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Metroid Introduction This article
is based on the Metroid Series - a collection of games created by
Nintendo which many gamers will love and remember throughout the years.
I will be giving a brief description on this page before I go into
a more indepth analysis of each title. Links & Credits ~Links~ ~Video Credits~ -Massive Metroid Saga- 04 - Protricity - Putting
Down On Zebes (Crateria Raining) And thank you Nintendo (Kenji Yamamoto and Minako Hamano) for producing the originals! -Above and other videos- Other Credits Quick Multi-Game/Info Review Metroid – NES – 1986
The entire Metroid series started off on a very well planted foot in 1986 with the original "Metroid" game available on the first Nintendo platform. 4 Bit color (16 colors) graphics and a very unshakeable system considering today’s technologies, the programmers took every advantage they could get out of it and made a fluent game with a decent storyline. There wasn't any kind of Map system other then the very basic and generalized map that the provided in the manual. You had the basic 5 button controller consisting of A & B button for jumping and shooting, select and start which are for pausing and weapon selection and of course the D-Pad for directional movement and aiming. Being a side scroller, and not without its quirks, it was both frustrating and satisfying to play. Your mission is to seek out the Mother Brain and the Space Pirates on the planet Zebes and destroy them. You, Samus, start off with nothing for power-ups, abilities and energy. Your goal may be to destroy your targets, but to get there you must seek out power-ups and energy tanks. These power-ups consist of anything from the Faithful, well known Morph ball to your bombs, Ice beam, Missiles, High Jump boots and so forth. This is the only Metroid game that would allow you to go wherever you liked as long as you had enough energy, in stark contrast the later titles would either require a specific power up or task to be completed before advancing. Overall the game is a very well laid out game, fun and exciting to play and is even enjoyable today. Metroid Revisited: Metroid Zero Mission – Gameboy Advanced – 2004
Released at the start of 2004, this game is basically for those who didnt have the pleasure of playing the original Metroid and for those that have wanted to see the original rebuilt on current graphic systems. It was also extended so those that are already are pros at it didn't finish it in a half hour! The graphics are the same as Metroid Fusion, but not without a few tweaks and any additionals they learnt from it. If you overlaid the old original Metroid map and placement of items with the new, you would find VERY much the same locations, however the basic look and feel of it is a bit lost with the new graphic and movement system. I myself would have to say that although they can't replace the old Metroid title, they did a fine job of doing an updated and more thorough version of it. The controls are very much the same as that of Fusion. Being that I played this on a GameCube Gameboy Advanced, I once again can't say how it plays on the original GameBoy Advanced, but I can say that on the GameCube, it once again was very nice to play with. The controls are more simplified and easier to control in some ways than Fusion. What makes this game stand out among the other Metroid titles and the original is that fact that they added an entire new section to it, making the original Metroid story complete. In the original, you only meet up with a few space Pirates and as soon as you nuke the Motherbrain, you escape and finish the game -- you'll be shocked to see what happens in this one! The story is FAR from even being remotely close to over. The addition of power-ups you'll find will be on par to Metroid fusion. That however is what slightly removes the original feel to the game; the additional items while excellent lose the feeling of the older game. Like the first, you, Samus, are to seek out the motherbrain and the space pirates and eliminate them all which in itself is a massive challenge. Although the game allows you to take off and explore for yourself, you will find yourself limited to what you can do unless you either complete or find specific power-ups to continue. Yet another game that you will find is mentally demanding - if you cant keep your concentration be prepared to lose many lives. Metroid 2: Return of Samus – Gameboy – 1991
The second installment released in 1991 after a painful wait of 5 years is a little backwards in some respects with regards to the graphics quality on a gameboy (black and white or basic color overlay using the Super NES Gameboy player), the actual graphics for the model of Samus and other objects had increased in complexity and detail. This is the first game you actually can see some details in her suit, and to top it off, she breaths. Also, you get a quick view of the outside of your ship which is very well designed and befitting to her character. The controls are pretty much the same as the original title, however with new power-ups in the game, you have to learn how to use the combination of buttons to get them to work the way you remember. The mission however in this title is to seek out every last Metroid on the planet SR388 and destroy them. Once again, you, Samus start without much of anything, completely stripped of every power up and energy pack so you have to find all these to be able to successfully continue on with the game. Yet again, you get the standard power-ups such as the morph ball and missiles. However this time, you will be more limited to how far ahead you can get. The game automatically refuses to let you advance without killing every Metroid within a specific section which isn't a major problem as it's good to know when you've missed something, but it is very linear. The game doesn't lack in anything at all other then the want for good color, but you'll find yourself satisfied with the outcome and in anticipation of the next game to come. This time the wait for the next is only 3 years. Metroid 3: Super Metroid - Super NES
