Metroid Prime Remastered is the third time that this iconic game has been released. The first was on the GameCube back in 2002 and then again on the Wii in 2009 as part of the Metroid Prime Trilogy. The biggest addition to the core of Metroid Prime was the motion controls, which worked surprisingly well.
It's unfortunate that Nintendo Switch fans weren't treated with the same trilogy but in HD. Assuredly, the other two games will probably launch soon. There are some other issues with Metroid Prime Remastered that could have been addressed before its launch and they could still be via patches.
1 Select Your Save Slot
Metroid Prime Remastered allows players to create a save file in one of three slots. When players get to a save room, the file will update automatically. Save rooms are also the only way to save in the game, unlike most modern shooters that have autosaves.
Autosaves would be a welcome addition to Metroid Prime Remastered but it would also be good if players could save in any one of the three files at their leisure. It’s always nice to have backups in case things go wrong.
2 Add A Better Hint System
This remaster features a hint system in case players get lost. It’s great in a pinch but it takes a while to activate. If players travel from room to room and aren’t getting anywhere, a message will pop up, letting players know where to go next on the map. This takes about ten to fifteen minutes depending on the situation.
Again, in a pinch, it is useful but there could be more options to tweak its regularity. Players could choose how often it chimes up. Ideally, Metroid Prime Remastered would have a system like the Dead Space remake’s Locator, which is a constant guiding tool if players choose to use it.
3 Fast Travel
There is another upgrade save rooms could get that would help players out tremendously. It would be amazing if players could warp between any save room in the game. Metroid Prime Remastered could limit the fast travel option for players if that would make more sense mechanically for the developers.
For example, perhaps players could only fast travel between save points in any given area be it the first desert biome or the next one covered in lava. Fast travel among all save points would be ideal, but something would be better than nothing. Backtracking in a Metroidvania can be annoying without some sort of fast travel access.
4 Map Upgrades
The map could use some upgrades along with the save rooms. Right now, the map is always represented in 3D. In most cases, this is a good map to have. However, there are times when it gets a bit too complex to rotate giant rooms around to look for a tiny hole or something.
A 2D option would be a nice addition to have if the developers could figure out how to represent it. Also, more importantly, it would be great if players could add icons to the map. For example, they could add an icon if they see an item they can’t get to yet. Taking notes in Metroidvanias is important, and a way to mark the map would help immensely.
5 Add A Photo Mode
Since the game is mostly in a first-person perspective, players can’t see Samus except in cutscenes. The camera does go into a third-person perspective once players change into the Morph Ball. However, that’s hardly the same as seeing Samus with her full armor and blaster looking amazing.
A photo mode would allow players to see a brand new side of Metroid Prime. The remaster did add a nice art gallery, but it would be extra awesome if players could manipulate that camera to see just how cool Samus looks in a firefight.
6 Add A Boss Rush
Metroid Dread was the first game in the series to add a Boss Rush mode. It wasn’t available at launch, but, thankfully, the game did have a good post-launch update campaign that kept it in the limelight for a little longer.
It’s hard to believe that Metroid Dread was the first game to get one given that this series is known for its epic boss battles. If Metroid Dread can get one post-launch then the cards are there for Metroid Prime Remastered as well. Some sort of multiplayer might be too big of a wish, so this will have to do.
7 Add The Other Two Metroid Prime Games
What if Retro Studios released the next two Metroid Prime games as DLC for this new remaster? There have been rumors for years that Nintendo had a remastered trilogy for this series in the works. Every Nintendo Direct was met with fan disappointment when it, or Metroid Prime 4, didn’t appear. The recent Nintendo Direct was amazing as Metroid Prime Remastered was not only revealed for the first time but launched the same day.
Is Retro Studios already working on the other two games as well? It sure wouldn’t be that cool if they decided to release all three games separately for $40 apiece instead of $60 or $70 for the full package. A free update to get the other two would be asking a lot, but what if players could pay $20 apiece instead if they already owned Metroid Prime Remastered?
Metroid Prime Remastered was released on February 8, 2023, and is available on Switch.