Current Events > Metroid (NES) is a terrible game

(+) Yeah! (+)

Tyranthraxus posted...

looked posted...

You dont start with an energy tank, and your life doesnt refill when you kill a boss, have you even played the game? Or are you just commenting on what others are saying?

I was trying to draw the closest comparison I could. There aren't any because it's just that crap.

But you do start with just one energy tank filled up, aka "99 energy" after a death.

No, you only start with 30, unless youve been playing a hack, or using the lua script.

16-BITTER posted...

P4wn4g3 posted...

Marble Madness,

??

This game takes like twelve minutes to beat.

The farthest I ever got was the level where everything is tiny
---

P4wn4g3 posted...

Turbam posted...

Yeah, its one of the rougher NES classics to play nowadays.

No. There are so many harder games. TaleSpin is harder. Zelda 2 is harder. Dragon Warrior was confusing to play one NES so I'd consider it harder. Marble Madness, Fester's Quest, Home Alone, Mario the lost levels, Guardian legend, any Megaman, I have a ton of NES games I never managed to get close to beat.

Those games have limited ability to rush through them. Once you know where everything is in Metroid it's a matter of rushing through the game as fast as possible. You can't just skip powerups and such in Zelda 2 and there's a bunch of town stuff that needs to be done.
---

ClunkerSlim posted...

Im not sure why everyone complains about no map. I beat that game in the 80s when I was 11 and I dont ever remember getting lost as being an issue. ...and I was 11.

Same, I think I was 10 or 11 when I first beat it, and it wasnt just me, I had a lot of friends the same age that also beat it. I think the real reason is just that people experience games differently now. They want to pick it up, do a play through and move on to something else, so they never really learn the game, and they are used to games holding their hands. In the nes days we had a limited number of games, so we played the hell out of them.

The Top Crusader posted...

Maybe its because I memorized all the necessary paths and locations of key items when it was new when I was a kid, but I think it was great then and has aged fine. >_>

Just use the NARPAS SWORD if little baby can't handle a moderately difficult game and have fun messing around with infinite resources.

Im not even sure that is the issue, most of these people still couldnt finish the game with invincibility, they are too confused by its massive layout.

I've bitch slapped that game without using one of the cheater passwords so many times in the last 30 years. You want to beat it quick without playing the game for real just use JUSTIN BAILEY and be done with it. Gives you ready access to tourian just go get the ice beam first
---

Alpha218 posted...

Somehow I beat Metroid 2 which has an even more confusing layout (I used a map of course). Never beat 1. Never will because fuck:

- Starting with 30 energy every time you die regardless of how many Energy Tanks youve picked up
- Only having 3 directions to shoot
- Not being able to shoot downwards in midair
- Not being able to crouch (a common NES problem, these two mean that killing enemies low to the ground is impossible)
- Fuck the labyrinthine design
- Fuck the lack of map
- Fuck the brutal difficulty (exaggerated by E Tank problem)

I am a huge Metroid fan. I will never beat this game though.

-The game gets easier as you go on, so you really shouldnt need full health all the time, if you have more than 3 energy tanks and you are dying, something is wrong.

-you dont need to crouch wave beam is wide enough to hit things on the floor. Or bombs of you dont have wave beam. However the original Metroid shouldnt be played like contra, you dont have to kill every enemy, just kill the ones in your way and move on. Once you get screw attack you just jump through them.

-Here is a full game map of metroid. Yes that is the entire game. This is what you guys are complaing in too difficult to navigate without an in game map.

http://www.nordub.ca/Maps/Metroid.png

-just lol at the brutal difficulty. Locate the first e tank, and the game become a lot easier from there.

looked posted...

The game gets easier as you go on, so you really shouldnt need full health all the time, if you have more than 3 energy tanks and you are dying, something is wrong.

No. The game is easiest when you start because all the energy tanks are there.

If you die, you're typically better starting over armed with better knowledge of the layout.
---

Yes I found it hard to get into however super Metroid is tha tits.
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

looked posted...

The game gets easier as you go on, so you really shouldnt need full health all the time, if you have more than 3 energy tanks and you are dying, something is wrong.

No. The game is easiest when you start because all the energy tanks are there.

If you die, you're typically better starting over armed with better knowledge of the layout.

I dont think starting over is ever a better option. The game gives you more energy tanks than you can hold, so there is plenty of opportunity to refill. You really shouldnt need full health until end game, and even then, the Metroids refill 30hp at a time, so its not an issue at that point.

looked posted...

I dont think starting over is ever a better option. The game gives you more energy tanks than you can hold,

having to go to far corners of the map to get to an energy tank is a risky proposition as a single fall into acid means you've just wasted both time and an energy tank.

It's much more efficient to just do everything right the first time. You also don't need to max out your life to beat the game.
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

You also don't need to max out your life to beat the game.

