Metroid Prime PAL - 1st release/Players' Choice???

[JazzFunk]

Just a quick dumb question, really. I heard there were differences between the US original release/re-release versions of Metroid Prime (the re-release being slightly tweaked iirc.)

Does anyone know if there are any differences between the UK PAL original release/Players' Choice versions(apart from the packaging)???

[Mayhem]

The version Europe got is the tweaked version later released on PC in the US (and as part of the double pack with the MP2 demo so I hear, now that I've started to unpack my Cube stuff again I might check it out). If anyone can tell me something within the first five mins that needs to happen so I can see if the double pack version is the tweaked one, let me know

[JazzFunk]

^Thanks Mayhem.

And then I just found this thread, which I should probably have checked to begin with(!):

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=64777&highlight=metroid+prime+ntsc

[Mayhem]

Just bringing this back up cos I happened to run across this page...

http://www.metroid2002.com/version_differences_version_number.php

Seems the PC version in the US is NOT the same as the PAL version. It got all the bug fixes but does NOT have the narrator or the different Chozo Lore (that part confirmed on another site I checked). I managed to find my MP/MP2 demo combo and the version in that is the same as the US PC version (0-02) whereas the original release I played in 2002 was 0-00.

So I guess if you want the fully improved version, it's the PAL version then only. From reading some of the version differences on the site, seems it's also quite a bit harder too.

[MattyD]

Just bringing this back up cos I happened to run across this page...

http://www.metroid2002.com/version_differences_version_number.php

Seems the PC version in the US is NOT the same as the PAL version. It got all the bug fixes but does NOT have the narrator or the different Chozo Lore (that part confirmed on another site I checked)...

So I guess if you want the fully improved version, it's the PAL version then only. From reading some of the version differences on the site, seems it's also quite a bit harder too.

That's because the changes in the Chozo lore were added by Nintendo Europe's localisers to cover up for a massive plot hole Retro Studios left in the original text. This is understandably seen as quite controversial move.

I'm not sure about the change in difficulty but I know the PAL version enemies are as powerful in normal mode as they are in hard mode in the US version.

[Mayhem]

I'd heard about plot holes, but is there something I can read detailing what was changed/added and why between the US and PAL versions?

Certainly when playing through the game back in 2002 I didn't spot anything out of place text wise...

[sj33]

Is any of it worth rebuying the game for? I've got the original US one here but I've never played it.

[Champloo]

The US one has a annoying habit of crashing, it can be really frustrating. So go for PAL if you ask me.

I think both PAL versions will be the same, the original release was the 'fixed' one after all, so I think PC will be the same, I can't imagine there's any important changes, if any. But thats just me guessing.

[Mayhem]

The latest US version (the one present in the MP/MP2 demo double pack and the PC issue) used the same "slower" loader as the PAL version so there's no crashing issue with that (0-02).

[sj33]

US one would have 480p though - is the fixed US version w/ 480p one to go for, or are the various other changes that major?

[MattyD]

I'd heard about plot holes, but is there something I can read detailing what was changed/added and why between the US and PAL versions?

There's not much info out there in the internets bu there's a summary of all that I could find.

Basically the original US version storyline, as told through pirate data scans, said the Space Pirates found Metroid Prime and experimented on it with Phazon, making it go ape**** and destroy everything. But later scans reveal they couldn't possibly have had any contact with Metroid Prime because it was sealed inside the impact crater thousands of years ago by the Chozo.

In order to reflect this, Nintendo Europe re-wrote some of the pirate data to remove all references Metroid Prime. They also make slight changes to any references of Samus's Chozo origins, to make them more ambiguous. The order of the Chozo Lore is also different although the text remains the same. They also fixed incorrect or placeholder text acicdentally left in a few of the enemy scans.

Retro Studios weren't too happy about this tampering and they maintain that the original US version scans are the correct storyline.

[sj33]

If Retro has that stance, how do they explain the plot holes? o.o

[MattyD]

If Retro has that stance, how do they explain the plot holes? o.o

Beats me. I think they're just sore about having their work tampered with.

[MikeRox]

especially by Nintendo of Europe... oooooh the pain :P

The US original does have a tendancy to crash on elevator sections, though if you don't move around while the elevator is moving, it tends to minimise the chances, mine has crashed about 2 times ever

If you're a purist, I'd definately recommend getting a bug fixed US version as it's got the unaltered plotlines and more importantly (especially when everyone gets new TVs) Prog Scan.