Metroid Prime Hunters Arena Information
The arenas in Metroid Prime Hunters are amazing in nearly every way, but there is something that will confuse new players, and that is how to win while playing on one of these, what character to choose and the like. Well, this page should answer all your questions about the arenas, from Combat Hall to Oubliette and give you enough information to have that edge in wifi and local multiplayer modes.
Combat Hall
Level size: Small
A tiny arena which lurks just before the Alimbic Cannon, this arena is a good choice for those who either want to go in blasting everything or who want to rack up quick wins against bots/rack up amount of matches played stats to unlock things.
Best hunter: Many who are used in close combat, especially Weavel and Spire.
Data Shrine
Level size: Medium
Based on the internal rooms in Celestial Archives, this place is perfect for those who want a relatively close match, or like alt spamming in tunnels. However, the lack of hiding spots mean that Trace won't stay hidden for long here, and that using Weavels halfturret in a tunnel is murder for the opponents. It is also good for those who want relatively straightforward fighting.
Processor Core
Level size: Small
A very small area this, it is a very good area for those into close combat, or who like using the Deathalt which supposedly lies around here. You can also escape the whole level by using the Weavel Morph to go outside the arena into the darkness. Not a good place for snipers generally.
High Ground
Level size: Medium
On the contrast, this is mini heaven for snipers, as there is a nice sniper nest right in the areas at the very top of the arena, where you can see nearly everyone and shoot dead anything that moves with the Imperialist as Trace. It's also the site of many hectic chases and traps within the underground tunnels, where the Stinglarva, Vhyosyche and Lockjaw will be put to extremely good use.
Ice Hive
Level size: Medium
A large maze like level, this place is a brilliant arena for those that like trying to hide, and sneak up on their opponents, filled with narrow corridors and hiding spots. If you want the Imperialist, go to the room with a bridge of ice and it's in the cave after. The best places to hide generally are in the room just before this bridge, where there are some small alcoves where you can stay to keep away from the main fighting.
Alinos Perch
Level size: Large
Probably one of the largest arenas in the game, this is heaven for both snipers and close range fighters alike. The area is big enough for all four hunters to have not only enough room, but to be able to find each other quickly enough. And many spots can only be accessed via the Halfturret or the Dialanche, which can be useful.
Sic Transit
Level size: Medium
This level is quite big for a start, and has many places for opponents to run and hide. There is a neat glitch here where by jumping in the correct place as a certain character, you can go through the ceiling and end up in a secret world, where you can shoot others, but they cannot shoot you. The two levels here are interesting however, and make this an extremely good level where you can run from your opponents.
Transfer Lock
Level size: Medium
I am quite sure that this pretty large arena is that place where you fought what seemed like an army of Guardians, Psycho Bits and Voldrums in Adventure mode, and therefore is quite a good arena for close combat, although still having good hiding spots.
Sanctorus
Level size: Small
the tiny ice area, this has two floors and not many places to get away from the fighting. However, because of the amount of pillars here, it is a great level for ducking and dodging behind objects to avoid attacks, and is also a good place to approach and attack opponents from behind.
Compression Chamber
I don't at all agree with the size rating the game gave this place, as while it is quite small ground space wise, it should probably be medium as there are three floors of areas and various platforms/tunnels to go through. That out the way, this is quite a neat little arena to play on, as it is big enough to hide away from opponents for a few minutes while you get your best weapons (hint, Imperialist and Double Damage) but small enough for them to eventually come to an area you happen to have a clear shot at, which unlike Council Chamber, is extremely helpful. There aren't many places to hide as such, but if you are Trace, make use of corners and platforms and create your own sniper roost spots.
Level size: smallIncubation Vault
Level size: Small
Apart from there being two floors of near equal size, and the two deadly tanks of green acid in the middle of the room, this area hasn't got much to talk about. It's a great place for close range battles, but you'd be hard pressed to find a place where you can put your sniping skills to work without being reached easily by even the worst opponent.
Subterranean
Level size: Medium
Based on the huge area near the boss portal in the second part of Acterra, this area has many neat things. There are now jump pads connecting the areas, and you can explore the passages which used to hold the Quadroids by going down a level. The passages past drip moat are now here again, and for some reason, Drip Moat itself seems a little gone, removed from the entire floor plan. There are plenty of health orbs here, and I would say this is a great place for a sneak attack, and various types of battles and games.
Outer Reach
Level size: Medium
What seems like another new floating arena, this place has two ends with three floors and jump pads, and multiple other areas all around in a semi square. The bottom floor has the ammo mainly, the second has the health and some weapons and the top has even more weapons such as the Imperialist. There is a gold health orb here, and I personally will say that the best areas to hang around here are the ledges with the multiple columns or on top of the highest platforms at either end if you like sniping with the Imperialist.
Harvester
Level size: Large
A huge spacestation in a slightly old fashioned shade of brown in colour, this place has multiple floors and platforms, many of which give you that feeling of semi deja vu, partly because it seems that everywhere you go here you have visited before. The centre area is a medium sized room with two floors and a few pillars, which can be good for close combat, while the outside areas seem to be an area with two larger ledges and three smaller ledges, with the floating ledges having all the health and some ammo. There are also some weird beams going from the floating platforms to the roof, and this has the double damage power up on it.
The neat thing is, one side has the weapons, and the other has what seems like the same weapons! And one side has the cloaking, and even when in use, the other side also has the same cloaking weapon! Pretty odd place personally to me, and I am not really a fan of it.
