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> Results: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
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If there's one place that Retro Studios latest Gamecube game outshines all other games this holiday season, it's in sheer superiority of presentation. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is the kind of game Nintendo has been synonymous with since the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System. Every part of it is rendered with attention to detail and you won't find anything "glitchy" about the game anywhere along the way. The game's solid presentation enhances the absolutely incredible sense of visiting another world that permeates this game. It's hard to imagine something more real appearing on your TV in this generation.
This is the sequel to many folks' game of the year in 2002. With Metroid Prime, Retro Studios set a very high bar for themselves to meet and exceed with future products. Moving Samus Aran's adventures into the third dimension proved to be a monumental task for the studio as they had to shift all focus to Metroid Prime in order to give us that gem. In the sequel, Retro has taken Samus to the all-new world of Aether and introduces an entirely new race to the series in the insect-like Luminoth. They also introduce a new creature-like race called the Ing for Samus to take on. Everyone's favorite Space Pirates have returned for another go around along with those brain sucking metroids. The game takes place on the world of Aether, a planet split between light and dark dimensions providing new weaponry and challenges for the series.  The split between light and dark creates a lot of excellent gameplay. There are light and dark sides to the world that Samus can travel through. The levels are similar in design across both dimensions but take on entirely new appearances and challenges in each. This approach to level design obviously makes it easier for the developers to create the levels but it also means they have to provide plenty of variety. Retro has done that with Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. The light and dark world level goals all have a distinct feel that you begin to understand and adapt to as the game progresses. Some ideas cross over from one dimension to the other, while others are wholly created for light or dark. In addition to light and dark worlds, you also have to contend with light and dark beam weapons that use ammunition of each type. It's a big change from the last game where the various beams had no such ammo limitation but it works here and is a compelling gameplay concern. That's one place where this game is definitely a cut above most other first person games. There's a pile of thinking needed at all times. Whether you're managing ammunition use or watching your health in the dark world while looking for the next light crystal on the path, there's always something to think about in Echoes. You never just stumble through an area blasting without a care. As in all the Metroid games, there are often enemies waiting for you in areas you've already been to. They're usually a nuisance when you get back to them as you're often far more powerful by then. Even so, you might need to take them down looking for health, ammo or missiles. So nothing ends up being trivial as the game progresses. This excellent focus on thinking means that the game's pacing is never slowed. You're always focused on the next goal, the next power-up or boss. Just like all the Metroid games, you can expect some awesome bosses in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Their designs are uniformly brilliant. They also require a lot of thought to conquer. As in the first game, you have the scan visor and must use it regularly to identify your foes. That can give you insight into their strengths and weaknesses. With the bosses, it's of paramount importance to scan them quickly so that you can focus on their defeat. Scanning is something that some folks didn't like in the first game, but in this game you can easily see by means of color coding what is a mandatory scan thanks to a red highlight instead of a blue one. That's a nice concession to that crowd while still allowing those of us that are scan crazy to find plenty of stuff to scan. One of the best things about this gameplay idea is that it reveals so much of the world of Aether to the player. You feel a bit like an archaeologist as you traverse the planet in search of needed items to set things right. It makes for compelling storytelling just as it did in the first game and in a similar way to the System Shock games which pioneered the concept of reading the logs of the deceased and uncovering the mystery as you go. All these gameplay things are served so well by the incredible graphics, sounds and music. Heck, even the box the game comes in is brilliant. You'd be hard pressed to find a game that looks as good as this one. The alien world is just that, perfectly alien. Combine that alien world with some truly amazing ambient music, some of which draws inspiration from previous games in beautiful ways, and the whole package is incredibly complete. It's even more amazing when you play through the levels and see how functional they are at the same time they are gorgeous. Sometimes it's good to just stop for a second and take a look at the incredible detail Retro Studios has put all around you. The first game was definitely no slouch in the graphics department, but Metroid Prime 2 is even better. That's no small feat. It also runs so fast and smooth with no slowdown or glitchyness that seems to plague many games. The animation is always smooth and beautiful bringing us full circle to the subtitle of the review that this game exudes, high quality.  In addition to the fantastic single player game, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is the first game in the series to offer multiplayer. It uses many of the weapons and much of the gameplay of the single player game but allows up to four Samus Arans to take each other on in both deathmatch and Bounty Hunter mode. Bounty Hunter mode is interesting as each time you hit an opponent, coins drop to be collected. The first player to a set number wins. The level design for multiplayer is sharp and it even features the very cool stationary gun turrets. The lock-on functionality of shooting is the same as single player and this surprisingly leads to very fast and furious action. It's not perfect but it's definitely good for some extra hours of fun. No matter how you look at it, this is one of the best games of this or any year. The story is one of the best the series has seen. It has ties to the last game but expands upon it and introduces a lot of cool new bits that will undoubtedly be around as long as the series continues. The only reason it doesn't get the highest mark possible is because it does start off a bit slow and it takes a good hour to really get rolling. The pacing is perfect after that, but it's that first section that could've used some oomph. The multiplayer is good, but not great. Still, those are really minor things and it's almost like looking for something to pick on in a game that will definitely become a favorite of many. In this season of too many AAA games, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is one of the most welcome of them all. 
The game is rated T but it's probably only because shooting is the main focus of the game. The perspective is a part of that too. Side-scrolling is somehow not as scary as playing a game from the first person perspective. The earlier games could easily be played by anyone and depending on your children, so could both Metroid Prime games if they're watching action cartoons on TV or anything that's had aliens in it. It's good to view this one with caution though, just in case. The Ing are dark and angry beasts that roll right at Samus. Her world is a very alien one and some things that we might find fascinating could easily scare small children. I'm being a little conservative with the 8+ recommendation because even my three year old has watched this game and is enthralled by it. He can't wait for me to get to the next boss. But not everyone's kids are as into science fiction and action cartoons as mine are so once again, just use a little caution.
Kid Factor by Dave Long
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