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Metroid Prime: Corruption has been high on the lists of many Wii owners. What was originally thought to be a launch game, or at least a game that would show up sometime during the first few months following the system’s launch, will finally hit store shelves later this summer. The game was one of Nintendo’s showpiece titles during its annual E3 Press Conference and was touted as one of the games that should not only appeal to the broader audience Nintendo is trying to cultivate with the Wii, but as something for its more hardcore fans – a group who have felt more than a little slighted by Nintendo’s new approach.
Metroid Prime: Corruption is, of course, the third game in the Metroid Prime series and the series' Wii debut. The game remains a first-person shooter, a genre that has had a rough start on a system it seems made for. Given how highly anticipated the title is, Retro has been working overtime to make sure the game receives as much polish and fine-tuning as it needs. Aiming is handled with the Wii-mote and involves pointing at a target and firing. One of the new mechanics Nintendo showed off was free-aiming lock-on system. By pressing (Z), you can lock on to a target, giving you a better aim. While locked onto a target, it serves as a pivot point that you can move and strafe around. Unlike other lock-on systems, however, you still have the freedom to aim at other targets while locked on to the original target – something that should come in handy since action looks much more fast-paced and intense this time around.
The Nunchuk serves two functions. The analog stick is used to move around, while pressing (C) will turn her into the ever-so-handy morph ball. Another useful feature of the Nunchuk is that it also controls Samus’s grapple beam. Flicking the Nunchuk forward “throws” the beam, which can snag on to certain objects. Once tethered, a quick pull back on the Nunchuk pulls the object out of the way. In addition to pulling debris out of the way, you can also use the beam to pull shields away from certain enemies.
So far Nintendo is being secretive about the game’s plot, though they did reveal the source of the game’s title. Samus can augment her abilities by using a serum. While on the juice, her shots do more damage and she’s harder to kill. The power comes at a high price; the longer she uses the stuff, the more likely that she’ll become corrupted. What this means hasn’t been revealed, but it can’t be good.
It should go without saying that a lot is riding on Metroid Prime: Corruption, and based on the number of delays, Nintendo knows it. It’s been a hard wait, but it should be worth it when Metroid Prime: Corruption rolls into stores in August. |
