Lasereth

First off, Metroid Prime isn't a first-person shooter, so the controls are WAY different. Most FPS on consoles use two analog sticks to move, strafe, look around, etc. Metroid Prime uses ONE analog stick to move and look around. You press and hold a shoulder button in order to target and strafe.

It sounds confusing, but once you play a while, it's second nature. The combat isn't as smooth as with a FPS, but everything else is simply better. Most people put down the controller after a few minutes because they can't get used to the controls. Trust me, it gets better, and when you finally get the hang of strafe-targeting, you feel like a complete badass. Metroid Prime has the PERFECT controls for a first-person adventure game, not a FPS. Like Shigeru Miyamoto said: Prime isn't a first--person shooter. If it was, they'd leave the jumping out of it.

And yes, this game is worth buying a Gamecube for. It's better than you can ever imagine. I'd pay $300 for a GC if it meant being able to play this game. I can't believe it's on sale for $20 at some places now...it's like seeing Halo or Vice City on sale for $20. You want to shake the retailer and say, "Dammit, this game should be $50 forever! It's worth it!"

Metroid Prime does have a third-person mode, but it's only in the Morph Ball mode, which is used for some combat but mostly puzzles.

Do yourself a favor and buy this game and a Gamecube right now And pick up Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem while you're at it.

-Lasereth

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"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert