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Metroid Prime Remastered review on Switch

February 23, 2023

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Metroid Prime Remastered

For years rumours have be circulating about a Metroid Prime remaster, but the lack of concrete information had left fans eagerly anticipating any news related to the game for a long time. Then, when Nintendo unexpectedly released Metroid Prime Remastered in early February, fans were ecstatic.

In my opinion, Metroid Prime has earned its place among the greatest video games of all time. Even after more than 20 years since its initial release on GameCube, few games can match its unique design. The game’s leap from 2D to 3D in 2002 proved to be a crucial milestone for the series, allowing it to maintain its intricate environments while showcasing impressive technical capabilities of the Nintendo GameCube.

Let’s take a look at Metroid Prime Remastered and see if it’s the game fans have been waiting for.

Metroid Prime Remastered Details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Retro Studios
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Adventure, Action, First-person shooter, Platformer
Mode(s): Single player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

More than just a simple remaster

From the very beginning when Samus receives a distress signal, it is evident that Nintendo put in extra effort to create more than just a simple remastered version of Metroid Prime. Retro Studios, along with other skilled studios including Iron Galaxy Studios, contributed to the making of Metroid Prime Remastered.

In the game, you take on the role of the bounty hunter Samus Aran, who finds herself stranded on Tallon IV and forced to confront space pirates. The game’s opening sequence, in which you explore a space station, remains one of the most captivating and informative tutorials for newcomers to the series.

Quality-of-life improvements

Although there are many remarkable aspects of Metroid Prime Remastered, it’s important to note that Metroid Prime Remastered does not contain any new content that that I would consider notable. You can unlock art created during the development of the original game and remaster, along with a soundtrack gallery and a 3d character gallery.

However, there are several quality-of-life improvements that make the game feel at home on the Switch. In a similar vein to the mainline Metroid games, Metroid Prime Remastered allows you to gradually acquire new abilities, such as the morph ball and missiles, which enable you to reach previously inaccessible areas.

The diverse biomes present you with a variety of challenges, including Magmoor Caverns’ thermal hazards and Phendrana Drifts’ freezing temperatures.

Metroid Prime Remastered

New and classic controls

What’s more, the Switch’s modernized control scheme allows for smoother controls compared to that of the GameCube or the Wii. You can now aim and look around simultaneously, a significant and welcomed improvement. However, Metroid Prime Remastered does include the original control scheme if you want to use it.

If you’ve never played Metroid Prime, it’s worth noting Samus’ unique ability to scan the environment, wildlife, and fauna. Scanning is vital for surviving as it provides crucial information necessary to progress through the game. Furthermore, scanning provides context for enemies, allowing you to absorb the information at your own pace.

Revamped visuals and great attention to detail

Metroid Prime Remastered is visually impressive on the Nintendo Switch and boasts a silky smooth 60 frames-per-second frame rate. Loading screens are concealed by seamless transitions. This is an innovative feature that was introduced in the original version over two decades ago.

The game’s environment, has been revamped with new textures, and the enemies look much better than they did on the GameCube. Additionally, the game’s effects are more in line with what I expect from a game developed specifically for the Switch. Pretty much every aspect of the game has been given a fresh coat of paint, making the entire planet feel more vibrant and alive than before.

Some of the most memorable features of Metroid Prime are the minor details, such as the reflection of Samus in her visor, which still holds up to this day and looks beautiful on the Switch. The attention to detail in the original game transitions nicely to Metroid Prime Remastered including Samus’ hand positioning, which changes based on the currently equipped cannon.

Metroid Prime Remastered is a masterpiece on the Nintendo Switch that should not be missed

I cannot overstate how remarkable Metroid Prime Remastered is on the Nintendo Switch. If the surprise release of Metroid Prime Remastered accomplishes anything for the Metroid Prime trilogy, it’s my hope that Nintendo recognizes the immense significance the series holds for fans worldwide.

After seeing the success of Metroid Prime Remastered, I hope that Nintendo gives the go ahead for the same remastered treatment to Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Undoubtedly, this will help pass the time and give more time for Retro Studios to work on Metroid Prime 4.

+ Every aspect of the game has been given a fresh coat of paint
+ Modernized control scheme
+ Visually impressive and runs at 60 frames-per-second

– No notable new content added