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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - My thoughts on a SNES classic (long read)

I don't know where to start. I haven't even finish the game yet but I think I'm close.

I feel like I must talk about my past gaming history. I'll keep it short. This is the 4th Metroid game I own and played extensively and the other three I played were the Prime Trilogy. I love the first and last one and I'm liking the second one much more in my 2nd playthrough attempt.

But this game is definitely the better Metroid game.

At first I didn't think the game was that special. It seemed like a typical SNES game from Nintendo back then. Great sprites, awesome music, and tight platforming. But I hated using the L and R button to aim diagonally even after I mapped them to zl and zr on the GamePad. I also disliked the controls for using and not using missiles, power bombs, and etc.

But then it clicked. And when it did, I felt like a fool for doubting this game. But maybe it was necessary for me to do so. I had to dislike this game at first. I had to get through the fact - the bias - that I disliked this game because it felt and played like an old 32 bit game. I have been to familiar with 3D enivornment, HD textures, and analog controls. 2D games besides classic Mario and Zelda seem old and awkward to cooperate with.

This is what Super Metroid was like at the beginning. An old, awkward game. And it was. Until you get deeper.

And deeper...

and deeper.

Suddenly, it feels new. Suddenly, you see a sparkle. Or perhaps a glimmer? Whatever it is, however small it came across to you, you realize the game's ability to manifest itself into greatness. Perhaps into something super.

You see, as Samus evolves with each new power-up, so does this game. The old, awkward game made in the early 90's slowly feels more modern. Perhaps I am crediting this to my growing interest and skill in this game in mistake. But that is not the case. Fellow fans can attest to this.

Fans, remember the heightened sense of control the hi jump boots gave? Or the new drive for speed when the speed booster allowed you to pulverize terrain and enemies within your steps? Or even the power of invulnerability by spiraling towards weakling with a charged beam?

These are but a few power ups that make Super Metroid's gameplay evolve and into a great game. But what makes it amazing is the world. In this day where open world games are praised by critics and adored by veteran gamers, Super Metroid's world seems like a hobbit’s house. But hobbits know how to live! Although their homes may be small as they are, it is rich and lively in the inside. So too, is Super Metroid.

Let’s play a game. You win if you can tell me a game that lets you go back to where you started at the landing of your epic adventure. The rules are:

The previous location was at the newest area of the map.  

The destination to that area was treacherous and long.

You found meaningful skills and plenty of upgrades along the way back.

The area of the game’s world is suddenly connected within a few minutes of travel without warping shenanigans.

And the world map starts feeling as familair as the back of your hand.

Did you win?  Then you’ve probably got as far in Super Metroid as I have. This game's world intertwines so beautifully and perfectly, you're amazed this level of design can exist in a 2D sidescroller, let alone in the early 90's! And it's here I felt the whole game click. And the glimmer that steadily shined brighter as I delve deeper into Brinstar revealed the greatness that dwells in this amazing game.

TL;DR: It’s a Super Metroid all right.

Thanks for reading.



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mZuzek said:
@Curl-6, this is how you come to enjoy Super Metroid. Stop being a whiner and go play this masterpiece.

Yes, Super Metroid was also awkward to me at first. I never quite understood why I was playing the game at the beginning, it was just a bunch of rooms and you went from one to the next shooting everything and whatever. But man, once you really get into it and understand the game, it truly becomes something very, very special.


Thanks for the reply! Wasn't sure if anyone would read this whole thing and also find the time to reply as well. Probably the longest opening post I made for VGchartz, too. And I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought this game was awkward at the start. I really hope we get another 2D sidescroller Metroid soon after playing this game. 



I'm glad you like it! I own it for the SNES and want to get into it but 1. I suck at it, 2. I dont know how to save, and 3. I don't have time for it at the moment. But the music and sprite work is beautiful.



I got an Ouya and I'm able to emulate any NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, Neo Geo, etc game I want. I went on a download spree of all of the game I owned as a kid as well as a few I always wanted but never got. One after another, my memories were shattered...... Until I played Super Metroid.

