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| Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt Demo Reviewed by Pirate Yoshi Over-view: Packaged with the new Nintendo DS was a glimpse of an upcoming mega hit, the little-brother sequel to GCN all-star, Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime Hunters, due out in 2005, has been rumored to be the biggest title coming soon to DS, so it only seems natural that Nintendo would ensure that every DS owner would get a little taste of what's to come. But how did that little taste turn out? Was it sweet....or sour? My answers below! Graphics: 8.6/10 Tough catagory, particularly for a) pre-packaged software at launch and b) a demo. While I was very impressed with the fully three-dimensional graphics, they could obviously use some cleaning up. Still, I don't doubt that they will be, because the final version has had several extra months of work. For a demo, however, the appearance is very good and sets a high standard for DS games in general. Sound: 9.5/10 Not a whole lot of special here. Simply good, quality sound. What I specifically noted (and appreciated) were the fantastic sound effects, from blasts to jumps to rolls to explosions! And with the DS's stereo sound, you can get a little blastin' in each ear! The music, for whatever was there, was only average, and there was no voice acting to speak of, but the sound effects deserve some major kudos. I wouldn't worry about this catagory. Controls: 6/10 Here's my biggest gripe, and I fear it may hold true for most DS games in general. The good? Lots of control schemes, so you have something that fits you! The bad? None of them are very good, so it all balances out to be lackluster and aggrivating. The stylus is used to turn and jump (the latter of which can be a real nightmare, since the stylus must hit precisely and in a timely manner to correctly leap from the ground), while the R button (fortunately) is to fire, as well it should be. Moving Samus is done with the oh-I-love-it D-Pad, which is definitely a good thing. Still, the turning and firing, and most of all, jumping, is a huge problem that plagues this game, and I certainly hope Nintendo can figure something better out in the final version. Challenge: 7/10 While the demo really doesn't offer too much to do, it has several miniature challenges that can test your abilities and better prepare you for the game. Naturally, I was befuddled by them in short order and gave up, while BL, a Metroid veteran, ate them up like cake and was left simply trying to beat the challenges faster. While I didn't even complete any of the modes, I also only tried each once or twice, got close to finishing, and decided that I'd had enough. Since this catagory is soon-to-be-dropped, however, I'll leave it where it lies. Replay: 9.4/10 Fortunately, there's a sort of allure about this game that makes it fun to pick back up, even as a simple demo. The blasting is fun and constant, and controlling Samus, while a major pain, has its enjoyable moments, as well, specifically when running fast, blasting like mad, and actually HITTING your targets in a miraculous manner! Also, the demo includes Multiplayer mode, which adds a great extra oomph to the Replay score. Gameplay: 8.2/10 This game, obviously, is being judged as a demo, not as a full game. As such, it offers quite a bit of options and more than enough carnage for the average gamer. However, the controls are a major downer for most anyone, and the lack of variety is only a teensy bit irritating, as well. This is very solid for something to try at a store, but it should not be blown out of proportion: it is every bit a demo, and as such, it doesn't really quite fulfill your dreams for an entertaining title. When the DS game comes out, however, I have no doubts that it will receive at least a nine out of ten in this catagory. **Story: .7/1 We know the backstory of Metroids and such, and while the demo doesn't specically tell the tale of Metroid Prime Hunters (does any demo, though?), there are several visual cutscenes that are actually very informative and amusing to watch, which give this demo some extra credit. **Multiplayer: 1/1 While I lost every round I played with BL, the Multiplayer is a very strong asset to this demo. The selection of maps are varied and surprisingly large, and the confrontations are classic, even if you always happen to be on the receiving end of countless missiles, resulting in a plethora of deaths. This may be the final version's strongest point, judging by what we have on the demo version! Graphics: 8.6/10 Sound: 9.5/10 Controls: 6/10 Challenge: 7/10 Replay: 9.4/10 Gameplay: 8.2/10 **Story: .7/1 **Multiplayer: 1/1 Total Score: 8.4 Score Explanation: Remember, this is based against other DEMOS, not full games! |