This is a separate set of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes grabs (to the set showing the single-player campaign that I posted earlier); these are of the multiplayer side of the game, which is not shown very often.

There are two initial play modes: Bounty Mode and Deathmatch. “Deathmatch” is an ‘every-man-for-themselves’ game of survival, where the aim is to frag other players either against the clock, or be the first to get a specific total. “Bounty Mode” allows you to acquire money for the kills you make. Other play modes may be unlockable.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes multiplayer has been criticised as being “under-developed” by some, and the game is indeed nothing particularly special, although it does have some good Metroid Prime ideas in it. Like, for example, Spiderball Arenas – where you can stick to certain types of walls using the Metroid Spider Ball.

There are four combat arenas to choose from, with two more being unlockable.

If two players deathmatch against each other, they get half the screen – split horizontally. If four players deathmatch against each other, each player gets a quarter of the screen.

Although Metroid Prime 2 deathmatch didn’t set the world on fire, it does at least exist; is playable, and is polished enough to give players a flavour of what is possible with Metroid multiplayer.

Remember that the GameCube had four controller ports as standard, so it was quick and easy to set up some Metroid Prime deathmatching with your friends. Still is!

More: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes on Wikipedia