Examining the Metroid Prime trilogy, its evolution, and everything in between.
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
2:31 The First Dark Age
11:44 Metroid Prime
40:44 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
1:10:35 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
1:29:21 The Second Dark Age
1:40:17 Conclusion
Special thanks to Hannah Hellwig for providing the voice of Samus Aran! / thejediexile21
And a huge thank you to the members of the community for lending their voices to this video!
KingK - / kingdomklannad
Pyrrickong - / @designingfor
Rosarrie - / rosarrie__
TheAmazingMoist - / amazingmoist
TigerCowZ - / tigercowz
FeebTube - / @feebtubereal
This video features music by Koba - / @variaproject
Sources:
ca.ign.com/articles/2002/11/1...
ca.ign.com/articles/2004/12/1...
ca.ign.com/articles/2009/08/2...
www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...
ca.ign.com/articles/2001/02/2...
ca.ign.com/articles/2000/10/1...
metroid.fandom.com/wiki/VM
www.vgchartz.com/game/1339/met...
www.eurogamer.net/articles/ne...
www.gamesindustry.biz/article...
nintendoeverything.com/rumor-...
metroid.fandom.com/wiki/Jeff_...
www.gamespot.com/articles/nin...
ca.ign.com/articles/2002/11/1...
www.gamespot.com/reviews/metr...
web.archive.org/web/200802160...
Nintendo Power - Issue 163
gamnesia.nintendoenthusiast.c...
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1:34:10 "There was a teaser for a DS game called 'Metroid Dread' ... we might see it someday" It feels so surreal to hear that now
YES!!!!
Thank god they took their time with it. Game is a modern classic and masterpiece
@@Eudoxus747 Indeed. Dream come true for Metroid fans 👍
@@Eudoxus747 One of the most correct comments that I have read on this site. I've played it 4 times over and am working on a minimalist playthrough, and each and every hour has been enjoyed. hopefully they take their time with prime 4 too.
i was about to say that
This is what I come to KZhead for: massive dissertations on some of my favorite games of all time
Phrieksho Industries this has been an absolute treat. My GOD!
yep, i see a favorite game and you have my attention. i see 90+ minutes and you have my UNDIVIDED attention
I mean I just like people talking about what they love very entertaining and educational. (but retrospectives on my favorite games are pretty nice too.)
Phrieksho Industries po
LOL! YES!
"When I have the urge to replay Metroid Prime, I play all 3 of them back to back." I felt that.
That's what I always do
This is the right decision. All 3 are equally great in their own ways.
When I get the urge to sniff BUTT I just give YOU a call my love!!!!! 😘
How long does each one take to complete?
@@markherring3513 I'll give times for what I would consider comfortable 100% runs; by that I mean runs where you know exactly where to go and where everything is, but you aren't trying to go fast or do the most efficient route. Prime 1 is about 6 hours, Prime 2 is more like 7h30 and Prime 3 is closer to 9 hours. It is worth noting, however, that if you're playing any%, Corruption is about even with Prime and shorter than Echoes, because not all energy cells are required, unlike the artifacts&sky temple keys.
“A delayed game is eventually good, but Metroid prime 4 will never release.” -Shigeru myamoto
Yes, this commenter right here, Baby Metroid
@@bluecaptainIT am I wrong?
@@micahbeckner2274 only time will tell, but for now... Let's keep our mouths shut!
It will come eventally just like Elden Ring did
As long as dread releases on October 8th I'm good..... I'm way more excited for Dread, we've waited 19 years for it and for a true metroid 5. Prime was just meh for me anyway. Too many tedious things to do....chozo artifacts, ridiculous platforming etc
Each time I hear that Metroid Prime theme kick in. Chills all over my body.
FACTS
Every single time I hear any song from any Metroid game I get chills
Hell yeah!!!
I had kinda forgotten it but just a second later I was covered in goose bumps, so good!
hell yeah! i hadn't heard it in years when i clicked this. immediate rush of nostalgia, and chills creeping all over me
Everyone that likes Metroid deserves a hug.
From a metroid
no you are breathtaking
*loves
Metroid for life
thank you :')
The Metroid Prime intro theme has one of the hardest beat drops in music history, not even exaggerating
▫Bethesda - [𝒊𝒅] - *DOOM* beats it, but it's not as... sci-fi-mystery as Prime.
My absolute favorite moment in Metroid Prime was when I noticed that you could see the bones in Samus's hand with the X-ray visor, and when you switch beams, you can see she actually makes the hand sign indicated for each beam. And then it hits you: _that's how she changes beams._ Like... that's Samus, the operator of a Chozo power suit, deciding to change beams, and performing a designated command that her arm cannon is programmed to recognize. That's why the beam icons are all weird hand gestures! This detail is just so cool to me, because it immediately brought to mind the joy of watching adults do some mundane task as a kid - splicing a bike chain, or changing the furnace filter, or tuning the piano. The rush when you quickly go from not even thinking about a task to knowing why and how it's done. It's a brilliant touch that, in my view, exemplifies what made Metroid Prime so special.
Damn I didnt even noticed it, thanks for sharing! Multi tasking and constant dopamine stimulants are making us super ADHD, I can feel inside me a constant rush to end a game (for example), without paying attention to this BIG little details. It was also hard to read your whole comment without getting distracted Trynna change that def.
Good eye.
I didnt notice that until earlier this year when i replayed it for the first time in over 10 years as a 29 yr old adult. It is an excellent attention to detail though
Just gonna say that.... I find this sentiment quite odd. When my bike chain broke as a kid, I spliced my own bike chain, and no one taught me how to do it. I knew how to tune instruments by ear because I messed around with guitar and violin and just figured it out. The only time I had to watch an adult do something was when my dad was working on the car, but even then, he'd let me change the brakes when I was 7 Doing all this, I don't see the connection between this and the obvious hand gestures in Metroid Prime. I mean... it is a purely aesthetic thing with no bearing on the actual mechanics, so you aren't' really learning how something works, or why
@@nora96780 That's just you
imagine being one of those five people unironically thinking Prime is a "generic FPS"
we need to track them down.
metroid prime is a generic fps.
Are we engaging in the proud Metroid fandom tradition of dunking on Moviebob again?
