Review by: Danielle Riendeau

Metroid Prime Trilogy is the very first game (or rather, compilation) to give The Orange Box a run for its money in terms of value proposition. What we have here are three truly fantastic games, two from the last generation, one from the current, all enhanced with Wii-fied controls and a sort of “achievement” system that rewards continuous play.

It’s more than just a lot of spacey bang for your buck, however, as playing through the three games now feels like a more comprehensive experience. It’s like going back and watching the Alien trilogy – on top of boasting comparable aesthetics and badass female protagonists, both series really shine when taken in as a complete work. In each, all three chapters have a very distinct look, feel and approach, but they all “fit” nicely within the established framework. Playing all of the Primes in a row really gives you an appreciation for what Retro studios has accomplished with the series – for each innovation, advancement and design choice.

Let’s begin with the original Prime – a game that absolutely everyone expected to be terrible back in 2002 (after all, this was a beloved franchise being farmed out to then-unknown Retro Studios). It subsequently blew everyone away with its excellent “1st person platforming”, kickass combat and incredible level designs. Here was Metroid – a twisty action- adventure game set in forbidding space locales – and it was working beautifully in 3D. In first-person 3D, no less – and it made just about every gaming magazine and website’s “best of” list for that year.

Going back and playing it in Wii-fied form is a real treat. The game controls exactly like Metroid Prime 3: Corruption – you move with the nunchuck, look and aim with the Wii-mote and switch “visors” on the fly using your HUD. Buttons correspond to your various weapons and morph ball abilities, and the Z-button provides a handy lock-on.