A genuine classic, one of Nintendo’s best in a storied and (until recently) forgotten series that rarely has a miss. This version of the game is—finally—the definitive way to play it, bringing enhanced visuals, impeccable anti-aliasing, unflinching 60 FPS, and a (I think new) small hint system.

I would normally recommend using Dolphin to emulate this flawed masterpiece, but now I recommend spending the cash and giving this version the time of day instead.

Though I call it a genuine masterpiece, it’s not without issues, perhaps personal gripes. I think it’s easy to get to stuck, like all Metroid games, but this one has 12 artifacts to collect that are way too well hidden and easy to miss as you progress, forcing you to backtrack more than usual. It unfortunately NEEDS a guide to finish, if only for the artifacts required to beat the game.

Also, like Half-Life 1, the final area sucks but is thankfully very, very short; fighting Fission Metroids is a pain the fucking ass, too.

But, despite these gripes, I was enthralled once again from beginning to end, beating in in a matter of days without putting it down. The atmosphere and presentation are off the charts, and the combat is very satisfying, one of my favorites in the classic 3D adventure realm. This and the recent Metroid Dread have solidified this as my de-facto favorite Nintendo franchise.

Bring on 2 and 3!