10 Crucial Video Games That Saved Dying Franchises

Released in 2002 for the Nintendo GameCube, Metroid Prime is the fifth instalment in the Metroid franchise, and the first of a new trilogy of games. It’s often been described by Nintendo as a first-person adventure, rather than a first-person shooter, as the game represents something of a hybrid, merging exploration and shooting in order to create a remarkably unique style of gameplay.

In the game, players take on the role of Samus Aran, a bounty hunter tasked with preventing a group of pirates from performing certain genetic experiments on the planet Tallon IV.

Unlike previous entries in the series, the game is predominantly first-person, allowing players to explore three-dimensional environments unimpaired. Throughout the game, Samus can acquire power-ups by defeating certain enemies, and these power-ups allow her to solve numerous puzzles, and advance to previously restricted areas of the map.

In 2002, Metroid Prime accomplished multiple impossibilities: it successfully incorporated first-person shooting into the franchise; it bridged an eight year gap in the series; it reintroduced the universe to new players, and it managed to craft a genuinely engaging story in the process.

Had it failed, you can bet Nintendo would have shelved the franchise for a number of years, or even indefinitely. We have a lot to be thankful for.