Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Developer(s)	Retro Studios
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Release date(s)	/ August 27, 2007 October 26, 2007
Genre(s)	First-person adventure
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: T (Teen) (Violence, Animated Blood) OFLC: M CERO: B (12)
Platform(s)	Wii
Media	Nintendo optical discs
Input	Wii Remote and Nunchuk

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a video game developed for the Wii by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo. It is the tenth game in the Metroid series and the third main installment in the Prime trilogy, excluding Metroid Prime Hunters and Metroid Prime Pinball. The game takes place six months after the events of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and introduces a new control system based on the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. It was released in North America on August 27, 2007, and sold in stores on August 28. It is to be released in Europe on October 26, 2007. Nintendo released a preview channel to North American Wii owners via the Wii Shop Channel on August 10, 2007.

Gameplay

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is a 3D first-person adventure. Utilizing the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, you can point Samus Aran's arm cannon with the Wii Remote pointer and use the Grappling Beam by moving the Nunchuk. You can choose whether to use the A button or B trigger for firing, with the remaining button used to jump.

In contrast to the interchangeable beams used in Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Corruption will have a stackable beam system similar to Super Metroid's. You will progressively obtain concurrent upgrades for beams, Missiles, and grapples in a system similar to that of Super Metroid. The game will also feature various visors, including the new Command Visor, which remotely controls Samus's gunship to clear obstacles or assist in combat. The X-Ray Visor from Metroid Prime makes a reappearance and can be used in conjunction with a new beam with the ability to fire through walls. The Scan Visor is also reintroduced. Visors can be switched easily by holding the minus button and flicking in a direction with the Wii Remote. The variation of the Screw Attack seen in Echoes will also return.

There have been screenshots of Samus with a new suit style which is from a new upgrade named the Phazon Enhancement Device (PED) which allows Samus to control and use Phazon. A new feature that makes use of Wii Remote functionality allows you to lock on and strafe around an enemy while simultaneously firing anywhere on screen. This can be changed in the options so that players can choose the previous method of locking on targets. The Morph Ball also returns along with the Spring Ball, which can be used by flicking the Wii Remote up. According to Retro Studios, the more intuitive control will cause Corruption to be less difficult and faster-paced than Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Scanning will also become easier to perform. Additionally, a new checkpoint system will allow you to restart immediately at certain points in the game between save stations.

Nintendo has announced that there will be no online play in Corruption. The game instead introduces a system that rewards you with tokens for completing various achievements. The tokens can be used to purchase unlockable items or sent to friends via the WiiConnect24 service. You can also take screenshots within the game and send them online.

Plot synopsis

After the events of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the Galactic Federation contacts Samus Aran to investigate a malfunctioning network computer known as the Aurora Unit. The Federation believes the Space Pirates have infected the Aurora Unit with a virus. Subsequently, the Space Pirates attack one of the Federation's bases and begin to overrun the Federation's defenses. Samus, along with Bounty Hunters Ghor, Rundas, and Gandrayda, must work together to stop the siege, repair the Aurora Unit, and defeat enemies from the past game.

Mark Pacini, Corruption's director, has stated that Phazon will play an important part in the game’s plot. Pacini elaborated that, "Samus herself gets corrupted by Phazon and actually begins to develop abilities based on that Phazon. So that's kind of why the game is titled "Corruption". You yourself are becoming corrupted". Dark Samus will also return as one of Samus's antagonists.

Development

The game, when shown at E3 2006, looked similar in appearance to Metroid Prime 2: Echoes; however, according to Retro Studios, it would have a much more finished look when the game is complete. It was also announced Corruption will have much larger environments than in Echoes and would be targeted to run at 60 frames per second in the finalized version. The developers also indicated interest in using the WiiConnect24 feature to provide additional content.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption will be the first game in the Metroid series in which the characters will utilize full voice acting, though previous games in the series used limited voice acting. However, Nintendo Power has confirmed that Samus does not talk at all during the game.

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime stated in a 2007 interview that the game was "not going to ship by June" and set it at a summer 2007 release date at the earliest. Later he hinted, "when we release it, it will be perfect. And if that's a little later than folks would have liked, I'm hoping they're going to be happy." Some of the first gameplay footage to be shown of the game was seen at Nintendo's Media Release at E3 2006 and it was confirmed by Retro Studios that Corruption will be the last game in the Prime trilogy. Nintendo illustrated how Corruption will take advantage of the special abilities of the Wii Remote as demonstrated by a version of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, modified for the Wii, shown at the Tokyo Game Show in 2005.

