Behind every good game, there is usually good technology. Sometimes the game engine produces beautiful visuals, ambitious art design, or clever physics. In the case of Metroid Prime, it has the best of all worlds, featuring a fantastic engine that brings the team's visions to life at a slick 60 frames per second. Stunning art design seems to have moved from concept to real-time implementation without a hitch. There's no doubt that the artists at Retro Studios are very talented individuals, and they've been able to achieve moody, multi-faceted environments all thanks to remarkably flexible technology. One of the most impressive aspects of all is Metroid Prime's character rendering. Our sultry heroine Samus is absolutely breathtaking, and easily one of the most detailed models we've ever laid eyes on; jointed metal sheathing encases her hidden body, bending and reflecting light with jaw-dropping realism. The first time you see the camera swing around Samus in a cut-scene, it is inevitable that you stop breathing to momentarily take in all the detail. From tip-to-toe-to-fingertips, with motion capture animation and precision modeling, Samus is more dazzling in 3D than we could have ever imagined.
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The detail doesn't end there. The in-game effects are also astonishing with a great deal of attention to detail. The visor effects are fantastic, featuring condensation, pressure cracks, static, and much more. One specific effect reveals a flash of Samus's face on the inside of her visor, which occurs when a close burst of light fills the inside of her helmet to create a reflection. It's something that doesn't affect gameplay, but it's just one of those ultra-cool details that produces an oooh or an ahhh the first time you see it. It's not long before you figure out it's possible to nestle the butt of your blaster up against a wall and fire off a charge blast to reproduce the effect -- it quickly becomes a bit of an unhealthy addiction for hardcore Metroid fans.
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The graphics are absolutely outstanding.. and all I can say is "Halo? What's Halo?"