WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR DDR
latest news
Podcast:Yahtzee joins to talk GH4, SSBB, and out of control kids
News:GTAIV to give aussies an R rating?
News:Hookers, Halo and Fraud - The life and times of Ralph in Texas
News:Super Smash Brothers Brawl - Finally
News:Lego Indy Demo
News:Too Human Coming Soon - Finally
News:A guide to importing Rock Band
News:Blue Dingos rendition of Finish the Fight
10 Questions:10 Game Industry Questions - Rob Davis
News:He Was A Fattish But Active Man, Of Paralyzing Stupidity
News:IGN turning into RALPH?
News:If Nintendo had made Halo 3
News:Ballarat Get into Games - This Weekend!
News:GTA IV won't help you become a serial killer
Podcast:Sony Gamers Day and ... well ... GTA IV news, what else!
News:GTAIV to give aussies an R rating?
News:Hookers, Halo and Fraud - The life and times of Ralph in Texas
News:Super Smash Brothers Brawl - Finally
News:Lego Indy Demo
News:Too Human Coming Soon - Finally
News:A guide to importing Rock Band
News:Blue Dingos rendition of Finish the Fight
10 Questions:10 Game Industry Questions - Rob Davis
News:He Was A Fattish But Active Man, Of Paralyzing Stupidity
News:IGN turning into RALPH?
News:If Nintendo had made Halo 3
News:Ballarat Get into Games - This Weekend!
News:GTA IV won't help you become a serial killer
Podcast:Sony Gamers Day and ... well ... GTA IV news, what else!
latest podcast
random quote
“At each of these events my personal goal is to get a picture with, or at least of, as many of the promo girls as possible.”
'The World Cyber Games 2007'by Starks
most recent on forum
PODCAST [ Yahtzee joins to talk GH4, SSBB, and out of control kids ] by Rhuri at 1:58am
English Literacy in Aus by itsapanda at 1:05am
want by fic_kitty at 1:01am
Late Podcast by itsapanda at 12:51am
Heaven... by The Laughing Man at 12:11am
<AG XBOX360 COD4 1 on 1 TOURNEY> by Claude the Duck King at 11:47pm
Introduce Yourself by funkypea at 11:32pm
PODCAST [ Sony Gamers Day and ... well ... GTA IV news, what else! ] by El Taco at 11:11pm
Your latest purchase by Jay at 10:59pm
How do you visual minorites? by funkypea at 10:49pm
Fire Emblem by Amyler at 9:57pm
MC Chris by EdgeCrusher at 8:52pm
NEWS [ Too Human Coming Soon - Finally ] by netjunkie at 8:39pm
Dreamscene by AJ at 8:12pm
Look at this by nomet at 7:41pm
English Literacy in Aus by itsapanda at 1:05am
want by fic_kitty at 1:01am
Late Podcast by itsapanda at 12:51am
Heaven... by The Laughing Man at 12:11am
<AG XBOX360 COD4 1 on 1 TOURNEY> by Claude the Duck King at 11:47pm
Introduce Yourself by funkypea at 11:32pm
PODCAST [ Sony Gamers Day and ... well ... GTA IV news, what else! ] by El Taco at 11:11pm
Your latest purchase by Jay at 10:59pm
How do you visual minorites? by funkypea at 10:49pm
Fire Emblem by Amyler at 9:57pm
MC Chris by EdgeCrusher at 8:52pm
NEWS [ Too Human Coming Soon - Finally ] by netjunkie at 8:39pm
Dreamscene by AJ at 8:12pm
Look at this by nomet at 7:41pm
upcoming releases
NDS
22 May
Apollo Justice Ace AttorneyPS3
22 May
BUZZ Quiz TVWII
22 May
Dream Pinball 3DNDS
22 May
Dream Pinball 3DPC
22 May
Dream Pinball 3DPS2
23 May
Silent Hill OriginsX360
23 May
Top Spin 3PS3
23 May
Top Spin 3WII
23 May
Top Spin 3NDS
23 May
Top Spin 3PC
23 May
Top Trumps: Dr WhoPS2
23 May
Top Trumps: Dr Whorss feeds
Australian Gamer Content - All
Australian Gamer Podcasts - All
Australian Gamer Updates, Reviews, Previews, Features
what's new
review :: metroid prime hunters
It?s been almost a year and a half when the Nintendo DS was first launched in Australia. It was back then players received a special little something from Nintendo which was secretly added into every Nintendo DS pack. It was a demo containing playable action of Metroid Prime Hunters.
Players were given a chance to play a short introductory level as well as other little modes (including local multiplayer). This might not sound like much, but gamers were overwhelmed with the quality of gameplay and also surprised to find how a First Person Shooter could be done so well on a handheld.
Fast forwarding to the future, the most anticipated DS game is now here in Australia. Gamers, strap your thumbs in (to the thumb-strap), sit back and get ready for the most intense and finest FPS game to ever hit a handheld, ever.
