Metroid Prime
2002
- shooter
- platform
- adventure
- action
- science fiction
- open world
- single player
The story
A 3D exploration-focused metroidvania with first-person shooting mechanics and the first 3D entry in the Metroid series, Metroid Prime follows Samus Aran after the events of Metroid (1986) as she boards a Space Pirate frigate, then chases her escaping archrival Ridley into the intricately structured Tallon IV, a planet full of deadly wildlife and former home to the advanced and ancient Chozo race.
What it’s like
Cool blue-green light filters through scanned visors and across the sloping chambers of Tallon IV: moss-caked ruins lit by bioluminescent glow, sun-dappled jungle canopies, and sterile Space Pirate corridors washed in red emergency light. The art direction is painterly and dense, with rich textures on stone and metal, and the world feels layered with age and decay. The soundtrack is largely ambient, built from low drones, distant wind, and spare synth tones that swell when a door hisses open or an enemy stirs, with near silence in the empty ruins. Pacing is deliberate and exploratory: long stretches of scanning, backtracking, and quiet navigation broken by tense firefights and boss encounters where the first-person view makes every shot feel physical. Violence is frequent but stylised, with sci-fi creatures and robotic foes dissolving in bursts of light rather than gore, though some moments are harsh and tense. It suits a rainy afternoon, a patient evening alone, or anyone who likes slowly unlocking a mysterious place. Its lonely, contemplative mood fits players who enjoy atmosphere, discovery, and a solitary heroine's quiet determination.
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