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| Metroid Prime
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メトロイドプライム
Metoroido Puraimu
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North American box art.
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| N. America:
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November 17, 2002
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| Japan:
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February 28, 2003
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| Europe:
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March 21, 2003
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| Australia:
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April 3, 2003
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| S. Korea:
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2002
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Metroid Prime is a 3D action-adventure game in the Metroid series, developed by Retro Studios and released in late 2002 and early 2003 for the Nintendo GameCube, the first 3D game in the series. The game was released alongside Metroid Fusion in North America, and the two games can be linked to unlock special features in both. The game was successful enough to warrant two sequels: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, becoming the first installment in the Metroid Prime series.
Later copies of the game were bundled with a bonus demo disc for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes; this version of the game would be included in a console bundle in North America. Europe would also receive a console bundle with this game, though while the game was only the base game, this bundle also included a Metroid Prime-themed Nintendo GameCube name plate.
Blurb
Evil waits below the surface...
Something sinister lurks in the depths of planet Tallon IV. Interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran is the only one who can destroy this evil... but first it must be found.
Explore the enormous regions of Tallon IV, from the frozen Phendrana Drifts to the crumbling Chozo Ruins.
Use all the technological upgrades to Samus's Power Suit, including the Thermal and Scan Visors.
Roll into the Morph Ball to explore tight spots, bomb through walls, and roll your way to out-of-reach areas.
Wield powerful weapons like the Wave and Ice Beams as you take on the Space Pirates and their legions.
Story
Metroid Prime is set between the original Metroid and Metroid II: Return of Samus. Samus intercepts a distress signal from the Space Pirate frigate Orpheon and goes to investigate, but when she gets there she finds all of the Space Pirates are dead. Samus learns that the frigate was studying a substance called "Phazon", discovered on Tallon IV. After Samus defeats the Parasite Queen on the ship she finds Ridley, who has been rebuilt into a robotic body. Samus returns to her gunship and chases Ridley to Tallon IV, where she learns that the planet was struck by a meteor years ago and that the Phazon substance is destroying the planet, including a Chozo colony that once inhabited the planet. Samus must now find the Chozo Artifacts that unlock the path to the source of the Phazon while also battling against the Space Pirates and her nemesis Ridley.
Gameplay
As the 3D debut of the franchise, Metroid Prime marks a departure from the traditional Metroid games. The game is played from a first-person perspective as players explore the large, open overworld, collect power-ups, and find the Chozo Artifacts scattered around. The game is set on Tallon IV, which has four regions connected by elevators.
At various points, Samus can earn different beams, which can be swapped out by tilting the C stick, and different visors, which can be swapped with the D-pad. Samus starts with the Scan Visor at first, which is used to scan enemies, computers, and various other elements of the world to obtain information and fill the logbook. The A button is the player's firing button, while B is jumping. Players are also able to lock on to enemies before firing and scan objects when using the Scan Visor with L, and can freely look around with R.
The New Play Control! release of the game uses the Wii's pointer controls for simultaneous aiming and camera control, as well as switching visors and beams.
Technical details
Other releases
| Title
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Cover art
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Platform
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Release date(s)
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Notes
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| New Play Control! Metroid Prime
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Wii
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2009
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An enhanced port of Metroid Prime for the Wii released exclusively in Japan, using pointer controls similar to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
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| Metroid Prime: Trilogy
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Wii
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2009
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Enhanced ports of the three Metroid Prime titles, released outside of Japan. The port of Metroid Prime included in this collection is based on the Japanese New Play Control! release.
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| Metroid Prime: Trilogy
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Wii U
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2015
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A port of Metroid Prime: Trilogy released as a digital download on the Wii U Nintendo eShop.
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| Metroid Prime Remastered
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Nintendo Switch
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2023
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An enhanced port of Metroid Prime for the Nintendo Switch with higher graphics and a Casual gameplay mode.
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External links
