Voltaire

User Score
9.6

Presentation - 8.8
Gameplay - 9.8
Value - 9.8

Most people that read this will already know that Metroid Prime Trilogy includes 3 of the very best games released in the last 10 years. For those of you that aren't aware of the quality, ill brief you; Metroid is one of Nintendo's classic franchises, right up there with Mario and Zelda. The Metroid Prime sub-series is a recreation of the classic 2D games into the 3rd dimension. In other words, if you haven't played a Metroid (Prime) game, you aren't a true gamer. Finally, the controls. MP3 Corruption revolutionized FPS controls, offering smooth, quick, and responsive aiming. You point, and you shoot, its that simple. That control scheme has been introduced to Prime and Echoes, and their all the better for it.

Now that everyone knows that the games are some of the best EVER made, ill get to the bulk of my review, which is more of a comparison. Ill compare the original games vs the version included in MPT.

---------------Game Content

Prime - I’m comparing the MPT version with the 2nd Edition, or Players Choice version.

--Widescreen -  First of all, MPT offers all 3 games in a widescreen display. The method to achieve this, however, wasn't all that great. The developers zoomed in and cropped the image to present a widescreen mode. During game play you'll hardly notice it (in fact you probably wont), but some cut scenes (maybe 20% of them) looks oddly choreographed, with half of Samus's helmet being cut off.

--Graphics -  MPT offers Prime in 480p and some graphical and technical  refinements. You get bloom lighting covering ever light source, a subtle and nary noticeable touch. It creates a sort of blur around lights, as well as some better depth effects. 480p makes everything a tad sharper and more colorful. Lines and sharp details are more obvious and there are deeper colors. The best update is probably the locked 60fps. The game is VERY fluid, and no matter how much stuff is going on on-screen, the game never hiccups. Also, Retro has replaces some textures with high res models. It basically means that the games textures look much better and more modern.

There are NO dynamic water effects however. That means that instead of liquids reacting realistically to movement, it’s all static. The beam effects are also removed.

--Other - All of the games Lore is now that of the European release (PAL). The original release had to different versions of Lore, each varying with the region released. Also, when activating the pause menu, your given the amount of items collected and lore scanned. Load times do NOT exist in this game. You will NEVER be waiting for a door to open. Its a huge difference from that of the GC release.

Echoes - Echoes has no region different version, unlike Prime.

--Widescreen - Just like Prime, it’s an odd widescreen mode. However, unlike Prime, none of the cut scenes appear cropped, and the game looks better and more polished because of it. The multilayer portion of the game is now in the main menu, and its only available in widescreen if 3 or more players are playing. The game produces black and green bars to recreate a 4:3 mode if only 2 players are involved.

--Graphics - Echoes has no bloom or replaced textures, but it still looks better than Prime. Character models are much more detailed. The graphics differences aren't all that noticeable is comparing screen shots, but if you play the games sequentially, its a viable difference. The game also has a 480p mode, and offers all the same benefits as that of Primes 480p. Echoes does stutter and drop from 60fps more often than Prime though. Where Prime would drop frames once every 2-3 hours, Echoes stutters 3 times more often. Its not a major difference, but I'm just nitpicking :P

--Other - Like Prime, when activating the pause menu, you’re given the amount of items collected and lore scanned. Load times are also cut, but not to the extent of Prime.

Corruption - The only game originally released on Wii, is also a single version, like Echoes.

--Widescreen - Corruption is the only game in MPT that has a real widescreen mode, no cropping used.

--Graphics - Easily the most impressive looking game on the disc, Corruption has the best detail and effects of all the games. Being designed on the Wii exclusively really shows. Larger areas, more enemies, more detail, better effects, etc. While the graphical leap from Prime to Echoes was nice, Corruption is the only title that the naked eye will see major differences. The frame-rate dips about as much as Echoes.

Other chances in general (not limited to MP3) - MPT has a new menu system, a "new" token system (its taken from Corruption and half-heartedly implemented into Prime and Echoes), and unlock able content is bought using said tokens, instead of scanning X% of items/lore/creatures. Prime and Echoes both have a new difficultly mode, "Hypermode". Previous versions had Normal and Hard difficulties; those are now replaced with Normal and Veteran respectively. Hypermode is the 3rd and hardest mode. Changes to visor and helmet opacity are now only available in game, and cannot be adjusted in the main menu. Boost Ball aiming is not included in any game, MP3 included.

NOTE - I had Corruption prior to MPT, and i played in 480i on a 4:3 CRT TV. The game never once hiccupped, staying at a solid 60fps. If you’re playing MPT in 480i, chances are you will never see any of the games drop from 60fps.

------------------Packaging

MPT comes in an awesome steel book casing. It’s a metallic tin instead of a simple white plastic as in most Wii games. It also includes a slip cover and a fold out booklet, highlighting the Prime sub-series storyline and including some concept art.

As is obvious, MPT is an amazing deal for $50. You get 3 of the best games of the last decade, all on one disc and packaged in an awesome steel book case. While i thoroughly enjoyed the games twice each over, i couldn't help but feel that so much more could have been done. Why wasn't the superior HUD and Map design of MP3 implemented into Prime and Echoes? Why was there no new content included? No new modes, galleries, or bonus material. Regardless of the missed opportunity, MPT is one amazing deal that every Wii owner should have in there collection.