Let?s start with the most impressive aspect of the game, the Multiplayer. Metroid Prime Hunters offers players local multiplayer (single and multi-cart) plus the juiciest online gameplay the DS has to offer. People! I am not just saying this, read my lips, Metroid Prime Hunters can easily stand up to an online First Person Shooter PC game. It is that good.
Metroid Prime Hunters offers the most impressive graphics ever lit on DS screen.. oh screens, I keep forgetting there are two. It defiantly pushes the DS to its limits. The graphics are extremely vibrant and well suited for a Metroid game. The sound in the game is very spot on too, especially the gun shots. Classic Metroid music really takes you back.
There are basically two ways of playing the game, one with the touch screen (thumb-strap) and the other with the D-Pad. You are given an option to play left or right handed. The game does hold an extreme learning curve. From what I learnt, you can?t just jump into an online game and expect to own it up. You must first experience the controls in adventure mode. It will take a day or two to get to know the feel of the game, the controls are like no other game on any console. Let alone a handheld. So give it time before you expect to kill 3 dudes in a row online.
Nintendo have learnt from the limitations in Mario Kart DS and have expanded the online world for Metroid. The friends and rivals list is now improved and is more configurable than before, a player profile containing your online stats (kills, deaths, honour ranking, hours played, etc) which can be viewed online anywhere, player search is more customisable (match players with your ranking, regional/worldwide), VoIP (Voice over IP) is now included into friends and rival matches, very unique/fun game modes and tons of maps to select.
Players are able to choose from 7 bounty hunters to compete online with, Samus, Trace, Weavel, Sylux, Spire, Noxus, and finally Kanden. Each hunter has their own unique weapon and morphing ability. Not to mention each hunter has a cool character design.
There are 7 multiplayer modes to select from, Battle being the most popular one played online. Mainly because it?s the only mode you are able to play with strangers online, the other modes can be played with friends and rivals that you have added into your list. Battle is the typical free for all match, if it moves shoot it. This mode reminds me a lot of Unreal Tournament on the PC, mainly because it has such a fast paced, adrenaline pumping feel to it. This makes the gameplay experience top notch.
Survival mode is when each player is given a limited amount of lives, the last one standing wins. The aim of Bounty mode is for the player to gain possession of the Octolith and return it to the drop point randomised on the map as many times as possible before your time runs out. Each successful capture earns the player points, the player with the most points win. Defender mode is a lot like king of the hill; the player must claim and secure the designated section of the map, the longer the player is in the section, the more points are earned. Capture mode, also known as CTF (Capture the Flag) has players in teams; you and your team must raid the enemy?s territory and grab their Octolith then run it back to your base. Each successful run with earn your team a point. In Nodes mode players must explore the arena to fine node rings, you must hold the point for a certain amount of time, and each successful hold will earn you a point.
And finally, my favourite mode, Prime Hunter. The first to kill in this mode will grant that player prime hunter, enhancing that bounty hunter with speed and invisibility, although you must kill other players in order to stay alive as your health is slowly decreasing each moment you let one go. In this mode, I found myself leaning forward into my DS concentrating on my target, while others secretly team up to claim my primal hunter features. Very intense and action-packed mode, plenty of good times and laughs to be had.
?.*Pulls out a DS and begins playing online*?.
Ergh, sorry. I?ve done so much talking about the game I?ve just had to have another quick game.
?.*Closes DS Lid*?.
Now, Adventure Mode (AKA: Single Player). Samus is given a mission by the Galactic Federation to claim powerful relics left behind by an ancient culture. These relics are believed to hold the secret of gaining absolute power to the galaxy. The catch is Samus isn?t the only bounty hunter who knows about the relics, she?s going to have to battle her way through the galaxy?s most elite hunters who hope to harness the power for themselves.
A lot of people will describe the adventure mode in Metroid Prime Hunters as quite plain. Well, yes and no. The adventure mode still gives off that nice feel that Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime Echoes on the GCN bestow. Very fun and rewarding puzzles, extremely well designed atmosphere and maps.
In fact, the only let down to the game are the boss fights. Every time you work your way through a planet (map), you are end up with the same two bosses to fight over and over again. The more you progress through the game the more powerful and faster they become, and you will need to find a new way to kill them. Its kind of a let down having to put up with them both each time, and to top it off, each time you kill them, the planet is going to self destruct.. or something.. so a count down begins and you always have to run back through the entire level and make it back to your ship. But don?t let this little hick-up let you down, this game was intended to be the best multiplayer game offered on the Nintendo DS, and damn did they succeed.
Players were given a chance to play a short introductory level as well as other little modes (including local multiplayer). This might not sound like much, but gamers were overwhelmed with the quality of gameplay and also surprised to find how a First Person Shooter could be done so well on a handheld.
Fast forwarding to the future, the most anticipated DS game is now here in Australia. Gamers, strap your thumbs in (to the thumb-strap), sit back and get ready for the most intense and finest FPS game to ever hit a handheld, ever.
Let?s start with the most impressive aspect of the game, the Multiplayer. Metroid Prime Hunters offers players local multiplayer (single and multi-cart) plus the juiciest online gameplay the DS has to offer. People! I am not just saying this, read my lips, Metroid Prime Hunters can easily stand up to an online First Person Shooter PC game. It is that good.
