Board 8 > I just finished Super Metroid for the first time.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Which is to say I played it quite a few times before, but never finished it despite loving the series and at one time trying everything Metroid I could get my hands on. At the height of my Metroid phase (2002-2005 like everyone else) it was unfortunately unaccessible (I had a SNES but by the time I was interested in the game it was hard to find) so I didnt play it until first trying emulation then later when it was 30p on Wii U when they were launching that systems Virtual Console. I got a decent way in each time, but never finished it and due to a variety of factors simply got less interested in Metroid.

Then the announced Dread, and I was like time to finish Samus Returns I guess, and I did, and that game rules. This was the point I realised that it was really silly that the only one of the mainline games I hadnt finished was the one that everyone raves about. So I gave it a go, finished it in 5 hours, and I have to say, what an incredible game.

It really bums me out that they didnt do a GBA/DS rerelease of this game which made some quality of life improvements like updated controls or a better map system as now if they ever do a proper rerelease of this game it will be radically different. There were just some minor technical quibbles holding it back slightly. Also is it just me or is there a massive difficulty spike when you get to Ridleys lair? I found Ridley in particular much harder than every other boss in the entire game.

Also I knew about the ending beforehand but actually playing through it still managed to be enormously affecting. Its weird how they manage to convey so much emotion and drama with basically nothing.

Overall I dont know how I would rank it among the 2D Metroids because they are all fantastic from this one on. You can contrast that to my reaction to Symphony of the Night, which I played after all the GBA and DS Castlevanias (except for Harmony of Dissonance) and came away just thinking thats it?, this one holds up.

I guess now I should replay Metroid Fusion.

PS I saved the animals because Im not a heartless monster.

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wow you should have killed the animals

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Lightning Strikes posted...

when it was 30p on Wii U when they were launching that systems Virtual Console.

30p? As in "30 pence"? Wait, are you British?

Then the announced Dread, and I was like time to finish Samus Returns I guess, and I did, and that game rules. This was the point I realised that it was really silly that the only one of the mainline games I hadnt finished was the one that everyone raves about. So I gave it a go, finished it in 5 hours, and I have to say, what an incredible game.

Samus Returns is indeed amazing. I'd argue it's the best 2D Metroid since Super. The controls (especially the aiming) really helped modernize Metroid and make it feel fresh.

And beating Super Metroid in 5 hours on your first full playthrough is impressive, even if you got partway through the game before. Maridia always trips me up, as do a couple other sections.

It really bums me out that they didnt do a GBA/DS rerelease of this game which made some quality of life improvements like updated controls or a better map system as now if they ever do a proper rerelease of this game it will be radically different. There were just some minor technical quibbles holding it back slightly. Also is it just me or is there a massive difficulty spike when you get to Ridleys lair? I found Ridley in particular much harder than every other boss in the entire game.

I think Super has aged exceptionally well. The controls are a little stiff compared to later 2D Metroids, but it's not clunky. Just needs the option to auto-run instead of holding the run button.

And I never found Ridley or his lair difficult. Super is pretty easy overall. I think Phantoon gave me some issues when I was younger.

Also I knew about the ending beforehand but actually playing through it still managed to be enormously affecting. Its weird how they manage to convey so much emotion and drama with basically nothing.

Yep. 2D Metroid games do an amazing game conveying a story through subtext.

Overall I dont know how I would rank it among the 2D Metroids because they are all fantastic from this one on. You can contrast that to my reaction to Symphony of the Night, which I played after all the GBA and DS Castlevanias (except for Harmony of Dissonance) and came away just thinking thats it?, this one holds up.

I think Super is still the best 2D Metroid, although Samus Returns and Zero Mission (hell, even AM2R) are part of the conversation. Fusion is also great, but the linear design holds it back from being elite.

The thing about Super is that it's the last Metroid that doesn't tell you where to go next. That adds to the game's atmosphere and distinguishes it from later titles.

As for your Castlevania assessment, I understand why you feel that way about SotN. The GBA and DS games added a lot of new abilities and spells that make SotN look vanilla by comparison. SotN, however has an amazing atmosphere to it, not to mention a larger scope than the portable ones.

Personally I think Order of Ecclesia is technically the best Castlevania. The game is fun, challenging, loaded with cool abilities, and the storyline and characters are very underrated.

That said, SotN has an "IT" factor about it that makes it feel legendary. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, or maybe it's the soundtrack, but SotN is still my favorite Vania to this day.

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Yeah I can't get over how much the feeling of progression is ruined in Fusion and Zero Mission. Great maps, controls, and stuff, but I never was really having Metroid fun until the post-game clean up because that was the first time I felt like I was exploring on my own.

Samus Returns was great though, just held back by being Metroid II.

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Also, my rankings

2D Metroids:

Super
Samus Returns
Zero Mission
AM2R
Fusion
II: Return of Samus (very underrated btw)
Metroid NES

Castlevanias:

Symphony of the Night
Order of Ecclesia
Circle of the Moon
Dawn of Sorrow
Portrait of Ruin
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Aria of Sorrow
Harmony of Dissonance

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pjbasis posted...

Yeah I can't get over how much the feeling of progression is ruined in Fusion and Zero Mission. Great maps, controls, and stuff, but I never was really having Metroid fun until the post-game clean up because that was the first time I felt like I was exploring on my own.

Yeah, I get why they guide you (to keep newbies from getting discouraged), but I never liked the "Metroid On-Rails" philosophy they took with everything after Super.

