Metroid Prime (game)

:This article is about the game. For other uses, see Metroid Prime (Disambiguation).
 is the first 3D Metroid game, released on November 18, 2002. It was developed by Nintendo-owned Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. Along with Metroid Fusion, it was the second Metroid game to be released since Super Metroid, over eight years earlier. Metroid Prime attained widespread critical acclaim from various publications and was a commercial success, selling over 1 million units in North America alone.
The story follows Samus Aran battling the Space Pirates and their biological experiments on planet Tallon IV. While mostly taking place in a first-person perspective, it is officially classified by Nintendo as a first-person adventure rather than a first-person shooter, due to the large exploration component of the game. As the first entry in the Prime storyline, the game takes place between the original Metroid and Metroid II: Return of Samus. This is especially noted by the presence of the titular Metroid creatures, which were exterminated in the second Metroid game.
==Plot==
This game's events follow those of Metroid and Metroid: Zero Mission.
Samus Aran, having destroyed the Space Pirate stronghold on Zebes during her Zero Mission three years ago, starts traversing across the galaxy in search of a client, when she intercepts a distress signal coming from a space station in orbit above Tallon IV. Upon investigation, she realizes it is one of the few Space Pirate frigates that escaped her attack on Zebes. The ship, the Orpheon, was maintained by the Space Pirate Science Team engaged in the genetic enhancement of various creatures native to Tallon IV. However, most of the Pirates are dead, and those that remain are in weak physical condition. All of the escape pods had been launched 6 hours prior to Samus' arrival. Samus, after exploring the station, comes face to face with the cause of the distress signal: the Parasite Queen. Once defeated, the creature falls into the Reactor Core, causing a malfunction of the station's propulsion systems. 
Samus quickly escapes via the ventilation network, but not before an explosion damages her suit, causing the Varia Suit, Charge Beam, Missiles, Morph Ball, and Grapple Beam to malfunction, leaving only the Power Suit and the Power Beam. She witnesses Ridley, genetically rebuilt after Samus' fight with him on Zebes, fly off towards Tallon IV. Once she gets to her Gunship, Samus follows, eager to destroy the Space Pirates once and for all.
After landing in the Tallon Overworld, Samus explores nearby areas of Tallon IV, starting with the Chozo Ruins. There, Samus finds that the local water supply has become extremely toxic, harming her even through her Power Suit. As she explores the ruins, she regains many of her lost abilities and learns that the Chozo on the planet had been killed or corrupted by a Great Poison brought to Tallon IV on a meteor many years ago. Eventually, Samus discovers the source of the toxic waters, which is in the center of a large broken dome in the ruins. There she destroys Flaahgra, a heavily mutated plant, and purifies the spring.
Samus next visits Magmoor Caverns and discovers that the Space Pirates are drawing large amounts of geothermal energy from the region. Samus leaves the caverns and arrives in the Phendrana Drifts, an icy area once home to another Chozo enclave. Samus acquires more abilities there, and soon infiltrates the main Space Pirate laboratories. Her arrival catches the Pirates off-guard; they were unaware of her presence on Tallon IV, and the laboratories have relatively few guards. After fighting her way through the labs, Samus discovers that the Pirates have been conducting experiments with Phazon, the Great Poison the Chozo spoke of. She also finds out that the Space Pirates brought some Metroids that had survived the destruction of Tourian to the planet. She then confronts Thardus, a Phazon entity brought to life by Space Pirate experiments. She defeats Thardus and continues on.
With her new abilities, Samus re-explores the places on Tallon IV where she has already been, like the Chozo Ruins. She soon begins to encounter the spirits of Chozo corrupted by Phazon. As she continues, Samus finds the wreckage of the Space Pirate Frigate Orpheon, which had crashed into Tallon after its destruction. A massive operation is underway by the Pirates to try what they can do about it, especially the salvage of Phazon. Samus once again travels through the Orpheon. Upon emerging on the other side, she discovers the entrance to the Space Pirate's Phazon Mines.
Samus enters the Phazon Mines, encountering massive amounts of Phazon and heavy Pirate defenses. She also discovers the outcome of the Phazon experimentation project: Elite Pirates, Pirates mutated to huge and dangerous forms with Phazon infusions. Later, she also learns of two other Phazon-based creatures: the Omega Pirate, an Elite Pirate that had grown to enormous size and power through its near-limitless capacity to absorb Phazon, and the Metroid Prime, a creature that had come to Tallon IV with the original meteor. The Metroid Prime is genetically similar to Metroids, though much more developed. Like the Omega Pirate, there is no limit to its ability to absorb Phazon, but in this case, massive doses of Phazon have absolutely no side effects. The Pirates had discovered the creature in their mining projects, and - in one version of events - captured and studied it. They infused it with much Phazon in the hopes of creating an ultimate weapon, but the creature escaped back to its den. The other theory is that the Space Pirates have never been able to get through the Cipher (the invisible force field projected by the Chozo Artifacts) and Metroid Prime has been undisturbed since it had been included in the Leviathan from Phaaze, the source of all Phazon in the universe, eons ago. This version of events may be more plausible, because it would be almost impossible for Metroid Prime to have escaped from the Impact Crater at all, let alone return back. The Metroid Prime is the guardian of the Phazon core on the planet; as long as the creature survives, the Phazon can never be purged from the planet.
