Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GameCube)

This new sequel expands on all these aspects as Samus Arran (perhaps the only non-gratuitous - considering she spends the entirety of the game in a big metal space suit - female character in video games) explores the planet Aether, which is mysteriously split between light and dark dimensions, with unique weapons and equipment only work in one or the other. This adds an extra layer of intricacy to the gameplay and storyline and also provides a prime excuse for lots more weapons, gadgets and visors (the sound based echo visor is particularly cool). Perhaps the most controversial new feature in the game though is a four-person multiplayer mode where you can use all of the game's power-ups and weapons. This actually works surprisingly well with the switch to a morph ball making it impossible to lock onto an enemy automatically, greatly adding to the tactical depth. It is the single player mode that is Metroid Prime 2's most important aspect though and there seems little chance that fans of the original will be disappointed. Those that felt the original was a little too hard and difficult to control will be catered for as well though, ensuring that this game is far more accessible than the previous one. --David Jenkins

This game's graphics are superb, from the temple you land in, to the barren wastelands, to the industrial complex towards the end. There is incredible detail in everything that you see, and this also includes the enemies. With over 50 unique enemies, and 4 major areas, this game leaves you drooling.

The game is set in First Person Mode, meaning you see everything from Samus Aran's point of view. However, there are no restrictions. You can use the morphball to roll up into a tiny ball, so that you can enter areas you can't whilst your standing. You can double jump to reach the higher places, and use the grapple beam to make it accross long ravines, but this is not all. The game makes you progress in a set order by allowing you to unlock doors only when you have achived the item to unlock them. I.e. Cant open light doors untill you have the light beam. To do this, you need to defeat the bosses that are scattered, and this even includes a dark copy of Samus Aran. This means that whilst this initially restricts your movement at the start, you can never go trully wrong. All of the enemies can be scanned, and even some of the manuscripts, to reveal more about what happened on the planet. Technology can also be scanned so that a log book can be filled with intricate detail, this is a game in itself. There are so many things to unlock, such as morph ball bombs, dark and light beam, missile cannons and different area's that this will keep you going for days.

The major addition is that you can travel between the light world and the dark world, via portals. In Aether the air is poisonous, so you must be carful, and only through doing this, will you be able to complete your journey, by accessing places you can't reach in the light world, in the dark, did i mention these all contain different enemies!

This game is hot, and the sound is even better, eerie in places, whilst the boss music is fab. In short, this game is a must for anyone with a gamecube, however, it does get rather difficult towards the end, so it is not for the faint hearted.


Metroid tedious 2 Echoes   July 10, 2005
Dpl (UK)
4 out of 30 found this review helpful

I agree with that Jonty guy, yeah good game but all the tedious running around looking for keys and stuff in the same places is so tedious! I saw Nintendo Magazine give this 97% and i thought "That must be a missprint!" I'd probably give it something inbetween 80% and 90% but hey that's just me, you might like it. But all the complicated stuff like aether and luminoth just sounds like rocket science or something, this is the absolute opposite to simple! The graphics are good and the gameplay's pretty good but why when you think you've finished in that first world (i can't remember what it's called) and you're onto the new world called Dark Torvus Bog (which i found amusing) you suddenly find that you have to go back to that first world again! And that isn't it, you retrace your steps so much in this game you loose count! And whoever decided to make it so you can't save when you press start you have to go to a stupid save station ought to be shot! I lost interest after i had got so far but lost it all because i couldn't save for about the ONE MILLIONTH TIME! If you like complicated crap that somehow comes together to make a game the buy this!