Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

While Echoes continues Samus Aran's story in the broader franchise lore, it is largely self-contained and introduces an entirely new setting on the planet Aether. New players can easily pick up the gameplay mechanics without playing the original GameCube title. However, understanding the overarching threat of the Phazon substance does require some knowledge of the first game.

A core gameplay mechanic in Echoes is the parallel dimension known as Dark Aether, a highly toxic mirror world of the main planet. When Samus enters Dark Aether, her Varia Suit constantly takes damage from the poisonous atmosphere. You must navigate between both dimensions to solve puzzles, utilizing safe bubbles of light to survive the darkness.

Yes, the game was developed by the Texas-based studio Retro Studios and originally published by Nintendo for the GameCube in 2004. Retro Studios took the foundation built in the first Metroid Prime and heavily expanded the puzzle elements and lore. They remain the custodians of the 3D Metroid franchise, later developing Metroid Prime 3 and Metroid Prime Remastered.

Following the critical and commercial success of Metroid Prime Remastered on the Switch in 2023, fans heavily speculate that Echoes is next in line for a remaster. Nintendo has not officially announced a Switch port, but dataminers and industry insiders suggest Retro Studios has been working on updated textures. Given the studio's history, a shadow drop during a future Nintendo Direct is highly anticipated.