Episode 353: Metroid Prime

Metroid Prime is a game that I can point to that has a lot of understated panache. Nadia mentioned Samus's face reflecting in steam, and her eyes following where the player was looking at. The various arm cannons and visors have original designs, I love how the charge cannon seems to inflate with energy - like it's a kind of far-future yet still human technology. My memory is fuzzy but the scan visor descriptions are written with a more reserved adult sci-fi feel, definitely not dumbed down for kids. People keep mentioning the atmosphere - and part of it is down to the music. The atmospheric parts like that opening caves area aren't a straight up looped soundtrack, they trade out different themes, drum tracks, bassy droning seconds as you first enter and later as you back track. The on disc extras and concept art is weird and unique, the artists were working from a nearly blank slate and parts of it ( https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/Metroid_Prime_(game)/Gallery#Gallery_3.2FSamus_Gallery ) aren't anything you see outside of this game , even in the other two Primes. Tech wise it's making use of the gamecube's early shader technology, progressive mode, the game runs at something like ~60 FPS - it's VERY smooth. One neat thing - since it uses shaders so heavily, the resolution scales well within Dolphin to 1080p and beyond. All in all the team that made the game put everything into it; they knew how cool this game was. Control scheme is odd these days, though. Halo set the mold for the twin stick FPS and going back to Prime with its single analog stick and lock-on button (aiming isn't actually a necessary skill in this game) takes some time to get used to.

John Simon

I've been playing through Metroid Prime with mouse and keyboard controls. It really takes that game to a whole other level.

KerooSeta

Great discussion on an amazing game. I will say in favor of the artifact hunt that I do like how if you play your cards right you can get a few of them early throughout the game and not have to track all of them at once when they become necessary to get to the end. It's not the most elegant solution but it works (granted, it doesn't work as well in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes). And I've grown to enjoy the challenge of the Phazon Mines, specially as they're the last truly difficult area in the game.

Luis Guillermo Jimenez Gomez

I am shocked by this.

Bob Mackey

Another thing about MP is the art direction by artists like Andrew (Android) Jones, although I think he played a larger role in the second game. I think he's responsible for the gaunt, insectoid, biomechanical look to all the creatures. I remember staying up all night playing Echoes just to unlock all the galleries of his concept art.

connrrr

You guys are the best. It won’t happen soon but could you guys do a full episode on Super Metroid? I don’t think there’s been a pure, just simply titled “Super Metroid” episode yet...do it, do it, DO IT, DO IT!

Right there with you! I replayed them all in 2020 and I firmly believe MP2 is the best in the series.

Mohammed Taher

I played the Prime trilogy on Wii years ago, and it was good, but it got progressively worse for reasons mentioned here. The original game just really captured the essence of Super Metroid. I of course still prefer Super, but Prime didn't fail to impress. The environments being a mix of gorgeous and mysterious and the music really setting the mood. Just a solid game.

Phoequinox

LOVED this episode. Excellent work!

Alexander Pero

That was a great podcast! I loved watching my brother play Metroid Prime on a Game Cube he bought - we were broke college students, and I have lots of fond memories of it. Thanks!

I was literally just wondering yesterday when a Metroid Prime episode was coming. I'm really excited to hear Jeremy's opinion on the transition to first-person 3D. Prime to me is still a masterpiece and even though some might say to go for the Wii version because of the controls, I think Prime's movement in the GameCube original is really brilliantly designed around the GameCube controller's limitations. I'm the one weirdo who thinks Prime 2 is even better than the original.

Grant Baxter

Thanks for putting the music times!

Normallyretro

🙏

Y’all making my day!