@@rowanatkinson3594 yes... yes we are
Metroid Prime is an FPS in the same way that Super Metroid is a Run 'n' Gun.
You skipped the most important game Metriod Prime: Pinball
I hope you are joking because pinball is just first prime game in pinball form.
Eric Roe of course I’m joking
And what is with Metroid Prime Hunter for DS? :(
Rocky712 - Let´s Plays that’s actually a good point. The secret endings of Prime 3 and Federation Force heavily imply Sylux (a rival bounty hunter in Prime Hunters for the uninitiated) will be a major antagonist in Prime 4
"Yamamoto-san". Please, don't say that.
46:32 there's something just quite funny about Samus's reputation being so mythical that it can be compared to Santa Claus and Bigfoot. Also that the last two "exist" in this universe.
Came back for one of my favorite videos right after the Metroid Prime Remaster announcement.
Just beat the game and finished this video I hope the remaster the other two games
I’m playing the remaster for the very first time!! It’s such a good game!!! I now understand all the hype lol
Can't wait for Prime 4 and a potential switch trilogy port
porting trilogy to the switch would be the BEST cash grab for Nintendo. and I wouldn't even be mad about it.
tbh it would be best if they ported the games rather then have people buy older consoles to play the previous games
Don’t be surprised if they port the games as individual releases at $30 each.
I would still buy it even if it came back to 60 dollars and/or more. Though it would also be nice personally to be able to unlock new stuff through metroid theme amiibos. I just really want to see them used more often than just collect dust and they are my favorite amiibos.
I’ll pay 120 bucks for a collectors edition... I paid 150 for breath of the wild
Okay I’m just gonna pause, gotta take a second to appreciate that video length and give it a like right away.
Yeah me too actually
You gotta watch this guy's take on Metroid Prime kzhead.info/sun/hK6cp9WLkYt8fI0/bejne.html
@@melanchlorin thank you for sharing.
1:34:12 Oh, fun. I am here 1.5 years later to say that Metroid Dread turned out to be what Samus Aran needed. Maybe someone will comeback in the future and say it relaunched the entire franchise.
It undoubtedly did.
I hadn't played a traditional metroid before. When I first played dread (bought for cheap second hand) I thought wtf is this garbage. Absolutely loved the game by the end. I prefer the 2d over the prime series tbh...
As someone whose favorite game of all time is Metroid Prime 2, I was grinning throughout that entire section. Always good to see reviewers giving Echoes the praise it deserves.
Amen. Echoes gang all day 🟣⚪️
Can I ask why that game is your favorite? Not a popular opinion.
@@leeartlee915 You know, as time goes on, I hear more and more people who agree that Prime 2 IS their favorite of the trilogy, and even of all time. I am one of those people. It seems to be less and less of an unpopular opinion as time passes. Perhaps in the same vein as the Star Wars prequels gaining popularity as people come to appreciate it with age. I, for one, think this game is my favorite, because of the difficulty. It felt right at my level, sometimes a little harder. It also felt tighter than Prime 1, with backtracking becoming less of a chore and more of a narrative. The bosses were well designed, the enemies in general, and the soundtrack is more iconic for me. There are shortcomings, no doubt. But I felt that Prime 2 just stuck with me more. The light/dark theme felt like it was done really well and not cheesy like some people do with light and darkness, with overcharged motifs and themes. It felt more like a mechanical entry than a philosophical one. The Ing are badass, and so is Dark Samus. The Metroid Prime was definitely my favorite boss of the first game, and the themes slap. But so too does the Emperor Ing and Dark Samus themes. The game just screamed "me" more than Prime did. In no way am I dissing Prime, which is a master class in 3D platforming in and of itself. I just felt that Prime 2 was the prodigy younger brother in this regard.
@@QrazyQuarian Huh, yeah that makes sense. I should really go back and play it. I think at the time it came out, for me, it felt kind of more of the same… which is strange because some of my favorite games are pretty straight forward sequels. I remember really liking the 3rd prime just because it was one of the first Wii games that felt at home on the console. But that first game was so mind blowing it was just hard to get over that initial rush. In any case, I appreciate you telling me why it’s your favorite. If I’m just honest with myself, I love all Metroid… well maybe not the NES or Gameboy game. Those are ROUGH.
Everyone, play Metroid Prime Remastered!
I can't tell what's more underrated: Echoes or your channel.
I remember playing Echoes over and over for a couple of months because of how good it was.
@homebrewGT The ammo system really wasn't that bad considering how many crates were lying around in-between rooms and you could charge up a weak shot to open doors if you really ran out of ammo, so you were never stuck because of it.
@@chironthecuddley6144 The problem with ammo is it's constantly in the back of your mind. I don't have as much fun fighting when I know I have to conserve ammo against enemies that I will fight again every backtrack. Many enemies practically demand you use ammo for a fair fight, it doesn't just make things easier. Prime 2 gives me a headache after a while with that pounding thought that I'm low on ammo, constantly. I can get the ammo back, but it's always a minor hassle that builds up over the course of a play through.
Echoes is amazing.
@homebrewGT normal beem had infinite ammo what are you talking about It even shows in the video
The masterpiece that is Metroid Prime was my introduction to video games at the age of 3, and my God, it has such a massive influence on my whole life. The title brings me to tears every single time and I love it.
Enwyn Rosethorne Same here! But with prime 2 when I was 5
I was introduced to Halo as my first game when I was 2. Then I played Metroid Prime on my 3rd Birthday.
You guys were way too young to be playing games like that. But then again, I started off playing Resident Evil 1 when I was just 4 years old lol. I was introduced to Halo at the early age of 5 or 6. It was really fun, but since I played it on PC, PC controls were really never my thing so I didn't get to play it as much. Then when my dad bought me Metroid Prime by the time I was around 8, it really got me hooked and was one of the reasons why I even got into first person games in the first place. Never knew however, that a copy of Metroid Fusion was never needed in order to get the Varia suit, until I was about 11 or 12 years old XD. Waste of time, some may say. I'd say fun times!
