Metroid Appreciation Thread - Come Inside and Talk About All Things Metroid

Ledge grab is absolutely transformational IMO, makes such a difference. Replaying AM2R at the moment and I'd actually forgotten that this had ledge grab in it as well

I want to finally give Metroid 2 a go on the GameBoy app, I’m hesitant to in a way, without a map it feels like it’s in a poorer place from the off, might either give it a go with a map/guide or wait for a ‘Special Edition’ version to potentially come out giving the player a fully powered Samus, hopefully still with the goal of defeating all the Metroids. Samus Returns is the only 2D one I’ve never played now, I’ve played but not completed the original NES game but playing that now, it’s not fun to play sadly

Edit, on with another retro game courtesy of the SNES app (ALttP), after that I’ll definitely be playing through Fusion again, will be interesting to see if that still holds up against Dread for myself, really hope they don’t leave it much longer to bring ZM to the GBA app.

Robbo-92 wrote:I want to finally give Metroid 2 a go on the GameBoy app, I’m hesitant to in a way, without a map it feels like it’s in a poorer place from the off, might either give it a go with a map/guide or wait for a ‘Special Edition’ version to potentially come out giving the player a fully powered Samus, hopefully still with the goal of defeating all the Metroids. Samus Returns is the only 2D one I’ve never played now, I’ve played but not completed the original NES game but playing that now, it’s not fun to play sadly

Metroid II works a bit differently from the other games in that it's quite linear, with 4-5 main areas that you progress through sequentially (Though you can go back to them).

Those areas are pretty big and it can be hard without a map built in.

But it's not by any means massively difficult and it's still a fun game. I played it though my Super Game Boy a few years ago and it was great.

My main advice would be to get yourself a map to refer to, but only when you get stuck.

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I want to finally give Metroid 2 a go on the GameBoy app, I’m hesitant to in a way, without a map it feels like it’s in a poorer place from the off, might either give it a go with a map/guide or wait for a ‘Special Edition’ version to potentially come out giving the player a fully powered Samus, hopefully still with the goal of defeating all the Metroids. Samus Returns is the only 2D one I’ve never played now, I’ve played but not completed the original NES game but playing that now, it’s not fun to play sadly

Metroid II works a bit differently from the other games in that it's quite linear, with 4-5 main areas that you progress through sequentially (Though you can go back to them).

Those areas are pretty big and it can be hard without a map built in.

But it's not by any means massively difficult and it's still a fun game. I played it though my Super Game Boy a few years ago and it was great.

My main advice would be to get yourself a map to refer to, but only when you get stuck.

So it does a decent job of funnelling you down the right path? Bit of a different take on the sprawling 2D Metroidvania too then?

Robbo-92 wrote:

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I want to finally give Metroid 2 a go on the GameBoy app, I’m hesitant to in a way, without a map it feels like it’s in a poorer place from the off, might either give it a go with a map/guide or wait for a ‘Special Edition’ version to potentially come out giving the player a fully powered Samus, hopefully still with the goal of defeating all the Metroids. Samus Returns is the only 2D one I’ve never played now, I’ve played but not completed the original NES game but playing that now, it’s not fun to play sadly

Metroid II works a bit differently from the other games in that it's quite linear, with 4-5 main areas that you progress through sequentially (Though you can go back to them).

Those areas are pretty big and it can be hard without a map built in.

But it's not by any means massively difficult and it's still a fun game. I played it though my Super Game Boy a few years ago and it was great.

My main advice would be to get yourself a map to refer to, but only when you get stuck.

So it does a decent job of funnelling you down the right path? Bit of a different take on the sprawling 2D Metroidvania too then?

Kind of. Each area has a set number of "Things" you need to do, then the next area will open up. The areas themselves can be quite large, especially with the slightly zoomed in nature of the game screen. Like I said, a copy of a map to refer to when/if you get stuck with where to go and you'll be fine.

EDIT: One of the things I love about Metroid II is that there are now three, very different versions of it to play, and they all play and feel unique. All of them are good as well. Well worth playing all three at some point.

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I want to finally give Metroid 2 a go on the GameBoy app, I’m hesitant to in a way, without a map it feels like it’s in a poorer place from the off, might either give it a go with a map/guide or wait for a ‘Special Edition’ version to potentially come out giving the player a fully powered Samus, hopefully still with the goal of defeating all the Metroids. Samus Returns is the only 2D one I’ve never played now, I’ve played but not completed the original NES game but playing that now, it’s not fun to play sadly

Metroid II works a bit differently from the other games in that it's quite linear, with 4-5 main areas that you progress through sequentially (Though you can go back to them).

