Game of the Month #77 (June 2021) - Super Metroid

Take on a legion of Space Pirates and a new Metroid force as you forge into the underworld of Planet Zebes!

I'm most likely gonna join this month. I haven't played a single Metroid game yet and I've been planning on giving the franchise a shot for a while now.
I would've started with the original NES game myself, but I might as well use this push and just go to Super Metroid.

- Matt

I'm most likely gonna join this month. I haven't played a single Metroid game yet and I've been planning on giving the franchise a shot for a while now.
I would've started with the original NES game myself, but I might as well use this push and just go to Super Metroid.

- Matt

The original Metroid hasn't aged well in my opinion. Played it again a few years ago and it's a labyrinth nightmare with no maps. You might as well play the GBA remake (Zero Mission) which almost look like they recreated the game in Super Metroid's engine.

But it's still not necessary. SM starts with a story recap of the first two games and not having played the first two games is not that big of an issue.

The original Metroid hasn't aged well in my opinion. Played it again a few years ago and it's a labyrinth nightmare with no maps. You might as well play the GBA remake (Zero Mission) which almost look like they recreated the game in Super Metroid's engine.

But it's still not necessary. SM starts with a story recap of the first two games and not having played the first two games is not that big of an issue.

Thanks for the heads up about Zero Mission. Never heard of that before but it seems like it's worth keeping in mind if I ever wanna go back to the first game.

- Matt

It's a damn shame, that I can't play it on a normal 3ds, so I had to install an emulator. Does anybody know why Nintendo ported it for the new 3ds, but not for the normal one?

The original Metroid hasn't aged well in my opinion. Played it again a few years ago and it's a labyrinth nightmare with no maps. You might as well play the GBA remake (Zero Mission) which almost look like they recreated the game in Super Metroid's engine.

But it's still not necessary. SM starts with a story recap of the first two games and not having played the first two games is not that big of an issue.

Zero Mission is a-w-e-s-o-m-e. The very best Metroid game in my opinion, can't recommend it enough.

I really like this choice! I don't know if I would've picked it up otherwise. I'm one hour into the game and I'm enjoying myself so far but I already got stuck. I read on the Internet that that's almost impossible, but I managed to do it. I went into an area without missiles where I needed them and the only way out was to die 😂

Zero Mission is a-w-e-s-o-m-e. The very best Metroid game in my opinion, can't recommend it enough.

Quoted for truth!

I guess I really need to hard-wishlist that Zero Mission. lol

Anyway, I just put my first 90mins into Super Metroid. Like I said, it's my first game of the franchise, and probably even my first proper Metroidvania game.
The art style is beautiful. I love all the otherworldy flora and fauna aesthetics. All the mushroom caves and whatnot. The creatures look great too. It's kind of amazing how much detail there is in the sprite art.
I'm having a pretty good time exploring things so far and figuring out the basic mechanics of the game. I gotta say though, the platforming feels kinda clunky to me. I'm not sure if I will get used to that.

- Matt

I guess I really need to hard-wishlist that Zero Mission. lol

Anyway, I just put my first 90mins into Super Metroid. Like I said, it's my first game of the franchise, and probably even my first proper Metroidvania game.
The art style is beautiful. I love all the otherworldy flora and fauna aesthetics. All the mushroom caves and whatnot. The creatures look great too. It's kind of amazing how much detail there is in the sprite art.
I'm having a pretty good time exploring things so far and figuring out the basic mechanics of the game. I gotta say though, the platforming feels kinda clunky to me. I'm not sure if I will get used to that.

- Matt

I'm not sure if you already noticed, but here's a tip anyway:

- When you start a jump already holding the direction pad (either left or right) Samus spins in the air doing a jump that can get somewhat far but has a bit of an imprecise landing.

- When you start the jump without a direction (just up), and only press a direction after being in the air, Samus does a jump without spinning that covers less ground, but with a more precise landing.

I'm not sure if you already noticed, but here's a tip anyway:

- When you start a jump already holding the direction pad (either left or right) Samus spins in the air doing a jump that can get somewhat far but has a bit of an imprecise landing.

- When you start the jump without a direction (just up), and only press a direction after being in the air, Samus does a jump without spinning that covers less ground, but with a more precise landing.

Yeah, I figured that much out. It's just that both of them don't feel good, I guess. lol

- Matt

Thanks for the heads up about Zero Mission. Never heard of that before but it seems like it's worth keeping in mind if I ever wanna go back to the first game.

