Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
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| Metroid Prime 2: Echoes | |
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| Developer(s) | Retro Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Release date(s) |  November 15, 2004 November 26, 2004 May 26, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter, First-person adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T (Teen) CERO: 12+ PEGI: 12+ OFLC: M15+ USK: 12+ |
| Platform(s) | GameCube |
| Media | 1 × GameCube Optical Disc |
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Metroid Prime 2: Dark Echoes in Japan and Korea) is a first-person adventure/shooter video game taking place within the Metroid series. It is a direct sequel to Metroid Prime, although chronologically, it occurs after Metroid Prime Hunters. It was developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube video game console. It was released on November 15, 2004 in North America. It was also the first Metroid game to have a multiplayer feature.
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[edit] Plot
The game takes place on the planet Aether, where an advanced race of moth-like creatures, the Luminoth, have been harbouring and protecting the natural energy of the planet, called the Light of Aether. A Phazon meteor struck the planet some 80 years previous, dividing the planet and its energy into light and dark dimensions. This new dark world is home to the Ing, a race of dark, semi-liquid like creatures that can inhabit the bodies of the living, the dead, and the non-living, and sometimes have a body of their own. The Ing and Luminoth are locked in a bitter struggle for survival, as Aether's planetary energy cannot support both worlds. The Ing so far have been the victors, taking the energy from three of Light Aether's four temples.
On top of this, the Zebesian Space Pirates had discovered the planet by luck. Hoping to reap huge amounts of Phazon on the planet to compensate for the loss on Tallon IV. A Galactic Federation Marine Corps ship intercepted a Zebesian Space Pirate ship week prior to the game which crash landed on Aether and they landed to finish them off. Contact with them soon after was lost. Samus Aran, who is sent in to investigate, meets and forms an alliance with U-Mos, the last active Luminoth (the rest are being stored in cryogenic stasis until the conflict is resolved). After defeating an ing possessed creature she receives a container from it that will allow her to harvest all the energy from the temples on the dark side of the planet. By bringing the energy back, Samus can dissolve the Dark world into the Light world. Finally, a weakened Metroid Prime, now known as Dark Samus, is present on the world. After absorbing Phazon from Samus' Power Suit in Metroid Prime, she has gained power by mutating into the form of Samus's Phazon Suit , which includes hugely upgraded, Phazon-powered weapon capabilities. She seems to have no firm objective other than to absorb Phazon, and will destroy anything in her path to get her hands on it, but she will often attack Samus or impede her progress through such actions as destroying passages.
[edit] Gameplay
The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes. The multiplayer mode consists of two modes, a death match, and bounty-hunter.
[edit] Single-player
Single-player is the primary focus of the game, but multiplayer is available with 2, 3, or 4 players, and more maps become available as the single-player mode of the game is completed.
[edit] Concept
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, like the first Metroid Prime, is a 3-D game in a first-person style. This was a large departure from the series, which had been previously all 2-D sidescrollers. However, Metroid Prime was largely regarded as being true to the basic tenets of the Metroid series, including focuses on exploration and platforming rather than combat. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes uses this same gameplay style as its predecessor, yet features a number of changes. Of these, the most dramatic is probably the existence of two parallel dimensions, Light and Dark Aether. Changes in one dimension often reflect changes in the other. While the maps themselves have the same basic layout, the rooms are often completely different, with new enemies and designs. Progress through the game requires that both dimensions be thoroughly explored, utilizing all the equipment that Samus either regains, or finds on her travels throughout the light and dark worlds.
There are more cutscenes in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes than in Metroid Prime, as well as characters that talk to Samus through text displays. Voice acting is limited to an invented alien language spoken by the Luminoth and brief samples of English that are spoken by the Federation Troopers during one cutscene ("We need backup!"). Despite these limits, this is the first time that voice acting is used in a Metroid series game for characters (other than the occasional order from computers).
[edit] Weapons
The standard Power Beam is the default weapon and remains useful throughout the game; though weak, it has unlimited firing capacity and has the fastest firing rate of any beam. Its Charge Combo is the Super Missile, as in the original Metroid Prime.
