MY VIEW
Games: 'Metroid Prime 2: Echoes'

By Julius Pecson
Special to The Advertiser

The Verdict: THE RATINGS 5 — Outstanding: Add it to your collection now. A must-have. 4 — Great: Buy it or rent it — definitely play it. 3 — Good: Worth playing despite some flaws. 2 — Fair: Unless you're a fan of the license or series, don't bother. 1 — Poor: You'd have more fun playing Pong.

Console: GameCube.

Developer/publisher: Retro Studios/Nintendo.

Genre: First-person adventure.

Number of Players: One to four.

ESRB rating: Teen (violence).

The premise: Responding to a distress call from the Galactic Federation, interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran finds herself on an alien planet called Aether, which was hit long ago by a meteor that split it into light and dark worlds. The inhabitants of the two sides are at war, and it's up to Samus to restore order to the once-tranquil planet.

Game play: The core foundation of the "Metroid" series is about exploring an unknown world, fighting monstrous creatures and gaining abilities — like the screw attack, visors and power bombs — that make it possible for Samus to reach previously inaccessible areas. Through the course of the game, Samus will travel between the light and dark worlds of Aether via dimensional portals. Things she does in one world will directly affect things that happen in the other world, and at times the only way to progress in one world is to accomplish a task in the other.

The good/bad: Not much has changed since 2002's ground-breaking "Metroid Prime," and for the most part, that's a good thing. But while exploration is the foundation of the "Metroid" series, it can also be its downfall. This is because it requires what is often lengthy backtracking to get to a gate that Samus could not get through before, but now the monotony is even further accentuated by the constant traveling through the two worlds.

To be fair, the core game play is still excellent, and the light-dark concept provides for some clever puzzle designs, although some may be too cerebral for the casual gamer. This is not an easy game. The puzzles are one thing, but the bosses and sub-guardians can be very challenging battles if your gaming thumbs aren't experienced.

On the major plus side are the vibrant graphics, atmospheric soundtrack and excellent presentation. Characters and environments are all extremely well-detailed and convey the unique atmospheres of the setting, and I found myself wowed by the luscious organic levels. The game also includes a very primitive and forgettable multiplayer mode, but it doesn't detract from the single-player experience.

Tips: Although you might be in the heat of a boss battle, take the time to scan your enemies with your scan visor. The log book will most likely reveal techniques and weak spots that will sway the fight in your favor. The main bosses come with various transformations, so make sure you scan each form as well.

My take: An adventure game with heavy action elements and an emphasis on puzzle-solving, this is real gamer's kind of game. Its slow pace and meticulous exploration elements require patience, but it still remains a worthy successor to one of the best games of this generation.

Julius Pecson, a student at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and a longtime gamer, reviews games on various consoles for The Honolulu Advertiser.

Have a game or CD you want to review? Reach Island Life deputy editor Dave Dondoneau at ddondoneau@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Upcoming video game releases
Dates are tentative.

PLAYSTATION 2

• Feb. 19: "Wild Arms: Alter Code F"
• Feb. 22: "Project Snowblind"; "Tekken 5"; "Phantom Crash 2050"; "YS: Ark of Napishtim"; "Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30"; "Kessen III"

XBOX

• Feb. 22: "Street Fighter Anniversary Collection"; "Robots"; "Project Snowblind"; "Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30"

GAME BOY ADVANCE

• Feb. 22: "Super Army War"; "Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament"; "Robots"

GAMECUBE

• Feb. 22: "Robots"

NINTENDO DS

• Feb. 22: "Robots"

List provided by Toys n' Joys, with shops in Kaimuki (735-4546) and the Westridge Shopping Center (487-8697) in Pearlridge. See www.toysnjoys.com.