Metroidskipped the Nintendo 64 generation as no one was quite sure how to translate the series into the 3D realm. Only in 2002 did Retro Studios take a shot at it withMetroid Primeand they hit it out of the park. More than 20 years later and it is still seen as one of the greatest games of all time.
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These accolades are helped by the fact that the game is so incredibly unique. There are only a few 3D games likeMetroidand even fewer that are played from the first-person perspective. While they are hard to find, these fantastic titles just might help scratch the same itch asMetroid Primedoes. They are not all first-person shooters nor do they utilize a science fiction setting, but they do provide opportunities for exploration, puzzle-solving, and the feeling of growing stronger.
1Batman: Arkham Asylum
At the time ofArkham Asylum’srelease, no one expected much from games based on popular superheroes. Rocksteady’s first game in theArkhamseries changed everything, though.Arkham Asylumis not only great for the genre, butit also stands toe to toe with its most celebrated piers of the generation.
LikeMetroid Prime, the upgrades that Batman earns help him unlock new parts of the facility. Unlike the Nintendo game, however, the protagonist talks a lot more and players are given a little more direction on how to progress through the story. This is fine, though, since fans love nothing more than hearing Kevin Conroy voice the iconic character.
2Metroid Dread
Any newcomer to theMetroidseries might be wondering where to go afterPrime. If the sequels are not readily available, then there is no better place to head to thanMetroid Dread. Released in 2021, it is the first new 2DMetroidin almost ten years.
Playing any 2DMetroidreveals just how faithfulMetroid Primeis to the series' formula. True to the series,Dreadcan be challenging, which in turn encourages players to explore and find as manyupgrades for Samusas possible.
3Dark Souls
Demon’s Soulsbirthed a genreof its own and started developer FromSoftware’s upward trajectory toward its legendary status. It was withDark Souls,though, that the developer crafted one coherent world for players to explore like a maze.
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WhereMetroid Primeblocks off areas through upgrades found in the world,Dark Soulslets players know they are in the wrong place by how powerful the enemies are in a certain area. The feeling of tearing down enemies that once wiped the floor with the player is why most players love the series.
4System Shock
For those more interested inthe immersive sim genre,System Shockwill sate that desire and also serve as a great history lesson since it came out all the way back in 1994. To say that it has aged well would perhaps be a bit of an understatement.
It evokes the same feeling fromMetroid Primeof walking through a ruined environment and finding out what’s going on. Being an immersive sim and not an adventure game,System Shockhas a focus on resource gathering and stat allotment.
5Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
PlayingStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderfor just an hour or so immediately reveals its main influences: FromSoftware’sSoulsgames andMetroid Prime. The latter bodes well forMetroidfans.
The combat and level progression may remind players of the former, but the exploration is incredibly reminiscent of Samus' adventures. Players even use a 3D map to get their bearings. With new upgrades, players cango back to older locations and reach areas that were previously inaccessible.
6Doom
WhileMetroid Primeis far from an average FPS, it has a lot in common with classic examples of the genre.Doom’s greatness comes from its hectic action, unique creatures, and labyrinthine levels where players can easily get lost. The latter feature is just likeMetroid Prime.
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While players won’t be beating levels inDoomby finding a new weapon or upgrade, they do have to pay attention to where they are and note where they have been to deduce where to go.The newer games offer a similar challenge, only in a much more streamlined manner.
7BioShock
BioShockdraws a lot fromSystem Shock, which makes sense since director Ken Levine also worked onSystem Shock 2. However, the 2007 FPS is a lot more accessible to gamers used to modern sensibilities while still offering a creepy and morose atmosphere.
Players enter Rapture after it has already collapsedand discover what happened during the course of the story. The powers players earn and upgrade are used for combat more than they are for puzzle-solving, however.
8Turok
Turokhas a special connection toMetroid Prime. Retro Studios was founded by the same person who founded Iguana Entertainment, the developers ofTurok.Playing the classic N64 FPS gamereveals even more similarities between the two titles.
The levels feature intense combat, but the ultimate goal is to find keys scattered throughout the map to further progress, which makes exploration the main point of the game.Turok 2develops this idea even further and features a non-linear structure for players who want to tackle the game in a unique manner.
9Powerslave
If there was one first-person shooter that genuinely felt akin toMetroid Prime, it would have to bePowerslave. There is a small catch, though. Players who want the truePowerslaveexperience need to play the console version or the recent remaster,Powerslave Exhumed.
This is a true Metroidvania experience where players use upgrades and new powers to access new parts of an interconnected map. Oddly enough, the old PC version does away with these features and is a more linear FPS, making for a rare instance where the console version is better than the PC version ofFPS games from the 1990s.
