3 Metroid games you should be playing

This is not for the die-hard fan who I am sure has played all Metroid games... At least most of them. No, this is for the owner of a Nintendo Wii, DS or 3DS (that doesn't obsess over the franchise) who searches for fun and adventurous games that will kill his/her boredom with fast paced action! You've heard of Metroid before; it is popular for its non-linear gameplay and most of all, for presenting one of the first female protagonists on a video game.

If you like to investigate and discover what is around you, connect with the character (Samus Aran) though her (mysterious and quietly bad-ass) personality and search for a considerable hardcore game on a "casual gaming" console... Yes, play Metroid.

You might've heard from gamers that the Prime series (excluding DS games "Pinball" and "Hunters") are arguably the best released for the franchise. That is true for some fans, but not all. This causes some of us to ask some of these questions: "What about the rest? Aren't they as good?" Definitely, and I'm glad you thought about it and came here to read my (personal) recommendations in regards to the "Metroid universe".

First off: In case you are not convinced with the games I say you should be playing, do check out the Prime trilogy. It can turn out to be a fantastic game if you like "first-person" shooting adventures.

Let's begin with the recommendations:

1. Metroid Fusion

A fantastic entry for the franchise and one you should play and own if you own a Nintendo DS; you can buy it at a cheap price on eBay or Amazon. Some GameStop stores still sell used Game Boy Advance games, see if you're lucky enough to find it.

If you own a 3DS, you can buy it on their eShop in the Virtual Console section.

Reason why this game is good is because of the intriguing story it brings (Samus loses her power suit after getting infected (but later cured thanks to a Metroid vaccine) by strange parasites called "X" which end up cloning what would be one of the scariest villains in the history of the franchise: The SA-X. She is then sent to a space laboratory where she must investigate why an explosion had occurred in there. No more spoiling!). There will be suspense and tension, making it a reason for me to consider it one of the best stories I've seen in Metroid's timeline.

Having experienced playing the game on the GBA, I remember the controls being tight and easily manageable. The bosses are some of the best features of the game, presenting tough creatures like Nightmare and Ridley. It's not an easy game to beat, but not difficult at the same time. It requires patience and a lot of investigation; Lots of rooms to search, missiles to acquire and sweet new weapons to enjoy! It's definitely a game that you must try and see for yourself.

2. Metroid Prime Hunters

Released for Nintendo DS, I believe it is one of the best games available for it. The story is, personally, not something that might keep you interested in the long term. Samus is send by the Galactic Federation to investigate a message from a mysterious solar system, where most of the civilization (called the Alimbics) died at the hands of a monstrous creature called Gorea, whom the remaining survivors of the race sealed him away. The message says that the "ultimate power" is found in the strange solar system, but Samus isn't the only one who received the message. Six other hunters will be standing in her way because they won't allow her or each other to recover the "ultimate power"; They want it for themselves (to possibly dominate the world?).

Controls are very difficult to manage at first. There are four modes to control the game: Stylus and Dual mode (for both left and right-handed gamers). I strongly recommend Stylus mode. It's less frustrating to control and get used to. A key to enjoy the experience better is your attitude. Be (very) patient.

The campaign can be a little lonely and boring to investigate at times, but it will be essential if you want to unlock the six (other) hunters for online play. I recommend you playing this because it will kill your boredom for a couple of hours, thanks to its WiFi and multiplayer section; it's the sole reason why many gamers bought this one for their DS.

3. Metroid: Other M

I know what you may be thinking. The controversy around Samus' portrayal being whimpy may have some truth to it, but getting to the point where people hated her narrating the story, was ridiculous (with the exception and fact that the script is sloppy and repetitive if compared to previous ones done in the franchise). Don't we remember, that Samus narrates the story at the beginning on every single Metroid game (only that this time, it was a "little" expanded with clichés)? If something has to be hated, it would be voice acting; Samus spoke without saying a word (Fusion, anyone?). She always narrated the story and silently explained the reasons why she committed her actions. And it was working beautifully.

The thing to love about this would be the gameplay. It's breathtakingly beautiful, sleek and clean with striking colors. Controls may look difficult (very deceiving) but it's very easy to manage. In this particular case, you already have most of the weapons but they won't be used until her father figure and mentor, the general Adam Malkovich, says so. Kinda sucks, but they (Nintendo + Team Ninja) had to find a new way to (still) maintain the game's difficulty, which is usually not so difficult but occasionally frustrating (as mentioned above) due to its infamous non-linear game style (so many doors and ways to go)!

I definitely recommend you giving this a try because the experience can be very exciting. Sure, script and voice acting may get on your nerves, but I believe it won't be as exaggerated as some say they've felt. Because I sure didn't. How surprising.

I hope these three games (well, four) are interesting enough for you to try and play them if you haven't. A game I was going to recommend was Super Metroid (available for the Nintendo Wii for 800 ($8) points) but since I haven't finished playing with it, I don't have a firm opinion about it (at the moment). But it has been very entertaining and quite nostalgic. So, I'd say to check it out as well and see then what your mind will decide. Happy gaming!