The Nintendo Wii continues to be a fascinating device. Celebrated for its control system, it's relatively straightforward games such as Wii Sports and Wii Play that continue to be played and put up for awards, while genuinely strong titles don't seem to fare so well in the charts. Wii Sports is, granted, a mighty fine multiplayer game. But sat next to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (which, granted, is a single-player dish), it really can't put up much of a fight.

For this is a game that demonstrates old-style Nintendo at its best. Because in the past, when the Game Cube and the Nintendo 64 were getting their respective thumpings, you could always rely on Nintendo to pull out something special to occasionally reward your loyalty. And this, the closing part of the ‘Prime' trilogy, is one of those occasions.

The game once again puts you into the shoes of bounty hunter Samus, in a first person action title that's buzzing with innovation. The core of it, of course, is that control system, and Metroid Prime 3 quickly establishes that it's one of the few titles on the Wii that genuinely knows what to do.

It takes some getting used to, but basically you use the Wiimote to aim and turn, while it's the Nunchuk that covers your movement and the odd bit of strafing too. It's a logical fit with a few nuances, and the game does offer a helpful learning curve to make sure you're fully in control before the real action starts to kick in.

That said, Metroid Prime 3 isn't just about the action. There's also a steady focus on puzzling that works exceptionally well, and there's plenty to test you as you uncover the more-interesting-than-usual narrative. Paying attention to your surroundings is vital to progress, and it's to the game's credit that it's no chore to do so.

The blasting works a treat, too, perhaps more so than in either of the two predecessors. The game's weapons steadily upgrade as you make your way through, while the challenge also exponentially grows with it. You have a variety of different attack methods to master, and it's well worth doing so before you hit one of the really big enemies.

That's because the game hits paydirt with the boss battles. Don't get us wrong: the levels themselves are interesting and challenging, and will test your wits and your reactions, but there's so much imagination and tactical thought employed with the bosses that you simply have to sit back and admire them (though not for long, obviously). It's the range that really scores: you need to work at a strategy to take down a boss and continually vary your approach, and while they're not rock solid for the most part, you certainly will be tested.

To be fair, perhaps Metroid Prime 3 isn't - in terms of the game itself - a major step forward, and perhaps there are still little irritations that dog it with the new control method. But believe this: with a lengthy single-player campaign and some terrific moments throughout, this is a smashing piece of software that works both as a showcase for the console's real capabilities and for the genius of its creators.

A superb game and a real showcase for the Wii in many different respects.