- Matt

If I may interject into the Super Metroid thread: I just started Zero Mission on my Vita (seemed authentic to play it on an uncomfortable handheld) and so far it's good. Ori spoiled me recently but the music really takes me back to my youth playing Metroid Prime. Aside from the necessarily awkward controls, I like it, and I'm sure I'll get used to them.

I don't know if I'll get to Super Metroid. I remembered that the Metroid Prime trilogy takes place between M1 and M2, so I'll want to play MP1 and MP2 before getting to M2 and SM.

Okay I had my first play session last night:

I got the roll ability, rockets and bombs. I'm now making my way back down to the brainstar

I'm enjoying my time with the game and it's def a good game although I'm having difficulty with german text being in the game when I don't want it. I will admit like GamerAim I'm a bit spoiled form last months metroidvania as I feel so far ori is a better game but considering this is basically one of the starting points for the metroidvania type games it should be expected that ori is better designed then Super Metroid as it's multiple iterations away from Super Metroid

Okay I had my first play session last night:

I got the roll ability, rockets and bombs. I'm now making my way back down to the brainstar

I'm enjoying my time with the game and it's def a good game although I'm having difficulty with german text being in the game when I don't want it. I will admit like GamerAim I'm a bit spoiled form last months metroidvania as I feel so far ori is a better game but considering this is basically one of the starting points for the metroidvania type games it should be expected that ori is better designed then Super Metroid as it's multiple iterations away from Super Metroid

That's very interesting to hear, I feel exactly the other way around. Beating Ori was a bit of a drag to me while with Metroid I'm just hooked. I started playing it last night and ended up sleeping at 2 am without even noticing. And heck, that's my 3rd time playing the game IIRC.

I know it's kinda cliché to praise Super Metroid level design, but you know what, it deserves all of it. The way the game stretches the (literal) boundaries of the levels, how it shows things to you instead of telling, the perfect pacing of getting new abilities and unlocking new areas...

I remember reading as a kid on EGM how Super Metroid was considered by the magazine "the greatest game of all time". I didn't have the cartridge myself, but at some point, I've played the game for like 3 minutes at a friend's house. I simply didn't get it, jumping and shooting were cool and all but that was it?

Ok, so that 3 minutes on an existing save file was really unfair with the game. Fast forward many years later and I finally decided to play it properly on Wii U's virtual console. Talk about being late to the party.

And I get it. I didn't need a friend pointing me out how and why the game was great nor those deep youtube analysis videos. The beauty of the game was self-evident. It's hard to put into words, but to me, every single thing blends so perfectly, the sound effects with the music, the sense of isolation with the mystery of what's on the next area, the addictive sensation of becoming more powerful on every new section...

And I know I'm repeating myself, but the level design, oh the level design. It's laughable how most of Metroidvanias are just about powerups+backtracking. That's nothing if the game is not naturally making me keep "a map in my head".

Yeah, I agree that the level design is pretty top-notch Nintendo platformer stuff when it comes to structure and thoughtful ability implementation. A lot of rooms have great natural rhythm that teaches you stuff very organically, which is impressive.

I'm 5hrs into the game now, I dipped my toes in the Maridia section but recently went back to finish up and fully explore the Norfair section.
My favorite thing about the whole game by far is still the world design and art style. The sprites are kind of incredible and there is so much detail in them. The character designs are very inventive and memorable. Especially the boss creatures.

I'm still not a fan of the platforming controls though. It just feels kinda clunky. Yeah, sure. One could make the argument that it's on purpose to add to the immersion of being in a metallic space suit on a strange planet, but it just doesn't feel good to me, which is a lot in a platforming game. Though complaining about that earlier seems ironic in hindsight now that I've experienced a little bit of the Maridia section. If I'll end up retiring this game at some point, it is most likely gonna be somewhere around there.

- Matt

Great game! I completed it back in like 2017, was one of my first few completions after joining the site. It’s game I definitely want to replay at some point, although I probably won’t this month. But hey, you never know!

That's very interesting to hear, I feel exactly the other way around. Beating Ori was a bit of a drag to me while with Metroid I'm just hooked. I started playing it last night and ended up sleeping at 2 am without even noticing. And heck, that's my 3rd time playing the game IIRC.

I know it's kinda cliché to praise Super Metroid level design, but you know what, it deserves all of it. The way the game stretches the (literal) boundaries of the levels, how it shows things to you instead of telling, the perfect pacing of getting new abilities and unlocking new areas...

