Perfect. That is the only word I can find to sum of the experience I have had playing Metroid Prime. Go out and buy this game, right.....now. If you don't have a GameCube, buy one of those too. Do whatever you can to get your hands on this game; it is simply a masterpiece.

Metroid has been around since 1986, when the first game in the series was made for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Featuring great exploration and shooting elements, it quickly became one of the best adventure games yet. A sequel was made for the Game Boy in 1991, but it wasn't a very great game compared to the first. Then, in April of 1994, Nintendo released Super Metroid, one of the best games ever made for any system.

After skipping the N64 generation, Samus Aran is back, to stop the space pirates on Tallon IV. These mercenaries have stolen some Metroids from the planet Zebes, and are experimenting on them. Samus lands on the planet, destined to find the space pirates and destroy all the Metroids they took. This story takes place right after the original Metroid, and before Metroid II and Super Metroid.

This is easily the best looking GameCube game yet, and may even have the greatest graphics for any game, ever. Retro Studios has created an impressive engine, with every room in the huge world looking completely different. There are no cookie-cutter rooms like other first person shooter games for other systems. There are also some sweet effects with Samus' visor, such as distortion when she gets close to electrical enemies, water trickling down the screen, and her eyes appearing when a flash of light is seen. You can switch between different views, such as the X-ray or heat visor, whenever you want to look for secrets.

One of the most essential elements to the new game is the scan visor. Throughout the game, whenever you want to learn information about an enemy, object, or whatever, you can use this visor. You will then learn all about what you scanned, and in the case of monsters, you can learn about their weak points and how to defeat them. Afterwards, the information you just received is put into a log book, so you can refer back to it later. This is my favorite new addition to the Metroid series.

There is a lot of great gameplay elements in Metroid Prime, and I don't want to give any of it away and spoil the experience. The easiest way to describe the gameplay would be that it is exactly like the other Metroid games, only it is completely in three dimensions. Examples of this would be that you start out with only the bare necessities, then work your way up, obtaining new elements and weapons for your suit as you fight bosses and explore the world. Another great point is that this is one huge, interconnecting world, with no loading screens in sight. The only breaks in the action are cutscenes, which usually describe parts of the story, and shows Samus and her cool suit.

Unlike most first person shooters, Metroid Prime doesn't use the conventional dual analog setup, where you use both the control and C sticks to move around. Instead, only the control stick is used to move, and strafing is enabled when locked onto an enemy. The directional pad selects the visors and the C-stick selects your weapon. A shoots, B jumps, Y shoots missles, and X is to turn and roll up into a ball. Also, the shoulder buttons are used to target creatures and lock onto them. All of this works perfectly, and you will be controlling Samus after only a few minutes of getting used to the control scheme.

All in all, Metroid Prime comes right up there with Super Metroid as the best adventure game of all time. With easily over 20 hours of gameplay, plus many secrets such as art galleries to unlock, you will be playing this game for years to come.