This game pains me slightly.

It's not a bad game, far from it. But it is uniquely non-Metroid to me. At every opportunity I tried to personalize my experience, do something out of order, a staple of this series, I'm met with a brick wall and slapped on the wrist as to say 'no, don't play that way'.

I admit this is partially just bad luck on my part. I had a bad first experience with the game, but that was also my first experience, the most important experience with the game. I've done subsequent playthroughs since I now know how you are 'supposed' to play.

But Metroid is a series that shouldn't have a way you are 'supposed' to play.