 2’s dual-world mechanic is maybe the boldest and most fascinating of the bunch.
Metroid Prime 2’s lethal Warrior Ing enemy — Picture: Nintendo
It’s a disgrace that the sport isn’t held in such excessive regard exterior of hardcore Metroid followers. Retro Studios made some notable enhancements to the unique, together with condensing the necessity to backtrack lots, together with unimaginable additions to Samus’ armour and weapon loadouts.
Its popularity has taken just a few hits through the years because of the aforementioned ‘security bubble’ mechanic and the horrendous Spider Guardian boss, nevertheless it’s a bloomin’ nice recreation in any other case and deserves to face alongside Metroid Prime Remastered on the Change.
How about it, Nintendo?

Ought to Metroid Prime 2: Echoes be remastered for Change? (815 votes)
Sure, ASAP!75percentI hope so, however no rush11percentJust look forward to ‘Change 2’ at this point8percentI might dwell with out it4percentNah, it isn’t for me2%

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Did you play Metroid Prime 2: Echoes again within the day? What did you make of the entire dual-world mechanic? Tell us your ideas, and whether or not it ought to come to Change, with a remark down beneath.



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