Metroid Prime GameCube

Born on the NES in 1987 and designed by Game Boy creator Gumpei Yokoi, Samus Aran began her days on the infamous planet Zebes in a simple 2-dimensional platformer. Then came Metroid 2, Super Metroid, and in 2002, Metroid Fusion, the fourth in the long running series. Now there's a fifth game that bravely steps away from the series' 2D traditions and revolutionises the Metroid world as we have known it for more than a decade - Metroid Prime. The blonde heroine has spent much of her life roaming the planet Zebes hunting formidable villains known as Space Pirates. But she has been unable to defeat them completely, and now they've returned a fourth time in another vain attempt to seize the Metroids of Tallon IV and harness their power. But when Samus arrives she discovers the Space Pirates have already run into trouble... your mission begins here. Two things - firstly it's a 3D game, and second, it's a first-person shooter. To avid Metroid fans that may sound like a recipe for disaster. In fact, we expressed great concern at Nintendo's chosen development path for one of the next generation's most significant and long-awaited updates. But! Persist, and the classic Metroid gaming that once graced 8 and 16-bit platforms shines through. Typically, you begin your adventure stripped to the bare bones, with only your suit and a single shot weapon at your disposal, yet gameplay remains intriguing. The early stages of the game teach you how to navigate the sprawling game world and how to use your visor for scanning. Move forwards, left, right, strafe, jump and fire - you get the idea. And a semi lock-on crosshair comes in especially handy, removing the need for lengthy sessions of combat, so time can be spent focusing on the platform elements of the game. Before long you'll encounter several familiar Metroid quirks, such as missiles and super-missiles, but most importantly, the ability to morph into a ball. You'll pick up this trademark upgrade early on in the Metroid adventure, and with the touch of a button, it