Decided to spend this Retro Tuesday talking about Super Metroid. I was never really a fan of the original NES Metroid as it was fairly challenging and I could never figure out the steps to complete it as they were largely un-intuative. My brother had the Gameboy version and that made much more sense to me and I completed that. I liked the Gameboy version much better and felt it was a bit more accessible. That said, I wasn't a huge Metroid fan until I borrowed Super Metroid from one of my high school friends.
Super Metroid takes the Metroid formula built up in the first two games and ups the ante on all levels to craft a game that really set the bar for other games to follow. The soundtrack was moody and ambient something fairly cutting edge. The game also told a story but instead of using words, it used in game cut scenes and music only.
The word that comes to mind when I think of Super Metroid is moody. The game isn't whimsical or happy like Mario its gritty and dark. Few games had this tone throughout and Metroid really kept that feel the whole way.
Super Metroid was also one the first games in a series that I realised visually nodded to its earlier games. When you arrive on Zebes the first few areas you experience are direct nods to the first level in the original NES game as well as the ending battle with Mother Brain.
Since the game had fairly un-obvious ways to proceed, like many I beat Super Metroid with the Nintendo Power guide at my side. I had fun even though finding each item and beating the game wouldn't have been possible without it.
If you want to keep yourself spoiler free, I suggest not reading the final bits of this post.
The ending was fairly epic from the final level to the few act final story and boss battle. The start of the last level sees the original Metroid from the start of the game all grown and as you enter its lair it attacks you. It stops and the game implies it recognises you from earlier as it thinks you are its mother. As you fight Mother Brain in the final battle the Metroid attacks mother brain to save you from death. As it attacks Mother Brain the Metroid dies but as it dies it imbues you with its power giving you a pretty hefty attack. You use this attack to destroy Mother Brain and escape Zebes. The game does this all with in game cut scenes and music and its expert story telling that made a fantastic ending to a great game.
Super Metroid isn't a game I come back to play regularly but after watching the above walkthrough YouTube video will put it on my list. A few years ago I tried Metroid Prime but it never stuck as a game I needed to finish.
What did you think of Super Metroid? Were you into any of the other Metroid games? Did you always type in the Justin Bailey code or did you always want Nintendo to release a space pirate game?
**UPDATE** Many moons ago OCRemix created Relics of the Chozo a Super Metroid remix album if you like retro game remix soundtracks: http://smproject.ocremix.org
Super Metroid takes the Metroid formula built up in the first two games and ups the ante on all levels to craft a game that really set the bar for other games to follow. The soundtrack was moody and ambient something fairly cutting edge. The game also told a story but instead of using words, it used in game cut scenes and music only.
The word that comes to mind when I think of Super Metroid is moody. The game isn't whimsical or happy like Mario its gritty and dark. Few games had this tone throughout and Metroid really kept that feel the whole way.
Super Metroid was also one the first games in a series that I realised visually nodded to its earlier games. When you arrive on Zebes the first few areas you experience are direct nods to the first level in the original NES game as well as the ending battle with Mother Brain.
Since the game had fairly un-obvious ways to proceed, like many I beat Super Metroid with the Nintendo Power guide at my side. I had fun even though finding each item and beating the game wouldn't have been possible without it.
If you want to keep yourself spoiler free, I suggest not reading the final bits of this post.
The ending was fairly epic from the final level to the few act final story and boss battle. The start of the last level sees the original Metroid from the start of the game all grown and as you enter its lair it attacks you. It stops and the game implies it recognises you from earlier as it thinks you are its mother. As you fight Mother Brain in the final battle the Metroid attacks mother brain to save you from death. As it attacks Mother Brain the Metroid dies but as it dies it imbues you with its power giving you a pretty hefty attack. You use this attack to destroy Mother Brain and escape Zebes. The game does this all with in game cut scenes and music and its expert story telling that made a fantastic ending to a great game.
Super Metroid isn't a game I come back to play regularly but after watching the above walkthrough YouTube video will put it on my list. A few years ago I tried Metroid Prime but it never stuck as a game I needed to finish.
What did you think of Super Metroid? Were you into any of the other Metroid games? Did you always type in the Justin Bailey code or did you always want Nintendo to release a space pirate game?
**UPDATE** Many moons ago OCRemix created Relics of the Chozo a Super Metroid remix album if you like retro game remix soundtracks: http://smproject.ocremix.org
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Yeah, that was a cool game.
The original Metriod was pretty rad, but you're right, very un-intuitive. Plus I think it might have scared me a bit as a kid lol. Super Metroid was fantastic. I loved playing it. Went through it a few times back in the day. Even watching a minute of that run through brought back rad memories!
If you don't watch the entire hour long speed run Mother Brain corrupts another Metroid hatchling!
I admit it... I did skip ahead. But I probably watched a solid 20 mins!
This is another one of my favorite games of all time. I probably go back and play through it once every year or two. One of the things I love about this game is there are all kinds of tricks (bomb jumps, wall jumps, etc) that you can use to get items and access areas before you're suppose too. :) It's fun to "cheat" without really cheating.
Oh, and if you have a gameboy that can play it, Metroid Fusion on the Gameboy SP was pretty awesome. It wasn't as good as Super Metroid but it was pretty close.
When I get around to spending money I want to pickup a Gameboy Advance because to my eye that one seems like it has most of ol re-releases and can still play old Gameboy titles as well. They are cheap and you can get games like Metroid Fusion and other re-releases as well.
The SP was just an advance with a back light and a clam-shell design. I say go SP :)
Awesome, I prob will, thanks!