NP Metroid Prime Hunters scans transcribed

A HUGE thanks to Psykus for all the hard work he did today. He took the time to transcribe all four pages from the Nintendo Power article on Metroid Prime Hunters! His work is really appreciated, we should all take the time to read through. GREAT job Psykus, thanks again!

“Space Invaders”

Metroid Prime Hunters for Nintendo DS is poised to become the most complete handheld mutliplayer experience of all time.

By Chris Shepperd

For close to 20 years, Samus Aran has been the lone bounty hunter in the universe. Now, mysterious hutners from all over the galaxy prepare to join her for an interstellar melee. In Metroid Prime Hunters, play as Samus or one of the new warriors in incredible all-out multiplayer combat.

“Hunter-on-Hunter Action”

Gamers first got a taste of the high-action first-person combat at the launch of the Nintendo DS with Metroid Prime Hunters:First Hunt, an imagination-inspiring, if limited, pack-in demo. First Hunt hosted a handful of arenas, minimal character selection, and only deathmatch mode, but still managed to pique the curiousity of the DS’s early adopters. When the full Metroid Prime Hunters blasts off this March, DS owners everywhere will be able to have that experience and much more.

Up to four competitors equipped with game cards will be able to engage simultaneously in frenzied conflict in any of seven highly customizable modes that span more than 20 arenas. And clever and lethal bots can be added to fill the ranks and keep the battles raging. With single-card action, players can download the game from one DS then engage in a Battle mode clash with all of the competitors plays as Samus herself. Metroid Prime Hunters will also match up gamers across the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

The standout element of the multiplayer experience is the collection of six new and deadly bounty hunters who join Samus for the first time. Each hunter has unique powers, including alternate forms comparable to Samus’s Morph Ball ability. ANd every bounty hunter brings a new weapon to the battlefield, such as a gun that fires beams of pure energy, and small-scale nuclear devices. During multiplayer melees, players will have a default Power Beam and missles akin to Samus’s, then must find the special weapons before they can use them against their foes.

Deadly weapons, awesome warriors, and amazing worlds - Metroid Prime Hunters is set to reinvent handheld multiplayer gaming.

“Live the Adventure”

In the single-player adventure, Samus has been encouraged by the Galactic Federation to explore a region called the Alimbic Cluster, a once-inhabited region beyond the edges of civilization. The famous hunter must investigatte strange signals emanating from the abandoned lands that speak of an ultimate power - a power that, in the wrong hands, could mean certain doom for the Galactic Federation’s citizens. Samus won’t be alone in the search for the Alimbic Cluster’s secrets - the call has reached bounty hunters all over the universe, and she must race against them as they descend on the deserted world.

Check out next month’s Metroid Prime Hunters coverage - we’ll delve further into Samus’s upcoming epic adventure.

“Universal Soldiers”

The new bounty hunters are truly the defining feature of Metroid Prime Hunters. The bounty hunters share the same unparalleled skill and passion for battle, but like their often-nefarious histories, each hunter’s approach to combat is unique.

Every bounty hunter has a native weapon - for example, the draconian Noxus hails from a planet constantly buried under layers of ice. As a result, Noxus’s weapon is a supercooled energy beam. The weapons come in all forms - some fire long-distance lasters, and others lob high-temperature projectiles. In multiplayer combat, the bounty hunters can find and use any of the special weapons, but the hunters are especially deadly with their native munitions in hand.

The bounty hunters also have alternate forms that effectively double their lethality. Like Samus, the hunters can roll into compact forms to fit into tight spaces. The attacks vary from hunter to hunter, however.

“Samus”

The legendary Samus Aran was raised by Chozo on the planet Zebes after Space Pirates destroyed her home. Raised to be a strong warrior, she continued her military training with the Galactic Federation, and still works for the organization on a freelance basis. With her Morph Ball ability, Samus can drop bombs to elude pursuing enemies.

“Noxus”

The Vhozon race’s fanatical view of morality exceeds that of virtually all other civilized societies, and to enforce their sense of justice they have sent Noxus. To help survive the Vhozon’s frozen home planet, Noxus can change into a rapidly spinning top to stay warm, as well as bowl over foes.