Adding to the gameplay mechanic of opposites are the Light and Dark Beams, which are more effective against enemies of the opposite world and have other effects, but have limited ammunition. These beams are also used to open various portals in both of the worlds and activate certain crystals, therefore making the conservation of their ammo all the more pressing. Ways of getting additional ammo for the dark and light beam include defeating enemies with one beam to receive ammo for the other beam, destroying crates with the same method with enemies and ammunition stations. The Light Beam is similar to the Plasma Beam from Prime in that it has short range and can set enemies on fire, though with a relatively slow rate of fire. The Dark Beam on the other hand is much like the Ice Beam: it can freeze enemies, allowing for Missile shots that will shatter the enemy, but has a relatively quick rate of fire and muzzle velocity. The Charge Combos for the beams are the Sun Burst, which creates a bright light which slowly moves forward, and Dark Burst, which sucks enemies into its dark energetic portal.
The fourth beam, the Annihilator, is a powerful mixture of both energy types, though it uses twice as much ammunition as the other two. It has the ability to automatically home in on any enemy target, even without locking on: this is somewhat derived from the Wave Beam's homing capabilities in Metroid Prime. It is regarded as a sonic weapon: it activates sonic keys. It has a fast firing rate as well. Its Charge Combo is known as the Sonic Boom, which instantaneously fires on a wide area.
While the Dark, Light and Annihilator beams use the ammo system, they can be charged if the player runs out of ammo to fire a normal shot. This is probably done so if the player runs out of ammo, they can still open colour coded doors.
The standard Missiles return to this game, and can be upgraded with a new item, the Seeker Launcher, to lock on to up to five objects to fire multiple Missiles at the same time, or can be used to lock on to a single enemy up to five times.
[edit] Morph Ball
One of the oddest parts of the Metroid series has been the Morph Ball function of Samus' Power Suit, which transforms the suit into a compact, mobile sphere. In Metroid Prime, the Morph Ball switched the camera to a third-person view, and several new features were added. These all return, with practically no changes, in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Morph Ball bombs destroy certain objects and propels the morph ball into the air, and this is used to great effect in gameplay and boss battles. The Boost Ball provides a temporary increase in speed, and is useful for ascending half-pipes and rotating certain devices. New to Echoes is the ability to harm foes by boosting into them. The Spider Ball gives the ball a magnetic charge, allowing it to attach to magnetic rails in the environment. Furthermore, the Bomb and Boost features are usable on the rails, allowing for some extremely intricate platforming puzzles. Boost features were not usable on the rails in Metroid Prime. Finally, the appropriately named Power Bombs destroy even more types of objects and enemies in a very wide radius.
[edit] Visors
Since the game was shown from Samus' perspective, a new feature of Metroid Prime (though inspired by a feature of Super Metroid) was the inclusion of different visors, which showed the world in different ways. The most important of these is the Combat Visor. It shows the radar, a small map, the amount of missile and beam ammo, and the warning meter. Next, is the Scan Visor, which could be used on practically every item of interest in the environment, and stored many different text entries, like creature morphologies and progress reports of Samus's enemies. This returns to the new game, and has been streamlined by highlighting all scannable objects with different colors to indicate scanning status. The other two unique visors are new to this game: the Dark Visor, which reveals and highlights interdimensional objects, and the Echo Visor, which creates a visual representation of sound. Both of these are used in inventive puzzles and are often key in defeating particular enemies and boss monsters.
[edit] Bosses
- Agon Wastes
- Alpha Splinter/Dark Alpha Slinter (actually found in Great Temple)
- Bomb Guardian
- Jump Guardian
- Dark Samus1
- Temple Guardian- Amorbis
- Torvus Bog
- Dark Missle Trooper (actually found in Temple Grounds)
- Boost Guardian
- Alpha Blogg
- Grapple Guardian
- Temple Guardian- Chykka
- Sanctuary Fortress
- Spider Guardian
- Power Bomb Guardian (actually found in Dark Torvus Bog)
- Dark Samus2
- Dark Ingsmasher
- Temple Guardian- Quadraxis
- Sky Temple/Sky Temple Grounds
- Temple Guardian- Emperor Ing
- Dark Samus 3/4
[edit] Platforming
A hallmark of the Metroid series has been the focus on platforming, with upgrades to extend the height and number of jumps possible. In this vein, Metroid Prime featured a double jump, called the Space Jump (though in all other games, the space jump was an infinite somersault power, this would obviously not transfer well to a first-person perspective). MP2:E includes this power, but now features a third-person series of horizontal spinning jumps, called the Screw Attack, as well. (previously, the Screw Attack in the 2D Metroid games simply made somersaults damaging to enemies, while the Space Jump was the series of somersaults.) This new power dramatically extends the distance ability of Samus' jumps, and even damages enemies, should they get in the way. However, it is primarily an exploratory tool that can be used in conjunction with special walls to scale new heights. Finally, the Grapple Beam returns, allowing the player to swing from special points in the environment. One new aspect of this, while not crucial, is that shooting is possible while swinging.
[edit] Safe zones
The atmosphere of Dark Aether is caustic and damages Samus' power suit, requiring the player to move between special "safe zones," at least initially. Some players believe this concept is similar to Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, where players can only survive in a protective area. This mechanic prevents the player from dawdling in certain areas of the Dark World, and allows the player to slowly regain health to the damage taken while in the autmosphere of Dark Aether. There are two different types of "safe zones," ones powered by permanent light crystals, and ones that must by activated by the Beam weapons. Both types can be shut down by the Dark Beam, drawing in Darkling enemies. The Light Beam will supercharge safe zones, making the area actively damaging to nearby enemies — this can make it faster to kill certain enemies by luring them to a supercharged safe zone than directly attacking them. If Samus fires the Annihilator Beam at one of these safe zones, however, the dark energy will draw enemies towards it, while the light energy will destroy them instantly.
The damage taken from the atmosphere of Dark Aether is reduced with the acquisition of the Dark Suit, and completely nullified with the Light Suit.
[edit] Multiplayer
The multiplayer mode allows for up to four person combat through a split screen, but no LAN or online support. It has two modes: the rather self-explanatory Deathmatch, and Bounty mode, which focuses on collecting coins that injured players drop. In contrast to most first-person multiplayer games, MP2:E features the same control scheme as the singleplayer mode, including the morph ball and lock-on systems. This move, as well as the inclusion of multiplayer in the first place, has provoked some controversy from gamers, but Retro Studios maintains that this was to differentiate the game from the admittedly large number of multiplayer FPSs on the market. To make the system work better in multiplayer, use of the Boost Ball will throw off another player's lock, allowing an escape. Play is further livened up by different environments featuring grapple points, magnetic rails for the Spider Ball, Morph Ball cannons and water pits. All players start out with the Power Beam, Charge Beam, Morph Ball, Boost Ball, Spider Ball, Space Jump, Dark visor and Grapple Beam, and can pick up many of the single-player game's power-ups through crates or Randomizers scattered around. During the single player mode, various events can unlock additional multiplayer content, including extra soundtracks and two unlockable battle arenas.
[edit] Release Information
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was released in the USA on November 15, 2004, and in Europe on November 26, 2004.
Unlike the majority of PAL game releases, the game cannot be run in 50 Hz, the standard refresh rate for PAL televisions. The game instead defaults to 60Hz, which is normally included as an option in PAL GameCube releases, as it reduces display flicker and is supported by many, although not all, PAL televisions. Starting with this title, first-party GameCube releases include a logo on the packaging and marketing material stating which refresh rates are supported. A few other titles (for example Dead or Alive 4 for the Xbox 360) have also been released in this "PAL60" format.
The PAL version of the game was also briefly available for free through "Nintendo VIP 24:7" loyalty scheme.
[edit] Marketing
[edit] Luminoth Temple
The Luminoth Temple was an online community created by Nintendo and Lithium Technologies as means to promote Metroid Prime 2. The forum was exclusively an "invite only" community, and only open to people who were seventeen and over. The site featured a variety of promotion material, such as Buddy Icons, wallpapers, and downloadable commercials for Metroid Prime 2. Although the Temple would later go on to promote other Metroid Products, it met a quick demise on June 19, 2006.
