It’s safe to say that “Metroid Prime Hunters” marks the next level in gaming on the Nintendo DS.
And who better to usher in the new era than Samus Aran, the armor-clad, visor-dependent, cannon-toting heroine?
You’re her in “Hunters,” out to collect baubles dispersed across different worlds, each with its own set of pitfalls, unlockable areas and way too many hidden keys by which to unlock them. Six other bounty hunters are on your tail, likewise covetous of those baubles, equal to your prowess and likely to pilfer your booty. Then you’re off to hunt the hunter and get your gizmo back.
In that way, “Metroid Prime Hunters” plays wide open: a fairly straight-up “collecting all that is collectible” mandate but with no strict order to it all – with lots of shooting, exploring, inventory management, menu- juggling, story-snippet reading and the blowing up of stuff in between. It’s never quite the same game twice – quick-fix gaming this isn’t.
Though first-person shooters (FPS) don’t usually work too well in the itty-bitty button-lite portable format, the unique duality of the DS lets your stylus be a mouse and the lower, touch-
sensitive screen a mouse pad for some fairly faithful FPS- centricities, even if you’re a lefty.
“Hunters” also boasts a big, fat online multiplayer component for up to four players locally or free online over Nintendo WiFi Connection. Not just add-
on, throwaway online modes, either; fully fleshed-out deathmatch, capture-the-bauble and king-of-the-hill components that could stand alone, yet are just a part of the whole package – the part that screams “longevity,” too, making “Metroid Prime Hunters” the “Halo” of portable systems.
Nintendo; Nintendo DS; $34.99. Rating: Teen (13+) (animated blood, violence)
There are two things separating first-class retro complications from the classless rehash cash grabs: the quality and the quantity of their content. Fortunately, “Capcom Classic Collection Remixed” for PSP has both. In spades.
With 20 titles harking to the heyday of coin-op arcades, each looks as good as ever. More important, you’re sure to find at least a handful of them greatly suited to your current tastes or for reliving your glory days of gaming past, like “Strider” (woo hoo!), “1941,” “Captain Commando” and the foot-to- thorax flashbacks of “Street Fighter” and “Final Fight,” with anything less memorable still in there like a bonus.
No quarters required.
Capcom; PlayStation Portable; $39.99. Rating: Teen (13+) (animated blood, violence)
The nice thing about “value”- priced games is that they don’t mislead you with costly delusions of grandeur. Though there are a few mismarketed gems in the bargain bin, “Monster 4×4 World Circuit” isn’t one of them. It’s just a derby-style monster-truck driving game at peace with its inner-stepchild heritage. Looks homely, lacks polish, has few friends (i.e., no online multiplayer), but costs less than a 10-gallon baseball cap and a tank top, so why not give ‘er a go?
It’s not particularly ambitious and doesn’t need to be; gas, brake (optional), steer, go to it. Romp ’em, stomp ’em, trick- riding, hard-driving, turbo-boosted 4×4 fun. Nothing less and not even close to more, but you can’t beat the sticker price.
Ubisoft; Xbox; $19.99. Rating: Everyone (6+) (violence)
Shaun Conlin writes about video games for Cox News Service.
