Metroid Prime: Trilogy
Compilation of three acclaimed Metroid Prime games for Wii.
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In 2009, Retro Studios and Nintendo released a compilation for the Wii that bundles three action-adventure games from the Metroid series: Metroid Prime (2002), Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004), and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007). The first two titles, originally on the GameCube, were updated to match Corruption's features. This includes controls using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, plus a credit system that does not work with the WiiConnect24 online service.
Release
The compilation hit North America in August 2009, then Europe and Australia in September and October. It never came out in Japan, where Prime and Echoes were sold separately as part of the New Play Control! series.
Nintendo stopped producing Trilogy in North America and Australia by January 2010. Critics praised the improved controls, updated visuals, credit system, and overall value. It was later re-released on the Wii U's Nintendo eShop in January 2015.
Content
Inside the compilation, the first two games now include the Spring Ball ability from Echoes. Load times are faster, textures are sharper, bloom lighting is added, and 16:9 widescreen is supported—though the heads-up display stretches horizontally in that mode. Players earn credits by completing tasks to unlock extras like artwork, music, a screenshot tool, decorative items for Samus' gunship in Corruption, and the Fusion Suit in Prime (previously tied to linking the Game Boy Advance game Metroid Fusion). Credits cannot be shared with registered Wii friends who own the compilation via WiiConnect24, as the service is not supported.
Save data from the original Corruption cannot transfer. The Echoes multiplayer mode is included but limited to four-player local play, with no online option. Based on complaints about Echoes' difficulty, some boss battles were made easier. A unified main menu lets players jump into any game, the multiplayer mode, extras, or settings.
Development
Development started shortly before Corruption launched, with a small team of four—most staff were busy on Donkey Kong Country Returns. The idea came from senior producer Bryan Walker in 2004, who suggested a collector's trilogy disc. Studio president Michael Kelbaugh sent the proposal to Nintendo, which agreed. Series producer Kensuke Tanabe asked the team to fix most glitches to prevent sequence breaking.
Lore & Background
Metroid Prime: Trilogy was conceived in 2004 when senior producer Bryan Walker suggested a collector's trilogy edition. Studio president Michael Kelbaugh sent the proposal to Nintendo, who agreed.
Development began shortly before the launch of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption with a team of four, as most staff were busy with Donkey Kong Country Returns. The team added higher-resolution textures, bloom lighting, and streamlined engines for steady framerates and shorter loading times. The difficulty of Echoes was lowered in response to complaints about boss battles, and the line 'Damn you, Space Pirates!' in Corruption was changed to 'No more, Space Pirates!' in the Trilogy version.
Reader's Guide
Metroid Prime: Trilogy is significant as a comprehensive collection that brought the first two GameCube entries to the Wii with updated controls and presentation. It was acclaimed for its new control scheme, credits system, and value for money. The compilation was released in North America in August 2009, Europe in September, and Australia in October, but not in Japan.
It was discontinued in North America and Australia in January 2010, leading to scarcity and high resale prices. A digital rerelease on the Wii U eShop occurred in January 2015. The compilation's limited physical print run and subsequent discontinuation have made it a sought-after item among collectors.
Did You Know?
- The compilation uses a dual-layer disc, and Nintendo offered free repairs for Wii consoles that had difficulty reading it due to a contaminated laser lens.
- A copy of Trilogy signed by Retro Studios staff and producer Kensuke Tanabe was auctioned in April 2011, with proceeds donated to Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Metroid Prime: Trilogy?
It is a 2009 Wii compilation published by Nintendo and developed by Retro Studios that bundles three separate Metroid Prime action-adventure titles into one package. It is not a standalone fourth entry in the series but rather a repackaged collection of existing games.
What updates were made to the original GameCube games in the Trilogy?
Metroid Prime and Echoes were reworked to support the Wii Remote and Nunchuk control scheme, aligning their input layout with Corruption. A credit system was also added, though it does not function through the WiiConnect24 online service.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Metroid Prime: Trilogy (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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