Samus soon reaches the lowest level of the mines. On this level, the Pirates have been conducting many experiments with their remaining Metroids. These Metroids have been so heavily mutated by Phazon that they no longer follow the natural life cycle of their species, instead forgoing all metamorphoses in favor of remaining in their larval stage. Samus fights her way through the Metroids and reaches the Omega Pirate. She defeats it, but as it dies, it collapses on her and dissolves into Phazon, which is absorbed into her Power Suit, creating the Phazon Suit. It provides Samus with immunity to Phazon, and is even capable of harnessing pure Phazon as a weapon.
With the Pirate operations in shambles, Samus sets out to find a way to rid the planet of Phazon. She discovers the ancient Artifact Temple, which contains a lock that prevents access to the Impact Crater the meteor had made. The deceased Chozo had built this Cipher to contain most of the Phazon within the crater, but some has still been able to seep out, corrupting the environment. Samus learns that in order to break the shield and access the crater, she must collect and unite twelve artifacts known as the Chozo Artifacts. After much journeying and trouble, Samus unites the Chozo Artifacts and prepares to fight the Metroid Prime. The central totem begins to lower the shield, but Meta Ridley flies in and destroys the totems and the Cipher. All hope of entering the crater appears to be lost, and Samus is forced to fight her nemesis once again. When Samus is about to strike the final blow, however, the Chozo statues on the temple come to life and blast Ridley with energy beams, causing him to fall off the temple and down into the Crater below, where Samus leaves him for dead. The Chozo Ghosts inside the original twelve totems (who are uncorrupted by Phazon) then use their collective energy to lower the shield and create a pathway to the Impact Crater, recognizing that Samus is their only hope.
In the Impact Crater, Samus encounters many heavily mutated creatures, including Metroids. Samus soon finds Metroid Prime, a hideously mutated Metroid, which instantly recognizes Samus as a major threat. Samus engages in a gruelling battle, but she eventually comes out on top. The Metroid Prime falls off a cliff, but Samus follows, without any fear of taking a chance. Indeed, when she discovers its apparently dead body, the core essence of the creature flies out, abandoning its shell and engaging Samus in its true form. Initially, the battle seems hopeless, as none of Samus' weaponry can defeat the monstrosity; fortunately, however, she discovers that stepping in the pools of Phazon it generates in the process of bearing Metroids allows her Phazon Suit to absorb Phazon and fire a deadly beam of Phazon energy. Samus uses this ability to overload the creature's body, until - as a last, desperate move - the dying Metroid Prime changes its form again and absorbs Samus' Phazon Suit.
It then explodes, releasing all of the Phazon in its body into the Phazon Core, sending it to a critical overload. Samus barely escapes and calls in her Gunship. She then removes her helmet to watch as the crater collapses on its own, purging all of the Phazon from Tallon IV. She then flies off to search for a new bounty to claim. 
Some time after Samus leaves, it is revealed that a small puddle of Phazon is all that is left in the remains of the crater. Out of the puddle rises a hand wearing something that looks similar to Samus' Phazon Suit. On the back of the hand is an eye which looks around warily.
The events of Metroid Prime Hunters follow.
==Gameplay==
As in previous Metroid games, Prime takes place in a large, open-ended world with different regions connected by elevators. Each region has an entire set of rooms separated by doors that can be opened with a shot from the correct beam. The gameplay revolves around solving puzzles to uncover secrets, platform jumping, and shooting foes with the help of a 'lock-on' mechanism that allows circle strafing while staying locked onto the enemy. The game is the first in the series to use a first-person view as opposed to a side-scrolling view. An exception is when Samus enters Morph Ball mode, where her suit transforms into an armored ball; the game uses a third-person camera angle at those times.
The protagonist, Samus, must travel through the world searching for twelve Chozo Artifacts that will open the path to the Phazon meteor Impact Crater while simultaneously collecting power-ups that enable the player to reach previously inaccessible areas. The Varia Suit, for example, protects Samus' armor against extreme heat, allowing her to enter volcanic regions. Some of the items are obtained after boss and mini-boss fights, present in all of Tallon IV's areas but the Magmoor Caverns.
