Metroid Prime: Remastered

Metroid Prime Remastered is a 2023 first-person action-shooter game developed by Retro Studios (with assistance from Iron Galaxy and others) and published by Nintendo. Shadow-dropped digitally during a Nintendo Direct on February 8, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch (with a physical release following shortly after), it is a stunning, from-the-ground-up visual overhaul of the legendary 2002 GameCube masterpiece. It perfectly preserves the original game’s immaculate level design and atmospheric exploration while modernizing the controls and graphics for a new generation.

Core Story

You play as the legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran. The game opens as Samus intercepts a distress beacon from the Orpheon, a derelict Space Pirate research frigate orbiting the uncharted planet of Tallon IV. After discovering that the pirates have been conducting horrific genetic experiments using a highly radioactive, mutagenic substance called Phazon, Samus has a violent encounter with her resurrected nemesis, Meta Ridley.

Following an explosion that strips her of her advanced Varia Suit abilities, Samus pursues Ridley down to the surface of Tallon IV. There, she discovers the sprawling ruins of an ancient, spiritually advanced Chozo civilization that was wiped out by a poisoned meteor strike. Samus must explore the hostile alien environments, recover her lost power-ups, eradicate the Space Pirate mining operations, and delve deep into the planet’s core to destroy the source of the Phazon corruption: the titular Metroid Prime.

Gameplay and Features

Metroid Prime Remastered retains the brilliant “First-Person Adventure” formula of the original, prioritizing exploration, puzzle-solving, and environmental storytelling over pure run-and-gun shooting:

• The Scan Visor: The defining mechanic of the game. Samus can switch her visor to scan enemies for weak points, read Chozo lore etched into the walls, hack computer terminals, and study alien flora and fauna. The narrative is entirely player-driven; you only learn about the world by actively choosing to scan it.
• Modernized Controls: The biggest mechanical upgrade in the remaster. The 2002 original used a clunky, single-stick “tank control” scheme. The remaster introduces a flawless, modern Dual-Stick control option, making combat and platforming feel incredibly fluid. For purists, the original GameCube controls, Wii-style motion controls, and a hybrid scheme are all fully supported.
• Visor and Beam Switching: Combat is highly tactical. You must frequently hot-swap between four different weapons (Power, Wave, Ice, and Plasma beams) to exploit specific enemy vulnerabilities, and switch between visors (Combat, Scan, Thermal, and X-Ray) to navigate dark environments or spot invisible threats.
• The Morph Ball: With the press of a button, Samus seamlessly rolls into her iconic metallic sphere. The camera pulls back into a third-person perspective, allowing players to navigate narrow tunnels, drop bombs to propel themselves into the air, and ride magnetic spider-ball tracks to solve intricate spatial puzzles.
• Interconnected World: Tallon IV is a masterclass in level design. From the lush, rainy overworld of the Tallon Overworld to the scorching lava lakes of Magmoor Caverns and the haunting, snowy Phendrana Drifts, the map is a massive, interconnected labyrinth that requires constant backtracking as you unlock new abilities.

PC Version

Because Metroid Prime is a marquee first-party Nintendo franchise, Metroid Prime Remastered is not officially available on PC. While the emulation community has historically used tools like Dolphin (for the GameCube/Wii originals) or modern Switch emulators to play the game on PC, the official, high-definition remaster remains entirely locked within the Nintendo ecosystem.

Console Versions

Metroid Prime Remastered is a strict Nintendo Switch exclusive. From a technical standpoint, it is widely considered one of the most visually impressive games on the entire platform. Retro Studios didn’t just up-res the old textures; they completely rebuilt the geometry, lighting systems, and material physics while somehow maintaining a locked, buttery-smooth 60 frames per second in both docked and handheld modes. Samus’s arm cannon reflects the flashing lights of the environment, condensation builds up on her visor near steam vents, and the alien world looks more vibrant and atmospheric than ever before.

Quick Note

Metroid Prime Remastered is the gold standard for how to bring a classic video game into the modern era. It respects everything that made the 2002 original a masterpiece while fixing the only thing that had aged poorly (the controls).

In short: If you own a Switch and have any interest in atmospheric sci-fi, exploring the lonely, rain-slicked ruins of Tallon IV is an absolute, undeniable must-play experience.