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Editorials   New Cube Owners, Vol. 4
- By Lander Clinton

Since Nintendo just sold in one weekend roughly the same number of GameCubes it sold at launch, I thought I'd do a little something for all the new Cube owners out there.

Everyday until I run out of ideas, forget, or am too busy playing a game, I'll update a GameCube game you must own and why you must own it.

Here goes:

The big holiday title of 2002 still screams polish* from every angle. Metroid Prime surpassed all expectations of what anyone thought was possible of bringing Samus into the third dimension. This game is flat-out gorgeous and plays the same, if not better, than it's 2D predecessors.

Despite the first-person point of view, the game doesn't play like a typical first-person-shooter, which is why Nintendo and developer Retro Studios dubbed it a first-person-adventure. You won't find a lot of circle-strafing or shoot-duck-shoot situations or even duck-duck-goose battle tactics. It really is an adventure game. I don't know how to describe the gameplay except that it's like Metroid. You explore a massive world (with cleverly hidden load times between areas) to progress further into the story.

Most rooms have highly satisfying circular puzzles which make the game really intuitive. For example, you can usually see your goal right away, even if it's out of reach. By using your skills to work your way through the room you arrive at a natural solution that puts you close to where you started, but now you can move on. It's hard to explain, but it makes everything feel really intelligently designed.

If you do get lost, you can check your 3D map of the world to see which rooms have doors you've never opened. That's usually a good sign of where you should go next. Also, every 15 minutes or so, if you're running off in the wrong direction, the game will give you a clue where you should be going. Unfortunately, Lakitu does not float down with a u-turn sign if you're going backwards.

All the upgrades to Samus' suit and all the abilities she learns give the player a great sense of accomplishment. Many rooms are designed to take advantage of these upgrades, so when you have them you can take shortcuts instead of retreading the same area the same way every time. You really feel like you've mastered that area and can move on to greater challenges.

And what a challenge! I'm sure playing through the game a second time is easier, but the first time you'll need to use all of your videogame knowledge and skills to figure out the puzzles and stay alive in boss fights and even minion fights. At the end those damn Metroids just keep coming.

I've barely mentioned this game's graphics and sound but they are second to none. I played Halo once, and I was not impressed. Maybe I would have been if I had never played Metroid Prime... Rain droplets on your visor, x-ray specs, the realistic yet alien plant life- everything makes this game stand out visually, and the music is always appropriate.

As a Player's Choice title, you have no reason not to own Metroid Prime, and for people who like to sell games to help buy new ones, this will earn a permanent spot in your collection.

*For our Polish readers, "polish" with a lower-case p means people from southern Poland. For everyone else it means Metroid Prime rocks- go get it!