The heads-up display simulates the inside of Samus's helmet, featuring a radar, a map, an ammunition meter for missiles, a health meter, a danger meter showing how close Samus is to damage, and a health bar for bosses that also displays the boss's name. The display can be altered by switching visors, including one using thermal imaging, another with x-ray vision, and a scanner that searches for enemy weaknesses and interfaces with certain mechanisms such as force fields and elevators, allowing the player to operate them. A danger level is also provided, showing Samus' proximity to hazardous materials. It is revealed by using the Thermal Visor that this runs on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no hazards nearby and 10 meaning taking damage from hazards. Prime also introduces a hint system that provides the player with a general idea of where to go.
===Items===
Throughout the game, players must find and collect items that improve Samus' arsenal and suit, including weapons, armor upgrades for Samus' Power Suit, and items that grant abilities. Among these are the Morph Ball, which allows Samus to roll into narrow passages and drop energy bombs, and the Grapple Beam, which works similarly to a grappling hook by latching onto special hooks, called grapple nodes, and allowing Samus to swing from them across gaps.
Items from previous Metroid games make appearances with altered functions. Art galleries and different endings are unlockable if a player obtains a high percentage of collected items and Scan Visor logs. Prime is the first Metroid game to address the reason Samus does not start with power-ups. She begins the game with certain upgrades, but during an explosion in the Space Pirates' ship, they are all lost. The producers stated that starting with some power-ups was a way to give the player "different things to do" before settling into the core gameplay.
Manipulating the game's physics can allow experienced players to receive items much earlier than intended or to skip collecting them altogether. The lowest possible percentage of items collected is 21%.
==Bonuses==
===Galleries===
Completing Prime with a certain percentage of power-ups obtained and scans will allow the player to view galleries that feature artwork of the game. Four galleries can be viewed, depending on how many power-ups the player obtained.
Gallery 1	Complete 50% of the research and creature data scans.
Gallery 2	Complete 100% of the research and creature data scans.
Gallery 3	Complete the game under the hard difficulty setting. To unlock the hard difficulty, complete the game in normal at least once.
Gallery 4	Find 100% of all power-ups. This does not include the log book. The last picture in this gallery shows Samus without her suit.
===Metroid Fusion Connection Bonuses (Fusion Suit and Metroid)===
With the use of a Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable, two additional features can be unlocked. If Metroid Fusion is completed, Metroid can be unlocked for play within the game and can also use the GameCube's memory card to save progress. If Metroid Prime is completed, Samus can be played in her Fusion Suit. The connection only has to be done once to gain the extra features, so if Metroid is unlocked before Prime is completed, the Fusion Suit will be unlocked when it is complete.
If the player starts a new game with the Fusion Suit bonus on, Samus's suit will take on all the physical appearances of her suit in Metroid Fusion, such as the changed color scheme for the Varia and Gravity Suit upgrades; the Morph Ball is also changed to its appearance in Metroid Fusion. The Phazon Suit is represented by the color scheme of the Omega Suit in this mode.
To connect, there is a trick involved. The player must press and hold the Start and Select buttons on the GBA or SP, and then turn the power on. When the Nintendo logo on the handheld disappears, release the buttons and press A to begin the data link. Samus will then appear on the handheld with a message asking to turn the power of the handheld off. The feature(s) should then be unlocked.
Zoid Kirsch had originally added Super Metroid as an unlockable game, but because he used a third-party SNES emulator, Nintendo asked for its removal. Metroid was added instead since Nintendo had infrastructure available for emulating NES games on the GameCube. Kirsch found implementing Metroid challenging because the emulator code Nintendo provided was in Japanese, but he had translation assistance from Japanese partners.Kiwi Talkz. "#121 - Zoid Interview (Metroid Prime, Cameras, Scripting, Sequence Breaking , Programming etc.)" YouTube. January 22, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022. (starts at 45:56)
===Endings===
Metroid Prime has three different endings. The ending that a player will view is determined by the number of items picked up during the game.
74% completion or less	This is the "worst" ending. After defeating Metroid Prime, Samus will lose her Phazon Suit and run to the Artifact Temple. She calls her Gunship, jumps on it, and observes the destruction of the temple. Just as she is about to remove her helmet, the credits roll.
75% to 99% completion 	After defeating Metroid Prime, Samus will lose her Phazon Suit and run to the Artifact Temple. She calls her Gunship, jumps on it, and observes the destruction of the temple. She removes her helmet and stares at the destroyed temple for a few seconds; this is the first appearance of her face in 3D. Soon afterwards, the credits roll.
