Metroid Prime is a first-person action-adventure game developed by Retro Studios and Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube. It is the fifth game in the Metroid series, but the first one in 3D and the second one chronologically. In North America, the game was released simultaneously with the Game Boy Advance game Metroid Fusion on November 17th, 2002.
Despite the initial fan backslash caused by the first-person perspective the game became a critical hit and a commercial success, selling over a million units in North America alone, and holding the position of the third-highest rated game on GameRankings.com for almost five years. Because of its success, the game received two sequels, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, as well as two spin-offs called Metroid Prime Hunters and Metroid Prime Pinball.
A Wii version with motion controls, slightly upgraded graphics and other minor updates was included in the Metroid Prime: Trilogy released in 2009. Although it was only released separately in Japan as Wii de Asobu: Metroid Prime (the Japanese equivalent of the New Play Control series).
