Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: Difference between revisions

''Metroid Prime 2: Echoes'' is a first-person shooter and action-adventure video game that revolves around combat, puzzle-solving, and platform-jumping.  The game takes place on the fictitious planet [[Aether]], home to a race of moth-people called the [[Luminoth]]. Players must navigate an expansive map of interconnected regions in order to uncover secrets, collect items, and ultimately win the game.  In addition to the overworld map, there is also a parallel "dark" realm that bears a strong semblance to the light world.  The atmosphere of Dark Aether is detrimental to Samus's health, but much of the damage can be negated or reduced by use of light beacons and various [[Suits|suit upgrades]].  Exploring [[Dark Aether]] is necessary, which forces player to continually warp between the two worlds via portals in order to progress.

The heads-up display (HUD) simulates Samus's visor.  Samus's health bar, weapon selection, map, radar, and visor are displayed around the edges of the screen at all times.  Throughout the game the player collects various visors that change the way Samus views Aether.  The Combat Visor is the default visor used for most navigation; the Scan Visor collects information on enemies and landmarks; the Thermal Visor can be used to track heat signatures of foes and otherwise invisible platforms; the Echo Visor makes supersonic activity visible to the player.

''Echoes'' and the original ''Metroid Prime'' are very similar in terms of controlling Samus and her weapons and visors.  However, while the core gameplay remains in tact, Retro Studios modified a large number of existing elements and added quite a few new ones.  Samus gradually acquires new power suit upgrades: the Dark Suit, which decreases the rate at which Dark Aether's harmful atmosphere deteriorates Samus's health bar, and the Light Suit, which eliminates that threat entirely.  Additionally, new weapons have been added to ''Echoes'', such as the Screw Attack.

Perhaps the most notable change is the introduction of an ammunition system.  Whereas the first ''Prime'' limited only explosive ammo, ''Echoes'' implemented and ammo system for its two new beams, which used light and dark ammo respectively.  The third new beam uses both light and dark ammo.  The player initially starts out with 50 ammo slots for each weapon but can increase that clip size if they are able to locate ammo upgrades hidden throughout the game.