Interesting new fact number one: according to the site, NST game designer Richard Vorodi has revealed that Hunters is just a tad shorter than Retro's excellent GameCube title, Metroid Prime. Whether that estimate is based on a first run-through of the game or subsequent run-throughs isn't clear, but it sounds like we won't be too short-changed when it comes to the single player adventure.
Elsewhere, Kotaku describes the game as "pushing the DS hardware to a place where it hasn’t been before. It looks like Metroid Prime in the palm of your hand." It's confirmed that the lock-on mechanic seen in the two GameCube Metroid titles has gone, replaced by the touch-screen based controls that adjust the direction in which players are looking and allow players to target enemies.
Interestingly, we're also informed that Hunters begins with Samus' suit fully kitted out. In previous titles in the franchise (for those who live under a rock and haven't played a Metroid title in their time), players had to acquire upgrades for their suit throughout the course of the game. But despite having the full list of abilities and gadgets from the start, there'll still be the energy tank and missile upgrades that were littered about in other Metroid titles.
And, as we saw in the free demo of Hunters that came distributed with many DS units, switching into morph ball mode or switching weapons is done via the touch screen, while tapping the 'L' shoulder button will release bombs.
Metroid Prime: Hunters is due to ship in the US on March 20th, in Europe on May 5th and in Australia at some point in May. More as it breaks.
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