Long ago, a bird-like race of creatures (called the Chozo) became extremely advanced technologically, but due to increasing violence in the universe, they began to hide and live more simple lives. The planet Tallon IV was the site of one of their colonies. Years later, a meteor crashed on Tallon IV releasing the strange element Phazon into the planet. Phazon poisoned anything it came in contact with, causing the plant and animal life to either die or mutate into a hideous form.

The Chozo tried to control the power of Phazon but failed. Before abandoning the planet, they were able to cover the impact crater with a temple and seal Phazon into the planet's core. Now space pirates have discovered Tallon IV, moving in to study Phazon and harnessing its power. They have also begun rebuilding their fortress on planet Zebes and reviving the Mother Brain, Ridley, and Kraid, all of whom were destroyed by Samus Aran. However, Samus has tracked the space pirates to Tallon IV and must now enter the planet to destroy them once and for all before they have a chance to rebuild their destructive forces...

Metroid Prime is a change from the platform-adventuring series, entering the first-person shooter genre for the first time. Players are now behind Samus Aran's visor and must use all their resources to investigate the pirate infestation of Tallon IV. Players can use Samus's beam, with missile and charge capabilities. Along the way, they must recover the bounty hunter's lost abilities like the morph ball and grapple beam, which allow them to reach unexplored areas of Tallon IV. Players must piece together the story of the fallen Chozo to figure out what has happened to the poisoned planet and prevent the pirates from using the Phazon to wreak havoc throughout the planets.

Spellings

メトロイドプライム - Japanese spelling
银河战士 - Chinese spelling (simplified)
메트로이드 프라임 - Korean spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (GameCube version)

123 People (101 developers, 22 thanks) · View all

Executive Producer	Stephen Barcia
Producer	Michael Mann
Lead Designer	Mark Pacini
Senior Designers	Karl Deckard Mike Wikan
Designers	Jason Behr Tony Giovannini Paul Reed Amanda Rubright
Lead Engineer	Mark Johnston
Technical Lead Engineers	Jack Mathews Andrew O'Neil
Senior Engineers	Mark Haigh-Hutchinson David Kirsch
Engineers	Ted Chauviere Steve McCrea Irving Mah Alexander Quinones Marco Thrush Akintunde Omitowoju Jim Gage Kai Martin
Lead Artist	Todd Keller
Senior Artists	Michael Sneath Chris Voellmann
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Trivia

1001 Video Games

The GameCube version of Metroid Prime appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Development

Nintendo gave the development of Metroid Prime to the U.S. based Retro Studios in part due to the fact that the Metroid series, while being incredibly popular in the United States, has never sold as well in Japan.

Retro Studios also worked on a role-playing game for GameCube called Raven Blade of which a video was shown during E3 2001. However, in late 2001, it was announced that the game was canceled by Nintendo so that focus would be more on Metroid Prime. As a result, an unspecified amount of workers were laid off.

Manual

The manual has an amusing problem. Like in many of the Nintendo manuals, there is a lined page for the player's own notes, but the page has light lines on a very dark background. This makes most pen marks practically invisible, so the page is almost useless for its intended purpose (this applies to the Finnish/Swedish original release manual, at least).

Metroid Fusion

After finishing Metroid Fusion on the GBA, and linking up to a GameCube: * A new suit will be available * It will be possible to play the original Metroid on the GameCube

References

Kraid, from Metroid, was originally intended to make an appearance in Metroid Prime as a boss and was modeled and skinned by Gene Kohler for that purpose. However, time constraints prevented it from being included in the final version of the game. Though the beta version displays him inside Phazon Mines, according to Kohler, he was in fact replaced by the Omega Pirate. Kraid is referenced, however, in Metroid Prime. One of the tanks in the Space Pirate's base suggests that one of the Pirate's experiments is to recreate the creature. Body parts in the vat appear to be Kraid's. Of note is the head, since it appears to be covered by a metal dome in the picture.

Screw Attack

While many of Samus' signature moves are present in Metroid Prime, the infamous screw attack is strangely missing. Fans speculate that this is due to difficulties meshing it with the first-person perspective of the game. The screw attack does appear in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.

Awards

4Players
- 2003 – Best Console Action Game of the Year (GameCube)
Electronic Gaming Monthly
- February 2006 (Issue #200) - #52 in the "Greatest Games of Their Time" list
GameSpy
- 2002 – Game of the Year
- 2002 – GameCube Game of the Year
- 2002 – GameCube Game of the Year (Readers' Choice)
- 2002 – Best Music of the Year (GameCube)
Golden Joystick Awards
- 2003 - Runner up as GameCube Game of the Year (after The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)