I remember reading as a kid on EGM how Super Metroid was considered by the magazine "the greatest game of all time". I didn't have the cartridge myself, but at some point, I've played the game for like 3 minutes at a friend's house. I simply didn't get it, jumping and shooting were cool and all but that was it?

Ok, so that 3 minutes on an existing save file was really unfair with the game. Fast forward many years later and I finally decided to play it properly on Wii U's virtual console. Talk about being late to the party.

And I get it. I didn't need a friend pointing me out how and why the game was great nor those deep youtube analysis videos. The beauty of the game was self-evident. It's hard to put into words, but to me, every single thing blends so perfectly, the sound effects with the music, the sense of isolation with the mystery of what's on the next area, the addictive sensation of becoming more powerful on every new section...

And I know I'm repeating myself, but the level design, oh the level design. It's laughable how most of Metroidvanias are just about powerups+backtracking. That's nothing if the game is not naturally making me keep "a map in my head".

I've been debating about jumping into this one since I've finished it in the past and already have several things going, but man if this doesn't edge me closer to just jumping in anyway. It was already floating in mind even before it won gotm.

That's very interesting to hear, I feel exactly the other way around. Beating Ori was a bit of a drag to me while with Metroid I'm just hooked. I started playing it last night and ended up sleeping at 2 am without even noticing. And heck, that's my 3rd time playing the game IIRC.

I know it's kinda cliché to praise Super Metroid level design, but you know what, it deserves all of it. The way the game stretches the (literal) boundaries of the levels, how it shows things to you instead of telling, the perfect pacing of getting new abilities and unlocking new areas...

I remember reading as a kid on EGM how Super Metroid was considered by the magazine "the greatest game of all time". I didn't have the cartridge myself, but at some point, I've played the game for like 3 minutes at a friend's house. I simply didn't get it, jumping and shooting were cool and all but that was it?

Ok, so that 3 minutes on an existing save file was really unfair with the game. Fast forward many years later and I finally decided to play it properly on Wii U's virtual console. Talk about being late to the party.

And I get it. I didn't need a friend pointing me out how and why the game was great nor those deep youtube analysis videos. The beauty of the game was self-evident. It's hard to put into words, but to me, every single thing blends so perfectly, the sound effects with the music, the sense of isolation with the mystery of what's on the next area, the addictive sensation of becoming more powerful on every new section...

And I know I'm repeating myself, but the level design, oh the level design. It's laughable how most of Metroidvanias are just about powerups+backtracking. That's nothing if the game is not naturally making me keep "a map in my head".

There are a few things which I prefer in ori to this.

-I prefer the combat for example as I find the aiming a bit wonky in this game and prefer using hand to hand combat for these 2d style games.
-I liked looking at the full map in Ori and I don't seem to have that in Super metroid as the map only really shows the current area

I haven't fully formulated my thoughts on the game as I'm prob about half way through the game now but there are things which I see Ori improved on the game over Super Metroid but at the same time i can see why Super Metroid is an excellent game. Unlike Ori it doesn't direct you to your objectives and instead expects you to explore. This def give a more organic feel to me playing the game but I am not sure what will be the longer i go in the game and whether I'll be lost or stuck in an area with no idea where to go next

I prefer the combat for example as I find the aiming a bit wonky in this game and prefer using hand to hand combat for these 2d style games.

Yeah, I agree. It predates (two) thumbsticks, so you are either aiming 45° or 90°. You have to compensate for that by either moving your character or ducking to adjust the aim.

This def give a more organic feel to me playing the game but I am not sure what will be the longer i go in the game and whether I'll be lost or stuck in an area with no idea where to go next

There's a fine line between "respecting your intelligence" and "how am I supposed to find that", and Super Metroid definitely takes a risk. The GBA games are more streamlined in that regard, which I prefer (unlike some fans).

I've put about 10hrs into the game now. I'm not in love with it, but it's definitely not a bad game. It's very polished in most places, that's undeniable.
I gotta say though that there are some things that consistently frustrate me throughout playing which are mostly connected to annoyingly repetitive platforming and backtracking. I guess the former is just a case of me not loving the platforming controls in this game combined with classic Nintendo game setbacks after a failed series of jumps, and the latter a case of this being a classic Metroidvania game where backtracking and moving through the same rooms multiple times is just the norm. So, it's not necessarily the game's fault.
But sometimes it really does feel to me like an area is mapped out unnecessarily tedious. Especially Maridia, which I've been exploring for ~2hrs today, has some really annoying moments where you have no other choice than to go through some really annoying passages just to get back to a spot you haven't finished exploring yet. (Also, any grappling hook section can fucking go in my book. 😡 )