When this game was released in 1994, after playing through it, it was by far the best of the three. The Stunning graphics and magnitude of the game was quite simply astounding. Everything the Super NES was capable of was used with this title. 8 Bit color (256 colors) and very well detailed surroundings would leave your jaw on the floor when you first fired this game up. I myself still enjoy playing it. The button layout and abilities for the game are quite different. The controllers now consisted of standard A & B buttons (which you could set up for whatever ability you wanted such as Jump/Fire/ Select Weapon/Run/Discard Selection/Map), Select & Start, D-Pad and now including your Left/Right buttons on top of the controllers and also including X & Y. Also with this game are different settings so that when you entered a room your selected weapon could be discarded or while firing you could moon walk backwards to allow you to keep firing on your target while getting to a safe distance. Along with the new buttons come new power-ups, my favourite being Speed Booster which would allow you to do things that you never thought possible before. Who doesn't like jumping a couple dozen stories high? Or better yet, ploughing through dozens of walls. Your mission starts abruptly with a rush to the space station that you had provided to the Metroid Larva. It had been under attack and you immediately investigate and upon arriving you see nothing but the station in a free fall and the crew aboard brutally murdered. You very quickly find out that the Metroid Larva has been taken by your top arch rival, Ridley, a Space Pirate who knocks the space station into self destruct mode. Samus gets out and chases the space pirate to the original planet it all started on, Zebes. Here, you'll find the old place rebuilt and reorganized very slightly -- cleverly affected by the damage Samus caused in the first Metroid game, if you recall, you'll get an eary creepy feeling about it all and everything starts all over again. One of the greatest Metroid titles ever produced. I still hold it close! Metroid 4: Metroid Fusion – Gameboy Advanced – 2002
After almost ten years of waiting (eight to be precise), the next one is finally released to the public. Metroid Prime also was released around the same time, but that's a different story that I’ll cover fairly shortly. The graphics in this game are as on par with the Super Metroid title as you'll ever believe, in some cases I would go as far as to say that the Fusion game shows some improvements over the SNES title and other cases it just doesn't quite have it, but it's still amazing for a handheld. Metroid Fusion which takes place shortly after rampaging through Zebes in Super Metroid is one of the unique versions of Metroid in the sense of location and a few dozen other things that I couldn't mention without spoiling it all for you if you haven't played yet. The controls are extremely simple and easy to get used to. One thing I must point out is that in this game, when you collect the speed booster or just run at all, you don't have to hold down a specific button, and just moving in the general direction will automatically do this. The controls are as follows: you have the usual D-Pad, the A & B buttons that are jump and Fire along with the R/L buttons and of course Start and Select. One thing I must point out is the combination of buttons you have to push to fire the specific weapon. Such button combinations requires for example holding of R and then pushing the B button to lay a Power Bomb. There are other combinations, I'm not sure how well these fare on a GameBoy Advanced system, but the controls take a little getting used to on a Gamecube, After a good hour, you'll catch on very quickly. The mission: Samus was doing some SR388 exploring with a group of other scientists and encountered an unknown life form which appeared to "fuse" into you but nothing seemingly happened. Although strange, you and the rest of the team pack up and take off for a space station when suddenly you lose all control of your own bod. Your ship now out of control crashes into a nearby asteroid belt and blows up, but luckily you are able to jettison from the craft first. From here on, you are out cold, Doctors try to fight this "X" parasite that appears to have locked itself into your body and is spreading fast. Wild suggestions fly from various specialists and nothing works until one scientist suggests the unthinkable, a Metroid Vaccine. After having been stripped of your suit they prepare the vaccine and administer it, with great success it works flawlessly and you wake. At this point, they had shipped your suit off to a space station along with other things they had collected on SR388. As expected something goes terribly wrong, an explosion at the space station followed by the appearance of mysterious lifeforms, you are sent in to find what has happened. Now, you once again have been totally stripped of your power-ups and abilities. Only this time you have much more to worry about. What I myself find most interesting is the fact that the entire mission resides on a Space Station, you never once set foot on an actual planet, and you never really see anything outside of it. This gives the claustrophobic environment that really does give the game a bit more of an edge. Also to add to this all is the fact that game developers really start pushing for some really interesting puzzles for the player to solve. Its worth mentioning one major drawback is the fact that they push you to go in a specific direction to get things done. Its basically more linear than other titles. Aside from that though, the overall game and bosses are unique and hard as hell in some cases. Get your fingers warmed up and stretched out before you go into battle. Metroid (1+) : Metroid Prime – GameCube – 2002
