Metroid Prime 2: Echoes [GC]

Earlier today, Nintendo showed off the latest demo for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes at its Gamers Summit in Seattle. If you had the distinct pleasure of playing the demo released for E3 2004, you've experienced some of the light/dark dynamic permeating the entire Echoes experience. And while everything shown back in May tickled our fancy, the experience lasted all of 15 minutes. Unlike the heinously short demo shown at E3, however, there's a lot more to see and do this time around.

For starters, the demo takes approximately two hours to clear. It starts much the same way as the earlier demo, with an opening cinematic depicting Samus on approach to the planet Aether. During her descent through the planets atmosphere, some kind of disturbance strikes Samus's ship, sending the vessel plummeting to the planet below.

Upon landing, Samus exits her ship in traditional Metroid fashion. Examining her ship, she notices her rough entry into Aether has severely damaged it. The game then starts and players then assume command of the coolest bounty hunter in the galaxy.

Since today's Echoes presentation took place in the same part of Aether as the earlier demo, there weren't many differences graphically. The world still looked far grittier than Talon V from the original Metroid Prime. Aether looks much like an abandoned refinery, albeit built in a dry, alien world brimming with vicious life forms. Thick webs stretch between canyon walls and swaying plant life dots the landscape. You can see bulbous vegetation growing on the dusty ground and walls and in between boulders.

True, Echoes appears graphically identical (in terms of quality) to Prime, but spend a few hours creeping through Aether and you'll start noticing the differences. Lighting, for one, has been improved and refined. Shots from Samus's power beam turn darkened corridors ablaze with light. Shooting plants, crates and enemies sends chunks and particles sailing. Textures look sharper and enemy design is more varied. Even Samus's suit and ship look more detailed and intricate.

The improvements sneak up on you fast while playing. Just as soon as you land on Aether for the first time, you need take off toward a door directly in front of the ship. After a few blasts from your power beam, the door opens to reveal a small cavern with kelp-like plants on the floor, walls and ceiling. Making your way past the cavern and through a network of corridors, you'll stumble upon a rather macabre finding: federation troops dangling lifeless from the ceiling of a command center.