In late April, 2007, IGN editor Matt Casamassina revealed that the game would be shown in detail during May of that year. He later reported that this event would take place the week of May 20. The publication also announced that the title will be released on August 20 2007 in the United States. Nintendo of America later announced to have moved the release date to August 27, 2007. Nintendo later announced an "in stores" date of August 28. A release in Europe is planned for October 26.

At the Media Summit held by Nintendo during the week of May 21, 2007, Reggie Fils-Aime noted about Corruption compared to the rest of the franchise that players have "never played it this way before". He also noted that Nintendo employees who had seen the game in action claimed that it "will reinvent the control scheme for a first-person shooter", and that the game is the closest a console title can get to PC control, breaking through the lens of how the game is played. IGN commented on an updated version of the game being played at E3, saying that it "plays better than any first-person console game ever."

Marketing

Nintendo had initially been criticized for an apparent lack of promotion and marketing for Corruption. IGN compared the minimal hype for the title to the large amount for the original Metroid Prime, which was marketed with its own live action advertisement. The publication assumed that Nintendo's recent actions were due to the company's new focus on casual game styles on their console and relatively low sales of Echoes. When questioned on this, Nintendo of America replied, "Nintendo fans will be surprised by the quantity and quality of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption information that becomes available before the game launches on Aug. 27. Your patience will be rewarded (or Corrupted)."

Following this promise, Nintendo released the Metroid Prime 3 Preview channel on August 10, 2007 in North America. This channel, available as a free download via the Wii Shop Channel, allows Wii owners to view preview videos of the game. These include previously unannounced details the game's plot and battle sequences from within the game. The channel also enables the user to view promotional artwork by moving the Wii Remote pointer across the screen.

Starting with the Preview channel, Nintendo launched a "month of Metroid" in North America. It included announcements of additional videos that would become available as well as a Virtual Console download of Metroid for the NES on August 13. This would be followed by Super Metroid for the SNES available for download on August 20 and the release of Corruption one week thereafter. Matt Casamassina stated that his critique of the marketing behind the game still stands, since it is only effective for the percentage of Wii owners who download the channel.

Reception

Reviews

Publication	Score
Nintendo Power	10 out of 10
IGN	9.5 out of 10
Gametrailers	9.6 out of 10
1UP	9 out of 10
Yahoo! Games	4 out of 5
Game Informer	9.5 out of 10
GameSpot	8.5 out of 10
GameSpy	4.5 out of 5
GameDaily	9 out of 10
GamePro	4.25 out of 5
Compilations of multiple reviews
Game Rankings	92 out of 100 (based on 14 reviews)
Metacritic	91 out of 100 (based on 16 reviews)

Nintendo Power gave Corruption a perfect 10/10 rating. The game is the second to receive a perfect 10/10 score from the publication, following Resident Evil 4 in January 2005. IGN awarded the game a 9.5 out of 10. The review noted that it was beautifully designed and is currently the best game for the Wii. Despite citing that the game is similar to the previous games therefore lowering its score by a small margin, IGN did conclude that it is the best game in the Prime trilogy.

Corruption scored a 9.6 out of 10 in a Gametrailers.com video review. The reviewer praised the more user-friendly and action-packed nature of the game compared to Metroid Prime and Echoes. The site also praised the superior motion-sensitive controls, stating, "After playing Metroid Prime 3 you'll never want to play a shooter with dual analog controls again, it's that good." They further added that those elements make Corruption "far superior to the original Metroid Prime".

1UP.com gave the game a 9 out of 10. The review highlighted the controls and said the graphics were "some of the best visuals in gaming, period". GameSpot, who gave the game 8.5 out of 10, stated the game possessed enjoyable puzzles, boss battles, atmospheric levels and smooth gameplay. They also stated some contextual actions do not work well and that the controls took away some of the game's difficulty. Furthermore, they stated the game was not very different from the earlier installments in the series.

External links

• Official Site
• Official Metroid series website
• Game page at Wii.Nintendo.com
• IGN's Metroid Prime 3 page
• AMN's Metroid Prime 3 page
• Game trailer from E3 2007
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption @ GameSpy