EpsilonChurchRVB lol ikr, you can imagine some of the nightmares I had
@@EpsilonChurchRVB I was scared of the Chozo Ruins, more so than the Flood. I was also scared of the Phazon Mines, more so than 343 Guilty Spark (The mission) Metroid Prime scared me more than halo. Now I'm 15, and play games that are really violent, like Doom, Quake, Blood, DUSK, and Wolfenstein. But I haven't seen any negative effects on my personality. I get that I was young, but I'm much better at video games than a majority of my friends who started at like 5 or 6.
It blows my mind that a game that came out nearly 20 years ago still, in my opinion, visually holds up to this day. Prime had some incredible art direction.
that is because metroid prime trilogy is a timeless classic
It just proves Nintendo art style is timeless.
I have to admit, when she said "This is Samus Aran, signing off." I teared up a little. That trilogy was a massive part of my childhood and will always be really be really special and important to me. Thanks for devoting the time and thought to it that it deserves.
Metroid Prime set a high bar. Metroid Prime 2 sent that bar into orbit.
I found mp2 a bit daunting when completing it.
@@Bee_Mavrick That's understandable. I personally felt very accomplished after completing mp2.
ya and prime 3 was garbage :(
@@christianprevost8455 MP3 was pretty fun IMO. I feel it gets a little too much hate.
@@TheTrashman9 nah to Much color was not as dark as prime 1-2
"The series was back, and here to stay". Cries in no new Metroid titles in 13 years
Samus Returns counts, doesn't it?
@@mysterium368 It might as well be. Aside from the basic idea of hunting down all the metroids, It's almost a complete overhaul of Metroid 2. With how different it is it may as well be a new game with the same goal.
@@shinysamurott613 AM2R is still better than Samus Returns IMO.
@@Sean27007 Fair enough. Can't really argue with that.
can't wait for prime 4!
Metroid dread was an absolutey amazing the game that heightened what a 2d Metroid could be, just like super Metroid before it. I feel that Metroid prime 4 should bring the same justice to the 3D Metroids.
@Neallord The game was announced early by NINTENDO, instead of retro studios. Then Nintendo realised they didn’t know how to make a 3D prime game and gave the development to retro studios. That means that the game was revealed really early. That’s why it seems like it’s delayed a lot, bc usually at this point we’re not meant to know it exists.
Everyone, play Metroid Prime Remastered!
Easier said than done. Its just as likely that it will become something unrecognizable if they take that approach. They should play it safe for Prime 4 and try something new for Prime 5.
Super Metroid is far superior to Dread I'm sorry
Metroid Prime Trilogy has to be one of the greatest collection of games ever to be released. It's so awesome being able to play through the trilogy with proper mouse and keyboard support, thanks to Prime Hack... I remember getting excited when I first saw the MP4 teaser back in 2017, but I really hope we'll see something from that game soon.
Could I ask to talk with you about this awesome game?
What is prime hack?! That sounds awesome!
@@briancooley8777 It's a modified version of the dolphin emulator that let's you play through the trilogy with proper mouse and keyboard support. Find some gameplay of it and you'll se what I mean.
@@SDK2K9 cool! I’ll have to try this
Metroid Dread is coming soon!
Thank you for mentioning Kenji Yamamoto right away and including him multiple times throughout the video. He is hands down the reason why Metroid has the atmosphere it does.
Unpopular opinion(I think):Corruption had a weak soundtrack.
I agree. I think it would be cool if in Metroid Prime 4, he and another composer did the music for that game. It would be an interesting thing to see in my opinion.
Composers are criminally underrated in gaming. Imagine playing Doom without Mick Gordon or Halo without Marty
Hiroyuki Sawano? I think that would be interesting.
@@greasybumpkin1661 Basically Halo 4 and 5 lol. And it shows, those games' soundtracks were not up to the standard set by Marty and company. They weren't bad, but they weren't Halo
For anyone curious about who the voice actress "V.M." is who does Samus' death scream, it's almost certainly Vanessa Marshall.
Jennifer Hale is the voice actor for Samus in all three Metroid Prime games.
@@travismcdowell9281 Apparently both are the voice of Samus, using them for different vocal reactions. Vanessa's voice was chosen for the death scream.
@@shinzouningen6357 Oh that's so weird.... I had no idea she had two voice actors.
@@travismcdowell9281 Yeah. Pretty interesting. I guess the one actress just had more of a convincingly pained scream to freak the player a little.
@Goldeagle1123 (OP) Can you support this assertion?
Just saying, those who lent their voices to this video did a fantastic job. The one with the southern accent gave me chills at the end of the audio log.
Who’s watching this right after Metroid Dread announcement!?
Lol my thoughts exactly
Me
Me
I just pirated the game metraid dread. Feels good man.
@@solodolo3241 😐
dude metroids sound design/ost is crack for my veins
Metoo
I respect you for 2 Reasons: You have a PFP of Lightning from FF13 💖 You love Metroid Prime 💖 God bless you and Long live the Metroid and FF13 fans 💖💖
2D Metroid soundtracks never really hit me, which is blasphemous, but they just never had a grip on me, as well as they set up an atmosphere. But Prime, ho-lee-shit. I remember when I bought the first game on a whim and started it. The title screen theme was thoroughly burrowed in my skull for years. And while I never made it far in the game, (I really need to change that) the themes of the Chozo ruins, Magmoor, and Phenelelelelel Drifts did the exact same thing. Such catchy and atmospheric songs with a nice core melody and so much ambiance. With the first person perspective, the game just sucks you in.
Lmfao same I need Metroid Prime trilogy for switch must play the games again music and atmosphere and gameplay amazing.
me: sees this video at 2:04am cool big lecture at 8:00am me: and so ill be back
Literally
The Main Menu Ost of Metroid Prime will always be an banger I swear, hell a lot of the Osts are.
I love the music on the Metroid series. Its so unique and fresh. Then theres the lighting and sense of danger I felt in Prime 2. Knowing that I have to go into the darkness which will hurt me no matter what. That knowledge beforehand - so primal.
Easily my favorite things from the Metroid Prime games is there attention to detail in immersing the player. All of the visor effects (I love the system reboot in Prime 2), and all of the optional flavor text that's well written. I think that immersion best culminates in Prime 2. While its color pallet is very washed out, and many of its environments can feel very similar, Its darker tone is fantastic. I think you did a good job going over how the severity of the situation motivates the player to fight back against the Ing, and I'd like to say that I agree completely in that regard. As for what I'd like to see in Prime 4, I want varied environments like Prime 2 and 3, I want a much more mature and serious tone like Prime 2 (I am honestly on board for having red blood, not gore though), and I want the beam switching and utility of Prime 1, with a revised ammo system from Prime 2 (maybe like a heat meter so that you can't spam the same beam constantly, but don't have to worry too much about ammo). I'd also like revisions to the Screw Attack to make it less situational (I was thinking change it into a morph ball power-up, that way the camera wouldn't be an issue since it would already be in a third-person perspective, and would therefore allow more freedom of movement without disorientating the player), and I'd also like to see some sort of implementation of the Speed Booster or Shine Spark. I think that a mantle ability would service the game quite well (like a less clunky version of the ledge grabbing in Prime 3, something like how Doom 2016 used ledge grabbing). And I want map designs that encourage and account for sequence breaking, which is something that the Prime games never really had, especially not as much as Super Metroid or Zero Mission. I want a Ridley boss fight that's really dynamic (something like a mix between the Meta Ridley fight in Prime 1 and the one in Prime 3. For example I want Ridley to be able to grab you and throw you like in the Prime 3 fight, but also have the general structure of the fight be like Prime 1). I think a segment with Zero Suit Samus, or a boss against Kraid could be interesting. One of the things I want the most is less cutscenes. I think cutscenes should only be for boss intros, outros, and power-ups. I really wan't the game to take a more Half-Life style of scripted sequences rather than cutscences. A good example that I can think of is when Dark Samus destroys the bridge in Prime 2, that sequence would be way more surprising and memorable if it was in game, rather than in a cutscene. Another example is something like the encounters with the SA-X in Metroid Fusion, or the way Nightmare is foreshadowed in that game. I want more moments like when Ridley flies overhead in Norian in Prime 3. Metroid thrives on subtle storytelling which works because the inherent design of a Metroidvania requires the player to be observant, so framing a scene through the player's perspective rather than a cutscene is much more rewarding and immersive. Any thoughts?
I also want some form of melee attacks for when an enemy gets right in your face but don't want it strong enough to where it negates using your blaster. Maybe melee finishers or something. Also rolls instead of just strafing
@@TheDarkGBJ Maybe if you take the time to charge up a shot, you could use it to finish off an enemy kinda like in the unmentionable title. And there was a bit of a boost to strafing if you double tap the jump button while locked on, so it acted like a like a side hop.
I really like your gun overheating idea which makes me think of the halo 1 plasma pistol charge up. Also bringing back the shinespark would be great. The speed boost was the most enjoyable part of watching metroid other m for me too. And i also agree with having the series a little more bloody but not necessarily gory. I would like to see the horror aspect ramped up a bit where you find mutilated or mutated bodies that are actually scary. Like happening upon the body of a trooper that’s showing a bit of skull on an otherwise normal face that fell victim to an energy shot. Make this the M for mature Nintendo IP
Honestly? I think some of the mechanical elements from Doom 2016 wouldn't be a terrible addition to the Prime series. The function of a glory kill (no idea how Samus would implement one of those, maybe special kills on enemies based on different tools at Samus's disposal - like finishing off a specific staggered enemy with a bomb attack or maybe using a charged "plasma" beam in a special way) would be a good way to keep an ammo style system intact while also letting skilled play reward you with more ammunition - turning enemy defeating into a puzzle all on its own for maximum reward. Nightmare's foreshadowing was honestly one of the best elements of Fusion to me. Fusion, for all its flaws, had some absolutely amazing atmospheric elements, and translating more of those to Prime's world design would be perfect to me. More moments being in the player's hands and not purely cutscenes would be perfect. Also, I think I kind of agree with the screw attack being a possible upgrade to the morph ball - specifically the spring ball. Either just allow the spring ball to be the launching off point - bounce once then keep going for screw attack - or maybe use the boost ball charge into a spring ball jump to screw attack off in the distance. Heck, that may even be a way to implement the speed booster - or at least a shinespark, which may be worth it. As a Switch game, it would be able to be aimed with the joycons or the screen itself, thus allowing precise aiming to find secret powerups. The biggest concern I have is mostly from a narrative standpoint for some reason, and I can't quite place why. Phazon was the specific throughline for the Prime games, and we've even seen the Space Pirate homeworld at this point. Maybe a return to a Mother Brain plot could be interesting? We've never had one of those in full 3D before, and her creepy presence in Zero Mission could be turned way up. Give us ways to see that unblinking eye watching us, either blatantly or in a hidden fashion with the distinct eye shape disguised in different ways, like the old Torizo boss's "eyes" looking like hers or something more subtle. Also, a zero suit sequence would be great for turning up the horror roots the series has. Temporarily strip away Samus's powers and leave us with much less effective tech and all we have are Samus's athletic abilities and knowledge to get by on. Preferably leaving the motion controls to necessary interesting general uses like how the grapple beam was used to strip enemy armor pieces or how the plasma beam was used in puzzle solving in 3, but maybe a bit more refined and less fiddly. Heck I could see using a beam with cutting powers at a distance to cut cables and drop objects one enemies mid combat being an interesting idea, also rewarding clever play and good observation skills. Boy have I played too much Metroid, I have so many little ideas.
@@JetBalrog I think that 'glory kills' might not fit quite as well in a Metroid game, but I see where you're coming from. The thing is, in Doom 2016 you had a limited ammo and health supply, so using those different finishers was key to staying alive and aggressive. But Metroid has never really had that sort of design. You can generally tank hits because you have so much health, and missiles are never in short supply. So I think adding contextual finishers to a Metroid game wouldn't really work because there isn't any mechanical incentive to use them. I think that that sort of tactical thinking is used for the beam switching in Metroid Prime. Different enemies are weak to certain beams and combinations.
Didn't know this channel existed, just watched a 1:42:58 video and loved every single minute of it. I hope you get more views and subscribers, this was so well done I still can't believe it. Good job!
I put probably thousands of hours into Prime: Hunters. 100% file and 5 Star multiplayer profile. How that looked and ran as good as it did on the DS is beyond me but even the campaign is still captivating just like it's older GameCube and Wii brothers.