Those areas are pretty big and it can be hard without a map built in.

But it's not by any means massively difficult and it's still a fun game. I played it though my Super Game Boy a few years ago and it was great.

My main advice would be to get yourself a map to refer to, but only when you get stuck.

So it does a decent job of funnelling you down the right path? Bit of a different take on the sprawling 2D Metroidvania too then?

Kind of. Each area has a set number of "Things" you need to do, then the next area will open up. The areas themselves can be quite large, especially with the slightly zoomed in nature of the game screen. Like I said, a copy of a map to refer to when/if you get stuck with where to go and you'll be fine.

EDIT: One of the things I love about Metroid II is that there are now three, very different versions of it to play, and they all play and feel unique. All of them are good as well. Well worth playing all three at some point.

Might add it to the list of retro games to play via the Switch online apps then (with a map for when I get stuck ), currently on with ALttP, might give this a go after before Pokémon Stadium if I don’t take an age to get Zelda finished (for the first time ).

This is my only way currently of playing it, so however good the AM2R sounds I won’t be able to play that, same for the 3DS remake unless I buy a copy.

Robbo-92 wrote:

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I want to finally give Metroid 2 a go on the GameBoy app, I’m hesitant to in a way, without a map it feels like it’s in a poorer place from the off, might either give it a go with a map/guide or wait for a ‘Special Edition’ version to potentially come out giving the player a fully powered Samus, hopefully still with the goal of defeating all the Metroids. Samus Returns is the only 2D one I’ve never played now, I’ve played but not completed the original NES game but playing that now, it’s not fun to play sadly

Metroid II works a bit differently from the other games in that it's quite linear, with 4-5 main areas that you progress through sequentially (Though you can go back to them).

Those areas are pretty big and it can be hard without a map built in.

But it's not by any means massively difficult and it's still a fun game. I played it though my Super Game Boy a few years ago and it was great.

My main advice would be to get yourself a map to refer to, but only when you get stuck.

So it does a decent job of funnelling you down the right path? Bit of a different take on the sprawling 2D Metroidvania too then?

Kind of. Each area has a set number of "Things" you need to do, then the next area will open up. The areas themselves can be quite large, especially with the slightly zoomed in nature of the game screen. Like I said, a copy of a map to refer to when/if you get stuck with where to go and you'll be fine.

EDIT: One of the things I love about Metroid II is that there are now three, very different versions of it to play, and they all play and feel unique. All of them are good as well. Well worth playing all three at some point.

Might add it to the list of retro games to play via the Switch online apps then (with a map for when I get stuck ), currently on with ALttP, might give this a go after before Pokémon Stadium if I don’t take an age to get Zelda finished (for the first time ).

This is my only way currently of playing it, so however good the AM2R sounds I won’t be able to play that, same for the 3DS remake unless I buy a copy.

AM2R is playable in a lot of ways - PC, Linux, Steam Deck, Android etc. so you might be able to give it a shot!

So what's the best Metroid Title screen then? It's Prime: Echoes (that music title drop!) or Super right? With Prime in third?

Only thing that I still find odd about Super is that the bodies are lying dead on the floor but the Metroid's glass cage is unbroken. Stylish and ominous though!

Hard to beat OG Prime for me, dat music

Jenuall wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:

Cheeky Devlin wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I want to finally give Metroid 2 a go on the GameBoy app, I’m hesitant to in a way, without a map it feels like it’s in a poorer place from the off, might either give it a go with a map/guide or wait for a ‘Special Edition’ version to potentially come out giving the player a fully powered Samus, hopefully still with the goal of defeating all the Metroids. Samus Returns is the only 2D one I’ve never played now, I’ve played but not completed the original NES game but playing that now, it’s not fun to play sadly

Metroid II works a bit differently from the other games in that it's quite linear, with 4-5 main areas that you progress through sequentially (Though you can go back to them).

Those areas are pretty big and it can be hard without a map built in.

But it's not by any means massively difficult and it's still a fun game. I played it though my Super Game Boy a few years ago and it was great.

My main advice would be to get yourself a map to refer to, but only when you get stuck.

So it does a decent job of funnelling you down the right path? Bit of a different take on the sprawling 2D Metroidvania too then?

Kind of. Each area has a set number of "Things" you need to do, then the next area will open up. The areas themselves can be quite large, especially with the slightly zoomed in nature of the game screen. Like I said, a copy of a map to refer to when/if you get stuck with where to go and you'll be fine.

