-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
GAF Plays: The Metroid series
- Thread starter MarshMellow96
- Start date
Parallax Scroll
Banned
Zero Mission is a decent game but the original is still much better. Some people these days can't handle a little challenge in their games.MarshMellow96 said:
HorribleJames
Banned
ZM is awesome but for some reason just "felt" abbreviated. couldn't put my finger on it, but it felt small compared to normal metroid games even if that may not be true.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
On a side note I once beat the original Metroid like 4 or 5 times in a row as a kid. I had chicken pox, and playing Metroid was the only thing I could do one day to not scratch myself to death! :lol :lol :lol 
riceandbeans
Member
Osuwari said:
Right, it tells you where to go some times but the paths are still hidden. There was one point I couldn't figure out towards the end where you had to use a bomb in a place I wouldn't have thought of. And I'm stuck again now after replaying it. Nintendo games and me don't go well together. They're the only games I've ever needed an guide for. Got stuck in Link to the Past as well.
Are you sure you're not giving up too fast? There are a lot of times in Metroid where I figured out what to do a full hour after I realized I'm stuck.riceandbeans said:
Metroid is the only series where I don't go to a walkthrough after being stuck for a while, I usually don't mind just looking it up (for example, Zelda). With Metroid it ALWAYS ends with "man I was fucking stupid, a few more minutes and I could've figured it out myself."
King Chozo
Banned
THIS x 10000! My first playthrough of Super Metroid it took me forever to find the place where you super missile the wall to get to the Kraid. I found the spazer and high jump boots and kept trying to run through the norfair trying to find non-hot rooms. When I found the spazer I thought that was my ticket, but no. I think I was just chillin with the game at the title screen for a while when I saw them gameplay video start and showed samus super missile the wall and I felt so dumb.upandaway said:
GrotesqueBeauty
Banned
I think it's for a variety of reasons, including the difficulty level. MZM is way too easy on normal (and thus quick to burn through), but the jump to hard mode is to big without a happy medium. I thought the game would've been more balanced with the larger missile and health expansions of normal mode mixed with the damage ratio and enemy patterns of hard mode.HorribleJames said:
I think the experience also suffers from the abrupt switch from the planet to the stealth/mother ship/Chozodia segments, which are clumsy compared to the rest of game, and don't really share the same feel or tone as Zebes imo. I appreciate that they tried to do something new, but ultimately the end stands out as the weakest part of the whole game. Half the time I don't even feel like completing the game after defeating Mother Brain and escaping to the ship. All the momentum built up throughout the title comes to a grinding halt while you dick around in a hokey pastel spaceship and Chozo-Egypt.
the biggest problem with NES Metroid is how the controls feel so limited compared to Super, Fusion and ZM.
if you played it first, that wouldn't have been an issue at all but for people like me who played the later games first, going to that game is a really boring and frustrating experience. lack of map is bad mostly because of all the rooms that look identical (i can waltz through the map-equipped games without ever looking at the map)
i'm glad ZM got made and wish every day that we get a remake of Metroid 2 since i never owned it and i don't feel like tracking it because of clunky controld and B/W palette.
i haven't started my playthoughs yet. i've been caught up watching some One Piece eps but i think i'll give the games a shot this weekend. i'm not too concerned because i still have more than half of the month left and i can beat most of the games in a few hours (though SM is going to take me the longest probably since i've beaten it only once)
if you played it first, that wouldn't have been an issue at all but for people like me who played the later games first, going to that game is a really boring and frustrating experience. lack of map is bad mostly because of all the rooms that look identical (i can waltz through the map-equipped games without ever looking at the map)
i'm glad ZM got made and wish every day that we get a remake of Metroid 2 since i never owned it and i don't feel like tracking it because of clunky controld and B/W palette.
i haven't started my playthoughs yet. i've been caught up watching some One Piece eps but i think i'll give the games a shot this weekend. i'm not too concerned because i still have more than half of the month left and i can beat most of the games in a few hours (though SM is going to take me the longest probably since i've beaten it only once)
_Alkaline_
Member
The original Metroid has its flaws - it had them back then and they're even more frustrating now that SM, ZM, etc has come out - but it's still a great game. You just have to approach it with the right attitude - expecting it to deliver the same kind of experience as Super Metroid, for instance, will only lead to disappointment.
What the original Metroid does require is some willingness to work around its faults/nuances and by doing so, you will appreciate all the good stuff that's inside. The first thing I tell everyone who hasn't played the game before is to make a map. Zebes in the original Metroid is confusing, with its look-a-like corridors and dead ends, and not making a map will make backtracking very difficult. You can get through without one but it's a lot harder. Making a map will help you master Zebes and if you can manage to do this, the game really does become very enjoyable.
The great thing is that the core Metroid formula - seeing areas you can't access, finding items and then returning to the aforementioned areas to progress - is really quite strong here even despite being the first game in the series.
FWIW I didn't play the original Metroid until after Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion and all three Prime games. Once I got over the initial shock - its confusing layout, always starting with 30 health and the floaty controls - I was actually surprised at how strong the core game was. The Metroid formula is one of the most satisfying out there and the original Metroid is no different - in some ways it's even more satisfying than other entries in the series due to the sheer complexity the world, even if its puzzles aren't nearly as deep as later entries.
Metroid even has some things Super Metroid could not match - the atmosphere is at its most lonely here, even if its not as oppressive as, say, Tourian at beginning of Super Metroid. Some may blame it on the black backgrounds and chiptune music but I think there's more to it than that. You feel truly helpless, alone and claustrophic at times and the original Metroid accomplishes this better than any other entries in the series.
I'm not going to give the original lee-way for its numerous faults - flaws that were frustrating back then as well - but in no way is it unplayable or even unenjoyable. Approach it with the right mindset and you will discover the fruits of doing so.
What the original Metroid does require is some willingness to work around its faults/nuances and by doing so, you will appreciate all the good stuff that's inside. The first thing I tell everyone who hasn't played the game before is to make a map. Zebes in the original Metroid is confusing, with its look-a-like corridors and dead ends, and not making a map will make backtracking very difficult. You can get through without one but it's a lot harder. Making a map will help you master Zebes and if you can manage to do this, the game really does become very enjoyable.
The great thing is that the core Metroid formula - seeing areas you can't access, finding items and then returning to the aforementioned areas to progress - is really quite strong here even despite being the first game in the series.
FWIW I didn't play the original Metroid until after Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion and all three Prime games. Once I got over the initial shock - its confusing layout, always starting with 30 health and the floaty controls - I was actually surprised at how strong the core game was. The Metroid formula is one of the most satisfying out there and the original Metroid is no different - in some ways it's even more satisfying than other entries in the series due to the sheer complexity the world, even if its puzzles aren't nearly as deep as later entries.
Metroid even has some things Super Metroid could not match - the atmosphere is at its most lonely here, even if its not as oppressive as, say, Tourian at beginning of Super Metroid. Some may blame it on the black backgrounds and chiptune music but I think there's more to it than that. You feel truly helpless, alone and claustrophic at times and the original Metroid accomplishes this better than any other entries in the series.
I'm not going to give the original lee-way for its numerous faults - flaws that were frustrating back then as well - but in no way is it unplayable or even unenjoyable. Approach it with the right mindset and you will discover the fruits of doing so.
cartman414
Member
Parallax Scroll said:
You have got to be joking. The original Metroid is downright protean in comparison to Zero Mission, which actually had some variety and solid mechanics going on. Original Metroid was challenging for the wrong reasons, not to mention repetitious.
_Alkaline_ said:
Many of those flaws (i. e. repetitive level design) are exactly why the original Metroid wasn't all that rewarding. The only real payoff was the awesome for its time ending.
AgentOtaku
Member
joedick said:
Where is this Manga available?
Snytbaggen
Member
Yeah, I fully agree. It's the main reason for why it's in the lower half of my Metroid ratings. Would it be possible for anyone to make a comparison between the Zero Mission, Super Metroid and Fusion map? But yeah, it felt short.HorribleJames said:
MarshMellow96
Member
I'll admit that it's not for everyone, but once you adapt to the 'hostility' then it's absolutely fine. I personally think that something like having 30 health was a conscious decision to give players the feeling of powering up.
After defeating Ridley, I was making my way upwards through Norfair. It's the first time that I've felt genuinely claustrophobic in a video game; mainly because I can picture a lone Samus struggling her way through purple bubbles.
But yeah, the atmosphere in the first game is second to none.
If the original Metroid isn't very rewarding save for the ending, doesn't that make it like the majority of games? I find discovering items - regardless of map layouts - incredibly rewarding. That said, if the ending is rewarding, you could say that the ends justify the means.
After defeating Ridley, I was making my way upwards through Norfair. It's the first time that I've felt genuinely claustrophobic in a video game; mainly because I can picture a lone Samus struggling her way through purple bubbles.
But yeah, the atmosphere in the first game is second to none.
If the original Metroid isn't very rewarding save for the ending, doesn't that make it like the majority of games? I find discovering items - regardless of map layouts - incredibly rewarding. That said, if the ending is rewarding, you could say that the ends justify the means.
AgentOtaku
Member
Finished Prime1 this afternoon and boy has this been a long time coming.
Basically bought my first Gamecube back in '03 ...the Platinum sku that still had component out capability. I still have it actually.
Anyway, Metroid Prime was the first title I bought for it and fell in love. I remeber getting to the Phazon Suit and being abruptly halted by the fetch quest that lay ahead afterward ...it completely sucked away all of the momentum I had as I had no idea it was coming (hadn't really payed attention to the Artifacts leading up to it).
I said "fuck this" under my breath and put the game away intending to get back to it someday. It also didn't help that I'd had the last boss fight spoiled for me as well as the ending.
So yeah, the day never came and I eventually sold my Player's Choice copy a few years later. I would eventually buy Corruption and just read the synopsis. That didn't work though as I still felt guilty/disconnected and it also went unplayed, eventually to be sold off. I basically gave a FU to the Prime franchise as I felt I just couldn't get into and there was so much else coming out at the time. I just considered myself comfortable with the 2D entries and didn't need to bother.
Then the Prime Trilogy got announced a couple of years after that and thought I'd give it a go once more as the controls were too good to pass up (not to mention the price during a BestBuy sale). Got my copy before it went out of print and still it was left unplayed.
Then someone went and made this thread and I just figured now was as good a time as any.
I'm glad I did. Other than the tediuos/ball-busting backtracking and traversal that certainly tested my patience, the game really still is a classic and most certainly belongs in the pantheon of most important titles ever made. I mean jesus, Retro certainly earned their mythic like reputation after this.
My first playthrough time was just under 13 hours btw... I once again, wasn't gonna let the fetch quest ruin things and just opted for a FAQ this time. I just wanted to enjoy myself
So with that, I'm taking a break and gonna go through Fusion and I gotta say, I'm really digging it's narrative/focused driven layout alot more than my first go years back. Maybe it's because I just finished Super Metroid and wasn't quite ready to jump into Zero Mission, with it's obvious extension of Super's sensabilities. Guess that's why I'm Pretty excited about Other M's approach with story. Happy to see Nintendo finally giving the go ahead and fleshing out their roster, if only a little bit.
Basically bought my first Gamecube back in '03 ...the Platinum sku that still had component out capability. I still have it actually.
Anyway, Metroid Prime was the first title I bought for it and fell in love. I remeber getting to the Phazon Suit and being abruptly halted by the fetch quest that lay ahead afterward ...it completely sucked away all of the momentum I had as I had no idea it was coming (hadn't really payed attention to the Artifacts leading up to it).
I said "fuck this" under my breath and put the game away intending to get back to it someday. It also didn't help that I'd had the last boss fight spoiled for me as well as the ending.
So yeah, the day never came and I eventually sold my Player's Choice copy a few years later. I would eventually buy Corruption and just read the synopsis. That didn't work though as I still felt guilty/disconnected and it also went unplayed, eventually to be sold off. I basically gave a FU to the Prime franchise as I felt I just couldn't get into and there was so much else coming out at the time. I just considered myself comfortable with the 2D entries and didn't need to bother.
Then the Prime Trilogy got announced a couple of years after that and thought I'd give it a go once more as the controls were too good to pass up (not to mention the price during a BestBuy sale). Got my copy before it went out of print and still it was left unplayed.
Then someone went and made this thread and I just figured now was as good a time as any.
I'm glad I did. Other than the tediuos/ball-busting backtracking and traversal that certainly tested my patience, the game really still is a classic and most certainly belongs in the pantheon of most important titles ever made. I mean jesus, Retro certainly earned their mythic like reputation after this.
My first playthrough time was just under 13 hours btw... I once again, wasn't gonna let the fetch quest ruin things and just opted for a FAQ this time. I just wanted to enjoy myself
So with that, I'm taking a break and gonna go through Fusion and I gotta say, I'm really digging it's narrative/focused driven layout alot more than my first go years back. Maybe it's because I just finished Super Metroid and wasn't quite ready to jump into Zero Mission, with it's obvious extension of Super's sensabilities. Guess that's why I'm Pretty excited about Other M's approach with story. Happy to see Nintendo finally giving the go ahead and fleshing out their roster, if only a little bit.
I just restarted the first prime game on my trilogy disc (never finished the original though). Just picked up the varia suit and called it a night. I love the atmosphere in this game and it actually makes this a pretty good game to play just before going to bed!
Will try and post updates of my progress.
Will try and post updates of my progress.
MarshMellow96
Member
I'm playing the first Prime game currently and it gives off the same isolated vibe as the first game. 8 years late, I'm amazed that they managed to pull off a 3D Metroid.