Same dude. I played it all the time when i was in middle school, and was always on the MPH forum section on NSider
@@ayylmao2935 I was a moderator on that forum! Haha. And I was on MPHTools.
As a left handed person, holding the stylus in my off-hand would always leave me cramped after about 30 minutes. I never really got into it because of the control scheme.
@@TheNiteNinja19 DUde, i was always on mphtools as well, LOL. my id was traceuser (and it still is after all these years!) thanks mph
I remember the first time I saw her reflection on her visor and ti's still unmatched to this day.
Good lord, that is an excellent Samus voice over. The part in particular regarding Prime 2, "mirror us, immitate us, echo us" followed by the prime 2 theme was a brilliant editing choice (and very clever writing) that actually managed to give me goosebumps.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! To be honest, I was nervous about including the narration as I knew people were used to Samus being a silent protagonist. And I prefer it that way too! But for this video, I wanted to do something cool and set the tone for each game, and I loosely based the concept off of the scrapped spoken intro for Metroid Prime 1 that Jennifer Hale recorded. From the looks of it, people grew to like how I handled things here, so I can breathe easy.
@@LiamTriforce The exploration is amazing, I'm also into the depth of the story, quite literally, and in some ways the music describes the depth of the story. I felt this about the music at (25:40) with how the music seems to feel like it's describing what happened to the Chozo, they were far too important. Also, have you ever looked into the Chozo lore? The depth on how far that goes? It was sad what happened to the most intelligent of them as they were lined up to be killed, in an attempt to escape together while having a last line of defense. Such pure and clean of energy, from highly advanced technologies, coming from such a highly advanced alien civilization, now all gone. This.. is what made the Chozo ruins so amazing, and why the themes for each area were so dramatic, the songs play a tune of lore and depth within that lore, of great legendary stories that stretch far and beyond. Each area that has such dramatic music, you could easily tell was meant for what happened to the Chozo. It was not just a reminder of their existence at one time, but the sad fate to legendary alien beings that were beyond the word advanced, is.. truly.. touching. An empathic like myself with depth, would truly, quite literally.. understand this. ----------------------------------- The Chozo lived in a Type - 3 or 4 Advanced Civilization, from the looks of it they were also dimensional in some ways, so they were probably on their way to a Type - 5 Advanced Civilization, such as a Type 4.5 - 5. This also means that they were far more than just advanced like other alien beings or ourselves could be, their highly advanced technology was so pure and clean, you could see areas of Metroid Prime where there were light beams / plasma - like beams of light going through the floors and walls, but also in a specific art pattern, where you face Meta Ridley in Metroid Prime 1, in the hallway areas and outside that area, like Photonics "check my other channel on that".
@@LiamTriforce Which is why I was also into MegamanX 1 and Castelvania's Simon Belmont as the legend, but also Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. We need more Super Metroids and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - style Castlevania games that would be larger to fit today's standards, but in 2D and not 2.5D or 3D. Yes.. we can have 2D games again. Look at some of the art for Super Metroid. This could literally be a Super Metroid remake done right. Just don't add any 2.5D at all to it, like some games attempted today. Imagine the animations in that picture and it would look even more amazing. And the atmosphere animations in that picture. Now.. start making Metroid games with this quality of "2D" art, Nintendo. Sequels and beyond. This is exactly what we need for all Metroid games at this point and beyond to be made like, in 2D but as modern. www.game-art-hq.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Super-Metroid-Statue-Bosses-by-Orioto.jpg Now compare that picture in the link, to the classic Super Metroid in this link here. You might have to scroll your screen down just a little, check the classic Super Metroid picture, compare it to the other, it's even better with the other link above. www.game-art-hq.com/97609/that-scary-statue-of-the-bosses-in-super-metroid/ There is also this one, but after seeing the other picture in the link above, I find it better than this one, because this one here has too much "2.5D look and feel to it", even know it's amazing. It looks amazing when you see this picture, but then you start to realize.. hmm.. yeah.. it has too much 2.5D to it, and then you will start to turn to the other picture above in the link for an amazing 2D experience for Super Metroid and many new Metroid games in 2D should be exactly like that in 2D, with no 2.5D at all. www.deviantart.com/billysan291/art/Super-Metroid-Final-Boss-HD-173931483 Here is one more showing a video of speed art with Samus vs Mother Brain in Super Metroid. It looks amazing, but again it looks like 2.5D and that turns me away from it, but still amazing regardless. kzhead.info/sun/pN2rebmXcGKbo68/bejne.html Sure I want the exploration, but I also want the depth of the lore behind the Chozo, the environments, and the story. With everything else you mentioned like the scary side of it. It would be awesome to get some back story where we see the Chozo alive right before they were destroyed, but also their highly advanced alien civilization long before that, and the struggles with the space pirates, mother brain and so on, so much more over time that they went through. It would also be nice to see them rescue Samus when she was little, there is a comic on this that shows it well.
@@LiamTriforce Also I want to see Graphene and Quantum Technologies used with Samus. I wouldn't doubt if the Chozo used Graphene for their highly advanced technologies and for Samus. If they didn't imagine Graphene "which isn't artificial and made from pure carbon atoms for its special properties to be the wonder material of the future, as a Quantum Material, and a 2D material at the atomic level, that is only one - layer thick of pure carbon atoms", well.. imagine Samus using such a Quantum Material like Graphene, which is also real! If you would like to know why I mentioned that, go to my channel with the 2 simple steps for my other youtube channel about Graphene and Quantum Technologies.
@@LiamTriforce oh shoot, I didn't know that that wasn't from the Prime games. Super cool, it really set the atmosphere!!!
You can really tell when someone loves something
Something subtle I noticed when I played this as a kid: on your way up to fight Dark Samus for the first time in sanctuary fortress, you can see some phazon containers that are out of reach. When you defeat her at the top of that long elevator ride, she falls down and out of sight. If you go back to where you saw the containers before you took that elevator, they're nowhere to be seen. It implies she fed on them after her defeat. Nice attention to detail.
40:32 I agree with this whole heartedly. Prime 2 is my favorite game in the trilogy hands down. & tied for first with fusion in my favorite Metroid games list. Oh man, 01:02:50 - 01:04:48 just got my subscription. The reworked song the Bog Depths is probably my favorite song in the franchise. So good. I am so glad someone else appreciates it as much as I do.
