I’ve been reluctant to replay Super Metroid for some time now out of fear the game hasn’t held up as well as I previously thought. After all, it has been nearly thirty years since its initial release. It turns out these fears couldn’t have been more unfounded; if anything, my most recent playthrough only solidifies my belief as to what a timeless game this truly is. This begs the question: how is it that a game from 1994 is still arguably the best of the subgenre it laid the blueprint for?
For starters, this game has quite an unsettling tone. The moody soundtrack, crisp sprites, expressive color palette, and sense of isolation help to establish a thick atmosphere that is unmatched by any of its contemporaries. In this regard, it’s difficult for me to fathom just how far games advanced in the nine short years between the release of the original Super Mario Bros. and Super Metroid. I can’t think of another game from that era that evokes such a claustrophobic feeling.
The environmental storytelling is also top-notch and allows the gameplay and progression systems to be front and center without being bogged down by cutscenes, unnecessary dialogue, and tutorials. The way the game refuses to hold your hand, and instead subtly and organically guides you in the right direction using colored doors and native wildlife, is proof that "show, don't tell" is just as applicable in video games as it is in formal writing.
Upgrades and items are found at a steady rate, giving the game impeccable pacing and an addicting gameplay loop. Even ten years since my last full playthrough, I can still remember most of the secrets tucked away in the dense world of Zebes. This is a testament to the individuality of the game’s many rooms and how memorable the overall map design is. Because there’s always something to stumble upon, it never feels frustrating to get lost, and there is immense satisfaction in piecing together the game world and the way it flows to create one giant labyrinth.
Jumping is definitely floaty which might turn some people off, but it works to great effect once you understand how crucial momentum is to the platforming. The momentum-based physics in tandem with the wall jumping mechanic allow for some inventive, varied sequence breaking techniques that offer much more experimentation than any of the subsequent 2D Metroid games. Replaying the game and understanding just how many options are there right from the beginning allows each playthrough to feel fresh and engaging by taking slightly different routes and shortcuts.
Super Metroid is one of the most important games ever made because of the way it reinvented what a platformer and adventure game could be, and for the tremendous amount of influence it would have on ensuing games from various genres and developers. Sure, you can split hairs over its weapon cycling, relatively primitive menu map, and finicky wall jumping mechanics. The reality is, though, that no game is perfect. Once you come to terms with this, it’s clear the totality of this game transcends any minor flaws it might hold. Super Metroid has often been imitated, and while some games have come close to matching its greatness, whatever magic it holds has never been fully duplicated. It’s one of my first answers to the question, “What game do you wish you could experience again for the first time?”
A must play.
For starters, this game has quite an unsettling tone. The moody soundtrack, crisp sprites, expressive color palette, and sense of isolation help to establish a thick atmosphere that is unmatched by any of its contemporaries. In this regard, it’s difficult for me to fathom just how far games advanced in the nine short years between the release of the original Super Mario Bros. and Super Metroid. I can’t think of another game from that era that evokes such a claustrophobic feeling.
The environmental storytelling is also top-notch and allows the gameplay and progression systems to be front and center without being bogged down by cutscenes, unnecessary dialogue, and tutorials. The way the game refuses to hold your hand, and instead subtly and organically guides you in the right direction using colored doors and native wildlife, is proof that "show, don't tell" is just as applicable in video games as it is in formal writing.
Upgrades and items are found at a steady rate, giving the game impeccable pacing and an addicting gameplay loop. Even ten years since my last full playthrough, I can still remember most of the secrets tucked away in the dense world of Zebes. This is a testament to the individuality of the game’s many rooms and how memorable the overall map design is. Because there’s always something to stumble upon, it never feels frustrating to get lost, and there is immense satisfaction in piecing together the game world and the way it flows to create one giant labyrinth.
Jumping is definitely floaty which might turn some people off, but it works to great effect once you understand how crucial momentum is to the platforming. The momentum-based physics in tandem with the wall jumping mechanic allow for some inventive, varied sequence breaking techniques that offer much more experimentation than any of the subsequent 2D Metroid games. Replaying the game and understanding just how many options are there right from the beginning allows each playthrough to feel fresh and engaging by taking slightly different routes and shortcuts.
Super Metroid is one of the most important games ever made because of the way it reinvented what a platformer and adventure game could be, and for the tremendous amount of influence it would have on ensuing games from various genres and developers. Sure, you can split hairs over its weapon cycling, relatively primitive menu map, and finicky wall jumping mechanics. The reality is, though, that no game is perfect. Once you come to terms with this, it’s clear the totality of this game transcends any minor flaws it might hold. Super Metroid has often been imitated, and while some games have come close to matching its greatness, whatever magic it holds has never been fully duplicated. It’s one of my first answers to the question, “What game do you wish you could experience again for the first time?”
A must play.