As for the "Corruption" in the game's name, Samus happens upon substance called Phazon, which alters the color of her suit and gives her the ability to go into Hypermode. This power, activated by hitting the '+' button, unleashes powerful energy blasts. It's a risk-versus-reward based system, as you must use Hypermode sparingly, lest Samus become corrupted and die. Like most things in life, use it in moderation.

That's not an easy impulse to control, however, as everything from titanic-sized creatures to small yet deadly adversaries, cross Samus' path. We cursed and cheered as we restarted multiple times and finally destroy that one pesky boss, all the while exploring imaginative planets teeming with life and beautiful imagery. This game won't convert graphics whores who worship the Xbox 360, but Metroid purists will appreciate the holographic images, scenes of infinite space and alien architecture.

Taking a note from Xbox Live, Metroid Prime gives achievements, which pop up whenever you complete a challenge, such as scoring 200 kills or defeating Ridley. Use the points to unlock extras, such as concept art as well as the game's soundtrack. It's not a huge feature, but it's hard to resist checking out these extras.

Corruption, as near-perfect as it is, slows down at odd moments. The lag time's not enough to kill the experience, but it's noticeable. Also, much of the adventure feels very familiar, and despite the slick controls and interesting boss fights, your level of enjoyment will depend on how tired you are (or aren't) of the Metriod Prime series.

We certainly aren't tired of the Metriod Prime series, and this revolutionary first-person adventure with tight controls will easily be one of 2007's best games. If Corruption is wrong, we don't want to be right.