A big Metroid Fan here, revisiting this game for a fourth time was a hesitant joy for me. I did ponder about why I ‘needed’ to play this game yet another time, but I talking myself into eventually (and into a new OLED Switch).

Metroid Prime looks fantastic on the switch, it never faltered with frame rates and glitches were non existent. The atmosphere is immersive with its environmental design and sound production. However, this can show its age when there is constant back travel and questionable level design, some incredible with its camera panning and cutting, and others leaving the player in the dark with its obtuse choices.

Gameplay wise Prime feels, dated. This isn’t a game that focuses on its gameplay of shooting, rather than it’s platforming and world traversing. Shooting enemies can at first feel at joy, but by the end of your adventure become monotonous, with little variety in shooter mechanics than will leave you wanting more. The biggest decision you will have when using your gun is to match the colour with the same colour of the enemy.

With these negatives, it’s important to mention how impactful Prime was in my childhood, opening me up to a more abstract shooter game focusing on platforming and immersion, rather than something along the lines of Halo or shudder Call of Duty. Yes, the backtracking definitely becomes horrendous at times (I’m looking at you artifact pieces), but I just remember how happy this game made me as a teenager. A great remaster for a title that impacted so many into accessing an alternative shooter.