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TwoLines

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Retro Look: Super Metroid

Retro look is something I thought of not long ago- maybe it was boredom, or maybe the fact that so many people praised old games that I've never played before.

I don't know. What I do know is that these games changed the gaming history- revolutionized the genre, were ahead of their time, and so on.

The superlatives never end. Best, greatest, prettiest. Well I'm here to test them out- without nostalgic feelings or bias. So let's jump into my first choice, Super Metroid for the SNES.

>>Tuh duh duh duh Tam dam dam dam Tuh duh duh duh<<

Metroid is a franchise that started in the early days of Nintendo Entertainment System. Metroid on NES (which I'm also going to play) was an amazing game- it's open ended level structure was unlike anything else on the console.

It didn't have the fancy-pants Zelda save system- but it did "save" us from frustration of starting all over by using a password system.

"Us" as in "You", I never saw a metroid cartridge in my life (although I did play NES as a child).

Then came the Gameboy version, it established Samus' look and from what I've heard, it's also a great game worth checking out.

Finaly metroid appeared on SNES. Super Metroid (not enough "Super " games on the SNES- let me tell ya..) came out in 1994.

It was established as the best metroid game ever- it created speed runs and transformed Samus into one of Nintendo "mascots"- right next to Link and Mario.

So lets play the game I like to call- "how long can you play without looking at a FAQ?".

Here's what I call a "BALLLS" moment.

BALLLS!

The "Wall Jump" was the first thing that got me stuck so badly- I had to look for a YouTube video instructing me on the matter.

Here's how it goes. You're exploring the map, looking for a way to progress through the game by using collectied power ups.

You stumble upon a suspiciously unprotected power up. "Well.. this doesn't happen everyday. Oh joy." You run up to take it and..

"What the hell? Ghost floor? You've got to be kidding me! Well whatever. There's a save point- I'll save and get back up there somehow.."

You save and move on only to discover.. it's a dead end. With some little picolo-moguai monsters jumpng from wall to wall. Etacoons or some shit, I don't know.

Let me tell you- I've spend two hours looking for another exit- in what was a save point, a corridor, and this dead end room.

You had to learn the "Wall Jump"- which, I can honestly say, ain't as easy as it looks. Another half an hour passes- I'm finaly out of that hell hole.

Old games are much much harder than what I remember them to be.

The rest of the game ran smoothly. It was basicaly the same thing over and over again. You search for a place that you can access, you expolre it, find a power up,

head back, and look for a place that you can access with your new ability. Standard metroidvania gameplay, pretty straightforward but enjoyable.

The graphics are really nice, there are several different enviroments- like a fire/lava enviroment, water enviroment, crashed space ship and so on.

The music is terrific. It's just out of this world, it's a big part of the atmosp..

BALLS!

I'm stuck again! For fuck's sake! Can't a man enjoy this game without looking for hints? Care to guess where?

You have to break this tube with a power bomb. Really cool.. but fucking insane, how was I suppose to figure it out?!

There was a time when people had waaay too much time on their hands. Or were children. Same thing.

Where was I?

Oh yes- the music's awesome. And the last "dungeon" is really memorable, you don't fight many enemies, but the scripted battles are really something.

Too late for a spoiler alert? The game's been out for 10+ years so I guess there's no sense in doing that. You fight a giant metroid that sucks your life juices,

but stops before you die. What the hell? Apparently this metroid's Samus's.. baby.. something. Should've played the previous games in the franchise I guess.

Anyhoo- it doesn't want to kill you, then helps you at the Samus vs Mother Brain cat fight. The game has a great ending with the whole planet blowing.. up..

So.. Why? Why would anyone do that ? Why killing the mother brain makes the planet blow up? Didn't the space pirates think this through?

Or was this Mother Brain's doing? I bet it was her.

Well the game ends, and if you finnished it really fast you get to see Samus in a bikini. Right. Because when for a change the main protagonist is a woman

you have to make her wear a bikini. That's your reward. For completing the game really really fast. *sigh*. Well that aside- I had a blast with this game.

It lasts for about 9 hours (first playthrough) and it's insanely addictive. The story is really weak, evil jellyfish used as a wapon, typical B movie Sci-Fi bullshit.

That's what we get? I guess that's not what one wants from Metroid. Gameplay is the core of this game, and I can understand why, even now it's suprisingly pleasant to play it.

So there you go- to anyone that didn't play this yet- I'm pleased to say it's worth it. Two thumbs up, and onto my next game..

Legend of Zelda the Ocarina of Time for the N64.

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