Super Metroid has a permanent spot among the very best games of all time

User Rating: 9.8 | Super Metroid SNES
By ShiningPhantasy | Review Date:
What Super Metroid contributes to the videogame world is truly special, it is without a doubt among the finest game-designs for any kind of adventure/platforming game. Metroid is credited for establishing a non-linear game-progression and infrastructure that has now been copied for years by some other very noteworthy franchises, and for logical reason, as the trademark Metroid game-design is a very good tool to develop a top-notch and epic adventure game. Super Metroid’s (Metroid 3) game-play area is composed of a few large and non-linear areas that are all interconnected in some way to create one giant area of exploration. The blueprint for this concept was a result of the original Metroid 1, however it was Super Metroid that truly brought the fully-realized potential of the concept into fruition, and it is consequently the firm standard that other developers would use when borrowing the game-design. Metroid involves a female bounty hunter named Samus who has an objective of investigating the planet Zebes after a suspicious disturbance on a space station. Metroid has always been a very cool premise, and the Metroid concept never seems to get old or tiresome, it is just too fascinating for that. Gameplay/play-mechanics: Super Metroid is a 2D side-scrolling adventure/platformer where Samus is a bit limited initially but through the course of the adventure she will discover and acquire many enhancement accessories for her suit, as well as upgradeable firepower-which has more uses than simply dealing out more damage-and secondary weapons like bombs and missiles, which also have multiple functions. The game has all sorts of separate paths and areas to explore, many of these will require some of the aforementioned enhancements to reach and consequently some backtracking, however the player will be so immersed with the atmosphere that the backtracking is actually quite fun and exciting, just to see what new secrets will be uncovered. Other areas are very well hidden and even with the respective area maps that can be found and utilized, substantial investigation and attention to detail will be necessary as the maps will not give clues to all of the hidden areas, and will only map the area for Samus when she discovers the area on her own. When fully equipped and powered-up, Samus can perform all kinds of special-abilities related to running, jumping, and sometimes flying short distances; all of this is very complementary within the game-world and not just for show. There are many game-play nuances to master and therefore the fulfillment level can be quite high for the expert player.

The game levels and areas are all awesome in design and concept, and there is just this incredible atmosphere that surrounds each of the individual areas and the game as a complete body of work. The game requires of the player some fundamental platforming skill, as well as the ability to decipher minor puzzles and also to investigate for clues in order to find the many hidden items and enhancements that are scattered throughout the game. Occasionally Samus will encounter a mid-boss or primary boss to overcome; these battles are one of the greatest highlights of many highlights; every boss is just an extraordinary design and a lot of fun to face-off against. The central figure in Super Metroid is the Metroids themselves; these creatures are some of the most innovative life-form designs in videogame history, and there is always a very strong sense of mystery surrounding them, as there will not even be any encounters with Metroids until late in the game, and of course the game is filled with all kinds of unique creatures which really defines Metroid as a truly creative franchise. Visuals/Artwork: Visually, Super Metroid has it all, a varied range of environments from deep caverns to ancient and unknown technology, (Wrecked Ship) along with every kind of cool environment that you could shake a stick at; underwater, volcanic, plant-infested, it is all here and presented in inspiring fashion. There are positively no areas that look even remotely boring, quite an achievement for how large the entirety of the area is. The enemies are detailed and animated very competently, as is Samus herself and her plethora of movements and maneuvers. The bosses are some of the most impressive looking for any Super Nintendo game, some of them absolutely massive, and others animated with very intricate movement patterns and mannerisms. The visuals really contribute to the powerful atmosphere and aura that the game is legendary for.

Music/Sound: The music is of exceptional high-quality, and quite complementary for each of the surrounding environments. The infectious piece that is used for Brinstar is probably my favorite, but most of the others are also standout compositions. There are enough separate pieces of music to keep the game soundtrack on the whole from ever wearing thin. The sound-effects are very well-defined and really bring you into the Metroid experience; weapon effects, creatures, boss roars, and all of Samus’ special abilities are top-notch in the sound department. Metroid has established itself as one of the greatest seires ever, and Super Metroid is the best game of the series, as well as the very best game ever developed for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Metroid 3 is about as close to perfect as a videogame can realize.

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