I think we agree on that at least.

I never liked it. Even when it was released.
---

I think its important to at least point out the obvious though - that game has great music and the whole concept of Samus as an armor wearing, female bounty hunter with the metroids...its next level video game conceptualization. Yeah, there are a lot of tie ins to the Alien franchise but its original enough. Either way, its usually accepted that both Metroid I and II were just stepping stones to Super Metroid.
---

I loved the original Metroid. You are saying this because you weren't there and don't understand that 3rd gen consoles were limited.
---

donkeyjack posted...

I loved the original Metroid. You are saying this because you weren't there and don't understand that 3rd gen consoles were limited.

I mean I also have a lot of fond memories playing it back in the NES days.

When it got released on Ambassador 3DS I played it again and I was like "wow holy shit this is actually terrible"

This isn't a problem exclusive to Metroid. Lots of older games suffer from nostalgia goggles.
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

looked posted...

I dont think starting over is ever a better option. The game gives you more energy tanks than you can hold,

having to go to far corners of the map to get to an energy tank is a risky proposition as a single fall into acid means you've just wasted both time and an energy tank.

It's much more efficient to just do everything right the first time. You also don't need to max out your life to beat the game.

Or you can just farm by a spawn pit for like 3 minutes and max out your energy.
---

The Top Crusader posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

looked posted...

I dont think starting over is ever a better option. The game gives you more energy tanks than you can hold,

having to go to far corners of the map to get to an energy tank is a risky proposition as a single fall into acid means you've just wasted both time and an energy tank.

It's much more efficient to just do everything right the first time. You also don't need to max out your life to beat the game.

Or you can just farm by a spawn pit for like 3 minutes and max out your energy.

no. tried that.

turns out powerups despawn after a while so you have to repeatedly collect them so there's no way to just mindlessly mash the button to get your energy. And they drop infrequently enough that it takes a lot longer than 3 minutes.
---

I enjoyed my first playthrough of Metroid (NES) a few years ago. Some aspects of the game are clumsy and archaic but they didn't detract too much, for me.

The starting-health thing didn't bother me much because I just didn't die that often... until the end. I remember that being pretty tedious, having to refill before attempting the final corridor again.

I dunno, I guess I'm pretty forgiving of games but I think this one is still very playable.
---

16-BITTER posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

This isn't a problem exclusive to Metroid. Lots of older games suffer from nostalgia goggles.

Your expectations changing due to later developments and modern conveniences isn't the game's fault. Instead of "omg the game has gotten worse/always sucked" it's actually "I have been spoiled/can no longer appreciate old design sensibilities".

Nah. It's just that there wasn't much anything better at the time and the game did have some cool music. Like design choices in old games aren't good just because newer games do things better. The password system is a terrible system any way you slice it, for example.

Forcing the player to farm energy pellets is ridiculous. Like if they made Final Fantasy 1 but removed all inns so that you had to grind enemies for money to buy potions that would be awful.

There are lots of old game design implementations that I still enjoy, but starting over at effectively 1/10th your life with no way to fill it outside of finding a new energy tank is not one of them.
---

I can't disagree. Metroid on NES hasn't aged well at all after Metroid 2 and then Super Metroid made drastic improvements to the gameplay.

I especially hated that if you died, you would respawn with only 30 health. So you'd have to grind enemies for health until you got to a reasonable level.
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

The Top Crusader posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

looked posted...

I dont think starting over is ever a better option. The game gives you more energy tanks than you can hold,

having to go to far corners of the map to get to an energy tank is a risky proposition as a single fall into acid means you've just wasted both time and an energy tank.

It's much more efficient to just do everything right the first time. You also don't need to max out your life to beat the game.

Or you can just farm by a spawn pit for like 3 minutes and max out your energy.

no. tried that.

turns out powerups despawn after a while so you have to repeatedly collect them so there's no way to just mindlessly mash the button to get your energy. And they drop infrequently enough that it takes a lot longer than 3 minutes.

The number that drop and type that drop is randomly drawn when you enter the room, so yes it can vary and it does run out. But it still shouldnt take very long. Especially if you are laying Bombs on the flies that come out of the lots. Just leave and renter every once in a. While.

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.
---

catboy0_0 posted...

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.

A lot of open ended non-stages games did that but Im not sure why. My guess is purposefully suiciding to fill up your life/ammo? Zelda did it as well as Milons Secret Castle.
---

CapnMuffin posted...

catboy0_0 posted...

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.

A lot of open ended non-stages games did that but Im not sure why. My guess is purposefully suiciding to fill up your life/ammo? Zelda did it as well as Milons Secret Castle.

it pads the game, and I don't know why people defend that like it's a good thing
---

CapnMuffin posted...

catboy0_0 posted...

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.

