Second GameCube Metroid primed: stunning new details
Tuesday 15-Jun-2004 1:54 PM Samus's innards bared for all to see
The problem with E3 is that whereas games you'd normally sell a kidney to play are on show - namely the follow-up to your favourite game of two years ago - there are only so many hours and thus, that which is further back on the release horizon takes play-priority. Sigh...
Thankfully, a ruck of new details on Metroid Prime 2 has emerged, which will hopefully allow us to visualise what could possibly be Nintendo/Retro's finest work to date.
Without further ado, here's a full breakdown of what you can expect from the mega-sequel:
Similar control system to Metroid Prime, although different control systems using the analogue stick and C-stick for movement in unison are being considered, which we'd speculate is a result of the 'Halo player backlash'.
Visual effects now include improved lighting, explosive particle effects, higher polycounts - meaning more detailed models, and improved animation. Samus for one has received quite a visual overhaul from when we last saw her.
Some areas will be far greater in scale than before, to allow for more epic landscapes. Of course, this means increased draw-distances.
An interesting story detail: Phazon meteorites collide to create a dimensional portal creating two adversarial planets, Ether and Dark Ether. The Luminoth occupy light Ether, while Ing occupy the Dark Ether. The Luminoth and Ing are in battle with each other. These are effectively the light and dark worlds Samus has to travel between to complete the game - much like Link did in Zelda: A link to the past.
The light and dark beam mechanic seems heavily influenced by that of Treasure shooter Ikaruga; the light beam hurts dark enemies and the dark beam hurts light enemies. More interesting is that successful use of each weapon creates a see-saw effect with the ammo, meaning a hit with a light beam rewards you with an extra shot for your dark beam. Clearly this will create an interesting dynamic in how players handle enemies between worlds.
The beams also behave differently - the light beam fires in a burst, much like a shotgun, whereas the dark beam shoots goop-like projectiles that can be frozen mid-air if you end up on the receiving end.
Some enemies can now become invisible, with Samus's new Dark Visor being the key to identifying them.
Some enemies use sound as a weapon, the radius of which can only be seen through the Echo visor. The Echo Visor also measures light and dark areas into a far-simpler-to-visualise 'landscape mode', also allowing secrets to become clearer to see.
Enemies in general will be more adaptive to the environment, with new foes that can swim and then follow you on land, and some that are capable of wall-jumping ninjitsu and flying.
More hints toward the vastness of certain areas are revealed through a new Gravity Suit upgrade, said to allow players to 'conquer seas' - will Metroid Prime 2 really be that big?
Grapple, double jump, Morph ball bomb, power bomb, Boost ball and Spider ball all return, with some of these old weapons receiving a host of new tricks, which are still to be revealed.
New areas include a desert area and a richer water area, as well as a 'secret' area that Retro is keeping under wraps for now. Retro is also choosing to avoid clichéd environaments like Ice and Lava for this instalment of Metroid.
As has already been revealed, there is indeed a Dark Samus who will be a regular thorn in Ms Aran's side.
Multiplayer will run at 60fps with four-player split-screen and LAN capabilities. No word of whether the dual-analogue support will be supported in this mode, but we'd think Retro to be rather daft if it didn't include it in there as some kind of toggle-able option.
Also interesting is that the Morph Ball can be used to ram players, with one-hit kills possible, though we'd speculate that you'd have to gather fair momentum for that economical and rewarding instant kill.
And lastly, for all you technophiles, 480p progressive scan is supported, which is not an abbreviation for 480pence, but something else rather technical that only a technophile would understand.
More on this drool-deserving sequel, when we get it.
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