Metroid Prime is far and away one of my most treasured games series. The level design and atmosphere are overwhelming at times and the harsh difficulty of Echoes and dark story of Corruption really undermined Samus' resolve as a character. When the going gets tough she just keeps a cool head and presses onward. In terms of gameplay I'm of two minds in regards to Prime 4. Personally I'm more fond of the old gamecube style of aiming and shooting, but I understand that a lot more people seem to prefer the Wii controls. Gyroscopic aiming could go either way for me, allowing for smooth unimpeded aiming, but it could also become overbearing for exploration and overstay its welcome.
I'm really hoping they provide an option for the classic control scheme
yeah i never understood why people hate the the old control scheme, i love it.
Having played Breath of the Wild, I had this sensation this was pretty much a metroid game. It is very likely, atleast in term of control, that they decide to do something similar to this zelda game, and I wouldn't be surprised if we get "Breath of the *Insert Planet name* III* instead.
I love playing the first two titles with the original controls, but the motion controls on the Wii version made feel like a new game to me with how easy it was to explore the environment by moving and turning at the same time. My exploration was faster in the Wii version, but the beam/visor swapping was more clunky in exchange.
@@chironthecuddley6144 Yeah I totally get why a lot of people prefer that scheme. Personally I thought it reduced too many fights to precision-based challenges whereas I always connect the Metroid games with challenges based around movement. It's a point of preference I'm happy to concede on, I just didn't enjoy 3 or the previous two entries as much with point aiming and hope that won't turn into a similar peeve with 4.
God, where do I begin with the first Metroid Prime game? Back in 2001, I knew about Samus only through Super Smash Bros as "that cool armored robot man". I was 11 years old and starting to buy gaming magazines, particularly Electronic Gaming Monthly (that was a TERRIBLE parenting decision by my folks with all the swearing in it), to get ideas in more games I could get. The fateful issue I grabbed that I saw Metroid Prime for the first time in was the August 2001 special issue, which showed a ton of Nintendo's upcoming Gamecube releases, including Super Smash Melee and Metroid Prime previews, and with Metroid Prime I saw that same armored person taking on an army of bug aliens and was completely hooked. So the day came where both games Prime and Fusion released, and my parents got me both of them that year for Christmas (along with the Gameboy Advance Gamecube adapter which let you get bonus features in Prime 1). While Fusion gave me the most vivid nightmare I have ever had in my life, Prime enamored me with just how utterly ahead of its time it was in comparison to everything else. The environments showed detail and atmosphere that no game even came close to matching, the sounds, enemies and locales were majestic and out of this world, each new scan log gave me new story to chew on, and each new item a chance to fool around and see what they could do. (I'm surprised you didn't bring up the Ice Spreader, which OHKOs Prime First Form's ice mode!) Metroid Prime 1, bar none, is my favorite game of all time. No game since has left an impact on me like it has, and no game since had quite the level of community my school friends and I had playing it, exchanging discoveries, going to one another's houses and helping the host through a hard section of game and teaching ourselves new tricks to make it that much easier. Those are memories I wouldn't trade for the world, and even now I find it a completely fluid and fun experience that is trivial for me to blaze through in an afternoon. And the crazy thing is, despite all of that praise, Metroid Prime 2 is not that far behind in my esteem, and while Prime 3 isn't on the level of either of the previous two, I still call it a very good game. It was a slight rough patch after Other M, but Nintendo's been a lot better at not killing franchises than a lot of other companies in the industry, so I had faith that Metroid would rise again in due time. With the tease in the 2d/10 completion bonus in Samus Returns and Prime 4 on the way, I'm ecstatic to see what comes next for the franchise.
Thanks for sharing!
I share your feelings. Gamecube era had the best games. I think todays modern tvs INPUT LAG have forced the game developers to make new games less accurate and slow paced. Just compare melee to other floaty smash games... I still pick up F-zero GX from time to time. Did luigis mansion a few weeks ago.. Re4 damn... Maybe my time with N64 still beats it tho. Im stuck on playing old games rather than the new ones. Wc3 is still Great.. Bought a snes mini half a year ago and have, for my first time, played chrono trigger, super metroid and Im 24 hours into FF VI. Well Im getting nostalgic and blabbering.. Congrats, we are 30 now hehh
Btw do you play Wc3? (Blade master)
' While Fusion gave me the most vivid nightmare I have ever had in my life' Same man, same, I was 10(?) when I got it. My parents had no idea what they bought. I had never even heard of Metroid before, only really played Pokemon, so I have no idea why they even bought it for me, as I didn't ask. But anyway I never finished the game til I was 15 because I was so jumpy I couldn't run from the SA-X properly.
MP1 is my favorite game too! Happy to see someone like you around =)
Metroid Prime is one of the best games I’ve ever played
15:49 the chills i get from this theme is insane. I am 26 atm, i was just a kid going to the electronics store after geting the gamecube for christmas. I bought this game purely based on how cool the coverart was. My english was non-existent at the time (being norwegian), and that made the mystery in and around the game even greater. I still love this game to bits. Long live my childhoods big three: Metroid Prime, Halo CE and Zelda OoT.
Playing through Trilogy right now. I can’t believe it’s been almost twenty. Years since I played Prime! This game has aged ridiculously well.
Been watching this video over the past 4 days and I gotta say, absolutely fantastic job on this! I grew up with these games and seeing them compiled into a video like this was amazing. I really wanna go back and play them now, so I've set up my Wii with the Prime Trilogy lol. Thanks for taking the time to make this. Definitely subscribing!
The main man
⁰
I’m hoping the trilogy gets released for the switch
I've just started replaying these game on a pc emulator and my god it was the best decision I've made In a long time
Same dude. I never thought playing Metroid Prime with keyboard and mouse would be this goodand they look amazing now
wait u can play with Keyboard and mouse???
do these emulators require heavy pc specs or normal??
@@aspectofdecay007 they require high mid end specs. i have a pretty good pc and it still isn’t stable. but primehack offers a keyboard and mouse option
Just join the prime hack discord they’ll help you out there
1:34:10 well dread has come out and it has blown literally everyone away.
