Metroid Prime Hunters (Nintendo DS) Preview

It was amusing when MP: H was delayed. News headlines such as "Hunters not hunting until May" sent many fans into shock, not truly believing that they'd have to stick with the First Hunt demo for their Metroid fix for longer than anticipated. However then everyone actually read the news stories.... and suddenly the shock was transformed into glee. Full online multiplayer was being added... huzzah! And it seems like Nintendo are taking onboard the criticisms from it's other WFC games.

So basically it consists of 4 player deathmatches via the WFC, however there are a few more additions that make this clearly part of the "next generation" of DS wifi games. To begin with there will be extensive "stat tracking" through your "Hunters License". This thing not only holds your friend code (needed to play specific people) but also will keep track of various in game statistics (such as total kills, awards earned etc etc). These stats will be displayed on the Nintendo wifi sites and on the official Metroid Hunters site. Your hunters license also keeps track of your conduct in the game. That being the games you've played and the amount you've disconnected... yes disconnections are now being tallied and will count negatively against you.

Another surprising addition is the inclusion of VoIP online. This means that when online all you have to do is hold in the x button and you can speak! So you can actually gloat/apologise/cry about the game directly to your opponents. To shy to speak? Well a pictochat style drop down keyboard is also available to get the message across. So it looks like the old MSN/DS game combination that so many C3ers used will finally be put to rest and replaced by an integrated system...about time!

If you want to play a local game then Nintendo have you covered. The usual multiplayer modes (king of the hill, capture the flag, gladiator etc etc) are in the local multiplayer mode and includes 20 multiplayer arenas. There is also single cart play, but the features are paired down (predictably) with character selections being removed.

Metroid wouldn't be Metroid without a single player mode and MP: H certainly has a unique single player adventure. Samus is sent to track down an artefact that has staggering power... however several other bounty hunters are also on the trail of this power and arrive roughly at the same time. Oh joy! All these bounty hunters have their own motives for getting the artefact and Samus must outsmart each of them to get the artefact and save the day!

There are 7 hunters including our heroine, each boasting their own weapons, back-story and reason for being in the game. We have Trace, who is trying to expand his people's empire as a rite of passage ritual. Weavel is a space pirate fused with machinery and has a grudge with Samus Aran, as does the mysterious hunter Sylux. Kanden is a genetic experiment gone wrong and is described as "highly unpredictable"... not what you want when bounty hunters are involved. Spire is shaping up to be a "good guy" and wants the artefacts power in order to find out the fate of his people. Noxus could also be a good guy as he is built purely for justice and to smite the wrongdoers... could Samus team up with these guys? Well we're going to have to wait and see as Nintendo are keeping the single player plot under wraps.

So Samus faces other hunters for the first time, and to add to the unique feeling to the adventure Samus will be fully powered right from the start. No loss of weapons, no loss of powers just sheer...raw...unadulterated Chozo goodies from day 1. You'll also be darting between planets on Samus' ship and deciphering puzzles in the single player mode. Sounds juicy, doesn't it? Well brace yourselves for a bombshell. Ready? Nintendo have clocked this has being just 2 hours shorter than Metroid Prime. So that's a full length single player Metroid adventure on handheld. Who said the DS couldn't handle real games?

Metroid Prime: Hunters is looking like one of the key Nintendo games of this year and can sit proudly next to Twilight Princess and the Revo launch titles as being vital for Nintendo's future in the market. The delay has ensured that the single player mode is looking far better and the implementation of the WFC mode has been a godsend and ensured that everyone should watch this game with the closest of eyes.

Metroid Prime: Hunters hits the States today and launches in Europe on May 5th.