No, echoes was crap, Backtracking is good... when it's fun, Echoes quickly becomes a boring and tedious game, i just finished it because i whanted to see the last boss, also it doesn't feel like Metroid, Plasma and assorted beams? no, instead you get a crappy *** ammo sistem and two horrible new Weapons.
The boss fights where kewl, but the game itself was waaaaay too long, even for a metroid tittle.
And no, Metroid Prime isn't better than Super Metroid, period, it might be the second best, but Super Metroid IS the best 2d sidescrolling adventure to date, and having that tittle since 13 years is no small feat. Besides, Super Metroid is way more fun and it's harder than Prime, Prime on the other hand is one of the easiest games i have ever played.
Yes, Dark Samus is insanely kewl though.
Still, i find the lack of comments about the recolors i did, disturbing.