100% completion 	This is the "best" ending. After defeating Metroid Prime, Samus will lose her Phazon Suit and run to the Artifact Temple. She will call her Gunship and jumps on it and observes the destruction of the temple. She removes her helmet and stares at the destroyed temple for a few seconds; this is the first appearance of her face in 3D. The credits then roll. Following the credits, the camera shows a pool of Phazon in the cavern where Samus fought Metroid Prime. A black and red metal hand bursts from the Phazon, then an eye appears behind the hand and starts looking around the room, foreshadowing the appearance of Dark Samus in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
==Development==
After Super Metroid, a sequel was supposedly slated for the Nintendo 64 or its ill-fated accessory, the 64DD, but while the game was mentioned, it never entered production. Developer Shigeru Miyamoto explained that it was because Nintendo "couldn't come out with any concrete ideas". Metroid Prime was ultimately developed as a collaboration between Retro Studios and important Nintendo EAD and R&D1 members.
==Versions==
The original North American version of Prime had the most technical issues (such as more sequence breaking opportunities and a glitch that occasionally caused the game to freeze when using elevators connecting to Chozo Ruins), which eventually received a Player's Choice release that added an invisible wall over the Runic Gate in the Arboretum. The Japanese version released shortly afterward, resolving some glitches and altering certain elements of the gameplay (mostly to prevent sequence breaking). The European version was heavily based on the Japanese version and slowed the loading so it would normally never freeze.
The PAL version had logs removed or changed, resulting in a slightly different storyline and Logbook. The only major change was in the Pirate Data, which stated that the Space Pirates never encountered Metroid Prime, but were still attempting to enter the Impact Crater, while the Space Pirates had already encountered the creature in international editions. A narrator was added in the opening and closing scenes. Some of the changes were included in the North American region's second Player's Choice release, along with more changes not in other releases.
Before the release of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes in 2004, Nintendo released a platinum-colored GameCube bundled with a copy of Prime containing a special second disc, the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc featuring two preview trailers, a demo for Echoes, a timeline of Metroid games, and an art gallery. This bundle contained the second Player's Choice version, which fixed several more glitches and exploits, and included some of the changes from the PAL version, a notable exception being the male narrator.
====New Play Control!====
New Play Control! Metroid Prime was released in Japan on February 19, 2009. The Wii port of the highly acclaimed GameCube title featured slightly updated graphics and improved, Wii-specific controls similar to those found in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Aside from the few aesthetic changes there were also minimal changes in gameplay. The Spring Ball is present which eliminates the need for a Morph Ball Bomb jump much like in Corruption, and the visor system from Metroid Prime 3: Corruption makes a return. Switching visors is done through the minus button and changing the current beam is done through the plus button. This edition also features voice acting, such as in the opening sequence and when starting from a Save Station. The game also includes true 16:9 widescreen support. Also included is the same Credit system seen in Corruption; this is how extras in the game are unlocked, such as the Fusion Suit, which originally required a Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable. (This is also how the feature functions in the Trilogy version—see below) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_b8OpZdkjc&feature=PlayList&p=6CDE947A508E793A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3
====Metroid Prime Trilogy====
Metroid Prime Trilogy was announced on May 22, 2009 for release in North America on August 24 of the same year. The Trilogy was also announced for Europe and Australia and released on September 4 and October 15 respectively. The disc includes Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption with Wii controls, as well as new content, menus, and unlockable media.
The Trilogy was later re-released on the Nintendo eShop on January 29th in North America and other countries, complete with all the disc copy had to offer.http://www.gamespot.com/articles/metroid-prime-trilogy-poised-for-wii-u-re-release/1100-6424641/
====Metroid Prime Remastered====
Metroid Prime Remastered, an enhanced Nintendo Switch port of Metroid Prime, was officially announced on February 8, 2023 during the Nintendo Direct that day.Nintendo of America (NintendoAmerica). "The original Metroid Prime has been remastered for Nintendo Switch!Explore Tallon IV from the perspective of Samus Aran & choose from new dual-stick controls, or more traditional ones.Metroid Prime Remastered is out now on Nintendo eShop!http://ninten.do/60195Mvnb" 8 February 2023 6:31 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1623464542045974529Nintendo UK (NintendoUK). "#MetroidPrimeRemastered is now available on #NintendoSwitch #eShop.Buy now: http://spkl.io/60164bGrC" 8 February 2023 6:41 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/1623467168183595009 It was released digitally on the Nintendo eShop later that day after the Direct, with a physical version planned to be released on February 22, 2023 in North America, and March 3 in Europe.Nintendo UK (nintendouk). "Step back into the suit. Metroid Prime Remastered is out now on Nintendo eShop! A physical version of the game will launch in Europe on March 3rd. #MetroidPrimeRemastered #MetroidPrime #Metroid #NintendoSwitch #NintendoDirect #Nintendo" Instagram. February 9, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CobXAk5oLPy/
This version adds enhanced visuals, new Color Assist options and a Character Gallery of models, among other changes. This unlockable content becomes available by collecting the main power-ups as well as completing accomplishments such as the percentage of items and Logbook entries obtained. It also has multiple control options available, including a new dual stick control scheme, as well as motion controls based on the Wii versions, and a classic scheme based on the original GameCube version. The gameplay appears to be based on the Trilogy version of Metroid Prime. This is the only version of Metroid Prime that does not include the Fusion Suit.
