One of the most surprising parts of the recent Nintendo Direct was the shadow drop of Metroid Prime Remastered. While many fans of Nintendo's sci-fi action-adventure series are awaiting its next entry, Metroid Prime 4, a remaster of the original GameCube game for the Nintendo Switch is a nice way for both new and old fans to experience this first entry in the Metroid Prime series. However, while Metroid Prime Remastered on its own is a welcome addition to the Switch's library, having the whole trilogy remastered along with it would have made more sense.
With the success of 2021's Metroid Dread, and the hype surrounding the announcement of Metroid Prime 4, the franchise has seen a rise in interest from Nintendo fans over the past few years. Nintendo has taken this opportunity to capitalize on the attention the series is getting, which likely led to the release of Metroid Prime Remastered as a way to give new fans a chance to play this classic game. However, in order for newcomers to truly be prepared for the eventual release of Metroid Prime 4, they will need access to the entire trilogy.
This First Entry is Only a Piece of the Metroid Prime Saga
Metroid Prime first released for the GameCube in 2002 and was a huge innovation for the series, shifting from a 2D perspective, to a first-person shooter in a 3D environment. While the controls of the original feel dated by today's standards, the remastered version offers a modernized control scheme for player convenience. Since there was clearly a lot of effort put into to remastering and bringing this title up to date, it feels like a missed opportunity not to give the other two entries in the trilogy the same treatment, especially since they share a lot of the same assets and mechanics.
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes released on the GameCube two years after the first in 2004 and introduced players to Dark Samus along with the mechanic of swapping between the light world of Aether and its Dark Aether counterpart. The game was also the first instance of multiplayer in a Metroid game, where up to four players could take part in a variety of modes locally. Although Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is generally considered to be the worst of the trilogy, it's still worth experiencing for players new to the series.
The third game in the trilogy, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, released on the Wii in 2007 and utilized the console's motion controls for aiming by pointing the Wii Remote at the screen. This new control scheme was generally well received and greatly benefited from the enhanced graphical capabilities of the new console, which contributed to its critical acclaim. With iconic foes like Omega Ridley and the return of Dark Samus, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a must-play for Metroid fans and deserves a modern remaster just as much as the first Metroid Prime.
Currently, the most accessible way to play the complete trilogy is through the Metriod Prime: Trilogy compilation for the Wii, which contains all three titles and utilizes motion controls for each. Given Nintendo's ability to port the first two games to the Wii for this trilogy compilation, it would have made sense for them to do the same when remastering the first game for the Switch. While it's possible Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption could see stand alone re-releases leading up to the release of Metroid Prime 4 in the future, their absence alongside Metroid Prime Remastered leaves both series newcomers and veterans alike without easy access to the complete Metroid Prime saga.
Metroid Prime Remastered is available now for Nintendo Switch.
