Metroid Prime: Hunters 'Further Thoughts' (Patreon)

Hey gang! Just wanted to provide some extra thoughts on my Metroid Prime: Hunters video!

So Metroid Prime: Hunters is a tricky one, because while I do complain a lot about it it in this video, I do have a sort begrudging respect for it. Even if design wise it falls short, it still captures the feeling of classic "Metroid Prime" with its ambience, music and looks - plus on a hand-held! It oozes a sombre Metroid feel, that we really haven't had since certain areas of Prime 3 and I can see why people have a soft spot for it. 

I can also see why people might not though.

I try to make it apparent in the video that one of the biggest issues with this game is those repeated bosses. I can deal with a bit of formula in a game, collecting 3 things over and over again, etc; but when I know that instead of getting some hype new fight at the end of my efforts with some fresh alien beast I'm gonna have to fight the same thing I already have again, well... it's an absolute hype killer. 

Games about exploration need to entice the player with something and without a doubt, the bosses in this game, are the title's biggest weakness when it comes to encouraging the player to keep searching for those damn artefacts.

I also harped on about the controls a bit, and that segment was kind of less about dogging on them per say, but more so a section where I just wanted to muse a bit about an FPS control setup we likely won't see again.  People brought up in the comments that I could have used the option to move the camera with the face buttons, but to me that just sounds like playing Counter-Strike on the PC and aiming with the arrow keys. Like yeah, technically you could do that... but why would you? 

You also have to keep in mind that Hunters has loads of options on the touchscreen you need to access during gameplay, such as switching weapons. The button to activate the scan visor is also a tiny icon located in an awkward spot on the touchscreen, so without a doubt I feel like the only viable way to play competently at a high level is with the stylus controls.

I did a quick re-upload of the video today, since I wasn't happy with some of the audio, but I also threw in an extra line about those blasted controls, so see if you can spot that.

As for what let me down even at the time of release about hunters, it was of course, the HUNTERS themselves.

They are way more interesting then the Alimbics and their Gorea business so the fact that almost all the lore is dedicated to them while these other mad dudes with sick backstories are hanging out without a purpose is a real let down.

 Sylux seems to get the nod as the most important hunter with their ship appearing and all that, and after they started teasing a return I immediately expected a game where you confront Sylux multiple times and then at the end we get a reveal that Sylux is also a chick, a reverse Samus situation (Sylux being, I think, the only hunter without a specified gender in Hunters).

I heard Sylux shows up again in Federation Force and at this point that feels like a bit of piss take if anything. "Yeah guys, the Sylux thing is still happening!" 

It's been nearly 10 years since Prime 3, I don't know who's left on tenterhooks at this point for the whole Sylux comeback, but whatever, I guess I'd still like to see it.

How about you?