==Reception==
Reviews and awards 	Reviews and awards 	Reviews and awards
Publication 	Score 	Comments
Famitsu 	33 of 40 	None
IGN 	9.8 of 10 	Editor's Choice,2002 Game of the Year runner-up
GameSpot 	9.7 of 10 	Editor's Choice,2002 Game of the Year
GameSpy 	96 out of 100 	2002 Game of the Year
EGM 	10 of 10 	Platinum Award,Game of the Year (2002)
Nintendo Power 	10 of 10 	Game of the Year (2002)
Edge 	9 of 10 	Editor's Choice,2002 Game of the Year
Compilations of multiple reviews 	Compilations of multiple reviews 	Compilations of multiple reviews
Game Rankings 	96 of 100 (based on 96 reviews) 	96 of 100 (based on 96 reviews)
Metacritic 	97 of 100 (based on 69 reviews) 	97 of 100 (based on 69 reviews)
Awards 	Awards 	Awards
6th AnnualInteractive Achievement Awards	Console First-Person Action 	Console First-Person Action
2003 GameDevelopers Conference 	Game of the Year,Excellence in Level Design 	Game of the Year,Excellence in Level Design
2002NAVGTR 	Art Direction in a Game Cinema (Todd Keller)	Art Direction in a Game Cinema (Todd Keller)
2002NAVGTR 	Art Direction, Game Engine 	Art Direction, Game Engine
Metroid Prime became one of the best-selling games on the GameCube, with about 1.49 million copies sold in the United States alone, earning more than $50 million in revenue. It is also the eighth best-selling GameCube game in Australia, and sold more than 78,000 copies in Japan and more than 250,000 copies in Europe, thus entering the Player's Choice line in the PAL region.
According to Nintendo's official data as of December 2006, Metroid Prime was the sixth best selling GameCube game, and the best selling Metroid game in the series with 2.78 million units sold to retailers. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=963700 Metroid Dread surpassed it as the top-selling Metroid game in 2022.Darren. "Metroid Dread Becomes The Best Selling Metroid Title Ever". Shinesparkers. May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
===Critical response===
After its release, the game received much critical acclaim, including a perfect review score from Electronic Gaming Monthly and Nintendo Power. IGN rated it high for its "very impressive graphics, amazing, innovative gameplay, how it stayed true to the classic Metroid formula, and its soundtrack." However, criticisms were also made, mostly for the unusual control scheme and backtracking.
Currently on Game Rankings, Metroid Prime stands as the seventh greatest game of all time and also the greatest game of the sixth console generation, with an average score of 96.26%. The video game countdown show Filter named Metroid Prime as having the Best Graphics of all time. It also won many 2002 Game of the Year awards from major publications and gaming sites.
Metroid Prime was also included in several lists of best games: 24th in IGN's Top 100 and 1st in IGN's Top 25 Gamecube games of all time, 29th in a 100-game list chosen by GameFAQs users, and 10th in Nintendo Power's "Top 200 Nintendo Games Ever".Metroid Prime also became popular among hardcore gamers for speedrunning, with specialized communities being formed to share these speedruns.
Prime was nominated for 17 awards at the 2002 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers, becoming one of the organization's all-time most nominated games. It won two awards in the categories of Art Direction in a Game Cinema and Art Direction, Game Design. Todd Keller was the recipient of the former award.
==Legacy==
Metroid Prime was followed by two direct sequels in the same first-person adventure style, a pinball spin-off, and a portable Metroid game in first person perspective. The first sequel was Metroid Prime 2: Echoes for the GameCube released in November 2004, in which Samus travels to planet Aether and discovers that a Phazon meteor crash on the planet created a parallel universe; she is also pursued by Metroid Prime, now known as Dark Samus. Echoes was then followed by Metroid Prime Pinball, a spin-off game developed by Fuse Games and released in 2005 for the Nintendo DS.Metroid Prime Pinball is a pinball game that features most the locations and bosses of Metroid Prime.
The next game was Metroid Prime Hunters for the Nintendo DS, with a storyline that takes place between Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. A demo of the game was released with the purchase of a Nintendo DS titled Metroid Prime: Hunters - First Hunt, and the full game was released on March 20, 2006 in North America and May 5, 2006 in Europe. The storyline follows Samus trying to discover an "Ultimate Power" while facing six rival bounty hunters. Hunters wasn't developed by Retro Studios, but by Redmond-based subsidiary Nintendo Software Technology (NST).
