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LTTP: 2D Metroid...oh my god

T

The Lamp

Member
Why didn't anyone tell me these 2D games were so addicting? I'm usually not even a fan of sprites or ancient 2D games but...here we are as I find myself addicted to Zero Mission and Fusion.

I played Fusion and Prime like 12 years ago but I never got past the early levels because it was creepy and I just didn't get the appeal. It seemed slow and kind of boring.

Ironically, I got very far in Hunters. I really enjoyed it. I loved playing it online. But that's basically the intent of my Metroid experience.

But holy shit. I tried it again a couple of days ago for the first time after E3 hype and it suddenly "clicked" as I found myself exploring just "one more" room, only to find the next power up, the next secret, etc. The shooting of enemies as you pass by is very therapeutic, and finding the next cool power up is my new drug.

As I find myself newly invigorated with this series, I notice the level and audio design is superb. I didn't know Nintendo had it within them to do sci-fi like this. Also this game is legitimately terrifying. The first time I ran into SA-X I panicked, and I thought to myself "wow, a GBA game just scared me" when Dark Link and other clone antagonists in games are usually just a joke.

Now I downloaded Metroid Zero Mission and Super Metroid. ZM is supposed to be a remake of Metroid 1, right? I'm blown away. I can't believe there was game design this good in the 80s. I land on Planet Zebes and am feeling a little lost and without context, but I just instinctively start exploring and everything just unravels so naturally and fluidly. I stumble into the Chozo Ruins so naturally it feels like the designers never wanted me to find it, but I did, and then the level design opens up and I realize how elegant everything is organized for an NES game.

I own the Metroid Prime trilogy on Wii but to be honest never played them outside a few levels of MP1. Now that Metroid "clicks" for me, I feel like I have those 3 games plus Super Metroid to enjoy for the first time, as well, to get ready for Metroid 2 in September!

Any recommendations or thoughts for a beginner? Any other games I'm missing I should consider? Any specific order I should play (although now I'm kind of out of order)?

Samus, I never appreciated you enough!!
 
"Why did no one tell me the 2D games are so addicting?"

Hi, is this your first day on GAF? There's practically a daily circle jerk for Super Metroid.
 
They are two of my favorite games of all time. Masterpieces. I love them both but prefer Fusion...Still depressed that Dread got cancelled :(
 
Super Metroid is the GOAT. And Prime 1 is just Super Metal in first person.

If you need more games like that check out Axiom Verge, Guacamelee, and Ori and the Blind Forest.
 
Zero Mission is one of those necessary remakes. The original Metroid is a cruddy game by today's standards.

Glad you're enjoying those games OP. They're great.
 
Get out OP. GAF *LOVES* these games. Now start playing them and don't come back until you're done.

Also before the anti-Fusion brigade comes in, you're right, it's a really good game.
 
OP, have you tried Symphony of the Night?

Metroids are wonderful. When you're done with all of them your "one more room" exploration itch might be scratched with SotN.
 
I mean Super Metroid was the de facto greatest game of all time before the 3D era took over, and even then still mentioned frequently.
 
AM2R is really, really good OP. You should find a download mirror somewhere. It'll be an interesting complement to the official Metroid II remake coming out soon.
 
The Lamp said:
Any recommendations or thoughts for a beginner? Any other games I'm missing I should consider? Any specific order I should play (although now I'm kind of out of order)?
Click to expand...

Play all the games except Other M and Federation Force. Other M I'd just YouTube the story, it's a major step down in literally every sense when it comes to Metroid. Hell even give Pinball a shot if you can grab a copy. Aside from that, bomb every wall. If something seems suspicious like a dead end or room with nothing, there is a secret.

Play in release order of titles, but if you're curious about the timeline of games it goes like this:

Metroid/Zero Mission > MP1 > Hunters > MP2 > MP3 > Metroid II/Samus Returns > Super > Other M > Fusion.
 
Fireblend said:
Get out OP. GAF *LOVES* these games. Now start playing them and don't come back until you're done.

Also before the anti-Fusion brigade comes in, you're right, it's a really good game.
Click to expand...

I used to me a member of said brigade. Or at least it didn't impress me as much. Then Geek Critique gave me a completely different perspective on it.

If you haven't seen yet, I totally recommend this video.
 
bachikarn said:
Metroid Fusion is ancient now? tf?
Click to expand...

More like 2D sidescroller game design is an ancient form of graphics and level design from like 40 years ago (not saying it's bad, it's just been around a long time), 2D Metroid is from the 80s, and Metroid Fusion is like what almost 15 years old now?
 
Super Metroid is still the greatest. You're in for a treat.

Fair warning though, after that, other Metroids will be frustratingly inferior.
 
I fell in love with the Metroid Series on Super Metroid. I tried playing the original Metroid, but just couldn't get into it. I've played Zero Mission, Metroid 2, Fusion, MP1 to 3. Maybe someday I'll eventually finish Metroid NES. The OST is awesome in the Metroid series
 
Kindekuma said:
Play all the games except Other M and Federation Force. Other M I'd just YouTube the story, it's a major step down in literally every sense when it comes to Metroid. Hell even give Pinball a shot if you can grab a copy. Aside from that, bomb every wall. If something seems suspicious like a dead end or room with nothing, there is a secret.