I had a moment in the morph ball today where I thought 'what if I jump up here?'. Lo and behold, I found a hole in the wall and which led to an energy tank. Classic stuff
The HUD is also absolutely flawless in the way that it adds to the feeling of claustrophobia that I talked about when posting about the NES original. You really feel as though you're looking through the visor. I definitely want a 3DS remake now...
I can understand those people who ramble on about how the Wii is good for FPS games. It feels very natural (save for a few tracking glitches) to me, almost mouse-like in the way you can put a cursor on a target. I played Halo 3 with the girlfriend yesterday evening and it felt alien :lol I don't know it just felt a little too.. linear? I felt too aware of the axis. Obviously I'm not going to bang out some shit like I'll never play a controller FPS again but damn - when it's done right, it feels spot on
I am worried a little about my Trilogy disc though. I know that it's a dual layer (or something like that), but the start up time seems a little...drawn out? Is this just the access time or what?
I had a moment in the morph ball today where I thought 'what if I jump up here?'. Lo and behold, I found a hole in the wall and which led to an energy tank. Classic stuff
The HUD is also absolutely flawless in the way that it adds to the feeling of claustrophobia that I talked about when posting about the NES original. You really feel as though you're looking through the visor. I definitely want a 3DS remake now...
I can understand those people who ramble on about how the Wii is good for FPS games. It feels very natural (save for a few tracking glitches) to me, almost mouse-like in the way you can put a cursor on a target. I played Halo 3 with the girlfriend yesterday evening and it felt alien :lol I don't know it just felt a little too.. linear? I felt too aware of the axis. Obviously I'm not going to bang out some shit like I'll never play a controller FPS again but damn - when it's done right, it feels spot on
I am worried a little about my Trilogy disc though. I know that it's a dual layer (or something like that), but the start up time seems a little...drawn out? Is this just the access time or what?
MarshMellow96
Member
upandaway said:
Not an option. Sheeeeit. I'm planning on picking up a second copy anyway. Might be a third if I'm unlucky :lol
Red Scarlet
Member
Get good times, I randomly played today and missed an item, so I ended with a 1:27.
GrotesqueBeauty
Banned
Wait, which game? Good to see you btw.Red Scarlet said:
Red Scarlet
Member
Super.
It's only temporary.
It's only temporary.
Kard8p3 said:
Try the 15% challenge, I think it gives you the same ending pictures as 100% under 2 hours, but it makes it the hardest Metroid by far. Just make sure you get the Varia suit as it comes with the Gravity suit even if you don't pick it up, and it's easier to keep track of what % you have because 1 item = 1%. Make sure you only grab items you need. I believe 1 missile tank, 2 energy tanks, and 2 super missile tanks are the max you should get. You can also get an extra super missile tank instead of the 2nd energy tank. Missiles are required for bosses so having less makes it harder, as you have to collect missiles during the fight. Also remember the required items: Morph Ball, Morph Ball Bomb, 1 missile tank, 1 super missile tank, Ice Beam, Varia suit, Speed Booster, Power Grip, Gravity suit, Plasma Beam, and Space Jump(last 3 are the unknown items) when you plan what to pick up. Screw Attack is very useful for collecting missiles during the Mother Brain and Mecha Ridley fights, but it's up to you what to get, if you don't get it you can get another super missile or energy tank, but it does make them less needed. Hard mode halves everything so you might want to plan for an extra energy tank if you go for that, but that would mean less missiles so think about it first. Just remember the hardest part is after Mecha Ridley.
Fimbulvetr
Member
Red Scarlet said:
GrotesqueBeauty
Banned
So this is basically your GAF speed run?Red Scarlet said:
Sure...John said:
But hey, at least there's nothing better than sitting through mandatory unskippable text every time I want to replay a Metroid game.
Triple Da G.O.D!
Member
I randomly booted up SM last night just to play around with it and learn some of the new stuff I've seen in other runs on YouTube like Kraid Rape and Mockball Shenanigans. That pesky Spore Spawn isn't so nerve wrecking when your packing an early set of Super Missiles. I even went and found the Justin Bailey hack for additional fun. I might make a run of it later today just for the fun of it.
I really wanna get back to my 2:00/100% run of Fusion. But I gotta find my boot-up disk to my GB Player first. And this was the Metroid game I wanted to really dig into before Other M for the storyline stuff.
And I really wanna fit the Prime games in as well but we'll see about that.
