IGN says:
"It is clear from the moment you pick up the controller that Prime 3 was developed exclusively for Wii. Not only do the new controls respond quicker and with more precision than any dual-analog-helmed FPS ever created, but the gesture system works brilliantly, too. Meanwhile, the title delivers everything a Metroid fan could hope for, including spectacular environmental puzzles, epic boss fights and intense combat, all wrapped up in a package that spans multiple worlds and is filled with re-traversal exploration. A cinematic storyline made possible by beautiful art and graphics rounds out the experience, which is complemented by a medal system and WiiConnect24 compatibility."
http://wii.ign.com/articles/815/815424p4.html

For those of you that have the game, let us know what you think!

cheers,

-avatar!

I knew there was a reason I bought the Wii.

I've been trying to stay away from any unofficial news or articles on MP3 so that I can have a clear, unbiased playthrough when I get it today. All I've really seen are the videos that Nintendo released on the MP3 Preview Channel on the Wii. My RSS feed summary had some positive comments (d'oh!), and I saw that it got a 9.5 on IGN and had some real strong praise from Gamestop about the controls... but we'll see what happens when I tear into this today.

Hear hear!  I hate getting my hopes up when I see that IGN gave a game an ungodly high score.  Case in point:  Super Paper Mario.  *sigh*  I don't think this will be the same thing, but I'm excited anyway.

IGN is notorious for giving ridiculously high scores. Here are ones I can think of, just off the top of my head: Shadow of the Colossus (9.7 - great game, but not 9.7-great), Jade Empire (9.9), God of War (9.7), Jak 3 (9.6 or 9.5)...

By now, Retro knows what they're doing, and I had no doubt that the game would be at least "really good", especially considering how much I love the first two Primes. The one thing I was concerned about are the controls, and looking at the paragraph avatar! posted, there's no complaints there. As long as MP3 doesn't have boring fetch quests and an overabundance of stupid "puzzles" where you rotate from 2D to 3D, I think we'll be golden.

Hey, hey, now...  I am feelin' Super Paper Mario.  I'm on Chapter 3 and it's been an absolute blast thus far.  I actually agree with the IGN score.  Also, Matt and Bozon have been accused of *under rating* games.  But I like that they're being so tough.  Certain things are expected out of the Wii and when developers cut corners and try sneak out a quick cash-in in the form of shovel ware, I want them to be called out on it and their game bombed.

I'm gonna pick up Prime 3 today, but I'm only about halfway through Echoes on Hard, so it'll probably be a few more days until I play it.  Twilight Princess was the last game I started as soon as I bought it.  I still trying to clear out my ridiculous backlog.  So yeah, Zane, MP3:C impressions later today please, good sir.

I've played for an hour and a half so far, and I'll be very general to avoid the minor spoilers. Of course, these are very early impressions, but so far my experience with the game has been absolutely fantastic.

The controls take a little bit to get used to (and can be tweaked in the options settings), but after 15 minutes or so I felt at home. You start off with the Morph Ball, Bombs and Space Jump (no crazy "Oh shit, Samus lost all her powers" this time), and after some in-game "training" and "calibration", you're off. The combat feels just like the other Prime titles, and the two bosses I've fought so far have been awesome, with the second one ending up with me almost breaking a sweat because it was so intense.

There are other characters and NPCs in the game, so that feeling of isolation is nowhere near as strong as it was in other Metroid titles, but that's a moot point because of how damn good this game is (so far, at least). I'm really pleased with the level of interaction that the Wii controls give you (ripping dudes' shields off with the nunchuck is f'n awesome). Also, there isn't one "planet" like the other games, but a series of planets that you can go to, but that doesn't disrupt the game's flow yet. I'll have to say that the first 90 minutes or so of the game are pretty action packed, and Metroid fans will have plenty of stuff to drop their jaws over.

If you dig the GCN Prime titles and you are looking to take that to the next "level" with an intuitive and effective control scheme, then you'd be wise to check out Prime 3. I can see fans of the series liking it maybe a bit less (or more) than each of the other two games, but everyone has their own preferences. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this if they even moderately enjoyed either Prime or Prime 2.

Back to the game. Hmm, doesn't Aurora look a whole lot like...

