Okay, so recently I played Super Metroid because many fans have claimed it's the best in the series. But I played it and it felt really average, it didn't really stand out among other Metroid games. And yet I look at the NL requesting a remake of Super Metroid and I still see people praising it as a flawless game when I've found several flaws (the controls are subpar thanks to needing to toggle between items, Maridia's design is very trollish and does exploration all wrong). So what is it that people are seeing in this game? I don't get the hype.
I feel Metroid Prime is an improvement of what Super Metroid did so they are wrong by default, first of all.
But that being said, Super Metroid's sense of exploration and gameplay focus is pure fun in a specific way that nearly no other game has achieved to such a degree. But it also does have a lot of issues that people ignore because it's the SNES sequel (ignoring the Gameboy game) to a beloved NES game (and especially in this case is so much better than the NES game that it's nuts).
Ironically the exact reasons I love Super Metroid is close to why I find LTTP to be a lesser Zelda game, so your mileage may vary.
Super Metroid was the first of its kind, much like Ocarina of Time for the Zelda series. The atmospheric environments, the strong theme of exploration and threat, as well as the mechanics gradually opening up for new possibilities - all of this made Super Metroid a unique and brilliant game... on paper.
The problem is that both the sluggish controls and the lack of information on most of your progress (not guidance to the next objective, simply a backstory), kinda diminishes the impact, and since other games (especially Prime) have come to do the job even better, Super Metroid inevitably loses some of its appeal.
Nonetheless, for its time, it was groundbreaking: not only did it define a new concept (non-linear exploration with power-ups instead of keys to progress), it also delivered an unmatched depth and vibe to gaming (environments that feel more like a semi-natural maze than condensed alien battlegrounds). Also, the music was outstandingly fitting, and is probably the element of Super Metroid that has aged best.
Super Metroid was the first of its kind, much like Ocarina of Time for the Zelda series. The atmospheric environments, the strong theme of exploration and threat, as well as the mechanics gradually opening up for new possibilities - all of this made Super Metroid a unique and brilliant game... on paper. The problem is that both the sluggish controls and the lack of information on most of your progress (not guidance to the next objective, simply a bavkstory), kinda diminishes the impact, and since other games (especially Prime) have come to do the job even better, Super Metroid inevitably loses some of its appeal.
Nonetheless, for its time, it was groundbreaking: not only did it define a new concept (non-linear exploration with power-ups instead of keys to progress), it also delivered an unmatched depth and vibe to gaming (environments that feel more like a semi-natural maze than condensed alien battlegrounds). Also, the music was outstandingly fitting, and is probably the element of Super Metroid that has aged best.
Oh yeah, looking at what the series was like before and after I can definitely agree that it was a very influential game, but that's not what concerns me about the game's reception. What gets me is that I see a lot of people consider it to be the best in the series, and I saw several people say that it was flawless, and I can't agree with that at all. I definitely think the Prime trilogy does it better.
It's also more or less the peak of the 2D metroids, subsequent ones just imitate it.
Well to be fair, the only two 2D games that have come out since are Fusion and Zero Mission, and since Zero Mission is a remake I can give it a pass for not doing anything groundbreaking. I fully expect the next game to change things up though, especially considering the amount of time that's passed since the last 2D game.
EDIT: Also, Fusion did change things up a bit with the X parasite system, but not by that much, it didn't introduce new powerups or anything. Also, it was more linear.
Well, I played it for the first time 2 years ago and I absolutely loved it. I found everything so cohesive and perfect — controls, visuals, music, atmosphere. Usually, I undergo an internal conflict whenever someone asks me wich Metroid game I prefer, because this and Metroid Prime are two of the best games ever made IMO
No, I agree with Bolt_Strike for once. I'll admit that it's a very good and influencial game, but I do have enough minor gripes (most of which have already been covered in this thread) that I wouldn't put it above the Prime Trilogy, or even Fusion and Zero Mission. It's far better than the first two Metroids, though, which I guess is most important for some people...
Also, Fusion did change things up a bit with the X parasite system, but not by that much, it didn't introduce new powerups or anything. Also, it was more linear.
Actually, Fusion introduced both Ice Missiles (which found use again in Corruption) and Diffusion Missiles (which COULD be counted as a 2D equivalent of the Ice Spreader, but aren't). But yeah, the X parasites (stupid name, by the way) didn't really change much, except for making health and weapon pickups slightly less nonsensical.
Actually, Fusion introduced both Ice Missiles (which found use again in Corruption) and Diffusion Missiles (which COULD be counted as a 2D equivalent of the Ice Spreader, but aren't). But yeah, the X parasites (stupid name, by the way) didn't really change much, except for making health and weapon pickups slightly less nonsensical.
Oh yeah, I keep forgetting about those because Ice Missiles are just the Ice Beam in missile form and the Diffusion Missiles are one of the most useless powerups ever.
Simple, that's their opinion nothing more. Just like why do you like the games you like?
Well yeah, there's a subjective element at play here, but opinions can be rationalized. You don't just like something "just because", there's usually some kind of quality that people enjoy.
I haven't played through a whole lot of games in the series, but I think it is my favourite 2D metro if at least. There are many things I like about it, one reason is that you can do things in a different order. On my first play through I accidentally skipped charge beam and Crocomire for most of the game and it was also pretty fun to defeat him using one shot with the plasma beam.
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I bought Super Metroid in 2001 in a used game shop. I'd never played any Metroid games and I spent maybe an hour with it before deciding it sucked and was all hype. I dug it out around 2007 or so and everything just clicked. It's got great gameplay, lots of cool bosses and atmosphere. It was probably one of the most rewarding gameplay experiences I've ever had.
As other people have said: Because they haven't played Prime
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I bought Super Metroid in 2001 in a used game shop. I'd never played any Metroid games and I spent maybe an hour with it before deciding it sucked and was all hype. I dug it out around 2007 or so and everything just clicked. It's got great gameplay, lots of cool bosses and atmosphere. It was probably one of the most rewarding gameplay experiences I've ever had.
I completed the game for the first time a few years ago (after playing it on the SNES when I rented it once) and it's the last game since then that left me feeling completely satisfied and wowed by what I had just experienced.
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Topic: Why is Super Metroid Considered the Best in the Series?
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