And the NES Metroid vs Zero Mission debate is easy. Play the NES version first if you can bear it and then hit up Zero Mission. That's what I did a while back
. It made me appreciate all the extra stuff that ZM had to offer. Including all the allusions to SM.
http://metroid.retropixel.net/comics/emanga/
I really wanna get back to my 2:00/100% run of Fusion. But I gotta find my boot-up disk to my GB Player first. And this was the Metroid game I wanted to really dig into before Other M for the storyline stuff.
And I really wanna fit the Prime games in as well but we'll see about that.
And the NES Metroid vs Zero Mission debate is easy. Play the NES version first if you can bear it and then hit up Zero Mission. That's what I did a while back
after unlocking OG Metroid in Prime 1
AgentOtaku said:
http://metroid.retropixel.net/comics/emanga/
I just beat Super Metroid for the first time!
I had never beaten Ripley before.. granted, the last time I tried to beat Ripley I was 12 and uncoordinated. I got through all of the walljumping/space jump areas by pure dumb ass luck as a child.. and when it came time for the Ridley fight I was worthless.
Actually found him to be a fair bit easier than the underwater boss before him. Mother Brain was a lot of fun, but pretty easy as well.
Also, What the fuck Nintendo, that game is depressing.
When you kill the Dragoza or whatever (underwater boss) her/his children carry it underground? Then the Metroid sacrifices itself to save you?
I'm kind of saddened
I had never beaten Ripley before.. granted, the last time I tried to beat Ripley I was 12 and uncoordinated. I got through all of the walljumping/space jump areas by pure dumb ass luck as a child.. and when it came time for the Ridley fight I was worthless.
Actually found him to be a fair bit easier than the underwater boss before him. Mother Brain was a lot of fun, but pretty easy as well.
Also, What the fuck Nintendo, that game is depressing.
When you kill the Dragoza or whatever (underwater boss) her/his children carry it underground? Then the Metroid sacrifices itself to save you?
I'm kind of saddened
So, I'm not sure where to go next. I haven't played the original metroid in forever.. and I'm pretty sure my original gameboy bit the dust, though I did own Metroid II for that. Not a lot of story to get out of those games.
Maybe pick up a used copy of the two GBA games?
I own Metroid Prime 1&2 for the GC and Metroid Prime 3, but really couldn't get into them due to the controls. I might try again.
I also own Metroid Prime Hunters, but again.. control issues.
Maybe pick up a used copy of the two GBA games?
I own Metroid Prime 1&2 for the GC and Metroid Prime 3, but really couldn't get into them due to the controls. I might try again.
I also own Metroid Prime Hunters, but again.. control issues.
Are you fine with MP3's controls? There are 3 preferences and also 2 toggles (lock on free aim and shoot/jump switch) in case you didn't know, you can try and find whatever fits
I'm of the opinion that the Wii controls destroy the GC controls in every aspect even if the games weren't designed for it.
I'm of the opinion that the Wii controls destroy the GC controls in every aspect even if the games weren't designed for it.
_Alkaline_
Member
StoOgE said:
Get the two GBA games - they're both fantastic and Zero Mission also has the original Metroid as well. Fusion (along with Super) has a significant connection with Other M.
As for the Prime games, if you don't like GC controls, be sure to pick up Trilogy if you can find it. It's brilliant.
Same. It's amazing how much smoother they make exploration - you can see things so much easier and never have to stop and prop each time to look around. It's so smooth and was easily the biggest improvement that the controls provided.
cartman414
Member
MarshMellow96 said:
The thing is that the item variety is lacking as well. You're mostly obtaining missile packs and energy tanks.
ReXXXSoprano said:
Keep pushing your times down. It's really fun and satisfying in my experience. Probably the funnest things for me to get down were mockball, kraid, shinespark into the wrecked ship. You don't need to fight spore spawn by the way, even to get 100%
And yes if you just beat SM and want to know where to go next, I do recommend zero mission. Controls will take a small amount of time to adjust to, but it's really pretty fun. The fake sequence breaking is also pretty fun too. I wish they would make another game like SM or zero mission for the big screen. My only real complaint is that the GBA screen was a tad small compared to the SM version.
_Alkaline_
Member
StoOgE said:
Once you get to Bryyo the game very much adheres to the Metroid setting and formula. The initial few hours, whislt enjoyable, aren't very reflective of the majority of the game.
So I've beaten Super Metroid a countless amount of times but never have I gotten 100%. So tonight I decided to go for it. By the time I get to tourian I have all the energy tanks, and reserve tanks, 225 missiles, 50 super missiles, 50 power bombs, the xray scope, grapple beam, the jump ball, all the beams and obviously all the suit upgrades. Once I beat the game it said I found 99% of the items. Can someone tell me what I'm missing because I'd at least like to know what I'm looking for as a run through all of planet Zebes.