I already had this game for Wii VC but, at the time, I was buying so many games that I never got around to finishing it. I got it again for the Wii U, too. Anyway, I downloaded Super Metroid modded with the main character wearing nothing but a baying suit (available on YouTube if your curious). I played a little. Then a little more. And a little more. And then the hooks were in me. It was 1994 and I was in love again!



I can honestly say Super Metroid is the best game ever made. One of the few games that comes close is Dark Souls. Structurally, that game is pretty similar to Metroid.

I have also finished Metroid Prime 3, which was really nice. I'm now playing Metroid Prime 1 and I'm loving it. There are too few games with map designs as brilliant as Metroid.



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mZuzek said:
Chrizum said:
I can honestly say Super Metroid is the best game ever made. One of the few games that comes close is Dark Souls. Structurally, that game is pretty similar to Metroid.

I have also finished Metroid Prime 3, which was really nice. I'm now playing Metroid Prime 1 and I'm loving it. There are too few games with map designs as brilliant as Metroid.

Ugh, Dark Souls. *pukes*

It's a quality game which shares many characteristics with Metroid. Don't let it not being on a Nintendo console scare you away from it!



mZuzek said:
Chrizum said:
mZuzek said:
Chrizum said:
I can honestly say Super Metroid is the best game ever made. One of the few games that comes close is Dark Souls. Structurally, that game is pretty similar to Metroid.

I have also finished Metroid Prime 3, which was really nice. I'm now playing Metroid Prime 1 and I'm loving it. There are too few games with map designs as brilliant as Metroid.

Ugh, Dark Souls. *pukes*

It's a quality game which shares many characteristics with Metroid. Don't let it not being on a Nintendo console scare you away from it!

Hey, I've enjoyed several non-Nintendo games a lot. Dark Souls though, ugh. I absolutely loathe that game. It's like it's only purpose was to be hard and frustrating. I never felt anything for that game when I was playing it other than frustration.

It never sucked me in like Metroid. It never gave me any sense of accomplishment, ever. It never made me feel like I (or my character) was getting better, like Metroid. It was just "hey, this game is hard, cheap and will kill you". And then the Dark Souls fanboys come and crucify me for criticizing their perfect masterpiece of a game (it seems like you're not one of these, thankfully).

I don't know, that game never clicked with me and I thought it was one of the worst experiences I've had in gaming. I don't like to see it compared to Metroid, that's all.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. I felt the same initially, as did a friend of mine who recently finished the game. The game's frustrating nature is limited to the first part of the game though. Not unlike Super Metroid, where you feel puny and powerless in the beginning of the game, Dark Souls really becomes fun when you master the controls and physics and level up a bit. For me, the sense of weight of your character in combat is unparalleled. And I love the open map design, with all the shortcuts and connected areas, which really reminds me of Metroid. I really think you should give it another go, but I'll admit the game is not for everyone.



It is a great game.At start i felt a bit lost, due to the map not being so intuitive as symphonie of the night(which i had played before), but after playing awhile and getting the hang of navigating and playing as a whole, it truly is a fantastic game.After playing it, it leaves you to wonder how metroid is not widely known as zelda or mario, being such a great franchise



My (locked) thread about how difficulty should be a decision for the developers, not the gamers.

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=241866&page=1

Great to hear that 2d metroid just gained another fan, super Metroid is definately one of my favorite snes games. If you still need more Metroid in your life after you beat the game don't forget about the two excellent Metroid titles on Gba. Zero mission feels very similar to super Metroid to me while Metroid fusion is more linear but still has plenty of secrets to discover.



stpaulmagic said:
Great to hear that 2d metroid just gained another fan, super Metroid is definately one of my favorite snes games. If you still need more Metroid in your life after you beat the game don't forget about the two excellent Metroid titles on Gba. Zero mission feels very similar to super Metroid to me while Metroid fusion is more linear but still has plenty of secrets to discover.


Thanks for the recommendations! I'll probably download fusion after finishing Super. Sucks that NOA is the only region without Zero Mission as of now.