Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt Review
Back from the days of the NES there has not been a half decent game given out free with a system. While game system bundles are becoming ever more frequent it does not compare to a brand new system with a free game. Although Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt is just a demo, the demo stands tall and shows what the DS is capable of.
The demo starts off with an amazing cinematic sequence that is more comparable to Gamecube graphics than N64. The cinematic scene takes place on both screens proving that the DS can produce stunning 3-D graphics on both screens simultaneously.
The game features three single player training modes and multiple multiplayer battle arenas. The first training mode is called Regulator and is more just learning how to play the game. In Regulator training mode you will move through series of rooms with enemies and you will not be able to proceed until the enemies in the room are all killed. At the end of all the rooms you will go one on one with a dark Samus and you will be given a score for how well you did in the training session. The second mode is a survival mode where the are never ending enemies and you have to see how many enemies you can kill while staying alive. This training type is fun, but short lived and you may find yourself playing it when you have nothing else to do. The last training mode is a morph ball training level where you must follow a series of dots in the morph ball and continue to the finish. This is definitely helpful for practice if you plan on taking on your friends in multiplayer action. The multiplayer action is where this demo shines the brightest. The wireless multiplayer is a must if you have a friend with a DS or you have the right equipment to tunnel your DS. The multiplayer options are few such as death match or survivor, but they are as fun as most full game multiplayer levels. There are a few different levels to choose from, but nothing overly different. The demo offers a variety of different options for everybody to try.
The levels are great, and as are the controls. The game’s control scheme takes off popular PC first person shooter games. Samus’ movement is controlled by the D-pad while the view of Samus is controlled by using the touch screen. Shooting with Samus is controlled by the R and L buttons and to jump you must tap the touch screen. The controls in this demo take some getting use to, but are solid and accurate. Auto-aim isn’t even in the game because the touch screen is so accurate. Using the touch screen with the stylus is good, but sometimes the thumb strap is better. When using the touch screen you tap on different parts of the screen to change weapons or go into a morph ball as well. The thumb strap does seem to limit your movement in the game, but feels more natural. The controls in this game use the DS’ touch screen to full use and the controls are very stable in this game. Although there are other options for control, the starting option is the best and most natural to use.
Graphically this game stands tall with stunning cinematics and in game graphics which are obviously greater than an N64. The top screen is used for the main action while the lower screen is simply a map and used for the touch screen control. Graphically this game stands tall and shows that we should be comparing the DS more to the Gamecube rather than the N64.
Although I am not a fan of the Metroid series, this game may spark an interest. The slow paced Metroid game play is all good, but I think one of the most outstanding versions of the full version of Hunters will be the multiplayer. This demo is perfect for the DS and is a perfect play for anyone who wants to kill some time. Out of many recent demos I have played, this game shows off the potential of the full version. The demo however does not reveal any details or major clues to the possible storyline of the full version game, the game is still fun and addictive none the less. Including this amazing demo with the DS is an added bonus to anyone who buys a DS and almost guarantees Metroid Prime: Hunters a million seller mark.
Demo Rating: 5/5
-Ultimate Zelda Guru
The demo starts off with an amazing cinematic sequence that is more comparable to Gamecube graphics than N64. The cinematic scene takes place on both screens proving that the DS can produce stunning 3-D graphics on both screens simultaneously.
The game features three single player training modes and multiple multiplayer battle arenas. The first training mode is called Regulator and is more just learning how to play the game. In Regulator training mode you will move through series of rooms with enemies and you will not be able to proceed until the enemies in the room are all killed. At the end of all the rooms you will go one on one with a dark Samus and you will be given a score for how well you did in the training session. The second mode is a survival mode where the are never ending enemies and you have to see how many enemies you can kill while staying alive. This training type is fun, but short lived and you may find yourself playing it when you have nothing else to do. The last training mode is a morph ball training level where you must follow a series of dots in the morph ball and continue to the finish. This is definitely helpful for practice if you plan on taking on your friends in multiplayer action. The multiplayer action is where this demo shines the brightest. The wireless multiplayer is a must if you have a friend with a DS or you have the right equipment to tunnel your DS. The multiplayer options are few such as death match or survivor, but they are as fun as most full game multiplayer levels. There are a few different levels to choose from, but nothing overly different. The demo offers a variety of different options for everybody to try.
The levels are great, and as are the controls. The game’s control scheme takes off popular PC first person shooter games. Samus’ movement is controlled by the D-pad while the view of Samus is controlled by using the touch screen. Shooting with Samus is controlled by the R and L buttons and to jump you must tap the touch screen. The controls in this demo take some getting use to, but are solid and accurate. Auto-aim isn’t even in the game because the touch screen is so accurate. Using the touch screen with the stylus is good, but sometimes the thumb strap is better. When using the touch screen you tap on different parts of the screen to change weapons or go into a morph ball as well. The thumb strap does seem to limit your movement in the game, but feels more natural. The controls in this game use the DS’ touch screen to full use and the controls are very stable in this game. Although there are other options for control, the starting option is the best and most natural to use.
Graphically this game stands tall with stunning cinematics and in game graphics which are obviously greater than an N64. The top screen is used for the main action while the lower screen is simply a map and used for the touch screen control. Graphically this game stands tall and shows that we should be comparing the DS more to the Gamecube rather than the N64.
Although I am not a fan of the Metroid series, this game may spark an interest. The slow paced Metroid game play is all good, but I think one of the most outstanding versions of the full version of Hunters will be the multiplayer. This demo is perfect for the DS and is a perfect play for anyone who wants to kill some time. Out of many recent demos I have played, this game shows off the potential of the full version. The demo however does not reveal any details or major clues to the possible storyline of the full version game, the game is still fun and addictive none the less. Including this amazing demo with the DS is an added bonus to anyone who buys a DS and almost guarantees Metroid Prime: Hunters a million seller mark.
Demo Rating: 5/5
-Ultimate Zelda Guru
1 Comments:
Nice review. I just want to point out two things though.
One:
The in game graphics of metroid prime hunters: first hunt barely surpasses that of your general N64 game.
The graphics of the final version is however a bit better, atleast from what you could see in the most recent trailers.
Two:
While the graphics of the cutscenes DO compare to gcn graphics, it is because it IS gcn graphics.
The cutscenes are pre-rendered cinematics stored on the DS cart as a movie file.
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