[edit] Alternate reality game
Probably in response to rival Halo 2's alternate reality game, The Haunted Apiary, Nintendo launched a number of related websites previous to Metroid Prime 2's release.
[edit] Channel 51
Channel 51 is modeled after conspiracy-theory websites. There are numerous connections with Metroid. For example, the author's pseudonym is "Samantha Manus;" this name takes its first three letters and last two from "Samus." Ms. Manus hails from a "Sumas, Washington"; "Sumas" is "Samus" spelled backwards, and Nintendo of America's headquarters are in Washington state. Also, the website offers grainy QuickTime videos that it dubs "The Rossler Transmission", which were taken from Metroid Prime 2.
[edit] Orbis Labs
Orbis Labs is a development firm of sorts. Their current project is the "Battle Sphere", which promises to have all the power of a tank and all the mobility of an infantry unit as it allows soldiers to morph into its shell. It seems to be based on the ubiquitous Morph Ball item from the Metroid series. It also states that the only problem with the "Battle Sphere" is that the average male soldier is too large to fit in it, suggesting that female warriors -such as Samus- are more convenient to fit in.
[edit] Athena Astronautics
Athena Astronautics is a site that is pursuing sending women into space. There are mentions of suit, weapons, and combat training—references to Samus Aran's Power Suit. There is also a blog that dismisses Channel 51 (above) and Samantha Manus, but makes no mention of how the videos clearly show Metroid Prime 2 footage.
Additionally, Athena Astronautics offered job positions on Monster.com for Bounty Hunters. Those who initially applied for the position were sent an "interactive training manual", in the form of a free copy of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
[edit] Reception
The critical reception for Echoes was mostly positive[1], with good reviews from magazines like EGM and Game Informer and websites like GameSpot[2] and IGN[3]
The game also won a number of awards, including the 2004 Nintendo Power Awards (Vol. #191) in almost every category it was nominated for (minus Best Multiplayer and Most Memorable Moment, in which it won 3rd and 2nd places respectively).
Despite the review scores, Echoes has received its fair share of criticism, most of it aimed towards the multiplayer mode. Critical reactions to the multiplayer mode are mainly mediocre, stating that the mode is simplistic fun, but is largely out of date when compared to other multiplayer games on the market. However, many fans feel multiplayer does not detract from the single player aspect. Other common complaints were to the high difficulty of the game[4]and the feeling that the game was more of an expansion of Metroid Prime. Many fans of the series also didn't like the addition of the Ammunition System but most consider it as a start towards "gameplay balance".
The game earned good sales, although inferior to the original Prime: 470,000 copies in two months[5]
[edit] Trivia
- At the Tokyo Game Show in 2005, a modified version of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was used to demonstrate how Metroid Prime 3: Corruption would take advantage of the Wii controller.
- Tallon IV makes a cameo appearance as a part of the background in the Sidehopper Station arena.
- When Samus removes her Power Suit at the end of the game, she is depicted with her "Zero Suit" design from Metroid: Zero Mission.
- A Dark Luminoth was shown briefly in an early video for Metroid Prime 2 Echoes, but was taken out of the game for unknown reasons, possibly because Luminoth "self-terminate" when an Ing is able to begin possessing them.
- Part of the Pipeline arena bears some likeness to the Space Pirate's Phendrana Drifts Lab from Metroid Prime.
- The "hunters" theme track is a remix of the Super Metroid Brinstar music. Also, the music for Torvus Bog's Hydrodynamo area is a remix of Brinstar's "red soil area". The theme for the Submerged Temple area is a rearangement of the Maridia theme from Super Metroid. On top of this the music for the final Dark Samus boss is a remix of the original Metroid's "Escape!".
- There was a Pirate Research station called "Aether" in Metroid Prime, yet it has no connection to the planet Aether.
- On the 13th image in the Image Gallery, there may be a vague picture of Samus' face at the bottom of the image.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Metroid Website
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes at Nintendo.com
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes at the Internet Movie Database
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes at N-Retro
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes at MobyGames
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes in the Metroid Database
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes at Metroid2002, focusing on speedruns and speedrunning tricks
- Metroid Prime 2: Echoes at GameFAQs
