So its my mini-review of Super Metroid, now that i finally have beaten it, 2 years and 6 months since i intially acquired it, back in the VC month of Metroid in August 2007

Basically, i enjoyed the game quite a bit, as it takes the better elements of its predecessors and successors, and has them in measure. More civilized then the barbarism of original Metroid, yet without Fusion's restrictive Mission system. You're free to navigate as you will, but not to the point where you can really find yourself A: lost as hell and B: finding items you probably shouldn't be finding yet. The balance of worlds was really enjoyable and the enemies kept you thinking.

However, i must say i was disappointed by the ending. Nowhere near the great, cathartic experience that was described to me so many times over. It might be because i had the ending spoiled again and again, or because i've played Metroid Fusion, where the final boss fight plays out the same way, except that i had much more emotional investment in SA-X than i did in the Baby (though in SA-X's case, it was fear and loathing). Mother Brain was a pushover, given that i remember having to practice again and again to finally get Ridley down, but i picked up the game for the first time in probably over a year today, and barely remembering the controls, was mostly able to tank my way through Mother Brain until the Baby came in, and the exploit to fight Mother Brain after you have the hyper beam was simple.

It's easiest to draw comparisons to Fusion, so i shall do so again. In that final fight you had more on the line, given that the clock was already ticking and the final boss was right there, standing between you and freedom. Also the fact that the Omega Metroid was still dangerous after you acquired the Ice Beam, unlike Mother Brain who keels over for you after you go Hyper.

Despite the lacklustre ending, i feel compelled to play the game again, to take a crack at really mastering the world of Zebes now that i've familiarized myself with it, so it wins more points than Fusion in that regard (it took me almost 7 years to muster the will to go back to that, mostly due to displeasure with the mission structure and the world design in general. That and Fusion is hard in a bad way)

Well, yeah. The great part of it is the exploration, and coming back to places you were before with new equipment, so you can access new areas.

The boss fight and ending itself are just that - an ending.

Wow, I can't believe I'm hearing this! For me the end sequence is definitely one of the best things about the game. I have to believe that it had little impact for you because it had been spoiled for you already, because playing this back '94 and not knowing what's coming next was amazing the first time you experience it.

First, the Mother Brain actually being a creature you fight (unlike the first Metroid) was great, although I did kind of expect that. But during the battle, after Mother Brain hits you with that first huge blast and you're immobilized, I thought I was dead as I couldn't move and she's already charging up a second one. Looking at my energy I knew I couldn't survive another blast like that, and then suddenly the Metroid comes to your rescue, followed by it's demise as it sacrifices itself for you.

It's true that it's not a difficult battle... not in the least, but the creativity displayed make it my second favorite ending sequence in any game I've ever beaten or seen beaten (and I've seen countless endings); second only to Zelda: Ocarina if Time's ever-majestic end sequence.

And yes, Fusion's end sequence was also fantastic, but already experiencing Super Metroid's so much earlier makes it trump it overall.

Just my opinion. Either way it's great to hear you like the game.

it was a good ending considering when it came out

if oyu even got an ending youd be happy back then tbh

This Rarely did a game at that time have much of a storylone let alone much of a ending if anything othe rthan credits

^^^

and it was depressing too getting close to the end of a game and hoping youd get ANYTHING at all

Indeed