The lack of Zero Mission is disturbing me. Sure, the Prime series are all great and Super Metroid is the classic of classics, but Zero Mission is outstanding.

It's probably the best remake ever made in gaming. Fantastic new graphics, soundtrack, fixed and made everything in the original Metroid perfectly, awesome boss battles. Freaking post-game is incredibly good and switches the gameplay in so many ways (making you the weakest and strongest you've ever been). Adds a ton of new content, a huuuge world to play in... I just love it too much.

Fusion was really a blast to play.

I'd go with the first Prime. Looks great, plays great, has what I think is the best atmosphere in the series, and it's just a true classic.

Fusion isn't too far behind for me.

Oh man, such a hard question. I can't even really compare the 2d and 3d games with each other cuz they feel so different. Anyways if i have to choose then Fusion is my favorite 2d entry and Prime 2 is the best 3d one.

Super Metroid. The most important thing about Super Metroid is the complexity of it's platforming and the way it weaved that into the exploration. The way it used platforming as a way to make the player feel like a superhero, and the interesting ways it was able to create ambiance and tension exclusively with those mechanics is something the series has never seen since.

Moments like fighting the behemoth Kraid by jumping between giant spike he shot from his stomach are completely without replication without that level of platforming. The claustrophobia felt fighting Ridley is completely evaporated without the wider context of a typically agile Samus.

I obviously say this because the Prime games are the only real competition. Metroid is a lesser franchise without that integral part of its DNA, and even though Prime is an excellent game, it is no exception to this.

Other M isn't work mentioning, Fusion was linear and had a narrative as bad as Other M, and Zero Mission was stained with the introduction of the Zero Suit, and was the genesis of the downward spiral of the character of Samus Aran. Also it shoehorned in the shitty Prime-style orchastral/choir sound fonts for no reason. Ew.

Basically this.

Hard to chose, Metroid Prime and Super Metroid comes quick to my head but one could argue that MP2 is better than MP even if it has way less wow factor, and Zero Mission better than Super Metroid even if it doesnt have such a strong atmosphere. Dont know, personally my favourite is Metroid Prime, but the saga is too great to choose.

I also want to vindicate the quality of Metroid prime 3, it must be the most linear of them all but is also arguably one of the most fun to play, even if the experience feels less deep. Something similar happens with Fusion.

+1 for original

My thread said Prime.
IMO it's Fusion. Despite it's linearity, if was still an incredible experience from start to finish.

Listening to most of Prime hurt mine.

I'm lying, but I really hate the transition to mostly choir soundfonts Prime instituted.