Metroid Prime Trilogy

Let’s hear it for the humble in-game map, the stoic orientation-enabler of our favourite medium for decades. But not all maps are created equal. In fact some maps are so amazing that they’re amongst the very best parts of their respective games.

No seriously. And even in good games.

Fact: every hero needs a good rival. So what could possibly make better rivals than the heroes themselves? With that in mind, here’s a look at some of gaming’s most memorable doppelgangers and opposite numbers…

In honor of the New Year, here's a look at the franchises that rose from their own ashes to become something completely different. If they could reinvent themselves, why can't you?

The Facehuggers from the Alien films are the archetypal enemies that scuttle and jump at your face. If these scuttling, jumping-at-your-face enemies had never been invented, video games would probably have 100% less scuttling enemies launching themselves in the general direction of your face area. Thankfully, not all the gaming imitations of these baby xenomorphs insert an embryo-laying proboscis down a protagonist's throat. Which just seems intrusive and not very hygienic. And a bit like unsavoury alien sex.

Here's a list consisting of seven enemies that scuttle and jump at your face. (But deliberately not including Facehuggers because they were made in movie land. Not game land).

One of the challenges of an action game is creating a villain that you, the player, will want to destroy. Some games, like Killzone 3, end up crafting bad guys so cool and awesome, you're rooting for them instead of the so-called heroes. Then there are games that just get it right, making an entire army of bastards you just want to punch in the face.

Thanks to a mixture of visual design, atmosphere and writing, some games go beyond even that, and are able to craft an entire race of enemies that are simply despicable to behold. They're ugly, they're disgusting, and they garner absolutely zero sympathy. Those are the truly successful baddies in videogames, and now we rightly pay tribute...

If you're reading GamesRadar, chances are good that you're here for lists featuring sexy videogame women. Congratulations, you are doing the Internet properly! Now, we've done all sorts of sexy articles, and as graphics strive to be more and more realistic, we have sexier and sexier things to talk about. It wasn't always this way, however. Think back to the era of the humble sprite...

A good plot twist in a game (bear with us now) is like being attacked by a ninja. It’s shocking, unexpected and will leave you feeling like you’ve just had a chunk of your spleen cut out with a katana. Admittedly, none of the following megaton twists spring from the shadows at you in tight fitting black pyjamas. But we still never saw any of them coming. Now, would you kindly read on?

ith the release of Metroid: Other M just a few days away, now is the perfect time to scan through Nintendo’s venerable sci-fi series and poke fun at all its physical inconsistencies. We did it for Mario and Bowser, then for Link and Ganon, and now it’s time for Samus, Ridley and Kraid to fess up and explain why they can’t pick a size and stick with it...

Composers in games are always the bloody bridesmaids. While Kojima, Clifford Bleszinski the Third and Shigeru Miyamoto lap up all the credits, complimentary hookers and free mini muffin baskets, the men and women behind their games' epic music go unnoticed.

Steven Spielberg famously said that composer John Williams' score in Jaws was responsible for 50% of the movie's success. And when you consider the iconic tunes from Super Mario Bros. or Shadow of the Colossus' sweeping score, it's hard to underestimate the impact a well composed soundtrack can have on a title. That's why we're giving some of gaming's finest composers the long overdue recognition they deserve.

Game-based, hand-made Metroid weapon looks nice to squeeze and also like a penis. You'll never look at Samus Aran the same way again.