I had always planned on playing the older Metroid games, given how much I loved Metroid: Other M, and in anticipation of Metroid Prime 4, I was advised by some very nice posters in the Metroid: Other M OT to give Super Metroid a try first to see if the old style of Metroid games - which I am only very vaguely aware of - is something I would like.
I had always imagined I would like the older games, given the comparisons to Castlevania and Hollow Knight, both games I enjoy, I have heard bandied about. I also knew about Super Metroid's legendary reputation. It's supposed to be one of the best games ever made, with game design so perfect it holds up all the way today. Game developers cite it as an influence to this day, so surely I was in for a treat?
But... it's just okay?
To be fair I haven't actually completed it yet, but I'm almost done (I just beat Ridley on the blue Space Station thing and am just heading back to my ship), and I'm all around disappointed by it. The map has a vague sense of Metroidvania style progression to it but it feels like the game was only just starting to find its footing and I'm already at the end. I've heard so much about the older games' map design and progression, and while I understand a 16 bit game will be more limited than something like Metroid: Other M I imagine will be, I'm just... trying to figure out why there is so much rave acclaim for this game. Like... it's okay? The graphics feel fine, the controls are sharp, the music is really good, and I'm surprised at the emphasis on storytelling they put, but in terms of pure design, it just feels so vanilla. It basically feels like it ends before it even starts (my activity log says I am under 2 minutes, and I would have been pretty mad if I had spent $60 on this game, to be honest).
Am I missing something?
I had always imagined I would like the older games, given the comparisons to Castlevania and Hollow Knight, both games I enjoy, I have heard bandied about. I also knew about Super Metroid's legendary reputation. It's supposed to be one of the best games ever made, with game design so perfect it holds up all the way today. Game developers cite it as an influence to this day, so surely I was in for a treat?
But... it's just okay?
To be fair I haven't actually completed it yet, but I'm almost done (I just beat Ridley on the blue Space Station thing and am just heading back to my ship), and I'm all around disappointed by it. The map has a vague sense of Metroidvania style progression to it but it feels like the game was only just starting to find its footing and I'm already at the end. I've heard so much about the older games' map design and progression, and while I understand a 16 bit game will be more limited than something like Metroid: Other M I imagine will be, I'm just... trying to figure out why there is so much rave acclaim for this game. Like... it's okay? The graphics feel fine, the controls are sharp, the music is really good, and I'm surprised at the emphasis on storytelling they put, but in terms of pure design, it just feels so vanilla. It basically feels like it ends before it even starts (my activity log says I am under 2 minutes, and I would have been pretty mad if I had spent $60 on this game, to be honest).
Am I missing something?
