Metroid Prime Trilogy.

I managed not to know anything about the Metroid Prime series before getting this compilation.
To be honest I was really skeptical at first. I was a fan of Super Metroid and although the universe is great, I was fed up at the time of this habit to turn everything into an FPS. Did Metroid need that? Certainly not.

Yet given the raving reviews, the lack of a good FPS in my game collection and the fact this package was offering 3 games for the price of one, I just took my chances.
I'm glad I did.

Without any hesitation, I will say that Metroid Prime had the same effect on me as Maroi 64 did: it takes everything the previous entries that defined them and adapted them with a 3rd dimension thus adding value and creating something different and equally great.
The 1st brilliant thing in Prime is the level of immersion.
In any other FPS, you see through the eyes of the main character, yet you have various information (life, ammo, etc) that get in your view. No one usually sees that. Here it's completely justified: you're in a suit of armor! Every piece of data, menu becomes part of what you would see if you were actualy in Samus shoes. I think it's an incredible plus to the whole atmosphere of the game.

That also introduces the concept of visors. As you progress through the game, you can change the way you see the world. seeing in IR for example. Not only does it add a great depth to the various puzzles you encounter (you have to question what you percieve), it's also insanely cool.

The next great thing is that it's not a FPS. The Metroid games are not about shooting things. They're about exploring a world. And that, thankfully, is what Prime's about. That's what saves it to become part of the endless flow of standard FPS you see nowadays. The environments are big, but small enough so you can learn your way around it. You can spot areas where you know you will have to come back with a better equipment. It's a great drive. And since all environments are very well designed, it's a pleasure to backtrack and search every areas, listening for that hum that informs you a power up is close by.

The equipment progression is also great. Every new piece of equipment brings new possibilities and it leads you to which area you should go next. Silent storytelling. Very clever. Although the previous entries did that already, this is a token to how this evolutions stays true to its roots.

Last, but not least, the numerous boss fights are all brilliant, always challengng you to use all your equipment to the full, switching weapons, visors, all the while doging, jumping, etc, which the gameplay allows you to do very easily.
I found the difficulty very appropriate, being permissive enough so you don't die all the time, yet fights can usually get you just that close to death so you're always on your toes.

And then you finish this 1st Metroid Prime and think "oh gosh it'll be the same again in the 2nd one, same weapons, isn't that going to be a bit boring?". No it won't. Of course, you will get missiles, the morph ball, the charge beam. But you get enough twists that it all feels fresh. And by having a parallel dimension where the atmosphere is toxic so you lose health continually, Metroid Prime Echoes dramatically shifts the challenges. That and it enhances the graphics substantially. I thought Prime was already beautiful (for a game that's over 5 years old), but Echoes blows it out of the water.

And then you finish Echoes and Corruption awaits! And it's even better visually!
I only have started this one, but I'm expecting great things, still in Samus' shoes...

Thinking that Metroid: Other M is due for release this year and will bring yet another take on this unoiverse...
That's how any franchise should be handled...