EDIT: One of the things I love about Metroid II is that there are now three, very different versions of it to play, and they all play and feel unique. All of them are good as well. Well worth playing all three at some point.

Might add it to the list of retro games to play via the Switch online apps then (with a map for when I get stuck ), currently on with ALttP, might give this a go after before Pokémon Stadium if I don’t take an age to get Zelda finished (for the first time ).

This is my only way currently of playing it, so however good the AM2R sounds I won’t be able to play that, same for the 3DS remake unless I buy a copy.

AM2R is playable in a lot of ways - PC, Linux, Steam Deck, Android etc. so you might be able to give it a shot!

Genuinely can’t remember the last time I loaded the PC up can’t even remember the last time I used a non iOS device really!

deathofcows wrote:So what's the best Metroid Title screen then? It's Prime: Echoes (that music title drop!) or Super right? With Prime in third?

Only thing that I still find odd about Super is that the bodies are lying dead on the floor but the Metroid's glass cage is unbroken. Stylish and ominous though!

Prime is definitely the most memorable in my opinion.

I think Echoes and then Prime 1. And honestly probably Prime 3 after that.

All of them.

Finished Fusion today, 58% items and just over 4 hours on the clock. I never beat Nightmare as a kid so never got to finish it. I wanted to go back for the items I realised I clearly missed, but I accidentally locked myself into the end of the game.

deathofcows wrote:So what's the best Metroid Title screen then? It's Prime: Echoes (that music title drop!) or Super right? With Prime in third?

Only thing that I still find odd about Super is that the bodies are lying dead on the floor but the Metroid's glass cage is unbroken. Stylish and ominous though!

Having studied the video CD posted, I can confirm the correct order (not counting side games or remakes) is…

Metroid
Metroid Prime
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Super Metroid
Metroid Zero Mission
Metroid Return of Samus
Metroid Dread
Metroid Other M
Metroid Prime: Corruption

The original Metroid really has no right to be as dripping in atmosphere as it is, iconic music and simple setup text is just perfection. Prime is just iconic, combination of that alien biology backdrop with that music is superb. The rest gradually degrade after that. Dread and Other M although reusing the iconic music have a pretty basic backdrop. Corruption is just a bit pants.

Qikz wrote:Finished Fusion today, 58% items and just over 4 hours on the clock. I never beat Nightmare as a kid so never got to finish it. I wanted to go back for the items I realised I clearly missed, but I accidentally locked myself into the end of the game.

Finished Fusion myself today!

5:30 with just 56% items. I think that's likely my lowest item tally in a Metroid - I blame the frequent soft-locking the game does to funnel you forward. In the end I just resorted to only fully backtracking at the end when I was powered up - then the areas hardlock on you doh!

Fun game though! 8/10 maybe?

Nice gameplay and pacing and the general story/tone was well done. Loved when the environmental zone gets filled with those brewing insect cocoons - as good telegraphing and sense of incoming dread in this game as in any Metroid (maybe any game!). And the set-pieces were well done. Cartoony comic-book colourings and stylings popped, but the environments had little of that fine-hewn organic beauty I love in a Metroid. And except for the underwater track most music themes were broadly interchangeable Industrial Ominous (a bit like in Dread, really).

I suppose it's a commendable commitment to the Space Station Horror theme but it makes it feel a bit less rich as an adventure. I took barely any screenshots on the Switch which is very atypical for me, but nothing really wowed on arrival (unlike say Super).

That said the adventure was very playable and moreish, and that trademark Metroid sixth-sense-secret finding and general sense of crumbly-block bomb-everything decay whilst exploring was probably the best its been in a 2D Metroid I've played.

And wrt: CK's post above - I quite like Corruption's synth-choir scream thing!

Glad more people are enjoying Fusion

Loaded Metroid 2 up earlier, that felt completely different to the other 2D games I've played, not in a good way either......

Super Metroid turns 30 today.
Still my favourite game ever.


30....

I remember playing Super Metroid and Doom for the first time around a mate's house. ON THE SAME DAY.

kazanova_Frankenstein wrote:I remember playing Super Metroid and Doom for the first time around a mate's house. ON THE SAME DAY.

That'd be like seeing Star Wars and Godfather for the first time on the same day.

But so far so standard from Nintendo. Another Metroid anniversary without so much as a tweet.

I used to see big-box Super Metroid in Woolworths during my lunch breaks. It looked so good, but I didn’t have a SNES. Then I got a SNES. Went to Woolies the next week and… SM was gone. Never did manage to get a copy of my own.