Metroid Prime 2
I've been playing Metroid Prime 2 for GameCube in my spare time. This type of game has apparently hit a nerve with gamers, considering the incredible success of Halo 2 (now topping 5 million units?). The verdict is that I think Metroid 2 is overall better than the first, but it's simply way too hard. It's especially frustrating because the difficulty ramps up too early in the game.For example, certain parts of the game's environment continually take energy away. This doesn't have a big impact while just walking around, but it really stacks up when you're playing against a difficult boss character. Attempting to focus on such a task is hard with both the air and water constantly depleting your resources.
I feel that a game should be challenging, but always fun. I just don't really want to have to make 20 attempts to pass an area, particularly when it's supposed to be a recreational activity. There are a number of parts in the game are just plain frustrating.
The graphics are fantastic, and the presentation is incredble. The environments are immense and beautifully detailed. There's a definite culture maintained throughout the experience, which is I really admire. The control is very good for the most part, but it seems intents to "dash" are too often interpreted as jumping. The story is quite expansive as well.
I find the game is incredibly addictive, mainly just because I want to see what's next. Exploration and puzzles are two hallmarks of Metroid, and this is perhaps the best in the series on that front. It's just unfortunate that some of the tasks are so incredibly daunting that it becomes a struggle to see what's behind the next corner (it's a game!). I can't help but consider how much more I would enjoy the game if it wasn't for that.
Metroid Prime 2
Posted Mar 3, 2005 — 21 comments below
Posted Mar 3, 2005 — 21 comments below
Chris Laprun — Mar 03, 05 102
Since it's my first time commenting here, I might as well say that I enjoy your blog and its design.
Cheers!
Scott Stevenson — Mar 03, 05 103
I found the Boost Guardian sort of ridiculously difficult (or at least difficult for the wrong reasons), as is the Chykka one that I'm currently playing.
Erik — Mar 05, 05 107
Some of the bosses are admittedly hard, but the best thing to do is go out and get as many of the hidden energy tanks as you can find. And keep in mind that each boss has a specific strategy you need to use to beat it, you can't just mindlessly go in and try to kill it with firepower -- you need to discover the boss's weakness and exploit it (whether that means a certain beam weapon combo, or taking advantage of the boss's mobility limitations, etc). The walkthru from gamefaqs.com can be helpful if you're at the end of your rope, but don't overuse it and let it spoil your game. I will warn you, though, the hardest boss is the spider ball guardian. It just takes an amazing amount of dexterity to manipulate Samus properly to beat this boss, and you have to think incredibly quickly.
Also, I wouldn't put Metroid Prime in the same category as Halo. Sure, they both offer first-person shooting perspectives, but the auto-targetting combat of Metroid is focused less on precision aiming and firepower and more on discovering the specific strategy for beating a given opponent/boss. I think of Metroid Prime as actually very true to the original games, as a puzzle/platform game with action elements. It's just been updated for the 3D trend.
Actually I'm kind of glad it's over because I've been dying to try Resident Evil 4 (heh heh). I just started it two nights ago, and I must admit it doesn't have the same level of polish as the Metroid Prime games -- but it is definitely creepy! So far so good.
Scott Stevenson — Mar 05, 05 108
Erik Price — Mar 05, 05 109
matt — Mar 12, 05 112
Scott Stevenson — Mar 13, 05 113
If you're in the sky fortress area, jump into any dark portal you see and open as many doors as you can in that dimension, then come back through a light portal. There are walkthroughs all over the internet if you get really stuck.
woody — Apr 18, 05 138
Zac — Jun 05, 05 197
that much health... (the ---- is how long the bar is of health he has.) Can someone help me?
Zac — Jun 05, 05 198
Zac — Jun 12, 05 222
Anyway, Matt, the spider gaurdian is in Sanctuary. He is in a room called Dynamo something... Anyway, hes in light aether...
Zac — Jun 12, 05 223
Zac — Jun 12, 05 224
Scott Stevenson — Jun 13, 05 225
Zac — Jun 14, 05 226
I just fought the spider gaurdian... WOW! Hes tough!
The thing you gotta do is you gotta have the right timing with your bombs, you know they take about 2 seconds to detonate, so deploy a bomb 2 seconds before he would hit it. It depends on his speed, just make sure not to get hit my him. Youl get it. He beat me, i got to the last part RIGHT before i beat him, but i didnt have enough time to bomb all three bomb slots, then he ran into me so i lost...
Zac — Jun 14, 05 227
Zac — Jun 14, 05 229
Hi Zac. I haven't played Metroid in a few months, so my orientation in the game wolrd is a bit off now. I stopped right before the Spider Guardian. It looks like you figured it out, though.
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Actually, its always good to take a LONG break before you fight a boss you have tried to beat for a while, thats how i beat the boost gaurdian. i took a few days rest, then went back and beat him. And you know what... i think i know why i got farther on the spider gaurdian than i did yesterday, its cause i scanned him before i fought him... hehe.
Zac — Jun 14, 05 231
Zac — Jun 14, 05 232
Anyway, i just got freaked out cause i thought i would loose to the Spider Gaurdian, and JUST in time, BAM! he was gone... So do a little dance for me and WOOHOOOO!!!! lol JK.
Zac — Jun 14, 05 235
James F — Jan 25, 06 687