Classic Metroid adventure plus massive multiplayer fun!

Metroid Prime Hunters is the DS version of the fantastic Metroid Prime series which started on the GameCube. It's no easy task to follow up such a success, especially not on a portable system. But with fantastic controls and extensive multiplayer, Metroid Prime Hunters stacks up very well.

In Metroid Prime Hunters you will have to guide Samus Aran as she hunts for ancient relics left behind by an now extinct race. Quite a bit like the first game in the series. The new thing is that this time, Samus is not the only one searching for the relics. Six other hunters are also after them, and they do not plan to cooperate with Samus...

The controls have been adapted to the DS in a very interesting way : Aiming is done with the stylus. It might sound hard, but it works perfectly and gives you extreme precision. The D-pad is used to walk and strafe and firing is done using the left shoulder button. (If you're left-handed, the buttons on the right side of the DS can be used instead.) Other things, like activating the scan visor (used to analyze things in your environment) is done with buttons on the bottom screen. These don't get in the way of aiming so it all works very well together.

The singleplayer mode works slightly different from the GameCube versions. Probably due to hardware limits. Instead of one huge world to explore, the world is spread out on many different planets. The exploration and adventure-style is still intact though, so before reaching a new area you need to find certain items or activate certain things. Even so, Hunters has less searching than previous parts. Sometimes you will encounter the other hunters which you'll have to defeat in order to proceed. The atmosphere is quite eerie, and overall the storymode is quite good.

Multiplayer takes a huge part of Metroid Prime Hunters. It's obviously made to utilize the DS Wifi to the fullest. Many game modes, ranging from the standard deathmatch to capture the flag, loads of different levels and a range of various hunters makes this mode something really special. If you want to play online against friends, you cannot go wrong with this game.
In order to play, you can either let the game find matching opponents for you, or you can enter friend codes to set up more advanced matches. If you do, you can even use the voice chat to talk to your opponents. (Not ingame though, only in the lobby). All in all a very nice mode, both if you play online or locally.

Also on the graphical side this game excels. Massive and detailed environments and some very nice effects. Samus looks sharp and everything flows nicely without slowdown. As if that was not enough, there are also some very nice movies in the game, picturing some key events and happenings.
The music helps build up the eerie feeling and fits the game perfectly. Some really nice sound effects helps out as well. Top marks here!

Nothing bad with the game then? For a DS game, I would say no. Metroid Prime Hunters does what it should and it does it very well. Fans of action adventures or fans of first person multiplayer gaming need look no further. This game certainly delivers!