I have this ordered and I'm looking forward to it. Loved MP1 but didn't bother with the sequel so I'm more than ready for more MP. What you're saying about her not losing her items is bizarre for a Metroid. That slow gaining of skills with items is obviously a stapel of the series. I'm guessing she gains other abilities. I'm hoping they are more inventive than different beam colour for a different door but without her losing the key abilities, well, I'm baffled.

All sounds good though. How are the locations? I'm hoping for some natural areas like MP1 though haven't seen many in screenshots.

Yeah, you don't start with missiles or any other beams, just the few items that I mentioned. I think it might be the first Metroid where you start with a double-jump, the Maru Mari and bombs. I just got my first beam "upgrade", and I walked past a white door that, when scanned, said it was vulnerable to cold temperature. Doesn't take rocket science to figure out what that means...

The first planet you are has a big, indoor area that's all electrical and very ship-interior like. I just made it to the second planet, and you start off outdoors, but I haven't explored much yet. I'm sure there will be some more outdoor locations as the game goes on.

from what I've heard it plays a bit more like Metroid Hunters DS to some extent, you're traveling from planet to planet.
I don't get some of the gamespot reviews though, Twilight Princess got 8.9? Bioshock - 9.0? MP3 - 8.5...I don't know, I think it deserves much higher score from what I've heard.
can't wait to get it.

I haven't played MP:H, but you do travel from planet to planet instead of using elevators to travel between regions.

Just made it through a few more hours of the game, and it's getting pretty intense. The gameplay is kind of mission-based at this point, but it doesn't feel unnatural or out of place. Instead of getting random messages saying "New Suit Modification Found" and flashing the Z-button at you until you look at the map, there's some rhyme and reason as to why you're going where you're going and doing what you're doing.

My only gripe right now is that I can't get into the action as much as I want because I end up pointing my Wiimote all over the place and getting my ass kicked. I guess I should just relax a little and enjoy instead of jumping around my room like a drunk spider monkey.

Just got home with my copy in hand.  Zane, your impressions make me want to rip the packaging off and get it started... but I shall remain disciplined.  I'll put it in just to view the opening cinema and fiddle with the controls but that's it!  I'm gonna hit Echoes hard this Thursday and should be ready for Corruption by the weekend.

I'm about a third of the way through the game right now.  The action is definitely ramped up and the controls are very slick and, for the most part, well done.  It doesn't, however, feel very much like a cohesive Metroid world and, instead, is a lot like Hunters (which I didn't terribly like).  There are no really new abilities and it does feel like 'more of the same.'  Having said that, I still really enjoy the control scheme and the crazy (And fun!) boss fights.  It's also a little too easy on the default difficulty setting, especially coming from Echoes.

I played for only like 15 minutes and only went through the first three rooms in the GF ship, so keep that in mind.  But the controls are pretty weird to me in that it's nothing like I expected them to be.  All this time, I thought you'd move Samus with the control stick exactly like you would in Prime 1 & 2.  But now, you have to actually turn her with the Wiimote.  I dunno how I feel about that.  Only because I'm so used to NOT pointing my Wiimote at the screen for a long durations!  I'll get used to it though.  I tried all the settings and advanced definitely worked the best.  Again, I'll really dive into this over the weekend.

Yeah, it is a little foreign at first, but it's second nature to me now. I use the Z-button to strafe around along with the Wiimote to point my way.

I also recommend switching the controls for jumping and firing, because down on the Wiimote pad is used for missiles, and it's more difficult to alternate between A and down than it is B and down. I also switched the controls for visor/hyper, as well as turning the free look when locked on to "off". That lock-on scheme is more traditional.

I never played Hunters, so I can't comment on that, but I feel that each individual world is really well done and has its own character. I thought the different parts of Bryyo were great, and I'm currently going through SkyTown, whcih reminds me of a cross between LOZ:TP's air dungeon a little... it's really cool!

Somewhat off the subject, but sort of on the subject as far as not taking IGN or Gamespot seriously... 

I was watching X-Play last night (so sue me.  It's nice to see what new games are out) and that stupid "user interface" thing was on the bottom of the screen giving out gaming news.  I forget the title exactly, but they it was about Metroid.  ... they misspelled Samus.

"Sammus ..."  I mean, I could understand if it was CBS or some other NON-gaming network, but come on.

I really don't like X-Play that much, they seem to have a little to much fun poking at the games they dislike for my taste. Normally, that wouldn't bug me as its all in fun but I can't help but feel put off by it considering the overall aura of the show and hosts when I watch it.

I'm at 65% and about 9 hours now, but I think I've gotten most of the game-advancing pickups. Most of my inventory is full now only a couple of "????" slots left. I really feel that the new weapon/item innovations (omitted for spoilers) help give Prime 3 an identity of its own.

I have to say that this game is more epic than either Prime title, and some of these planets are HUGE. The boss fights are really intense, and there are plenty of moments where I've threw my hands up and gave out a big "f--- yeah!" after beating a boss/solving a huge puzzle/getting new shit. I'm really curious to see how you guys feel about the game. I'd say that MP1 is still at the top for me because of how unique (for its time) and classic it is, but this is right behind it with Echoes at a not-so-distant third place.

I also find it funny how Samus (highlight for very minor visual spoilers) looks like a box of Pixy Stix on the way to a rave by the end of the game. This broad has all kinds of neon green and blue and orange shit all over her! She definitely gives off that Metroid Fusion armor type of color scheme as the game progresses.

Well, I've put about 3-4 hours in, and I stopped at the part where you are first able to select from multiple planets.  So far, I think it's good, but not great.  It feels too much like your average video game and not enough like Metroid.  The sense of isolation and creepiness is just not there, especially with all the voice acting (done well, at least!) and even a freaking town of sorts.  The force-fed story is also kind of anti-Metroid since classic Metroid games related the story directly via your actions and the environment, not through cinema scenes.  I'm also less than thrilled with Retro for using the exact same art design in all three of these games.  Sure, it looks great, but you have to mix it up.  The reason Zelda and Mario stay fresh game after game is because each one has a unique art style.

As for the control, it takes a little while to get used to, but it works well.  I recommend the "Standard" sensitivity with the full lock on since you have to keep your wrist perfectly still in the "Advanced" sensitivity if you don't want the view flying all over the place.

I'll play some more over the holiday weekend and see if it grows on me.

Man, I want this game so bad.
When's the Japanese release date already!?

I just finished the game with 89% complete, 12:45 total time. No FAQ'ing. What a great, great game.

PS: F you Energy Cell #4. F. You.

Damn, that was pretty quick... only just under 13 hours.

Also, you need to slow your role man!  We went through this already with TP... the rest of us are nibbling at it, but you swallow the entire thing in one gulp!

Hahaha, I know, I know. I inhale these things.

It takes a lot for me to enjoy games fully nowadays, but when something really grips me and I have nothing time-consuming going on in my life, I just tear into it and can easily drop eight hours a day or so into the game. I did that with TP, and I did it with Shadow Hearts Covenant earlier this year when I finally hit a point where I was totally interested in the story and sidequests... I think I logged about 30 hours in a week on that game, even when I had a full time job. I'm starting a new job on Tuesday, and I wanted to make sure that I finished Prime 3 before I got back to the grind. I guess I overcompensated.

Well, Retro did change Samus' gunship art style.  The only Nintendo franchise that has noticeable art change is Zelda.  Mario more or less looks the same in his iteration.  The Mario Sports game provide an opportunity to alter his art style while retaining his Mario face and hat.

The force-fed story is not quite as bad as it was in Fusion.  You still have opportunities to explore in this game.  Fusion did not allow that until the last 1/4 of the game.

I agree that the isolation factor is gone now, but the story does provide much needed backstory about what is going around in the Metroid universe.  I think the story was more emphasized, because not only would it bridge the gap to Metroid II, this game is on the Wii, and Nintendo may have wanted it somewhat approachable to the casual audience.  The causal audience tends to want some explanation for these type of adventure games.

When does this game take place? I have no idea how the Prime games fit in with the timeline.

Wikipedia has a pretty good chronology up. I guess that if they want Metroids in a game they have no choice but to place it in between the first and second games. Although, do Metroids even appear in Prime 3?

You should've seen the Variety review that lambasted the game for being too hardcore for the casual player, but not hardcore enough for Halo lovers. It's a truly ludicrous review.

