Almost 19 years later, everything else is still playing catch-up. Back in 2002 Metroid Prime felt like it came from the future.
Like it was dropped down to Earth by accident from another dimension where video games are different, better.
It has no imitators because it's inimitable. There was majesty hidden in every corner. You could scan the environment for lore and details, you could spider-ball your way up previously inaccessible walls and ceilings. Dripping with details and unique, sticky ways to explore those details, Metroid Prime is peerless in the way it allowed you to discover its intricate spaces. Metroid Prime's strength was its world building. But it was set in a universe as intricately designed as a Zelda dungeon writ-large. A first person shooter? Sure, you shoot things in a first-person view, but Metroid Prime looked, felt and played nothing like Halo or its FPS peers back in 2002. Metroid Prime was and is an anomaly that defies definition. Nothing like Metroid Prime existed before and nothing like it's been created since. To celebrate GameCube's birthday, we decided to rank them. There were a huge number of incredible games released on the platform. Still, when you look at the rear view mirror, it's plain to see the quality.