The high scores for a stage in the GameCube game 1080º Avalanche (developed by the Hunters team, NST) spell out: "MET "ROI" "D P".
The third sequel is Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, released on August 27, 2007 for the Wii. Corruption is the final installment in the Prime mini-series and introduces new hunters and characters, such as Rundas, another bounty hunter from the Galactic Federation. It follows Samus and the other hunters as they fight to stop the corruption of several planets by Phazon-rich Leviathans that threaten to turn the entire universe into Phazon.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl features a stage based on Frigate Orpheon with the Parasite Queen in the background, as well as various songs from the game as background music.
Another spin-off game, Metroid Prime Federation Force, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016.
A fourth sequel, Metroid Prime 4, was announced at E3 2017. In January 2019, Nintendo announced production had been restarted and that Retro Studios are now making the game. It is currently in development for Nintendo Switch, and will be released "beyond 2019".
==Trivia==
*According to the unused narration that was partially remixed as a track in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the events of the game were intended to take place ten years after the events of the original Metroid. However, in the released Metroid Prime Trilogy art booklet, it is instead stated that the events of this game take place three years later. This is further contradicted by the later Universe Trailer for Metroid: Samus Returns, which states that it takes place "less than a year" after Metroid/Zero Mission.
*In Glacier One, there is a Metroid named "Hunter Metroid ds", which has been taken as a (perhaps prophetic) reference to Metroid Prime Hunters.
*The game's engine limit to the percentage completion is 13336% (can only be accessed via hacking). 
*The concept of an extraterrestrial meteor crashing into another planet and slowly corrupting it and its inhabitants is similar to horror writer H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Colour Out of Space."
*Kraid, a boss from Metroid and Super Metroid, was intended to make an appearance in Prime, and designer Gene Kohler modeled and skinned him for that purpose. However, time constraints prevented him from being included in the final version of the game. Though the beta model displays him inside the Phazon Mines, Kohler says he was not replaced by the Omega Pirate. A Ripper model and behavior also exists within the data (and can replace the Glider via hacking), and the Screw Attack and Speed Booster were intended to appear in the game, but were scrapped.
*The Phazon Suit, in the original GameCube version of the game, is not counted as an item until every other item (this includes every single Expansion in the game, and all Suit powerups) is collected in the game.
*Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, and Metroid Dread are the only Metroid games where Samus does not remove her entire Power Suit in the ending. Prime is also the only game in the series to show Samus being unmasked in every ending; even in the "worst" ending, she is seen removing her helmet briefly before the credits roll.
*If one looks closely at Samus's eyes during an elevator cutscene or during the 75% + ending, her eyes sometimes blink out of sync (with one eye barely blinking before the other). It is unknown if future revisions fix this glitch, though it is believed to be fixed in Metroid Prime Remastered. 
*Prime establishes that beam switching is controlled by Samus's hand gestures. This can be seen through the Arm Cannon when using the X-Ray Visor.
*Mike Wikan likened programming the game to a Rube Goldberg machine, since every small action had a chain reaction. For instance, collecting the Ice Beam or Ice Spreader would set off "dozens and dozens of switches" and change Room States.
*The game's logo was designed by Jim Wornell. It uses Impact font for "Prime", but he could not recall what font "Metroid" was in.Kiwi Talkz. #134 - Jim Wornell Interview (Graphic Design, Ocarina Of Time, Metroid Prime, Voice Acting etc.) YouTube. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
*In development builds of Prime, programmers had FPS (Frames Per Second) and AFP (Allocs Per Frame) counters in the top left corner of the screen.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "In Metroid Prime in dev builds we had an AFP (Allocs Per Frame) counter displayed right on the top left the screen under the FPS counter. Keep programmers honest!" 21 May 2022 11:43 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1528220012711796736 Assets were stored in a shared folder, which caused a problem when a designer accidentally moved Samus's folder into another one, making her disappear until it was found again.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "While working on Metroid Prime we used a shared folder for assets. One of the designers came up to me and went "Where did Samus go?" Turns out someone accidentally dragged the Samus folder into another one and she vanished from the game." 21 April 2021 1:38 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1384924438026674178
*Prime can only load two rooms at a time - the one the player is in and the one they are going to. As such, in rooms with multiple exits, only one door can be open at a time.Smith, David (2022-11-14). Former Metroid Prime Dev Shares Behind-The-Scenes Stories Ahead Of Its 20th Anniversary. Kotaku. Retrieved on 2022-11-18 
**Attempting to load more than two rooms at a time causes the game to crash, a common incident performed via Out of Bounds Sequence Breaking.