Metroid Prime Hunters offers the most impressive graphics ever lit on DS screen.. oh screens, I keep forgetting there are two. It defiantly pushes the DS to its limits. The graphics are extremely vibrant and well suited for a Metroid game. The sound in the game is very spot on too, especially the gun shots. Classic Metroid music really takes you back.
There are basically two ways of playing the game, one with the touch screen (thumb-strap) and the other with the D-Pad. You are given an option to play left or right handed. The game does hold an extreme learning curve. From what I learnt, you can?t just jump into an online game and expect to own it up. You must first experience the controls in adventure mode. It will take a day or two to get to know the feel of the game, the controls are like no other game on any console. Let alone a handheld. So give it time before you expect to kill 3 dudes in a row online.
Nintendo have learnt from the limitations in Mario Kart DS and have expanded the online world for Metroid. The friends and rivals list is now improved and is more configurable than before, a player profile containing your online stats (kills, deaths, honour ranking, hours played, etc) which can be viewed online anywhere, player search is more customisable (match players with your ranking, regional/worldwide), VoIP (Voice over IP) is now included into friends and rival matches, very unique/fun game modes and tons of maps to select.
Players are able to choose from 7 bounty hunters to compete online with, Samus, Trace, Weavel, Sylux, Spire, Noxus, and finally Kanden. Each hunter has their own unique weapon and morphing ability. Not to mention each hunter has a cool character design.
There are 7 multiplayer modes to select from, Battle being the most popular one played online. Mainly because it?s the only mode you are able to play with strangers online, the other modes can be played with friends and rivals that you have added into your list. Battle is the typical free for all match, if it moves shoot it. This mode reminds me a lot of Unreal Tournament on the PC, mainly because it has such a fast paced, adrenaline pumping feel to it. This makes the gameplay experience top notch.
Survival mode is when each player is given a limited amount of lives, the last one standing wins. The aim of Bounty mode is for the player to gain possession of the Octolith and return it to the drop point randomised on the map as many times as possible before your time runs out. Each successful capture earns the player points, the player with the most points win. Defender mode is a lot like king of the hill; the player must claim and secure the designated section of the map, the longer the player is in the section, the more points are earned. Capture mode, also known as CTF (Capture the Flag) has players in teams; you and your team must raid the enemy?s territory and grab their Octolith then run it back to your base. Each successful run with earn your team a point. In Nodes mode players must explore the arena to fine node rings, you must hold the point for a certain amount of time, and each successful hold will earn you a point.
And finally, my favourite mode, Prime Hunter. The first to kill in this mode will grant that player prime hunter, enhancing that bounty hunter with speed and invisibility, although you must kill other players in order to stay alive as your health is slowly decreasing each moment you let one go. In this mode, I found myself leaning forward into my DS concentrating on my target, while others secretly team up to claim my primal hunter features. Very intense and action-packed mode, plenty of good times and laughs to be had.
?.*Pulls out a DS and begins playing online*?.
Ergh, sorry. I?ve done so much talking about the game I?ve just had to have another quick game.
?.*Closes DS Lid*?.
Now, Adventure Mode (AKA: Single Player). Samus is given a mission by the Galactic Federation to claim powerful relics left behind by an ancient culture. These relics are believed to hold the secret of gaining absolute power to the galaxy. The catch is Samus isn?t the only bounty hunter who knows about the relics, she?s going to have to battle her way through the galaxy?s most elite hunters who hope to harness the power for themselves.
A lot of people will describe the adventure mode in Metroid Prime Hunters as quite plain. Well, yes and no. The adventure mode still gives off that nice feel that Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime Echoes on the GCN bestow. Very fun and rewarding puzzles, extremely well designed atmosphere and maps.
In fact, the only let down to the game are the boss fights. Every time you work your way through a planet (map), you are end up with the same two bosses to fight over and over again. The more you progress through the game the more powerful and faster they become, and you will need to find a new way to kill them. Its kind of a let down having to put up with them both each time, and to top it off, each time you kill them, the planet is going to self destruct.. or something.. so a count down begins and you always have to run back through the entire level and make it back to your ship. But don?t let this little hick-up let you down, this game was intended to be the best multiplayer game offered on the Nintendo DS, and damn did they succeed.
Final Verdict
Although single player is a let down, this game was intended to be outstanding in Multiplayer, but not only is it outstanding; this has jumped through the freakin roof! If you?re a FPS fan, Metroid fan or a gamer just looking to have some serious fun and intense online action, this game is it! Extremely well developed multiplayer (both online and local), this will have you coming back for more each day for a very long time.Pros
The best FPS handheld game, ever! Simply Awesome Multiplayer, The best Nintendo WiFi has to offer. VoIP, Friends/Rival list, Oline Stats, Very intense online action, Solid Gameplay, Impressive Graphics
Cons
Very steep learning curve for controls (don?t worry you will master it), Adventure Mode is a little let down