Metroid Prime

Metroid Prime is a 2002 action-adventure developed by Retro Studios for the Nintendo GameCube, boldly reimagining the classic 2D series as a first-person experience while preserving its exploration-driven roots.

Playing as bounty hunter Samus Aran, players scan their environment to catalog lore and enemy weaknesses, switch between visors such as thermal and X-ray, and unlock new suit abilities, then backtrack through an interconnected alien world on the planet Tallon IV to reach previously inaccessible areas. Despite the first-person view, the emphasis stayed on isolation, atmosphere, and puzzle-like traversal rather than pure shooting, a formula often called first-person adventure, complete with a lock-on system and morph-ball platforming.

Widely praised as one of the finest games on its console and a frequent entry on all-time-greatest lists, it proved a beloved 2D franchise could thrive in 3D and launched a trilogy. It has since been remastered for modern Nintendo hardware with updated visuals and controls, making this landmark easy to experience today.