SNES Games I Love #15: Super Metroid
Published on February 15, 2020 2:33 PM
2 minute read
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Developers: Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Action Platformer

Release: 1994

Currently available on: Wii U VC, New 3DS VC, SNES Classic Edition, Nintendo Switch Online

About the game: What can I say about this game that hasn't already been said? It's a masterpiece that gets a lot of (much deserved) praise. The story is great, picking up right where Metroid II left off. Samus has to find and capture the baby metroid, which has been stolen by Ridley. The world of Zebes is fully realized like never before, with different areas teeming with alien life. The different areas are each distinct. Every boss is memorable in some way. The game is only enhanced by the incredible atmosphere and music. And the ending is truly astounding. And of course, the game holds up very well to this day. 

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Why I love it: This is another game that I have a lot of nostalgia for. We got this game when I was very young, and so I remember watching my brother play, and I also remember playing it myself. I can't tell you how many times I played through the opening just because I thought it was so cool. The game also gave me the creeps. The atmosphere is unsettling, and Ridley is pretty scary, especially for a kid. I couldn't get very far into the game as a kid, but I still enjoyed playing through what I could. Super Metroid was so impressive that it demanded your respect. There is nothing quite like it on SNES, and until Symphony of the Night came along, there was nothing like it on any game console. 

Comments
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Posted on February 15, 2020 7:07 PM

An absolute classic. It's a tightly designed game with absolutely no filler in it and is still one of the high-water marks of 2-D platforming and adventuring. A great story is told almot entirely with the visuals, music, and gameplay. The twist during the endgame was brilliant.

Posted on February 16, 2020 5:05 AM

Couldn't agree more. This is a masterpiece. 

Posted on February 16, 2020 2:58 AM

I should play this on switch. 

Posted on February 16, 2020 5:05 AM

You should! I think this is a great game to pick up and play every now and then. 

Posted on February 16, 2020 12:31 PM

I know I've told this story before, but I'll tell it again because I like it.  When my brother Jeff was itty bitty, he loved to play with aciton figures.  His play would usually go like this: a giant orange plush dinosaur would savage the land, and the Power Rangers couldn't stop it.  Not even Batman could stop it.  But the Mega Man action figure I got for him would always save the day.

But one day he was watching me play Super Metroid and when I beat it, he started crying and sniffling and said "Is the...sniff...Baby Metroid...sniff...going to be okay?"  He was only 3.  I think he also cried when Zero died at the end of Mega Man X.  Anyway, after that, the hero who would always defeat the orange dinosaur wasn't Mega Man anymore, but a jellyfish beanie baby that he dubbed the Baby Metroid.

Posted on February 17, 2020 3:40 PM

lol great story! Well, the ending of Super Metroid IS very sad but also quite inspiring. It's one of the best moments in any SNES game. 

Posted on February 17, 2020 12:02 AM

I know I've played this way, way back. I think I even have it digitally on a console, but maybe it's the earlier one. I need to play this again. 

Posted on February 17, 2020 3:41 PM

This is a great game to pick up and play ever now and then. It still holds up. 

Posted on February 21, 2020 5:11 AM

Love it but still cannot figure out the wall jump mechanic to save my life and it's so easy to execute in later games. 

Posted on February 22, 2020 2:18 PM

Yeah, the wall jump is tricky, probably the only downer in this masterpiece. I could never pull it off either, so don't feel bad.