More recently, the placement of this title in the series has had light shed on it. Not an exact quote, Metroid Prime 1 takes place after the first Metroid, released in 1986 or more recently, Metroid Zero Mission. The placement of this title was highly debated before, until Nintendo representatives spoke out. The second debated topic is the fact that the entire game is 3D based and mostly First Person Shooter styled with the occasional but widely used 3rd Person views. Allot of the major fans thought this would destroy the Metroid games and it would be down hill from there, Nintendo pushed on and developed it even though there were some worries. I think the crowd has accepted it with open arms, the overhaul Nintendo made with this title is amazing. I myself would say that its graphics are on par with that of Halo’s. The Frame rate never drops a notch, never. And the complexity is pretty stunning. The controls are simple to get a hold of and work very well in a first person shooter. If there is anything you have to shoot at, you can target it, and when targeted, you can lock onto and move freely without a problem. By default you strafe left and right encircling whatever you have your target locked onto. You do have the ability to look up and down, letting go of either will reset to center few which isn't a problem at all either. Firing, Jumping switching weapons and Visor modes is quick and painless. Here is the Button layout: Left: Locking onto Enemies/Scanning
Objects in Scan Mode/Using Grapple Beam Now considering the above, don't go running, it looks pretty massive especially considering to get the buttons working, you have to use them in combination. Seriously, spending a good thorough hour or 2 messing with the controls, you'll get the hang of it no time. This is one of the first games I didn't have to adjust the controls at all. Super Metroid I originally adjusted the controls to my hands. This game works right out of the box. I must mention that, to play this game, you will not need a Memory card; I tried firing it up without one which resulted in being able to play, but leaving your GameCube on 24/7 until you finish the game not to mention unlocking things to find out when you shut it down results losing everything and having to start from scratch. Although most wouldn't consider this a problem, and it’s really there choice, the game HAS to have a memory card in my opinion. As for the mission: Samus was casually traveling about the system when she had received an unknown plea for help. She pinpointed the location and took off. When she arrived, she very soon found out that it was a space pirate space station built specifically for research and experimentations. Looking into what had happen, the station was in absolute ruins with various infestations and variously dead organism lying about. She comes across a few computer terminals to realize that the Space Pirates had come across a new form of energy. This energy had the ability to mutate beyond belief and the space pirates began every possibly experiment to control it and refine it to produce the ultimate army. Of course Samus can't possibly let that happen. From here on, she seeks out all the pirates and mutated enemies she can find and destroys them. Apart from the excellent visuals and music, the exploration part is back. You won't be limited to as much of were you can go, be it back to your ship or wherever you wish. Of course, there are just things you need to collect before getting to far ahead of yourself. Seriously, this is my Favourite Metroid since super Metroid. It only seems to get better. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (1++) – GameCube – 2004
On November 15th 2004, one of the most highly anticipated GameCube games was released. Metroid Prime 2 : Echoes. And to top it off, the interest in the Metroid saga couldn’t be higher. Specifically related to the previous Metroid Prime, this one involves a hell of a lot more storyline. It pushes the GameCube power to the max, Quality and animations are a noticeable leap forward from the previous. The audio is also first class. The GUI itself is somewhat changed, but it’s not hard to figure out. Storyline follows right after Prime One. You, Samus, have received notice and assigned a contract to locate and assist the GFP (Galactic Federation Police). You are given their last location which resides on a planet referred to as Anther. On arrival, you notice the planet appears to be out of phase, constantly shifting. Entering the atmosphere proves that your ship isn’t as strong as you are and the landing not as smooth as you had hoped. Without further hesitation, you pop out, let the ship repair itself while you’re gone, and you head off in the only apparent direction you can. Apparently the GFP had some pretty nasty run-ins and fell quickly. Passing by body after body to gather as much information from those that aren’t totally damaged, noticing bodies hanging from ceilings. However, upon powering up some controls, it also reanimates what is left of the fallen GFP. Scanning reveals an unknown form of energy and matter, which consumes and transforms the GFP into DARK GFP. Next thing you know you are dodging their bullets. The story takes an ironic turn and you are killing the zombies that you were supposed to save, this situation is made worse by the fact that getting off the planet doesn’t seem to be plausible. Further investigation reveals more about the situation ..... Personally, this game in the entire series turned out a big win for me, it really is totally amazing. Metroid Hunters – Nintendo DS– 2004 Currently I haven’t gotten my hands on one of these new consoles from Nintendo but hopefully in the future i will .... for now its time to follow the links to read the individual articles. If you would like to see a video (DIVX) presenting clips from all the Metroid games, please click this link. Its a large download around 30 megabyte (RAR) so those on dialup might want to give it a miss.
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