About this game
Metroid Prime (2002) is a first-person adventure developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo. It translated the 2D Metroid exploration formula into a three-dimensional environment without losing any of its atmosphere, isolation, or depth. Samus Aran arrives on the planet Tallon IV to investigate a Space Pirate distress signal and discovers a world infected by Phazon, a dangerous alien substance. Widely considered one of the greatest games ever made.
Key Features
First-person Metroid — all traditional exploration, scan, and power-up mechanics translated to 3D. Scan Visor: scanning enemies, objects, and lore entries builds a codex and reveals weaknesses. Morphball system retained from 2D games. Interconnected world with subtle environmental storytelling rather than cutscenes. Combat designed around beam switching — each enemy type has a weak point requiring a different beam.
The Story Behind
Metroid Prime had a famously troubled development. Retro Studios, a newly acquired Nintendo subsidiary in Austin, Texas, was considered an unlikely choice to handle such a beloved franchise. Doubts within Nintendo were significant — Shigeru Miyamoto visited the studio multiple times. The game was developed in approximately two years. When it released in North America in November 2002, critics were unanimous in their praise. Its 97/100 on Metacritic remains one of the highest-rated games of all time. The game demonstrated that a beloved 2D franchise could survive a transition to 3D with its identity intact.
Tricks & Tales
The Scan Visor contains over 500 individual lore entries — reading them all reveals a complete history of the Chozo civilisation and the Space Pirates' research logs. The game's sound design is exceptional: Samus's breathing inside the helmet becomes faster during combat. The Japanese release came three months after the North American launch — unusual for a Nintendo first-party title, which typically releases first in Japan. The Phazon storyline spans all three Prime games and its conclusion was described by Retro as the "Phazon Trilogy."
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The North American version released November 2002; the Japanese version followed in February 2003. Both are NTSC and functionally identical in gameplay. The Japanese version menus are in Japanese. Region-free modified GameCubes play all regional versions. This title is also available on Wii via Metroid Prime Trilogy (2009), which is a region-locked Wii disc.
Maintenance Tips
Metroid Prime's mini-DVD is generally durable. The game runs long (15-20 hours average) — verify disc playback through at least the first save room before listing. The Japanese version's value is driven by condition; a complete-in-box Japanese copy with manual commands a significant premium. The Scan Visor requires sustained disc access — if scanning causes unusual drive noise, laser maintenance is recommended.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
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