This one was a bit disappointing, I was expecting a lot more, especially because the reboot games are so good.

EDIT: Let me go a bit more in-depth about why I think this game doesn't hold up too well. First off, the positives: the sound and graphics are stellar. By far one of the most impressive, ground-breaking, and breathtaking games ever released, both visually and audibly. The music is enchanting, the sound effects are satisfying and immersive, and the visuals look impossible for the system it was released on.

With that all being said, this game has some AWFUL level design at some points. The weird 2.5D aesthetic makes it really hard to tell where you're landing, which doesn't help when you're trying to make super precise inputs. There are also just a lot of cheap enemy placements that are difficult or sometimes impossible to see coming. It just feels unfair most of the time. This game is way easier than TF, but in that game it's always very clear what killed me, how it killed me, and what I should have done. It never feels unfair, it never feels stupid. This level design issue doesn't come up too much but it's often enough for me to not consider this game excellent by any means. It's good and absolutely still worth playing, but has been obliterated by its successors in nearly every way.

An incredible game that, as I played, my opinion of which changed drastically several times. When I first began playing, I totally got the acclaim this game has received over time. The atmosphere is just... magical. Almost unparalleled in video games. The environments are gorgeously realized, especially thanks to the amazing remaster job, the music is eerie and makes heavy use of synthesized instruments that sounds incredibly alien. And of course, the log entries that reveal information about the world of Tallon IV. It's fantastic worldbuilding all around.

Then I got to the Phazon Mines, and my enjoyment dropped somewhat. The Phazon Mines are by no means bad, or even difficult, but they are stressful. The enemies hit hard and are super durable, especially the Fission Metroids (apparently in the original version they didn't show up here -- I don't know why they would have changed that). The Phazon Mines doesn't pull punches, you need to get good. You can't cruise on by with the combat. And that was annoying at first, but as I got a better grasp on things I didn't mind them as much, but I still think it's the worst area in the game, especially to backtrack through.

Then I hit the Chozo Artifacts quest, and I ended up taking a several month long break from this game. I had just gotten through the Mines and was ready to face the end of the game, and to be hit by the crushing realization I had to backtrack through all these areas was just too much. When I finally came back to the game, determined to beat it and refreshed, I found it much less annoying than I feared. I even went through and 100% completed the items, despite the backtracking being a little tedious.

After going through the whole game, finishing it, I can confidently say this is an excellent game. Is the acclaim it's received completely warranted? I don't know, I've got some issues that I've already been over. It's still absolutely worth playing. I think my experience speaks as to why it's so important to finish games before judging them, and not giving up. You never know what might come of a full experience. My issues with the game lessened the more I played, and a fantastic final two bosses helped place this game among some of the best gaming experiences of my life. I hope I continue to take this approach to future games I play, and maybe you'll be more inclined to do so as well in the future :)