The game is set across various planets, each with its own atmosphere and dangers. These locations are smaller and more linear than in other Metroid Prime titles, making exploration somewhat less complex. However, this aligns better with the fast-paced action of this game and the fact that it is a handheld title. Each area is filled with enemies, puzzles, and hidden rooms that maintain the familiar Metroid feel of exploration and discovery.
The gameplay of Metroid Prime Hunters is bold for a handheld game: it uses an FPS perspective with touchscreen controls, allowing you to use the stylus to aim and shoot. This works surprisingly well, and the precision comes close to that of mouse controls in PC games. It feels intuitive, and for a handheld of that time, this is an impressive technical achievement.
You can switch between different weapons belonging to the various bounty hunters, each with its own unique traits and power. The variety of weapons and skills keeps the gameplay engaging and encourages you to try out different strategies. The game also includes some classic Metroid elements like power-ups and upgrades.
One of the highlights of Metroid Prime Hunters is the multiplayer mode, which can only be played via local wireless connection. In this mode, you can compete against each other as Samus or one of the other bounty hunters, each with their own weapons and abilities. The diverse bounty hunters provide variation in play styles and give the multiplayer a team-based shooter feel that was rare for a handheld at the time. The maps are compact and designed for fast-paced, action-packed battles.
The online multiplayer was also incredibly impressive back then, making Hunters a must-have on the DS. Although the servers are now offline, this mode left a significant impact as one of the most innovative multiplayer experiences on a Nintendo handheld.
Metroid Prime Hunters is truly a graphical achievement for the DS. The 3D environments look detailed and atmospheric. The animations of both Samus and her opponents are smooth. The graphics can't compete with those of the GameCube games, but they are impressive for the DS. The environments and characters also capture the dark, ominous atmosphere of the Metroid series. The soundtrack effectively conveys the sci-fi vibe of Metroid. However, some concessions were made for the DS, resulting in the music and sound effects being less diverse and polished than in other Metroid games.
The difficulty level of Metroid Prime Hunters is well-balanced. The enemies become increasingly challenging as you progress. It's important to master the controls. Initially, it may take some getting used to controlling a shooter with a touchscreen, making the game seem harder than it actually is. The real challenge will present itself in due course.
The puzzles are less complex and challenging than in other Metroid games, which is somewhat disappointing. However, I didn't mind this too much, as it's also nice to see a Metroid game leaning more towards combat.
Metroid Prime Hunters is a technically impressive and bold title for the Nintendo DS that manages to bring a full-fledged Metroid experience to a handheld. Hunters is a valuable addition to the series thanks to its unique bounty hunters, action-packed gameplay, and innovative controls. The strong multiplayer and impressive graphics make it a memorable and unique experience within the Metroid universe.
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6 Months warranty
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