Play in release order of titles, but if you're curious about the timeline of games it goes like this:

Metroid/Zero Mission > MP1 > Hunters > MP2 > MP3 > Metroid II/Samus Returns > Super > Other M > Fusion.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention I've already gotten through a couple of hours of Other M because I bought it at launch because hype, and I honestly don't get the extreme hate for it. Maybe it's because I still haven't played Super Metroid or all the Prime games that the quality isn't egregiously offensive to me. It's not the best Metroid but it's a neat idea albeit not as expertly crafted as Fusion or ZM which I am playing. The melodrama is a bit much and the searching for pixels segments suck, but I think it's a pretty creative marriage of 2D and 3D so far (I started a new save today after not playing for several years and quitting a few hours in). Some of the Adam-senpai garbage is even consistent because it's in Fusion (like the "any objections, Lady?"). But it definitely doesn't feel as well-designed as the other games, and being authorized to use weapons by Adam is lame (although, again, apparently the concept of waiting to be authorized to visit sectors and open doors and obtain power-ups by battling powerful X was also in Fusion)
 
I will be the first here to suggest that you play Other M, it is the best in the series.
/s

I'm excited to finally play Metroid 2 when Samus Returns releases. I should probably play Fusion at some point, but I've heard a lot of mixed things about it.
 
These games drip atmosphere. Might be one of my favorite worlds in gaming, and it has minimal to no storytelling depending on the entry. Good stuff.

Music for effect

tumblr_ns7ri51PsT1qk9x07o1_500.gif


SuperMetroid-Crateria2.gif
 
Zero Mission and Fusion are my favorites. If they re-released Super Metroid with finer tuned controls it would be up their in my top tier as well.

Metroid Samus Returns can't come soon enough!
 
One note, Zero Mission is a really radical remake. Like, not to downplay the innovation of Metroid 1, but you can credit a lot of Zero Mission's quality almost as an entirely new game.

It's pretty much on-par with the new 3DS one in its reimagining of the source.
 
Super Metroid is the only game I can think of as flawless. The only slight blemish is Maridia, but its still awesome.

Zero Mission and AM2R are great games, but I never liked Fusion.
 
Super Metroid is a near-perfect videogame. I replay it once a year, and each time it impresses me more. Coming from Fusion/ZM, you'll have to adjust to the floatier movement and less orthodox controls, but give it time. Soon enough you'll be habitually replaying Super Metroid too.
 
Yeah, Metroid fulfills a niche that no Nintendo franchise ever even tries to approach. The atmosphere, the level design, the storytelling are all unique to the Metroid franchise. I want a sequel to Fusion so bad...
 
It's kind if funny how you announce a new game in a series and everyone.suddenly goes nuts for the old ones.

People really need to stop buying the latest game and enjoy the classics
 
Torokil said:
Super Metroid is the only game I can think of as flawless. The only slight blemish is Maridia, but its still awesome.
Click to expand...

Exactly how I feel about Prime - you can point out the artifacts as maybe the single low point, but that "low point" is still a ton of fun.
 
I snagged Super Metroid on the 3DS yesterday, as it's on sale for half price right now. That should hold me over for a while, as we wait for the new Metroid game that's coming out in a few months.
 
Haines said:
It's kind if funny how you announce a new game in a series and everyone.suddenly goes nuts for the old ones.

People really need to stop buying the latest game and enjoy the classics
Click to expand...

Yep. Too many people are too focused on playing as many of the newest games as possible without realizing all of the great ones they've passed by.
 
Torokil said:
Super Metroid is the only game I can think of as flawless. The only slight blemish is Maridia, but its still awesome.

Zero Mission and AM2R are great games, but I never liked Fusion.
Click to expand...

Only one other thing I'd call a tiny flaw (ultra-nitpicking here but that's all you can do to this game) was the way they show you the wall jump by having you fall through that trap door and it's the only way out (complete with strange little alien twins giving you the hint). One, the maneuver was too difficult to pull off, and two, they seemed to realize that because the game never requires you to use it. Kind of a leftover they should have just ditched.
 
I love the series outside of the very first Metroid on NES. It's just not very fun to me.

Super Metroid, however, is a triumph of 2D game design. I don't think it's been surpassed, though Fusion and ZM are fine games (and Symphony of the Night, which you should 100% check out, OP).
 
Altairax15 said:
what do you mean by not liking sprites?
like anything 2d?
Click to expand...

I usually don't like low-bit sprite graphics. I don't find them beautiful or endearing or nostalgia-inducing like many others. I just find them ugly and outdated and especially uninteresting in the year 2017. I will tolerate them for a good game, though, especially a good old one, like I tolerated Pokemon's sprites for so many years. And I do like some modern high-res sprite art styles, I suppose, when combined with a really good art style and modern lighting/visual effects, kinda like Rayman Origins (not sure if that counts as truly sprites?)

And I'm not a huge fan of 2D sidescrolling gameplay in general. I was in the 90s as a kid because that's most of what existed and I played Sega Genesis, but I mostly moved on from that genre almost 20 years ago. It usually doesn't interest me anymore.

These Metroid games, however, are timeless in design, though, so the low-bit sprites don't bother me because it's quite fun.
 
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