*The release build of Prime is dated October 29, 2002 at 2:21:25 am.Phillip Stevens (AntidoteCRK). "Build v1.088 10/29/2002 2:21:25 That must have been one busy week for you guys :D" 9 November 2022 7:57 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/AntidoteCRK/status/1590508855393652738M
*For quality assurance, Retro Studios licensed Mantis, a PHP-based bug tracker. Producers would enter bug reports and work with the NOA Product Testing Department.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "We licensed Mantis, a PHP based bug tracker. It's still around, https://mantisbt.org We worked with NoA product testing and our producers would enter the bug reports. Jira wasn't around yet! Mantis worked well and helped us get to the finish line." 9 November 2022 9:01 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590524993771024385
*The size of save data for Prime is under ~60 bytes due to extensive use of world layers.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Metroid Prime Dev Stories #6: How does Metroid Prime save the game? The size of Metroid Prime’s save data is under ~60 bytes in size. How is it so tiny? Well, that requires explaining world layers: 1/5" 10 November 2022 11:21 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590741551600533504Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "Each room in Metroid Prime has a set of world layers--these define which objects spawn when the room is loaded. E.g. it’s world layers that change Flaahgra’s room from having a boss to Chozo ghosts and an artifact when you return later. 2/5" 10 November 2022 11:21 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590741553202737152Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "World layers are also used for items, whenever you pick up an energy tank or missile expansion, they are on a separate world layer that is disabled once the item is acquired. If that layer wasn’t disabled, the item would be there next time the room is loaded. 3/5" 10 November 2022 11:21 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590741554511368192Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "A world layer state is represented by a single bit in the save game. There are only a few hundred world layers in the whole game, so it ends up requiring just under ~50 bytes to represent them all. The remaining bytes in the save game are health, missile count, etc. 4/5" 10 November 2022 11:21 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590741555819982848Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "I remember when Nintendo asked how many memory card blocks Metroid Prime was expected to take up and I said, “One!” A GameCube memory card block is 8kb, that’s way more space then we needed to save the game! 5/5" 10 November 2022 11:21 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590741557157965825 Saving the game requires two (NTSC) to three (PAL) blocks of memory on the GameCube's Memory Card.
==Gallery==
:For ingame artwork, see Metroid Prime/Gallery
===Box art===
MetroidPrimeBoxArt.jpg|Box art (without Gamecube logos and boards design)
Metroid Prime COVER.jpg|North America
Metroid prime - cover.jpg|Europe
MetroidPrime.jpg|Europe
Db4ebb910911454501ddf22f4b435054-Metroid Prime.jpg|Europe
Metroid Prime JP Full Cover.png|Japan
Kmart2editionsnih.jpg|Kmart (North America)
8184.jpg|Player's Choice (North America)
New Play Control! Metroid Prime boxart.jpg|New Play Control! Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime RP boxart.png|Rating Pending (RP) box art
===Print media===
Metroid Prime - very early magazine scans.png|Scans from NGC Magazine volume 60 in November 2001, showing very early gameplay.
Very early MP1 scans 2.png
SuperGamePower Ano 08 No. 097 2002-11 Pool Editora BR pt 0033.jpg|Scans from the November 2002 issue of Super GamePower, a Brazilian magazine.
SuperGamePower Ano 08 No. 097 2002-11 Pool Editora BR pt 0034.jpg
4 G-Force Aug 2002 0015.jpg|Prime featured in the August 4, 2002 issue of G-Force.
4 G-Force Aug 2002 0016.jpg|This page refers to the Ice Beam as the "Freeze Beam" and speculates Mother Brain would appear in Prime, which she did not.
Next Level - Issue 43 - Feb 2003 0037.jpg|Review in issue 43 (February 2003) of Next Level, a Latin American gaming magazine.
Next Level - Issue 43 - Feb 2003 0038.jpg
Next Level - Issue 43 - Feb 2003 0039.jpg
MP1 Use Everything at Your Disposal Dispose of Everything ad.jpg|Print advertisement. Refers to the Ice Beam as the "freeze beam".
Metroid Prime NGC ad.jpg|Advertisement in the March 2003 issue (#78) of NGC magazine.
JP Other M Guide 172.jpg|Nintendo Official Guidebook for Metroid Other M, page 172
MP1 15th anniversary Nintendo Power.jpg|Nintendo Power cover image on November 17, 2017, to commemorate the game's 15th anniversary: "It's been 15 years since Samus fought the Space Pirates & their biological experiments on planet Tallon IV in #Metroid Prime! #NintendoPower" 
EDGE.N2XX.2010.XX.Supplement.Metroid-Other.M.Special 06.jpg|Special 2010 issue of Edge.
====IGN Unplugged====
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0000.jpg|Scans from the August 2002 (#15) issue of IGN Unplugged.
