Super Metroid

Super Nintendo

Nintendo, 1994

Oh what a sequel. The new best female bounty hunter game ever, until (maybe) M-Prime comes out this November. This game took the incredibly popular original, improved on the controls, variety of options, and created a visually stunning masterpiece that was widely held as one of the best games ever to grace the SNES with its presence. The visual improvements were immediately noticeable: visible weather patterns in some areas, 3d-ish backgrounds, plantlife, and more detailed enemies. Kraid had the most impact at the time, standing two full screens tall and ranking as the biggest boss in video game history to date(still?). At first, controls seemed somewhat clunky, but quickly became second nature. While dashing and shooting (I always changed the controls to Y-shot B-jump A-dash) could be difficult, the configuration quickly became second nature. As for the new options, I could go on for hours. First, Samus can crouch instead of immediately balling up. Seeing how her "famous" pose is her crouched and shooting diagonally, it seemed odd that couldn't be done in the first game. Using L/R to angle shots up/down is incredibly useful, as you don't run while you shoot. The game added new powerups like the Speed Booster (dash & kill things) XRay Scope (see secret passages) Grappling Beam (for swingin' around on) and Space Jump (jump repeatedly). Old favorites like the Screw Attack, Ice, and Wave beams returned, and new beams Spazer, Plasma, and Charge were added to the mix, making Samus one of the most deadly video game characters ever. The map has dramatically expanded, giving players more areas of Norfair and Brinstar, plus three entirely new areas in Crateria, the Wrecked Ship, and Maridia. And...how could i forget the gravity suit, which allowed Samus to move freely in water. It also turned her a healthy pink/purple shade, proving she'd been hanging out with Alucard too much in her free time. Super Missiles and Power Bombs gave you all new ways of fighting bosses and normal enemies alike. All in all, this game offered hours o' fun and absurd numbers of secrets, possibly making it one of the most complex games of our time.

What I liked:

So much to do, so many ways to beat it, so it basically has infinite replay value

Some cool bosses, sorta (can this officially be my catch phrase yet?)

The game is just plain cool. No other way to explain it. It just rocks.

What I didn't:

I always get lost before Crocomire and before the Maridia boss

It always sucks to be powered up then start a new game. You're just so weak.

Getting all the necessary missiles/bombs is tedious sometimes

If you're ever underpowered for a fight, it SUCKS!!!

Controls: 9. Grappling beam is rough, controls take a few minutes to adjust to initially.

Graphics: 9. Some of the best SNES work around. Amazingly terrifying bosses.

Sound: 8. Great music, some painful FX (namely gunfire).

Style: 8. Phenomenal concept (see Metroid review) and pretty original game. Any repeating elements (weapons, levels) bring feelings of nostalgia rather than a Megamanesque groan.

1st hour: 6. I suck. Where's that ball thing?

2nd hour: 8. Missiles, easy enemies, big party.

1st week: 9. Wrecked Ship not that fun, but the challenge is welcome. Navigating Norfair was also quite tough, but it paid dividends.

2nd week: 10. Owned Ridley, preparing for Mother Brain

1st month: 10. Beat it again for better ending and/or more stuff. For me, it was the ending, since I spent a LOT of time powering up the first time through.

The number one reason I HATE THIS GAME is that getting 100% (my real goal) is a total asspain, though the best ending isn't all that easy to grab either. Evil X