Why does the reviewer on gamespot seem to begin alot of the paragraphs with excuses or defusing criticisms?, e.g
The following are pulled from the beginning sentences of the review...
Don't expect some sweeping space opera of a story.
While Metroid Prime isn't plot-driven, it provides you with lots and lots of context
While the notion of reading pseudo-scientific text while playing Metroid Prime may not sound very appealing
Ironically, the criticisms that can be leveled against Metroid Prime are associated with certain conventions that are integral to the Metroid series and must have been deliberately put into this game to keep things faithful. For instance, the notion of having to backtrack through previously explored areas has grown unpopular with gamers over the years, and yet backtracking is certainly required in Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime grows on you as you play. For instance, at first you might not see what's so remarkably impressive about its visuals, since Metroid Prime at first looks like any old sci-fi-themed shooter.
or
The lack of any real narrative might also disappoint some players, and finally, someone, somewhere will complain that Metroid Prime has no multiplayer features
A lot of the review sounds like "Well, this feature or lack of one sounds like it might suck ass, but let me explain why it doesn't"
I mean, nothing in this review really sounds innovative and the control system for strafing and up/down look sounds like it sucks ass. A lot of the comments have to deal with special effects with regards to Samus's helmet, or how the levels load by streaming, but I learned nothing from this review about the actual gameplay, the AI, what kinds of enemies encountered, etc. If I didn't know better, Metroid Prime sounds like it players like Shen Mue, running around 'scanning' everything.
My conclusion from reading the review is that Metroid Prime lacks direction, plot/story and plays more like an ID Software game, but much slower, and involves lots of running around, scanning stuff, and occassional battles against not too difficult to kill enemies, perhaps like the fighting in Shen Mue.
Well, it sounds like I better turn in my copy of Splinter Cell, MGS2, Halo, et al, to get this ASAP.