Metroid Prime Hunters/Federation Force

My son is a huge fan of the Metroid game in Nintendo Land for the Wii U. After owning that budget title for over two years, he still eagerly opts to play it over other games.

We're going on a big road trip at the end of the month.

He has a 3DS.

He's interested in branching out into the wider Metroid fps/fpe universe.

I know Hunters is about a decade old. Is it good? Are the controls that difficult to come to grips with? Are the puzzles/stages too challenging for a 9yr old?

I see there's some Metroid Federation Force for the 3DS, but reviews are all over. Some are very favorable, others not so much. It seems _not_ being about Samus is the big picking point. I think he's fine with that. Does this play well enough solo? Its straightforward action may be a better choice for now, if solo play is decent.

He wants to shoot metroids.

My opinion isn't based on first-hand experience with either of those games, so it might be totally worthless. But....

I recall enjoying Metroid Prime on the Gamecube. I think a 9 year old could handle THAT. But I don't know how it translates over to the 3DS. My guess is he could still do it. As for federation force, from what I have read / heard, this is Metroid in name only. Marketing nonsense to avoid.

I think he's ok (at this point) if it's metroid in name only. Even the chibi looking marines or simple graphics. I mean, that's almost how the mii characters look in NintendoLand. The more I'm looking at it, the more I'm thinking Federation Force may be the way to go for now.

I think in the near future, we'll get that Prime Trilogy for the Wii U for like $20. From there he may want to go with Hunters on his own.

For now though I'm thinking the simplicity of shooting up aliens in a sci-fi nintendo universe could be enough.

Unless someone can really convince me otherwise.

(this review sort of sold me)