Man, I completely forgot about actually retro-reviewing every game I care about! Well, no more! Off to continue spouting my opinion in a sea where no one really cares what I think and how I rate things!
There's something about myself I've realized that bothers some people I know - I give most remakes the benefit of a doubt, especially when it comes to video games. For films, it depends if I've ever seen the original or on trusted word of mouth. Modern movie magic can help out a film I otherwise wouldn't've given the time of day to. When it comes to video games, I'm on board a good 95% of the time. Unlike films, a game must be actively played to advance anywhere and can definitely benefit from the advancement of technology and the lessons learned from other iterations of a series and inspiration from other titles to make the experience smoother and enjoyable, as Metroid has.
While I have multiple access to the original Metroid for NES, I prefer and will henceforth be referring to the remake Metroid: Zero Mission for GBA that released back in '04. I find it a much more accessible game than the original, to be honest. It controls a lot better than it did back in '87 (diagnal aiming is a godsend) and is more accessible for it, with more clearly defined goals. Whether or not that's an improvement depends on what you think makes a Metroid game. The extreme feeling of isolation is diluded somewhat with a map and clearly-marked goals, but the original's hidden passages and secrets are nigh-impossible to decipher to the modern gamer if they're not completely obsessed with 80's gaming mentality or have an extremely good memory.
There's something about myself I've realized that bothers some people I know - I give most remakes the benefit of a doubt, especially when it comes to video games. For films, it depends if I've ever seen the original or on trusted word of mouth. Modern movie magic can help out a film I otherwise wouldn't've given the time of day to. When it comes to video games, I'm on board a good 95% of the time. Unlike films, a game must be actively played to advance anywhere and can definitely benefit from the advancement of technology and the lessons learned from other iterations of a series and inspiration from other titles to make the experience smoother and enjoyable, as Metroid has.
While I have multiple access to the original Metroid for NES, I prefer and will henceforth be referring to the remake Metroid: Zero Mission for GBA that released back in '04. I find it a much more accessible game than the original, to be honest. It controls a lot better than it did back in '87 (diagnal aiming is a godsend) and is more accessible for it, with more clearly defined goals. Whether or not that's an improvement depends on what you think makes a Metroid game. The extreme feeling of isolation is diluded somewhat with a map and clearly-marked goals, but the original's hidden passages and secrets are nigh-impossible to decipher to the modern gamer if they're not completely obsessed with 80's gaming mentality or have an extremely good memory.
Metroid's game play is a classic side-scrolling platformer/shooter that revolves around exploration, including backtracking to upgrade your existing powers and earn new ones. Expansions to missiles and life are littered throughout the levels to aid you in traversing the alien landscape and inhabitants of the planet Zebes. It still holds up incredibly well today, inventing what many have dubbed "Metroidvania", since it has influenced the handheld Castlevania series to adopt Metroid's upgrade-explore formula for an excellent string of handheld titles, though many other games have taken inspiration from the model that originated here.
The older series is known for being extremely non-linear, with little to no direction. Metroid is a popular series for speed-runners due to the franchise's plentiful sequence-breaking moments, which is facinating for those who're interested. The games are also known for being somewhat short as a result for players only going through the main plot, but those who enjoy discovering secrets for 100% completion rates and appreciate AAA sidescrolling platform/shooters are in for more bang for their buck.
Exploration is frequently rewarded with more Missiles or Energy Tanks, and the faster you can achieve a higher percentage the better. A quick and efficient player is often given access to endings showing Samus is indeed a First Lady of gaming. While it's not easy to earn all endings, it's not a chore to do so either, since most Metroid games are an excellent showcase of level and game design.
While it's not as mainstream as Mario or Zelda, Metroid takes a page from both, bringing a perfect mix of platforming and adventuring to it's shooting and sci-fi elements. Borrowing tone and setting from the Alien films, Metroid also has atmospheric and haunting melodies that are still being remixed today. Bosses like Ridley have since gotten amazing theme music that are some of gaming's most recognizable.
And now for some plot background! Metroid is named after the iconic little life-suckers, as seen to the left from the amazing Metroid Prime artwork. The parasitic critters latch onto foes and can drain the life out of living creatures, leaving lifeless husks behind in their wake. Indeed, the only main weakness a Metroid possesses are their vulnerability to cold. They were later discovered by the Zebezian Space Pirates and are being bred to become the most efficient biological weapon known to the galaxy. In response to this crisis, the Galactic Federation sends in their last line of defense, the bounty hunter Samus Aran, to defeat the Space Pirates, along with their Commanders including Kraid and Ridley, and their leader Mother Brain, an organic supercomputer.
Metroid holds the distinction of being one of the few Nintendo franchises with a clear plot and timeline in which to place each installment, with Metroid (Zero Mission) obviously being the earliest chronological title. There's not much in the first game, but this is expanded upon slightly in Zero Mission, where a good hour of epilogue is added. It delves into a glimpse of Samus' back story with the ancient Chozo race whom raised her and gave her her iconic Power Suit and who left behind upgrades for her future use. It's nothing much, but it did give the fandom -and the world at large, really- no more reason to doubt that she was one of gaming's first heroine: Zero-Suit Samus, made famous through Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Fan service aside, Zero Mission's added epilogue had Samus' Varia Suit disabled and forced the player to adopt a stealthy approach to recover her gear. While nice to look at, the Zero-Suit had little to no protection and was armed with only a rechargeable pistol that only stuns foes. It was a nice change of pace, though I tend to enjoy games and sequences that punish the hasty trigger-happy folk.
Metroid is a good game, clearly deserving of its Nintendo Hard status, and Zero Mission is a better game for it's additions in later installments (hanging onto walls, aiming diagonally, adding upgrades that weren't present in the original, etc.) despite it's mild hand-holding. While die-hards will claim it takes away from the challenge of traversing the world yourself, the addition of maps is not only a staple of later titles, it's more for modern gamers to have somewhat of an idea where they're supposed to go to advance the game instead of rage-quitting due to absolutely no direction.
While I prefer Zero Mission and its map and slight suidance, I appreciate the original's high difficulty, especially since I only beat it once back when the original title was included as an extra on Metroid Prime.
Main Series
1. Metroid: Zero Mission
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P.S.
Skyward Sword is GODLY. Best game on Wii, definitely. Slightly sad it came during the system's twilight years, but Nintendo finally delivered six years what all of us wanted to play after seeing that Wiimote: one-to-one swordplay in Zelda!
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