I don't know if I would have stuck with this game at this point if it wasn't for the great visual presentation and this being a community experience through GOTM.
I just beat Draygon and got the Space Jump (which seems like a godsend for me. lol) but I'm not entirely sure yet where I'm supposed to get from here. Either way, I'm very happy once I can leave Maridia behind. lol
I have a feeling once I finish this game -- if I finish this game -- my final opinion on it is gonna be a summarized "it's fine" because the things I like and dislike about it are pretty spread apart. I definitely acknowledge its place in videogame history and how undeniably well put together the game is. As a platformer, it definitely holds up astoundingly well after all these years in most aspects.
It's just a personal thing that I'm not falling in love with it.

- Matt

Eow Update:

I'm making my way into the crashed ship after picking up the super bombs and currently stuck in a area filled with water

Not much too add to my previous post I still feel the controls are a bit stiff especially the firing but I'm enjoying the games ability to get me to explore it's level.

I've finished it for the first time today. I actually really liked it up until Maridia when I felt the game overstayed its welcome a bit.

I really liked the exploration and finding all of the little secrets and items! Most of them were definitely needed! I liked the combat overall and the movement was generally fine up until the space jump and screw attack I wasn't able to use those effectively like, ever and they never felt consistent. That might just be me though.

I really do wish that when I opened the map that I could see the other sections instead of just the one I'm in. They have a UI made for when you respawn to select an area (which is honestly kind of unnecessary there considering you end up respawning at the last save anyway) so they could have easily just recycled that.

The game's good though. I'll probably have a bit more to say about it whenever I write my blog on it (if I can finish my other 5 blog posts that is).

Here's my end result:
71% Items
9:56 In-game time
12:48:37 Actual time

I finished the game earlier today as well.

This must have been the first Metroidvania-style game that I've actually beaten now and I liked it decently enough.
My favorite parts about the whole thing are still definitely the visuals and atmosphere. Like I said before, I really liked the world design and sprite art. The music is great too.
The platforming always felt a bit clunky to me, and I agree with what R2D21999 said above me, the Space Jump never really felt consistent. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. And I could never really figure out why, which was frustrating. The same goes for the sand pits in the Maridia section. Again I agree with R2D21999, the game started to overstay its welcome somewhere around Maridia or after it.
Honestly, I'm very certain I would have never beaten this game without help. If I had owned this as a kid, I would have never experienced the end of it. Only thanks to some tips from fellow HLTB users was I able to get through the last third of the game.
In the final section of the whole thing, I even ended up using Tiamat911's own playthrough for a bit of guidance to find the way, because at this point I really couldn't be arsed with endless walking in circles and searching for progress anymore.

I absolutely agree that Super Metroid is a very polished and well-designed game, and it absolutely deserves its reputation of being one of the classics, but I didn't fall in love with it. I enjoyed most of my time, but the game also frustrated me quite a lot at points.
There is a good chance I'll return to the franchise at some point, most likely to give Metroid: Zero Mission a look, but that probably won't be very soon.

My final item score was 53%.

- Matt

I prefer the combat for example as I find the aiming a bit wonky in this game and prefer using hand to hand combat for these 2d style games.

Yeah, I agree. It predates (two) thumbsticks, so you are either aiming 45° or 90°. You have to compensate for that by either moving your character or ducking to adjust the aim.

This def give a more organic feel to me playing the game but I am not sure what will be the longer i go in the game and whether I'll be lost or stuck in an area with no idea where to go next

There's a fine line between "respecting your intelligence" and "how am I supposed to find that", and Super Metroid definitely takes a risk. The GBA games are more streamlined in that regard, which I prefer (unlike some fans).

There's a fine line between "respecting your intelligence" and "how am I supposed to find that", and Super Metroid definitely takes a risk. The GBA games are more streamlined in that regard, which I prefer (unlike some fans).

As someone with ADHD, this is definitely a fine line. I remember times in Metroid Prime getting lost and confused, probably because I zoned out and didn't process some piece of information to help me move forward. That's not an issue with that game in particular, as I've encountered it in other games. It's why I like games that have journals or markers I can use if I need to, though I prefer to find my own way for the most part.

I've completed the game yesterday, and tho I enjoyed the game, I must say, the controlls were cluncky as hell (especially space jump) and I didn't enjoy the difficulty spike at the end too. Also some of the collectibles were ridiculously hidden (I've found some because I was shooting in random directions while going around the map).
It was my first Metroid game, and I probably will play other games from the series in some time.