“Spire”

Spire is the last of a race of people made from solid rock. The bounty hunter chose the profession so it could search for information regarding the fate of the rock people. Spire can roll up into a high speed boulder and bash through enemies who stand in the way.

“Sylux”

Sylux’s background is unknown, but the hunter’s motives are clear - to crush the Galatic Federation. Using technology suspiciously similar to a stolen Federation prototype, Sylux can deploy blades that travel along beams of energy while the hunter is in ball form.

“Kanden”

The subject of a lab experiment gone wrong, Kanden gained incredible strength and keen instinct. But the experiment destroyed Kanden’s conscience, leaving only a cold-blooded killer. Kanden can transform into an insect whose tail can home in on an enemy and explode on contact.

“Trace”

The Kriken youth Trace is carrying out a rite of passage to search for worlds teh greedy and evil race can invade. Using sophisticated Kriken technology, Trace can morph into a three-legged mechanism that can lunge at its enemies and become almost completely invisible.

“Weavel”

A former Space Pirate severely wounded by Samus in a scuffle on Brinstar, Weavel will remain associated with the Pirates as long as it’s convenient. As a result of the injury Weavel sustained, the hutner can seperate its torso from its lower body, which becomes a stationary turret.

“Planetary Intergalactic”

Each arena has its own characteristics, including low gravity and boost pads to launch long distances. Watch where you step - patches of ice will make it difficult to slow down and turn, while hot lava will sap your life in an instant. Some of the stages take place in space stations high above terra firma - one false step will spell your doom. Stay alert for health replenishments, weapon and ammo pick-ups, and temporary enhancements suck as cloaking and double-damage modifiers, the most valuable of which are often found in the most remote corners of the stages.

How you battle is as important as where you battle. Seven multiplayer modes, all with different rules, await you. In some of the modes, you can divide the opponents into teams. Your skill with a particular bounty hunter may suit one gameplay mode more than another, but you’d better be prepared for anything your enemies throw at you.

“Battle”

Take on hunters in a free-for-all battle royale. Set goals based on the total number of kills, a time limit, or both. The rules of Battle mode are uncomplicated, but both your offensive prowess and your defensive tactics will be tested.

“Survival”

Starting with a limited number of lives, you must eliminate the other bounty hunters before they eliminate you. You’ll have to be both aggressive and stealthy to defeat your foes without revealing yourself.

“Bounty”

All the bounty hunters vie for the same prize - a precious object called an Octolith. Be the one to find it and return it to home base to earn a point. Collect as many as possible within the time limit.

“Defender”

Seek out the special circle and protect it with your life; as long as you are the only one within the circle, you will earn poitns. The hunter who manages to protect the circle for the longest wins.

“Prime Hunter”

Be the first to defeat an opponent to become the Prime Hunter, then stay alive as long as possible. The enemy who kills you will become the next Prime Hunter. The bounty hunter who stays the Prime Hunter the longest wins.

“Capture”

Split into teams and raid your enemies’ base, then return with their Octolith. In order to earn a point, your octolisth must also be at your home base. Collect as many enemy Octoliths as you can while protecting your own.

“Nodes”

Small beacons are placed around the stage - when you take control of one, you claim it until another hunter can claim it back. Protect as many beacons as you can for as long as you can to claim victory.

“A World of Options”

Along with the countless combinations of stages, modes, and hunters, a group of standard options can expand the way you play. Before you begin a match, you can set radar visibility and weapon selection, as well as friendly fire for team battles. And if you are unable to find four opponents for your next LAN match, you can include bots in any mode. Watch out - the bots know how to handle a firearm, and they’re privy to all the good places to set an ambush. You can set each bot’s difficulty individually to keep a level playing field.

“Global Conflict”

With Nintendo Wi-Fi Conneciton, you’ll never be without enemies. Experience virtually all of the multiplayer modes of Wi-Fi versus competitors around the globe. Search for a random game of your liking, or exchange Friend Codes with other Hunters players to compete with people you know. When you’re done playing, head to www.nintendowifi.com to track your stats.