Samus Returns was great though, just held back by being Metroid II.

See, I loved hunting down all the Metroids in each area. Exploring for items AND mini-bosses is a blast IMO.

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The speed run record of Super Metroid will make you appreciate the games controls.

https://youtu.be/rp8XPscu0wI

I played Super Metroid for the first time on Wii, and it is amazing how well it holds up after all these years. For a while I assumed all SNES games must still feel that great, but after playing more... no this one is really on another level.

I haven't played ZM or Samus Returns, but Super is straight up the pinnacle of its genre. They perfected it right there. Like take LttP, Zelda iterated on that formula since then and imo has improved it, but Metroid had nothing to improve! And yeah Lower Norfair is hard but I like that! (And its banging theme tune)

I get why people have problems with Fusion but I'm glad that they tried to mix it up because you couldn't just do the same thing again but worse. And I'm a little wary of Dread because it looks kinda like it's just... Fusion again. Like it's a great formula but they're not doing anything new with it? IDK.

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plasmabeam posted...

30p? As in "30 pence"? Wait, are you British?

I am, though Ive lived in Ireland since 2014. I still use the UK eshop though because thats where I set up my account and the prices are better.

I didnt know there was anyone left who didnt know my Briishness haha!

plasmabeam posted...

And beating Super Metroid in 5 hours on your first full playthrough is impressive, even if you got partway through the game before. Maridia always trips me up, as do a couple other sections.

Thanks! Having done the early stuff a few times before absolutely helped, I was blazing through it until the Wrecked Ship then definitely slowed down - but I was also helped by knowing that you needed to power bomb the tube in Maridia thanks to osmosis. With that said I got held up a little towards the end by, uh, forgetting where the gateway to Tourian was.

On Fusion, I think it did a terrific job of being a more linear, story-driven Metroid game, it works because it was clearly designed as a handheld game where you could play in chunks, just like Metroid II was. I think as an action game it is fantastic, it controls so well and gives you sone fun different abilities (plus it does gradually open up). Furthermore after playing it for a bit I had forgotten how good the art was. Super Metroids visuals hold up quite well, but Metroid Fusion is just a great looking game by any standard.

Also yes, Metroid II>Metroid which is the worst Metroid game including the ones people hate on. Great soundtrack however.

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Huh I've beaten the game three times, all between 2009-2013.

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Super Metroid is fantastic aside from a single poorly designed room.

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If Metroid 1 had ways to refill your health this slander wouldn't be happening!

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Lightning Strikes posted...

I am, though Ive lived in Ireland since 2014.

@Lightning_Strikes No kidding? Whereabouts? I lived in Belfast for three months while studying abroad. Best three months of my life.

Also, ironically enough, the only videogame I played while living in Northern Ireland was... Super Metroid. Was the only ROM on my laptop and I played it at 4am on the day I arrived because I was too jet-lagged and culture-shocked to sleep.

On Fusion, I think it did a terrific job of being a more linear, story-driven Metroid game, it works because it was clearly designed as a handheld game where you could play in chunks, just like Metroid II was. I think as an action game it is fantastic, it controls so well and gives you sone fun different abilities (plus it does gradually open up). Furthermore after playing it for a bit I had forgotten how good the art was. Super Metroids visuals hold up quite well, but Metroid Fusion is just a great looking game by any standard.

Absolutely. Fusion is great for what it is. And your Fusion/Metroid 2 comparison is spot-on. Both are definitely meant to be digested in chunks.

red13n posted...

Super Metroid is fantastic aside from a single poorly designed room.

@red13n Which room?

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Glass tube.

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Lightning Strikes posted...

Also is it just me or is there a massive difficulty spike when you get to Ridleys lair? I found Ridley in particular much harder than every other boss in the entire game.

I remember feeling this way also during my first (and only) successful playthrough of Super Metroid. I hope you enjoy replaying Fusion!

Now play the Super Metroid/Link to the Past combo randomizers

http://samus.link

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red13n posted...

Glass tube.

Nothing wrong with this room at all, I think it's a pretty neat puzzle!

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It's been a while, but I recall there being another way into maridia other then the glass tube

Anyway the real problem with super metriod is locking you in tourian without warning and forcing you to start the whole game over if you want to collect all the items

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It's been a while, but I recall there being another way into maridia other then the glass tube

You can enter Maridia by exiting the Wrecked Ship going east. I don't think you can get to Draygon from that entrance (unless you've already killed him, which unlocks some doors); it basically just takes you from above Maridia to below it. However, it routes you through a broken glass tube and then kicks you out right next to the intact one, which the designers presumably considered an adequate hint.
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I think you do need to go through the glass tube to proceed. There is indeed another way into Maridia but you hit a wall eventually and have to go in through the glass tube eventually at least I think so.

PrinceKaro posted...

Anyway the real problem with super metriod is locking you in tourian without warning and forcing you to start the whole game over if you want to collect all the items

Oh wow I did not realise this at all. That is bad.

Also Fusion is great still. Yakuza still the hardest boss. Actually the game seems a lot harder than both Samus Returns and Super Metroid in general where in each I only had trouble with one boss, the robot in Samus Returns and Ridley in Super Metroid. Fusion has been surprisingly challenging so far.

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I beat it for the first time myself a year or two ago. I think it's the only game I actually beat on the SNES Mini before Switch essentially made it obsolete!

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Good job Leon.

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