Metroid Prime Remastered has taken what was already one of gaming's masterpieces and made it better. Originally released over 20 years ago in 2002, Metroid Prime boldly commits to its spin on the influential Metroid formula, giving the player first-person control of Samus Aran in her Power Suit for a thrilling and fascinating shooter steeped in puzzles and varied combat encounters. This remastered version of Retro Studios' classic is nothing short of incredible, bringing beautiful visuals, smooth performance, and updated controls to Metroid Prime for the Nintendo Switch.

Revamped to appease modern sensibilities, Metroid Prime Remastered introduces dual-stick controls alongside the original GameCube tank control scheme, motion controls inspired by the Wii's Metroid Prime: Trilogy, and a hybrid of the latter two settings. With what appear to be fully remade models and textures, 2023's surprise Nintendo Switch exclusive gives more definition to what was already a gracefully aging art style. Metroid Prime Remastered delivers what appears to be a consistent 60 frames per second, likely a welcome side effect of the game's claustrophobic and labyrinthine level design.

Related: Canceled Metroid Prime Open World Game Plan Revealed By Producer

Metroid Prime Remastered sees Samus exploring the expansive Tallon IV, a planet in the same solar system as the original Metroid's Zebes, after encountering genetically modified creatures aboard a derelict Zebesian Space Pirate ship in Tallon IV's orbit. Hoping to thwart the Space Pirates and discover the source of Phazon, the material being used to rapidly increase the size and strength of various creatures, Samus scours the planet's surface, magma-filled caverns, abandoned ruins, research facilities, and more. Though the series' signature story progression remains largely intact, Metroid Prime Remastered is distinct from the quick, occasionally terrifying side-scrolling of Metroid Dread, instead giving players a more methodical but still electric experience.

A close-up of Samus in Metroid Prime Remastered. Behind her is the frozen environment of Phendrana Drifts.

Building on the original's atmospheric presentation, Metroid Prime Remastered excels in immersing the player. Samus' helmet is visible around the edges of the screen, and her face can be seen reflected on the inside of the visor whenever a bright light illuminates a room. The gameplay mechanics are similarly diegetic, with Samus' Scan Visor letting the player uncover a wide variety of contextual information, including biological readings of enemies, deciphered Chozo runes expanding on Tallon IV's history, data gleaned from Space Pirate installations, and puzzle hints and instructions.

Samus' usual array of suits, Arm Cannon beams, and Morph Ball abilities translates wonderfully to 3D, with lock-on and dodging mechanics for combat that still hold up months after Metroid Prime's 20th anniversary in late 2022. Said lock-on also helps make up for the decidedly less ergonomic option of using the Switch in handheld mode, where the Joy-Cons don't match the level of control allowed by the likes of a Pro Controller. Performance in handheld mode is equally impressive as when the Switch is docked, albeit with the expected drop in resolution.

First-person screen shot from Metroid Prime Remastered, with Samus looking at a Chozo statue, seated with a blue light in its cupped hands.

Exploration is only improved by the new dual-stick controls, which make navigating Metroid Prime Remastered's many platforming segments more intuitive. It's not only these straight upgrades to gameplay and graphics, but also the variety in control schemes and versatility of the Switch that make the game such a thorough and impressive remaster. The only downside to Metroid Prime Remastered is a slight disappointment that its two sequels do not accompany it.

After Metroid Prime 4's development was restarted in 2019, Metroid Dread and now Metroid Prime Remastered are reminders that Retro Studios and Nintendo have an iconic, evocative, and gripping sci-fi series that unfortunately now sees only sporadic releases. Luckily, the brilliance of Metroid Prime now has a chance to reach a much larger audience. The original 2002 release impressed with its bold new direction for the series, and now the definitive version of the classic has arrived in Metroid Prime Remastered.

More: Metroid Dread Review: An Incredible Modernization Of A Classic Core

Metroid Prime Remastered is available now for the Nintendo Switch. Screen Rant was provided with a digital download code for the purpose of this review.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube