TL;DR
Nintendo is offering Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, a free standalone game mode from Federation Force, on the eShop. This 3v3 futuristic sports-shooter sees teams battle to score a central orb. While it offers a free diversion with decent performance and 3D effects, the gameplay can be chaotic, controls feel a bit dated without a second stick, and the character designs are a jarring departure from the Metroid aesthetic. It’s a light distraction that leans heavily on the Metroid name. Curious to see if this freebie is worth your download? Read the full review to find out!
Nintendo’s latest foray into the Metroid universe, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, experienced a somewhat turbulent journey from its initial unveiling at E3 2015 to its release. The title faced a lukewarm reception early on, failing to fully satisfy those anticipating a new, expansive, high-definition Samus Aran adventure for the Wii U after a five-year hiatus since 2010’s Metroid: Other M on the Nintendo Wii. In an effort to improve sentiment and engage players, Nintendo is now offering one of Federation Force’s game modes as a standalone, free download. Regardless of the motivation, Metroid Prime: Blast Ball is now available on the eShop at no cost.
Metroid Prime: Blast Ball presents an intriguing blend of sports and action gameplay. Two teams, Indigo and Gold, each composed of three players, compete to maneuver a large, often slow-moving ball towards the opposing team’s goal. The underlying premise of this futuristic sport may be open to interpretation. Blast Ball should be regarded as a standalone experience, a diversion with limited narrative connection to the broader Metroid storyline. It functions primarily as a multiplayer mode with minimal plot integration.
By gently tilting the entire console while holding down L (to lock onto the orb) and R (to activate the function that allows you to fine-tune shots) you can theoretically hit different parts of the ball. In practice, it often goes too fast to succeed with such finesse.
The central metal orb is paramount to victory. Teams attempting to advance the orb using laser fire and charged beams can anticipate significant resistance from the opposing side. As in any objective-based FPS, holding a key point is rarely uncontested. The ball’s slow movement can lead to moments of stalemate, resembling a tug-of-war. However, upgrades and new weaponry do introduce variation to the matches. Targeting opponents instead of the ball can be a worthwhile tactic, but diverting focus from the primary objective carries the risk of conceding quick goals.
The game features a limited number of modes, all revolving around a central mechanic: directing the ball into the goal or preventing the opposing team from doing so. An offline mode allows players to compete against bots, serving as practice for the more intense online team battles.
The lower screen can either show the score and where the ball and players are, or different pre-selected hat formulations. However, you usually don’t have time to see what’s happening on the lower screen because you are fully occupied with the upper one, except during the replays after a goal.
The lack of voice chat is a notable drawback in online play. While pre-selected messages can be sent via the directional pad or by tapping phrases on the lower screen, this system is inherently limited. Furthermore, the controls, while generally functional, could benefit from a second joystick (testing was not conducted with the Circle Pad Pro or on a New 3DS) for simultaneous movement and aiming. Locking onto the orb with L and strafing provides a workable, albeit somewhat restricted, control scheme. The graphics are adequate but unremarkable, featuring simple, angular models without significant detail. Performance is stable, with no apparent lag or frame rate issues.
The nature of Blast Ball as a precursor to the main game, Metroid Prime: Federation Force (a review of which is forthcoming), is evident in its somewhat limited content. However, considering its origin as a component of a larger game, it provides reasonable entertainment. The presentation is acceptable, although the format’s constraints are occasionally apparent. The character designs are a particular point of contention, featuring disproportionate figures with small bodies and large heads that clash with the overall aesthetic. These designs seem more suited to Nintendo’s more whimsical franchises than to the typically serious and realistic Metroid universe, particularly in contrast to the metallic space station environments. Furthermore, Blast Ball‘s connection to the Metroid franchise feels superficial, primarily serving to leverage brand recognition. The game’s standalone appeal, absent the Metroid branding, would be questionable.
One thing that Blast Ball manages quite creditably with is the 3D effects. You see the visor and weapon in the foreground while the ball, opponents and arena are “deeper” into the picture. Nintendo 3DS gives me the feeling of looking into a peep show, but sadly also that everything inside the peep show consists of flat paper figures, something that might be ideal for Paper Mario, but that ruins the illusion a bit in other games.
While Blast Ball may not achieve the same success as Rocket League in the “unconventional action sports” genre, it offers a diverting, free experience for 3DS owners seeking new content while awaiting upcoming titles such as Pokémon. However, the matches tend to be too frenetic and chaotic for extended play sessions. The limited tactical depth and gameplay variation can lead to matches devolving into disorganized scrambles, lacking the teamwork necessary for sustained engagement. Ultimately, Blast Ball remains a minor distraction, relying more on its Metroid branding than substantive gameplay innovation.
