9.5 - IGN Reviews Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
by Matt Casamassina

Score: 9.5
  • Closing Comments
    Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was originally set to launch with Wii, but the year-long delay has been very much worth the wait. Call it a first- person shooter or a first-person adventure -- doesn't matter. I call it the best game on Nintendo's console. It is clear from the moment you pick up the controller that Prime 3 was developed exclusively for Wii. Not only do the new controls respond quicker and with more precision than any dual-analog-helmed FPS ever created, but the gesture system works brilliantly, too. Meanwhile, the title delivers everything a Metroid fan could hope for, including spectacular environmental puzzles, epic boss fights and intense combat, all wrapped up in a package that spans multiple worlds and is filled with re-traversal exploration. A cinematic storyline made possible by beautiful art and graphics rounds out the experience, which is complemented by a medal system and WiiConnect24 compatibility.

    There are a couple of minor quibbles that keep Prime 3 from a higher score. The first and most obvious is that the game is a sequel and thus inherently feels familiar. While Corruption features more variety than any of its predecessors, it's not the design revolution that the original game was. Also, as you explore the world, you will occasionally encounter doorways that take longer than they should to open, as they are loading the next area. Thankfully, this is a rare occurrence, but it does occur. And finally, while the majority of the 20-hour experience flows, there's one fetch quest that interrupts the pace.

    We rated the original Metroid Prime a 9.8 on GameCube and had Corruption been the first game in the series it'd have been worthy of the same score. As it stands, Samus Aran's latest adventure is a spectacular must-own experience and one of Wii's defining games. Stop reading and buy it.

    Another Take from Mark Bozon
    For whatever reason, I was a late bloomer to the Prime series. Being a huge 2D Metroid fan, I never really got into Prime and Echoes until about a year back, after a brief session with Corruption hooked me. It’s now a year later, and Corruption proved it not only has what it takes to capture the more shooter-oriented crowd, but also has enough legs to deliver more than 20 of the most entertaining hours of gameplay I’ve experienced in years. Corruption is a shooter design at times, an adventure at others, but throughout the entire experience it remains the number one reason to own a Wii. The presentation is simply beautiful, the gameplay is more responsive and precise than any console experience to date, and the final product is the best on the system, period. If this really is the final chapter of the Prime saga, Retro went out with one hell of a bang, as Corruption is an absolute must-have on Wii, and the best of the series

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