Topic: Metroid Prime 3, issues with controls

Hi, I'm new here to the forums. I have a question concerning Metroid Prime 3. I have just recently got into the Metroid series. I started with Prime 1 on the Gamecube and then Prime 2 as well. I must say they are masterful games, and I love them so much! So, I decided to get Prime 3 on the Wii. When I started it, the Wii's controls completly frustrated me. It does not feel comforable at all to me. I did not even finish beating the first boss at the Federation's HQ. That was like two weeks ago. I wish I could just pop in the Gamecube control and play like that. Anybody have any suggestions on how I can play this better? Many people claim that the Wii controls are superior to the Gamecube's. I really love the Prime series and I really want to play the third part, but the controls are in my way. Any help will be appreciated.

You're saying you're having trouble with the game with the best FPS controls on the Wii? My advice is to find a comfortable position where your arm is laying flat and still and only your wrist is moving, because keeping the remote steady should be the only problem you have with Corruption's controls...

I'm slightly baffled by this too.

Pad style controls on FPS games make them feel clunky to me, which is the main reason I never liked them. The Metroid Prime series is the reason I'm giving them another go with either Black Ops or Goldeneye, because the controls are that much intuitive with wiimote and nunchuck.

You can do some control adjusting in the settings menu, so fiddle with those a bit. Maybe you'll be able to change something to make it feel more natural to you.

Yeah, that's the same problem I had with the game too. Everything just felt off. I know that there are much more control options in the Trilogy package, but I'm pretty sure I don't wanna pay $65. And that's for a used copy.

It's just a matter of getting used to aiming properly. I was confused by the controls too at first but then I realized that the pointer should remain on the screen at almost all times. That, and the "boundary boxes" hidden around the screen allow you to turn or look up/down.

@GreenThunder
Yes, it is really a question about getting used to the new controls, and figure out the best way to make them work. Give it some more gametime.

I was also very happy with the GameCube controls in previous Prime games, and found the Wii controls awkward in the beginning. But after getting used to it, I would never go back to the old Gamepad controls. I was thrilled when Nintendo released the Metroid Prime trilogy, because now I could play these games with the new superior Wii controls.

Getting used to these FPS controls is also the key to enjoy all the other FPS games on the Wii. And there is certainly a hurdle to overcome here, if you have only played FPS games with a gamepad the last many years.

You are not the only one that find it hard to get used to, though. Reviewers from Gamespot and IGN just reasontly made a fool of them selves, because their review of the newly released "Black ops", where based on a play through using only the Classic controller, instead of the Superior Wii controls.
Their excuse was that they where seasoned FPS Gamepad gamers, because of the other consoles, and therefore found it hard to get used to the Wii controls. But hey, I expect reviewers like these to know the Wii controls, ore else they are not qualified to make such a review. I, as a experienced FPS gamer on Wii, expect them to know what they are talking about.

So my advise to you, GreenThunder, is the same as I would give to these reviewers: Just get used to the controls, and you will find a better and more captivating FPS experience on the Wii, than on any other console.

Its good to have both your arms resting on something soft. Having to hold up both the Wiimore + Nunchuck is a pain, especially for long periods of time.

I had the same problem in the beginning, but it works fine after you get used to it. I still prefer pad controls by a mile, and Prime 1 & 2 had the best controls for fps ever in my opinion. Somehow you always have to start learning the wiimote controls anew when you start playing Prime 3. If i don't play the game for 6 months and start playing again, it feels awkward once again. That was never a problem in the older games. Turning and looking at the center is also impossible in Prime 3, which makes moving around harder.

Actually i don't even like motion controls too much in any game: i play Wii mainly because of it's great games, but almost every one of them would work completely fine wihout motion controls.

I actually prefer the pad controls as well. Go figure.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I'll have to try out the advanced option, next time I play.

I had the same problem as you. I finished Prime 3, basically because I loved the other two, but I never got completely used to the controls. Maybe it was because I could never stay locked onto an enemy for long, or because I had to point at the screen for extended periods of time, but I'm one of the few that thought the Gamecube Primes had flawless controls that never needed to be "upgraded". Hopefully you'll get used to them, because I never did.

Yea, I'm with you. I'm more of a lazy gamer, who likes to sit back and chill while I play. lol Primes 1 and 2 controls were great, I felt I had tight control over Samus and all of her weapons and equipment. Fighting locked on targets were fun and easy, especially with that side step jump.

Because they don't want to have to be pointing at the screen for hours at a time?

It's really not bad holding the wii remote up to point at the screen, especially if you can sit on a chair/couch with armrests. Even still, I've never moved my arm enough to get tired (or kept it still too long to get sore).

i actually think they're much better, just a little glitchy from time to time.

advanced mode isn't really what i'd suggest a beginner use. it takes a lot of time getting used to holding the remote before you can keep it stable enough for that. usually the problem a beginner has isn't that the controls aren't sensitive enough but that they're too sensitive, so try setting it to basic first and see if that works for you. it's hard to know why you dislike the controls since you don't really get specific about it.

the turning in advanced mode is the main problem, but there's also no dead zone whatsoever so there's no place to rest the cursor when you want the camera to stay still. the sensitivity is also a little sluggish, which you don't notice until making very small corrections in your aim. if it gave you the same customization options as all shooters today you'd be able to solve all those issues in 30 seconds and have a perfect remote scheme (goldeneye lets you get that).

but to reiterate, a perfect remote scheme is not what most beginning players will want. moving your whole arm to aim is something foreign and you will not be able to handle that much sensitivity until you've gotten comfortable with the remote. until the OP clarifies what specifically is bugging him i can't give any other advice.

But WarioWare has 1 control scheme.

It all depends on the game imo. I prefer the pointer controls in MP but I use CCPro in Goldeneye.

It varies from player to player, and dual analogue will not die, and frankly, keyboard + mouse is the best for shooters.

If i want to laze on the couch, it's not as simple as that. Or if i have my feet up on the coffee table, they can block the Wiimote pointer. Point is, not everyone plays the way you do. Personally, i have no need for controls to be immersive, as long as they work well. Ideally, it's best for games to have both options.

dual analog, remote, and mouse are all going to be around for long time. i don't see any reason why dual analog should go away, plenty of people still like it and it makes them all the easier to kill when you're using the remote.