Metroid Prime: Federation Force Reviews

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is ranked in the 23rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2016

Though riddled with frustrating sequences, the campaign is fun to play through solo or with friends, and Blast Ball is a fun distraction

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Unscored
Aug 19, 2016

It's actually very good! A smartly-designed and surprisingly-strategic shooter best played in co-op.

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No Recommendation / Blank
Aug 19, 2016

Metroid's first outing in years strips away the series' isolation and exploration for a serviceable co-op experience.

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Unscored
Aug 19, 2016

Aside from some cheapness with the occasional instant-kill attack, the varied scenarios they present create huge, exhilarating battles for players to contend with.

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4.5 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is not a good game at all. When you find yourself just wanting to complete levels to see if the game ever changes and gets better, that’s a sign that something is very wrong. The core gameplay is simplistic, boring, and not the level of quality one would expect from a Metroid game. Other M may have been the most fan-derided Metroid game until now, but Federation Force will easily take the crown from here on out.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2016

A decent team-based shooter that will disappoint hardcore Metroid fans, but is enjoyable enough for those who don’t have lofty expectations of what this game should be.

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4 / 5.0
Aug 19, 2016

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. In the right conditions, it can be wonderful. Find at least one friendly face and you’ll make the galaxy a better place. But, space is cruel to those who choose to go it alone. If you know at least one other person who’ll join the force with you, say “Oorah” and head into battle.

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9.5 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is not only the best FPS on the 3DS, but perhaps one of my favorite FPS games ever.

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8 / 10
Aug 19, 2016

We look forward to seeing what the future of this particular spin off holds, because as it stands right now Federation Force is an impressive and solid foundation; it's more than able to satisfy hardcore Metroid fans until the inevitable return of Samus Aran.

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75 / 100
Aug 19, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force succeeds at carving out its own identity, but loses a few elements in translation. It’s still Metroid at its core but lacks the masterful execution that the series is known for.

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IGN
Top Critic
5.9 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2016
Metroid Prime Federation Force Review video thumbnail
Liked-a-lot
Aug 19, 2016
Metroid Prime: Federation Force - REVIEW (3DS) video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2016

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. The default controls improve upon those of the original Prime games brilliantly. All of this is wrapped up in a fantastic presentation that will keep you locked into the game’s story until the very end.

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Aug 18, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force's greatest crime was its name. Had the game not tagged itself with the moniker of one of the greatest games of all time, it could have stood on its own merits quite well. If you take all those pre-conceived notions of what a Metroid game should be and set them aside, Metroid Prime: Federation Force will easily surprise you with its quality. It's nowhere near the all time greats, but it can deliver some enjoyable moments, and will definitely entertain for some time. Just make sure you have some friends to tag along though, because the solo experience is quite a different story.

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5.5 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2016

I was holding out hope for Metroid Prime: Federation Force, but at this point, there are so many other dungeon crawlers that are worth your time. Just like Hunters on the original DS, the main questline of Federation will probably fade out of the limelight over time and become a whisper in hardcore Metroid crowds -- though I can see Blast Ball having longer legs.

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8 / 10
Aug 18, 2016

If there is one thing that Metroid Prime: Federation Force is left to contend with, it is consumer apathy. It is undeserving of such disinterest, an enjoyable intergalactic romp that delivers an experience unlike any other on Nintendo 3DS. This may not be the Metroid adventure that many had hoped for, but it is a rewarding blast for those that are willing to see the beloved universe from another perspective.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is 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.  As long as you don’t mind the exploration aspect of the series removed and replaced with linear missions, fans of the series should enjoy Federation Force.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2016

Hidden underneath the wonky control scheme and irreverent use of the source material, Metroid Prime: Federation Force is overall a good game, held back by limitations of the console as well as bizarre design choices. Fans of FPS’s will likely enjoy not only the experimentation the game has to offer, but also the fun you will find with friends.

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