Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

[Tobias]

Picked up on on tuesday, played it. Im so far enjoying it...more to come...but figured i'd open the topic for all the metroid fans out there

That is all

[Therin]

It's not as atmospheric as the first game, and the world isn't as massive. It had serious potential, but they didn't differentiate the areas enough. Also, the soundtrack just kind of blends together from one area to the next. I can listen to the Phendrana Drifts song over and over and not get bored of it, and it's instantly recognizable, as well as perfect for the setting. Comparatively, the new soundtrack is just...drab, just like the world. They could have done so much better!

Also, as a side note, I liked the scan visor better on the first game. Having everything turn funny colors totally ruins the experience.

[Tobias]

ok, time for my bigger review:

Started the game, and agreeing with Therin on this one...the scan visor was much better in the first one, what with the big-ass colors making things annoying. On a good note, it helps not so curious players find things, due to the fact that the things are BRIGHT red, blue, or green for you to differentiate.

As for the atmosphere of the game, i agree and disagree. Some of the tunes in the game arent as fun as in Metroid Prime 1, but there is one thing that they did that made me VERY happy...the inclusion of some of the tune from Super Metroid. Like, when you were in a room with an item, and you heard that computer-y noise in the background...or the Moria music, which i loved. That, and i like the areas...they dismal look makes them really good descriptors of the desolation of whats going on around the planet of Aether.

The gameplay, im enjoying much. It's very similar to the first one...lock onto the enemy using L...and so on. The original beam weapons arent there though...instead, there is the light and dark beams, whcih are used to activate portals and damage certain enemies. Also, both beam weapons utilize ammo, like missiles, so it makes it a bit different, concentrating on one of your primary weapons and not wasting them. Also, it makes the Power beam much more necessary in order to get through the game.

Also, they made the game much harder with the inclusion of the dark Aether. it pretty much doubles the map-space...giving two worlds that you have to explore...and the best part is that Dark Aether's atmosphere does damage to you unless you are standing in a light area, which recovers HP while you stand in it. It makes the area much more difficult...also, the enemies are pretty tough there, so get ready, cause its a tough ride.

Currently, the weaponry is almost the same, but there are some things that are JUST fascinating me: the light and dark beams are fun, along with the seeker missiles, which is VERY fun. Basically, you fire instead of one missile, 5 missiles at once. You mostly use it to open up doors, but for teh most part, if used in the game, it initiates an major ass-whooping on whoever gets targeted 5 times in a row...which is quite silly. Also, the boost ball now damages things...which i likes

I'll update as i get further...adios!

[Therin]

I use the dark beam for one thing, and one thing only -- to generate light beam ammo, which I am constantly low on.

No, I take that back, I got the other beam, so I don't need to do that anymore ^_^

[Tobias]

ya...wehn you get the beam ammo expansions, though, it makes the game MUCH easier...bringing your ammo from 50 to 100 in one ammo expansion

[Therin]

'm at 250 ^_^

Still, though. I see what you're saying about light vs. dark effectively doubling the map space, but they do it in the most annoying way possible. Each portal pretty much has its own enclosed area of the dark world, so to get from piece to piece, you have to go all the way back, portal back to the light world, and go and find another portal that will put you where you want to be. For some strange reason, the bad guys have made it impossible to move freely through their own world. Care to take a guess as to why?

Also, and I'll say it again, it's just not big enough. The greatest appeal that the first one had to me was its sheer size. I mean, 84% through the game, and there were sections I still hadn't been to yet. With two, I'd seen everything but the room which contains the final boss by the time I hit 75%.

Also, both worlds are basically monochrome. There is very little difference in feel and atmosphere from one to the next, and while on the one hand, this makes sense, on the other hand, the levels were small enough that they could have made areas to go with them. Like...actually have the chance to go outside, and see open space occasionally. Don't get me wrong, they had some truly massive rooms...but they still felt like rooms. I may as well have been underground the entire game. And the dark side...yuck. I understand it, but for Mod's sake, there are better ways of creating a dark atmosphere than making everything purple!

And the third visor is almost totally useless. As is the second visor, no less. The dark visor is useful against all of like two enemies, and to see certain platforms which have been dimensionally screwed. It would be better if there were more of these, but as is, you'll need the dark visor maybe six times in the entire game to see platforms. The third visor...just don't bother. You need it to unlock all of like five doors, and four of those lead to powerups. That's it. I kid you not, that is the only use I have found for the third visor. At least in prime, there were enemies that you actually needed the x-ray visor in order to defeat. Tough ones, too (*coughomegapiratecough*).

That's another thing: The Space Pirates. Their presence in this game is almost nil. They even set up a base, which had the potential to lead to some interesting developments...except that it's worthless. The base comprises six rooms. One is a save point room. When I went into the pirate base in the first game, I had to blast my way in, at great risk to my own skin, get the thermal visor, and then turn around and blast my way back out. It was definitely annoying, but when I finished, I was glad I had done it. And then there was a second base.

I went to this base, and wasn't impressed, or challenged, at all. Even the boss was easy. They set up some interesting potential plot points...but those have been totally ignored. As far as I can see, metroids and space pirates are in the game for one reason, and one reason only: to remind you that you are, in fact, playing a metroid game. As if the color-coded, weapon-activated doors; ridiculously amusing morph-ball puzzles; and charge beam weren't enough.

Meh. In the beginning, it had so much potential, but the development of the story, the enemies, and the levels has been...dissappointing.