The art style is the same for the ship, but the design of the ship is different.  Anyway, each Mario game has a completely unqiue art style: SMB1, SMB2 (U.S.), SMB3, SML, SMW, YI, SM64, SMS, and even Galaxy each have a style to call their own.  I guess you could argue that SML2 shares SMW's art style since it's cleary an attempt to make an 8-bit version of it.

Well, I'll reserve final judgment for when I finish the game, but so far I find it more intrusive than Fusion's story.  That said, Fusion's heavy-handed story-telling pissed me off in the beginning before eventually growing on me.  I'll see how I feel about Prime 3's story as the game progresses, but I can say right now that I very annoyed at the inclusion of Dark Samus, a lame character that should never have been created (along with much of Echoes' storyline).

I so wish Nintendo would do a full remake of this for DS, but without adding anything stupid to cheapen the experience (::cough Zero Mission's last 1/3 cough cough::)

You're undoubtedly right about that, but it's a shame since it changes the feel so dramatically.

I have to admit, having finished it with 100%, I'm much more pleased with the game than I was when I first started.  There is far more linearity than in other Metroid games, though, I have heard that there are rumours of sequence breaking.  Also, the force-fed story only comes in at the beginning and end for the most part and for long parts of the game, you're basically alone (except for those stupid messages from the AU.  It is definitely the easiest of the three Prime games so if you're expecting a challenge, start on Veteran.  The unlocked difficulty mode, Hyper, will make a monkey out of you, though.  All in all, though, a great game and definitely a must own.

Well I just got it today and I think I'm probably where you were in opinion early on, Marcel. I just find this to be a mucky, linear combat game so far. With the first boss, I spent more time battling the lock-on than the boss himself. The 'cool' hunters and no end of cut scenes don't endear me to it either. Not exactly what I was hoping for in a Metroid game.

Fully expecting this to get much better.

Has anyone played the game on Veteran? 

Some things I noticed about the difficulty settings in the Primes.  In MP1, Hard mode was a big step up from Normal in terms of overall challenge.  But in MP2, Hard mode is in comparison a baby step up from Normal in terms of overall difficulty - I didn't have any problems until fighting King Ing.  I'm wondering how Veteren mode is in MP3, and if it's on par with the previous Hard modes in the two previous games, or if it's just equivalent to Normal Mode - given that Normal mode in MP3 seems to be a defacto "Easy mode".

Well, I'm happy to report that it has grown on me quite a bit.  Since going to Bryyo, the game has taken on the feel of the other Prime games and has become much more interesting to play with lots of exploration and environmental puzzles.  I see that boss battles, while not quite as a ball busting as in previous Prime titles, are still on the challenging end of the spectrum.  I can live with that so long as they stay away from MP2's infuriating level.  I estimate that I'm currently around 16-18 hours in at around 50% of rooms visited, and I am thoroughly enjoying it as of this point.  I hope it stays this good for the remainder of the game.

Yes, Metroids do appear in Prime 3.  There are fewer varieties of them, though.  Not all are vulnerable to ice.

Retro has previously stated that the Prime trilogy takes place between I and II.

Well, if it's not hardcore enough for Halo lovers, it's that much more accessible to the mainstream.

I finished the game on normal at 100%, and it's pretty much a cakewalk.  You're only in danger early on if you mismanage your hyper beam, because it uses one energy tank per activation, and some bosses need to be hit with it.

Another great aspect is that eventually you will be able to access maps that show you where all the expansions are, except one area.  So, the need for a Item FAQ is greatly reduced.

Your log scans are also carried over from game to game.

Early on, I had to adjust to the aiming and lock-on.  You have to point at the object you need to lock on now (the lock-on in the previous Prime games was more lenient, so you could get near the object and it would give you a lock-on).  The lock-on distance also appears shorter than in the past (you have to stay close to the object).   

I thoroughly enjoyed the game, though.

The mainstream have their Wii Sports and their Brain Trainings and whatever. If all games try to appeal to the mainstream, we won't have any actual games.

Like a world full of Britney.

That's not a good thing.

...or Vanilla ice cream.  Chocolate is hard-core!!

I suppose my favorite flavor of ice cream being Blue Moon can then be related to my fondness of the PC Engine/TG-16, then.