When Metroid Prime finally launched stateside in late 2002, NCS was prepared for the consumer backlash and the vitriol since there was no way the game could possibly be good. We waited. One day passed and then another. The backlash never came. Metroid Prime silenced the naysayers by being a worthy successor to its forebears and the gaming world was better for it.

Nintendo has already released three Gamecube remakes on the Wii and they've all been fine revamps. The Metroid Prime upgrade features Nunchuk and Wii Remote control where the nunchuk is used for Samus' movement and the remote manipulates an onscreen targeting cursor. Similar to all previous Wii de Asobu releases, the game is a complete revamp with updated graphics and sound.

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View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

Region Lock-out
Please note Japanese Wii games will not boot on USA or European Wii consoles due to the inherent region-lockout on Japanese Wii game discs. A Freeloader (and a Wii with 3.2U firmware) is required to play Japanese Wii games.

» Press the "A" button to start a new game and select a save-slot from three available selections.

» "Unidentified distress beacon" message appears followed by a voice over (in English) which describes who Samus Aran is and what she's up to. In the intro, she somersaults from her vessel onto the deck of a space frigate and the game begins. The Nunchuk is used for movement and the "C" button transforms Samus into a sphere. The Wii Remote aims the targeting cursor and the "A" button fires a shot. The "B" button makes her jump and pushing down on the D-pad fires off an energy blast that crackles with power.

» To drop the first barrier, fire at the four red lights so that they all turn green. The next barrier requires that you scan the control panel opposite the gate in order to light up the six red targets on the side of the gateway. To scan something, press the "-" button and then move the cursor to the upper portion of the visor scope. Next, press and hold the "Z" button to scan the gate.

» Once the six targets are lit on the side of the gateway, Samus can shoot them to drop the second barrier. Move forward, leap onto the higher platform and then continue on the gangplank to enter the interior of the desolate frigate.

» In one portion of the corridor that Samus travels through, objects are floating in mid-air because it isn't pressurized. One of the floating objects looks like a huge space insect of some sort. To pressurize the room, scan the panel on the left side of the wall by targeting it and pressing the "Z" button. Gases will shoot into the room and the formerly floating objects will clang onto the floor. You can now proceed into the next area and finally into a room where a fire is raging and a Space Pirate has been impaled by a massive dead creature. Proceed further and another dead Space Pirate is serving as food for two hungry creatures who are foraging on his body. If you blast the creatures, Samus' visor will be splattered with green ooze. A greenish liquid may be seen dripping from the dead pirate's body.

» The Wii version of Metroid Prime is a polished upgrade of the Gamecube original that follows the game to a tee. There's no difference in the story or the routes that Samus has to take to reach the end game. The graphics are sharper and the overall game looks improved over the GC original.

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