I think one of the things about the music for All three of Metroid Primes' menus is their use of those disturbing foley sound effects that emphasize the biology. It really drives home the parasite, virus and radiation nature of Metroids and Phazon.
Zeph101theoriginal so truee I love how you describe it. Totally sounds like bio parasite/radiation!
Really liked your Portal and Half life reterospectives. Can't wait to hear what you have to say about Metroid!
Decided to rewatch this video on June 22, 2021 for fun, and Liam mentioned Metroid Dread. I wonder how you feel, Liam, about the E3 announcement in 2021.
Whoever is doing that Samus voice should be hired. Also dude was that you doing the Federation final logs? Those were on point too
For me, the atmosphere of Prime 1 has enraptured me since I played years ago. It and the music are far and away what I love about these games. Only Half-Life comes close to the sense of immersion these games execute, and I'm glad you touched upon this. Fantastic video, and let's hope Prime 4 achieves that atmosphere once more!
I'm only about 30 minutes in on this but excellent work, man!
Holy fuck, I was watching and only now realized this was longer than 30 minutes
@@cesarrsouza Be quiet and go play your Wii Nintendo Nerd!!!!!!!!!
Agreed great video!
Literally saw you comment as I was crossing the 30 minute threshold lol. I feel the same
Now that the Remake exists, I’ve gotten around to playing through Echoes, and I’ve had a sudden realisation about the games plot. The Ing were mere moments away from destroying Aether at the start of the game. Seriously: the Ing that holds the Energy Transfer Module is located _directly_ underneath the Great Temple Energy Controller. Samus is, quite literally, the ONLY reason Aether didn’t fall. You can find in the History logs that the Ing gaining control of the Energy Transfer Module allowed for their overwhelming push in the war.
This is hands down one of my favorite videos on KZhead. I'm a huge Metroid fan and how you are able to separate each aspect of the game and bring them together to explain and prove how this is such an amazing game is just amazing
Man, you're one of the only creators I know that can keep me and probably many others so engaged with a video for an hour and 40 minutes. Thanks again for giving all of us a nice dose of nostalgia, and thanks for using my music!
Metroid prime 2 still in my top 5 games of all time to this days.
Same bro! What’s your top 5?
I like Prime 2 a lot, but Prime 1 is the one I grew up with so I just have a stronger connection to it by default. I especially love how short it is when you know what you're doing. It makes me feel like a speedrunner without knowing many techs. It's almost literally Super Metroid brought into 3D, and I love it for that.
@@benjamintyus6957 Phantasy star online, Lost kingdoms, demon's souls, xenoblade chronicles, Metroid prime 2
@@jacobmonks3722 I can completely understand and I agree that it's just like super metroid went 3d and they nailed it. I got that game straight on release day (as with all metroids since that one) and from the moment the title screen showed up it gave me shivers until the end. But for that same reason, going back into it, it's not my favorite as it lacks some originality. They stayed on a safe path by using classic concepts such as forest area, fire area, ice area, all the items we previously knew, etc. Metroid Prime 2 however, takes me somewhere else, the balance between light and dark, the scary intimidating areas, the technology advanced species and areas, the music, the atmosphere, the dark and creepy stylish things, the intertwining of dimensions.... It just resonates so much with my inner being that it makes me feel like it's where I belong, when I had to clear concept prior to this experience. I had a feeling in me that this game materialized in an outstanding fictional work. It help me find and shape who I am, to this day.
I love Prime 1 a lot, but Prime 2 is hands down my favorite game of all time.
I just want to say it fills me with joy to see this much love put into a video about my favourite series. I smiled at parts I agreed with, feeling an emotional connection to this masterpiece series. Metroid prime 2 is definitely my favourite of the 3 games, and I think you describing it will convince my friend who is currently frustrated with the game to love it as well.
6 years after that announcement and still no news of Metroid Prime 4. But still, it blows my mind that the team at Retro Studio could create such masterpieces in 2 to 3 years each. Creating such complex and detailed levels that let you fully immerse in this fantasy world complete with mazes, puzzles, enemies and lore. I was not surprised when I heard they were overworked, because doing all that in such a short time is nuts, but most importantly the effort they put in to make every game an incredible experience just shines through. I wish more games were as creative, immersive and engaging as this without monetization tactics being shoved into your face like payed options, DLCs, time gating, FOMO, battle passes, loot boxes, in-game currency, etc. That is why I don't mind if I have to pay more or wait longer if it means having a quality game.
It really goes to show you the quality of that studio. And the lack of ambition from other studios as well.
Only for the first game, by the time they started working on Echoes, they got a better work environment which would also be the case for Corruption.
To this day, without fail, If I sit down to test out a synthesizer I will go straight to making these tones.
Nick You hahah what’s stopping you? Btw someone pointed out that a channel called synamax explored the synthesis behind metroid prime games in a little video series. I haven’t watched the series yet but I’m sure with any capable synthesizer you’ll be able to make the same tones.
@@CharlesFerraro they don't even need to be real hardware, I made this in software(Caustic 3): cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/372699676270526474/680682794774560782/Kraid_2.ogg
This was an amazing retrospective on the Metroid Prime series
Here before (hopefully) MP4 material being shown off at E3. I hope this comment makes sense in the next couple of days.
Lol
Well we were wrong in a good way
I mean, not yet, but at least be got not only Metroid 5, but Metroid fricking Dread just wow
I mean it doesn't, but they did reveal dread. (YAY!)
well you are here before it's shown at e3
I can only imagine how much work went into this production. You were extremely thorough and thought provoking. Thank you for this masterpiece. I greatly enjoyed it, keep up the great work!
I cant even imagine the amount of time put in this video. Brilliant and passionate work.As a fellow Metroid Primes fan, thank you for giving this triogy the attention and honor it deserves.
Sir, you've just held me captive for about 2 hours in one of the most wonderful ways possible. Thank you.
Its weird, I started watching this video at a more simplistic time in my life but a year ago today my dad passed, i was watching this video on that day and i am back a year later to finish watching it.