Weapons Complex
Level size: Large
Another large arena, this has low gravity in the centre, and many passageways on three different levels coming from that hub. There is a vent on the second floor leading to a platform in the middle, and there are plenty of places to hide. Seemingly based off an area in the Vesper Defence Outpost, this is huge and is a good place for many kinds of battle types, plus hide and seek!
Council Chamber
Level size: Large
I am quite sure this is the level based on Alinos Gateway and expanded with parts of the underground in Alinos. Anyway, the same strategies can generally apply, and the tallest column, reached by the jump pad on the ground level is an excellent place to snipe opponents. The underground areas are good enough places to battle, but be warned how many have lava which is of course quite damaging to your health. Generally though, this is just an expanded Alinos Perch with caves to hide from opponents in.
Elder Passage
Level size: Large
The extended version of High Ground, this area adds more platforms and hallways, making it easier to reach the top area. With so many areas hidden away with items though, and so many places to hide, this is another area to avoid with only two players.
Fuel Stack
Level size: Large
You will most likely know this place after playing on it once as the 'level with a fast moving, extremely dangerous elevator', as the middle column sends you upwards at increasing speed, until either you jump off or you fly into the ceiling for an instant death. This is also where many players seem to be most of the time, so if you want to be amused for about 10 seconds, stay and shoot at hunters as they zoom up the elevator at high speed.
There are also many rooms around the outside, many which don't get used and often holding some health. These are where you should go if you are running low on health, as many players will be diving and dodging around shooting each other in the area with the actual Fuel Stack/elevator.
P.S. Do not jump straight at the elevator near the bottom, as you will fall for a bit before you rise, and hitting space below is also an instant death.
Fault Line
Level size: Large
Notes: This level is absolutely massive, and could easily be called death match heaven, as the amount of corridors and hiding places is huge here. The area is based on quite a few areas from your second visit to Acterra, including the area after Drip moat (Drip Moat seems to have vanished). The bottom floor consists of a few large areas and a large maze of passages for you to hide down away from the battle, while the second floor is a series of platforms and medium sized rooms.
Best hunter: Probably Trace for hiding and sniping, Sylux and Noxus would be good choices in close combat in the small corridors.
Stasis Bunker
Level Size: Medium
That annoying room where you had to reach the computer then the shield key in an unfair time limit, this place is actually quite a big place for a medium sized level. The same passages exist here, with the health and weapons spread out like usual, and much seems to be the same. However, the guardian tank does not seem to be in the spot it used to be in, the dead guardians are now gone and the Imperialist orb is on a small light like platform on the second floor, hanging above a corridor.
Head Shot
Level Size: Large
Ironically, this space station is probably one of the most difficult places to hide from people and be able to get a head shot against someone, as there aren't really any high ledges you can snipe from. However, the basic premise is that there is a space station which is the arena, and there are minor docking platforms in space, which have health and launch you back to the station. The weapons are inside, on the ground floor and basement level, and then you can only exit by being launched like a missile through the passages leading out the basement to the floating space platform areas. Remember though, while you can easily get the Imperialist, close combat is much more common here, and also take into account how with the low gravity, you can jump about 10 foot in the air.
Celestial Gateway
Level Size: Large
A huge area which is the first part of the Celestial Archives, this has many floors, but to get between them, you often have to warp. The bottom floor has you fall down a gap to access, and the top floor with the windows and the like can only be accessed via portals.
Alinos Gateway
Level Size: Large
Yes, this place is absolutely massive. However, the slight downside is that it is about 98% lava, and most of the ground seems to be covered with that really burning substance, trailing all the way to a lava waterfall far in the distance.
Spire is definetly king in this place, but anyone who can use sniper weapons should like the perfect spot just to the right of where Samus's Ship may be, a few platforms up, where there happens to be a high ledge with a clear view and the Imperialist to shoot things with.
Of course, if you're Spire, you can just use the Dialance to climb right up to that spot, as well as go onto a tall pillar with a clear aim and go inside a large rock using a glitch where you are invicible.
VDO Gateway
Level Size: Large
VDO Gateway is not in itself a bad level, just one that can get extremely infuriating if you are the kind to try and snipe at opponents. This is because there is really nowhere to hide, and since the ground is slipperly and difficult to walk on, you are likely not going to stay still for too long.
The top level here is where the Imperialist lies, so if you are the kind who needs that weapon, that is where to get it. It's also a good place to attack opponents as well.
Note: You may start off in what looks like a box. You are actually behind a column, and in a small alcove which you can actually escape from.
Do not make the mistake like one person did that your game is glitched, as it is truely not.
Acterra Gateway
Level size: Large
Well, I will just say this place is about 90% vertical, and the platforms are all around the area, leading all the way to where Samus's ship would be in Adventure Mode. Sniping is also a good idea here, as you can aim through the gaps in the top platform if you want a clear shot at characters below, or climb onto the pillars at the sides (but remember, enemy characters, whether human or AI will still follow you here!)
You may also want to stay away from the bottom as much as possible if you don't like close ranged combat, as the area is always packed with hunters shooting each other and making desperate attempts to climb up this giant shaft.
Oubliette
Level Size: Large
The arena which seems to take place in a dark forest like spaceship and was the battleground in the Gorea 2 battle at the end, this place is another vertically based area. The only real features here are the platforms, gap in the platforms and the Omega Cannon, the latter of which is the only weapon. The problem with the latter though is that while it is a good powerful weapon, it is often excessive in power, and can easily kill a whole area filled with opponents, as long as they are about on the same floor level (or not, as I once got killed even though someone shot it at the bottom level and I was on the part at the top with the Omega Cannon in alt form) and you can sometimes kill yourself with it unfortuantely. In other words, this is a matter of shoot, run like hell and hide somewhere else while your opponents get obliterated.
Nice music though.