A lot of open ended non-stages games did that but Im not sure why. My guess is purposefully suiciding to fill up your life/ammo? Zelda did it as well as Milons Secret Castle.

Zelda did not do it to the same degree that metroid did. For life, Zelda had several fairy fountains that you could go to to refill 8 hearts. You could also buy a potion with rupees to heal up to full. Zelda had some bad design choices but the amount of life you start with wasn't one of them as you had the tools you needed to heal.
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

CapnMuffin posted...

catboy0_0 posted...

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.

A lot of open ended non-stages games did that but Im not sure why. My guess is purposefully suiciding to fill up your life/ammo? Zelda did it as well as Milons Secret Castle.

Zelda did not do it to the same degree that metroid did. For life, Zelda had several fairy fountains that you could go to to refill 8 hearts. You could also buy a potion with rupees to heal up to full. Zelda had some bad design choices but the amount of life you start with wasn't one of them as you had the tools you needed to heal.

Metroid had enemy dispensers. Probably not as efficient as Zeldas methods though.
---

CapnMuffin posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

CapnMuffin posted...

catboy0_0 posted...

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.

A lot of open ended non-stages games did that but Im not sure why. My guess is purposefully suiciding to fill up your life/ammo? Zelda did it as well as Milons Secret Castle.

Zelda did not do it to the same degree that metroid did. For life, Zelda had several fairy fountains that you could go to to refill 8 hearts. You could also buy a potion with rupees to heal up to full. Zelda had some bad design choices but the amount of life you start with wasn't one of them as you had the tools you needed to heal.

Metroid had enemy dispensers. Probably not as efficient as Zeldas methods though.

enemy dispensers with a chance to drop 15 energy that happens maybe once every 4 enemies unless you get a missile drop instead is not a fucking tool to heal yourself the same way a fairy fountain is.

It's like saying if Zelda stuck you into a room that spit out infinite stalfos and said "farm those for heart drops"
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

CapnMuffin posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

CapnMuffin posted...

catboy0_0 posted...

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.

A lot of open ended non-stages games did that but Im not sure why. My guess is purposefully suiciding to fill up your life/ammo? Zelda did it as well as Milons Secret Castle.

Zelda did not do it to the same degree that metroid did. For life, Zelda had several fairy fountains that you could go to to refill 8 hearts. You could also buy a potion with rupees to heal up to full. Zelda had some bad design choices but the amount of life you start with wasn't one of them as you had the tools you needed to heal.

Metroid had enemy dispensers. Probably not as efficient as Zeldas methods though.

enemy dispensers with a chance to drop 15 energy that happens maybe once every 4 enemies unless you get a missile drop instead is not a fucking tool to heal yourself the same way a fairy fountain is.

It's like saying if Zelda stuck you into a room that spit out infinite stalfos and said "farm those for heart drops"

Right. I still wonder why games then did this. I dont buy padding. If the padding involves just standing there and farming health drops. At least Zelda leads you to explore a bit going for fairies.

Heres another example. Mega Man X. A very beloved game. Yet when you die on the last boss? Lol fuck you. Jump around and kill caterpillars for an hour.
---

catboy0_0 posted...

No map is fine, but I hated grinding up your E tanks even back then. The game without that would have been better, and it was with the Japanese Famicon version with an actual save system. People slurping the game saying the grinding for E tanks for energy after death is fine are just trolling imo.

The FDS version uses the same system as Zelda, so you still have to die to save. You dont get to keep your health. And yes it is fine, just dont grind

CapnMuffin posted...

Heres another example. Mega Man X. A very beloved game. Yet when you die on the last boss? Lol fuck you. Jump around and kill caterpillars for an hour.

I'll be fair with Mega Man X, energy drops were at least fairly common in the game (especially with the caterpillars, the drop rates must've been specifically assigned differently to each enemy type) so, assuming you had the arm cannon piece that let you charge your sub-weapons, using the charged Rolling Shield on the caterpillars let you fill up rather quickly.

Still annoying though.
---

Banjo2553 posted...

CapnMuffin posted...

Heres another example. Mega Man X. A very beloved game. Yet when you die on the last boss? Lol fuck you. Jump around and kill caterpillars for an hour.

I'll be fair with Mega Man X, energy drops were at least fairly common in the game (especially with the caterpillars, the drop rates must've been specifically assigned differently to each enemy type) so, assuming you had the arm cannon piece that let you charge your sub-weapons, using the charged Rolling Shield on the caterpillars let you fill up rather quickly.

Still annoying though.

Yeah, just beat that for the first time in quite a few years on the new collection. Took a few tries to beat Sigma, and it was annoying, but it still was just a few minutes to refill every time.

I think you have to have the ability to charge sub weapons by then... if you skip the armor Im pretty sure Zero hands it to you after the last Vile fight.
---