Metroid Prime: Remastered

Between its thoughtful level design, responsive controls and high production values, this is a "must play" for fans of first-person shooters. Sure, Metroid Prime: Remastered builds upon an already stellar 21-year-old game, but the improvement in graphics and music, as well as controls -- including support for dual-stick navigation and aim -- makes an awesome game an even more extraordinary interactive entertainment experience. The only thing that would make Metroid Prime: Remastered any better is extra content not found in the original or adding multiplayer support. The moment you start the game, you can see -- and feel -- what kind of a ride you're in for. The haptic feedback is cleverly programmed to accentuate big moments during combat, making large bosses appear even bigger or highlighting a short cutscene sequence with a well-timed vibration. So much of the world you're on, Tallon IV, can be scanned with your visor, which is then added to the encyclopedia for fans to read through, if desired, plus the color-coded 3D mini-map can be studied, rotated, and zoomed in and out, to find new areas to explore, power-ups and other items to gather, and save stations to lock in your progress. Outdoor levels often have platforming elements, requiring well-timed jumps and swinging from grappling hooks, while several indoor levels require Samus to roll into a ball to access new places. There are plenty of jump scares, especially when roaming dark corridors.

Combat is pretty straightforward but sometimes requires you to figure out the best tactic and/or weapon, by studying your foe's movements, and seeing any patterns or weaknesses (and also leveraging the environment, too). Metroid Prime: Remastered is a near perfect game, without question, that delivers plenty of thrills and some chills, while roaming around Tallon IV. You won't want it to end. Kudos for not just reviving a classic game for modern hardware, but making it even more memorable.