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0006.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0007.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0008.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0009.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0010.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0011.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0012.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0013.jpg
IGN_Unplugged_Issue_15_2002-08_IGN.com_US_0014.jpg
====Official Nintendo Magazine====
NOM_-124_0000.jpg|Coverage in the #124th issue of Official Nintendo Magazine (January 2003).
NOM_-124_0003.jpg
NOM_-124_0041.jpg
NOM_-124_0042.jpg
NOM_-124_0043.jpg
NOM_-124_0044.jpg
NOM_-124_0045.jpg
NOM_-124_0046.jpg
NOM_-124_0047.jpg
====Nintendo Acción====
Nintendo_Accion_125_0000.jpg|Scans from the April 2003 issue (#125) of Nintendo Acción. Includes an interview with Retro Studios and Shigeru Miyamoto, and a sweepstakes with a GameCube signed by Miyamoto as the prize.
Nintendo_Accion_125_0001.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0033.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0034.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0035.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0036.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0037.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0038.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0039.jpg
Nintendo_Accion_125_0040.jpg
===Printables===
Metroid-Prime-Bookmarks- 2002 0000.jpg|Bookmark instructions.
Metroid-Prime-Bookmarks- 2002 0001.jpg
Metroid-Prime-Iron-On-T-Shirt-Transfer- 2002 0000.jpg|Iron-on T-shirt transfer instructions.
Metroid-Prime-Iron-On-T-Shirt-Transfer- 2002 0001.jpg
Metroid-Prime-Iron-On-T-Shirt-Transfer- 2002 0002.jpg
Metroid-Prime-Iron-On-T-Shirt-Transfer- 2002 0003.jpg
Metroid Prime - Mobile (2002) 0000.jpg|Mobile instructions.
Metroid Prime - Mobile (2002) 0001.jpg
Metroid Prime - Mobile (2002) 0002.jpg
Metroid-Prime-Postcard- 2002 0000.jpg|Postcard instructions.
Metroid-Prime-Postcard- 2002 0001.jpg
Metroid Prime - TV Decoration (2002) 0000.jpg|TV decoration instructions.
Metroid Prime - TV Decoration (2002) 0001.jpg
===Other===
MP1 final logo.png|Game logo.
MP1 old logo.png|Old logo.
MP1 beta title screen.png|Beta Title Screen.
Unused.png|Beta introduction.
Early MP1 screenshot 1.jpg|Screenshots from an early version of the game.
BetaBeetles.jpg
Early MP1 screenshot 2.jpg
Metroid Prime GameStop promo stickers.jpg|GameStop promotional stickers.
Nintendo dot com Metroid Prime.png|Metroid Prime on the front page of Nintendo.com, circa 2005.VGMuseum (VGMuseum1). "http://Nintendo.com's website circa 2005. Back when websites looked awesome. #nintendo" 4 February 2023 9:27 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/vgmuseum1/status/1621878032532180992
USPTO Trademark - Metroid Prime (games).png|Trademark information from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
USPTO Trademark - Metroid Prime (merchandise, dead).png|Dead trademark for merchandise.
USPTO Trademark - Metroid Prime (print, dead).png|Dead trademark for printed media.
Jason Alexander playing Metroid Prime.jpg|Press photo of Jason Alexander playing Prime. The photo was taken without his permission, hence his expression, by Lester Cohen in the gifting room at the 2003 People's Choice Awards.Yarwood, Jack. Seinfeld's Jason Alexander Doesn't Recall That "Angry" Metroid Prime Photo. Time Extension. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023. https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/01/random-seinfelds-jason-alexander-doesnt-recall-that-angry-metroid-prime-photo
Zoid Kirsch.jpg|Zoid Kirsch's Metroid Prime hat.Zoid Kirsch (ZoidCTF). "While out and about this month I figured it was a good time to wear my Metroid Prime hat. It's 20 years old too!" 8 November 2022 4:30 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/ZoidCTF/status/1590094532607348736
Zoid GCN memory allocation explainer 1.jpg|Images shared by Kirsch that explain the GameCube's memory allocation for Prime.
Zoid GCN memory allocation explainer 2.jpg
==See also==
*Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide
*Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
*Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide
*Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide
*Metroid Prime (flash game)
*Metroid lanyard
*Metroid Prime Hat
*Metroid Prime Leather Cuff
*Samus Aran Bobblehead
*Metroid Prime lifesize statue
*Metroid Prime/Credits
*Metroid Prime/Gallery
*List of Logbook entries in Metroid Prime
*List of creatures in Metroid Prime
*List of rooms in Metroid Prime
*List of development renders for Metroid Prime
*Metroid Official Site
*Prime VR (unofficial)
*Gallery of merchandise
==References==
==External links==
*Title at Moby Games
*Title at Gamefaqs
es:Metroid Prime
ru:Metroid Prime
Category:Prime Series
Category:GCN
Category:Wii
Category:Games