Super Metroid was a classic on the Super NES, and it still holds up incredibly well, even 15 years later.
But that's not to say it lacks substance. Even nowadays, Super Metroid is an incredible game, with amazing, detailed environments, well-hidden power-ups, and, as said before, its plot.
Its plot is probably one of the best in a Metroid game. In her recent adventure on SR388, the home of the Metroids, Samus Aran drove the species into extinction... except one. One harmless, infant Metroid, which believed Samus to be her mother. Samus took this infant to the Ceres Space Colony, where they learned Metroids could be harnessed for the good of mankind. She dropped it off and headed to look for new bounty to hunt.
Before long, she received a distress signal from the colony. Samus headed back to find Ridley stealing the infant! She traces him down to Zebes, and the adventure begins.
This plot is so well put together, and it sucks you in so much, you really kind of feel sort of sad when the Metroid... well... let's not spoil the story here.
The gameplay is also quite fantastic. It looks like your basic multi-directional side-scroller, but in reality, it's so much more. To get around, you'll need a variety of well-hidden abilities, such as the Ice Beam, the Wave Beam, and more. You can also use features such as the wall jump and the shinespark to get otherwise-impossible-to-obtain expansions, or just to make things easier. Invisible passageways are everywhere, and things are devilishly hidden, such as Kraid's Lair. Maridia is HUGE, leading to some harsh punishment if you go the wrong way. But the frustration leaves if you get the satisfaction of finding your way. In summary, this is 2D gaming at its finest.
Some might say modern day soundtracks are better. They'd say, "[Insert game here] has better sound." However, I couldn't disagree more. Sure, today, some sound might sound a little cleaner or have better effects. But you can't deny that Super Metroid has some superb sound, no matter what year it is. Some tunes are especially catchy, such as that red place in Brinstar, and some are just dark, quiet beats that make Zebes spookier than it already is.
Graphics are another strong point in Super Metroid. I mean, I'd definitely agree that there are better graphics today. Look at Metroid Prime, for example. But to say that... well... they were bad for their time? I don't think so. No, sir. They're fairly simple, but hey, they're still great for its time.
In addition to graphics, there are some fabulous animations, for example, doing a wall jump, using the Speed Booster, turning into the Morph Ball, and more!
Boss battles are creative and difficult (I'm looking at Ridley), but sometimes just don't match up to the think-before-you-attack thing that went on in the Prime Trilogy. That's not to say it's bad, however--there are some great hidden ways to beat bosses, such as killing Draygon in three seconds with the Grapple Beam. It doesn't reward you with anything special, but you can sure take him out fast.
Okay, okay. I saved the worst for last. But the worst is most definitely not bad, and I encourage you to buy this game. For the Wii, it's eight dollars, and it's worth every bit plus more. For those who have a Super Nintendo, buy the cartridge online. And for those who have neither... well, it's worth stacking up that cash. Super Metroid is definitely worth it.