Losing a loved one is as traumatic as life gets. Nothing can bring out more emotion in us, cause a greater impact on us, make us reflect more. I’m very sorry for your loss one year ago, and I hope that with time you are recovering. As game fans, we’re lucky. We can build relationships and memories with people - family, friends, lovers - but we can also build relationships with and memories of games (crafted with care by people sometimes oceans away). If we’re lucky we can even create memories with those close to us intertwined with games. And at times when we are struggling, those games we’ve created memories with can be an invaluable crutch to help us through the hard times. As can videos about those games we love too. I hope that the Metroid Prime series itself, as well as this video, brought you some release from any stress you may have been feeling, and I hope that moving forward that all your memories with your father serve as invaluable treasures which empower you. Just as we haven’t had a Metroid Prime game in so long, yet we choose to focus on the greatness we received with the series instead of its current absence, I hope you focus on all the benefit you received by having your dad in your life, instead of his current absence. I’ve lost people close to me as well, including my father. A lot of us have. But we get through with appreciation. Appreciation and love. Good luck to you.
I'm so glad I found this. I've been watching several of your long form retrospective videos, and I love them all!!
Metroid Prime 3 will always have a special place in my heart, since it was the first metroid game I ever played. When I finally got my hands on the metroid prime trilogy years later, I played all 3 games back to back over the course of 2 weeks. It was euphoric to experience the first two games blind for the first time and seeing the series evolve as I was playing.
The great thing about the Metroid Prime title theme is how it feels like the radiation is seeping into the melody like a Geiger counter detecting phazon for the first time. Very effective.
This has been my number 1 video on my watch later playlist as i’ve put off watching it for 2 years now until i finished the trilogy. Proud to say, that time has come and i can enjoy this in its entirety.
I’ve heard for years how good the Metroid Prime games are, but this video finally convinced me to try them out. Even though I’ve never had a connection to Metroid in general, that opening title screen to Prime just hits so well. Amazing video, Liam.
Hanna did a fantastic job voicing Samus in this thought it was something I missed in game for a second
I love the production values of this video. I especially enjoy the voice-acting that your pals offered. The most compelling thing about Metroid Prime is just seeing everything from the visor of Samus. Droplets of rain, water washing away after existing a pool of water, splashing of residue from fallen enemies or plant life. Probably the best visor effect is seeing Samus' own reflection in a flash of light (from a Space Pirate Missile or from the Beam Cannon); it really drives home the immersive value that trilogy had. Allowing Retro to make a First-Person Metroid game might be the wisest decision Shigeru Miyamoto ever made in his life.
this wonderful vid got me into the Metroid series and i can’t thank you enough for that
I remember playing Prime 1 on Gamecube when I was kid and it's still one of my favorite Nintendo games
I just discovered your channel so this is a pleasure to see one of my favorite game series of all time pop up all of a sudden! Excited to watch
I dont often watch videos of almost 2 hours that are an analysis of something, but this one was a breeze to sit through, very well done
This is very well written and produced. Inspirational content from another content creator. Great work! Prime 1 being one of my GOAT games, thanks for doing the series proud! 👏
Metroid is my favorite series from Nintendo, I have so much nostalgia towards it. From it’s 2d games to its 3D games. It is incredibly amazing what Retro studio created when developing the prime series. Because they didn’t just create a game but they also created my childhood.
That GF trooper flashback, will forever be my favorite cut scene in any game.
Excellent Video on the series, the fact that you're passionate about these games and did your research really shows! great job
Dude I've always enjoyed your content but this metroid content is your best work! So much effort went into this. The research the audio samples the voice overs for key log books. You're the man.
metroid prime trilogy (wii) is the best collection of game i ever see
The absolute worse aspect is how the mp1 X-ray visor is porter to wii, it is a washed out mess
35:36 "some missile expansions are ripe for the taking" >only has 70 missiles after the Omega Pirate fight I don't know what I find more impressive, beating that fight with only 70 missiles or only having 70 missiles when you got to the fight O_O Love the vid btw, although some of the combat choices had me screaming internally :)
@paula Isn't it the fastest abusing the invisibility/teleport sequence while camping Super Missiles? That requires 15 or 20 minimum after breaking the armor.
Who needs missiles when you just drop a power bomb between his legs then cheese him with the Plasma Charge shot.
Plasma beam is OP anyway, who needs missiles
@@TheBfutgreg Super Missiles are one of the most effective non-cheese ways to win the fight. Sure use the Plasma Beam to whittle him down, but when he's actually vulnerable in the phazon pools? Pop two Supers at him and he's down like 33% health.
This video is truly amazing. I have no words, just great work man.
Really glad to know there are others out there who hold this trilogy near & dear to their hearts💕
Thank you for making this, excellent work. It brings me joy to hear your reaction to certain songs in the game deeply affected you as they did me..and still do. Everything about the Prime games affected me, it's awesome to see that I am not the only one who fell in love with the games and feel a deep sense of nostalgic joy when replaying them. Great stuff, again thanks.
41:27 Perfection. Chills. God this video is amazing.
My older brother and I would play metroid 2 multi-player for days on end during summer. Good stuff
Prime 2 is absolutely my favorite, and arguably the best in the franchise, definitely the beta Prime game. It has the best theme song, the best atmosphere, the best story.
I see the youtube algorithm is blessing me today, hour and a half long critique of metroid prime from a channel I've never heard of. Heck yeah.
I've never played a prime game but jesus christ I got invested in this
dafuck you wating for boiii
@@Sean27007 too poor for a wii or gamecube
@@jbhoy4953 pssst....get dolphin emulator...get the rom from vimms lair...
@@TheTrashman9 not got any stuff that can run that, trust me, I've tried
you dont need much
This was an excellent video! I just finished replaying Metroid Prime 2, and can echo (hehe) your thoughts on that game for sure. I look forward to seeing what they come up with for Metroid Prime 4!
Saw this months ago, one of the best Metriod Prime videos on KZhead. Keep up the great work, awesome video.
Whoever you got to do the voice overs did an amazing job. They out emotion into the lines than some real voice actors. Bravo!
The one way I know that these games are phenomenal is that my heart jumps every time I hear those first few notes.
Holy crap! Amazing video man! Metroid Prime is definitely my favorite video game series of all time, and it just feels so good to know that others enjoy just as much as I do.
I keep coming back to his video. It really is well-made, and easy to experience. Thank you for this, Liam.
Heh *RETRO* spective
lmao