Metroid Prime: Federation Force

Federation Force is absolutely a Metroid Prime game. It incorporates fresh ideas and presents them in unique ways, but it never forgets where it comes from. The co-op online shooter genre is a bold new venture for Nintendo, and one they’ve taken to with surprising aptitude. The odd lack of a retry button ads a noticeable hiccup to an otherwise wonderful experience, but it is one that is easily overcome with a little patience.

This is a fresh and entertaining multiplayer first-person shooter that carries with it a lot of Metroid Prime's unique style and feel. [Issue #23 – September/October 2016, p.66]

Sure it’s not Samus but Metroid Prime Federation Force is actually quite a good game on the 3DS and if you’re looking for a challenge with some fun gaming mechanics, it would do you well to check out this title.

With some of the best graphics in the system, solid controls and gameplay, and a big variety of missions, Metroid Prime Federation Force is a well crafted title that should please both fans of the franchise as well as newcomers. The online could be a bit disappointing, however, as the lack of voice chat makes difficult to divide the work among the team and other players are not always reliable.

Had it been released under a different name, it'd be a perfectly serviceable mutliplayer mech adventure, but even with the Metroid name it's well worth picking up for a fun little weekend jaunt, especially if you're the type to return again and again to a game to best your previous scores and advance from there, you'll find an excellent entry in the Metroid series here.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force isn’t what you expect when you think of a game carrying the Metroid name. It’s a more freeform experience that encourages you to gather together friends, either locally or online, and cooperatively carry out missions of varying degrees of complexity and difficulty.

Despite the undue hate it has been subjected to over the past year, Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a very impressive, polished and playable package - the only real grumble we have is that during online play the lack of voice chat can become maddening, and the game's built-in chat function is an inadequate substitute.

Enjoyable once you learn the controls, but it feels like it was more geared towards multiplayer. The ammo capacity and mod restrictions force you to think strategically about what to take on each mission which can be both good and bad depending on how you look at it.

It may not be the Metroid game many expected, but it's a satisfying experience to play in company, and it makes us see the Metroid universe from a new and interesting point of view.

It may not be the Metroid Prime sequel you were looking for, but if you keep an open mind and give it a shot, you're likely to be pleasantly surprised overall, especially if you have some friends to play co-op with.

The love and care that Next Level Games put into Federation Force is evident throughout.

An interesting but incomplete multiplayer experiment in the Metroid Prime series. If you know what to expect, you will be happy with the result. If not, please wait for the next title.

Metroid returns after 6 years to the Nintendo 3DS with Metroid Prime Federation Force. While the game certainly isn't the dream comeback the Metroid franchise needs, it's a fun experience nonetheless that should be fully enjoyed with four players.