Metroid Prime: Federation Force Reviews
For the few things it does right, like some variation in the mission structure and a control scheme that makes sense (even in a hurty way), it's just not that good. For a series that has worked so hard to make a great solo experience, even—especially—in its first-person outings, it’s incredibly unbalanced with a difficulty spike I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before. And not in a challenging way, but in a “yup, I need multiple other people to cover me/back me up” way. Some of us enjoy playing FPS titles by ourselves sometimes, and I don’t want to feel relegated to a small handful of missions I might be able to work through on my own. Scaling the difficulty has been done since this genre began, so why it’s being bypassed now I have no clue.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a bit of a sad way to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary — in making this entry so multiplayer-focused, Nintendo has ironically created an alienating experience.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force could have been a whole new entry in the Metroid Prime series but unfortunately its fine control system and variety of game modes (including online multiplayer) are not enough to save it from the overall lack of interest of its missions, lacklustre bosses (for the Metroid series, at least) and simply unfitting art style and visual environment.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Though a serviceable enough intergalactic trip for anyone looking to play a multiplayer shooter on their 3DS, there's absolutely nothing memorable about this by-the-numbers entry into a hallowed franchise. The bite-sized missions lack balance, easily overcome with a quartet, frustratingly difficult done solo. The familiar action and time-worn objectives are quite playable, but the mediocre gameplay inspires little reason to return to the planet surface.
"Multiplayer-focused spin-off lacks charm."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
If Metroid Prime: Federation Force is anything to go by, I am fearful of the future of the 30 year old franchise. The controls do take some getting used to on the New 3DS, but those with the standard 3DS should avoid this like the plague, due to the terribly optimised controls for that hardware. It’s certainly not fun on its own and only marginally more so with others. This is not the Metroid game we’ve been waiting for.
Other M is no longer the worst Metroid game.
In the end, Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a limited game that fails to do justice to its source material.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a bland and frustrating take on the Metroid franchise. Though it’s a technically functional game, Federation Force is an overall disappointment that doesn’t understand what makes Metroid so great.
There is a core idea here that could’ve worked, but Metroid Prime: Federation Force is nothing short of a disaster due to horribly thought out implementation and shoddy execution.
Metroid Prime Federation Force is an extremely poor game. The control's are bad and overall this game is disappointing.
Metroid's first outing in years strips away the series' isolation and exploration for a serviceable co-op experience.
The love and care that Next Level Games put into Federation Force is evident throughout. It’s lush with detail, offering gameplay that is evocative of the Prime series while still establishing its own identity. The game makes no attempt to pretend it isn’t a spin-off of the Metroid series, and I think that if fans can look beyond their own desire for another Samus outing and embrace Federation Force for what it is, they’ll find a very respectful new take on a beloved formula.
It's actually very good! A smartly-designed and surprisingly-strategic shooter best played in co-op.
Aside from some cheapness with the occasional instant-kill attack, the varied scenarios they present create huge, exhilarating battles for players to contend with.
Federation Force isn't what Metroid fans expected, or wanted. It's not a 2D Metroidvania or even a slow-burning, atmospheric first-person action game focused on exploration, in the style of Metroid Prime. Yet it stands as a solid spin-off from a legendary franchise, rich in content and fun to play.