Metroid (1987)
Journey Through the Labyrinth
When it comes to classic Nintendo franchises, what comes to mind? Mario, Zelda? Since its initial release on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1987, Metroid has been regarded as a gem in that respective console’s extensive library. The title has spawned numerous sequels and spinoffs as well as become the inspiration for many titles today. Not too long ago, I finished playing Metroid: Zero Mission and thought I would try out the original Metroid how well it has held up (or not).
Metroid places you into the suit of Samus Aran, intergalactic bounty hunter. The Space Pirates have stolen a capsule containing a Metroid. With the potential for the Space Pirates to multiply and unleash these parasitic organisms on the universe, it is up to Samus to stop them and the villainous Mother Brain.
The Space Pirates have stolen a capsule containing a Metroid and it is up to Samus to stop them and the villainous Mother Brain.
Metroid doesn’t hold your hand. Descending into the planet Zebes with nothing but your arm cannon and the enemies lurking about to keep your company. That’s it. No map. No hints. No one is coming to help you. Just you and your arm cannon.
While this can work in the game’s favor, encouraging exploration and the music helping to create that sense of isolation that Metroid is known for, it also works against it. Metroid is an open-ended game and the lack of a map can make the game frustrating. Oftentimes, you will find yourself running through rooms or hallways that look just like the one before it, causing the player to get lost frequently. Another issue is that some items or passages require Samus to blow open the way forward. However, there is no clear way to distinguish that specific block from the ones around it which can be confusing when combined the maze-like nature of the game.
Not being able to see breakable blocks, like the one on the bottom, is one issue I had with the game.
Of course, the game has several good points as well. The game looks good and the audio and music are great (especially if playing on the version released on the Famicom Disk System).
The enemy variety is also a bonus with several different creatures being encountered on your journey from the simple Zoomers who stalk the floors and walls to the Reos who dive from above to more iconic baddies such as Kraid, Ridley, metroids, and Mother Brain herself. The mixture of different enemies keeps the player engaged and provides enhanced immersion, making the world feel more alive and believable.
Metroid is full of different powerups and upgrades for Samus to collect. There is are the more iconic upgrades such as the Morph ball, which allows Samus to roll into a ball in order to access small passages and the Screw Attack which increases the bounty hunter’s offensive capabilities allowing her to hit enemies as she spins through the air while jumping.” There are also the various improvements to Samus’ beam such as the long beam, which increases the weapon’s range, the ice beam freezes most basic enemies when hit and can allow them to be used as platforms, and finally the wave beam that fires projectiles in a wave like pattern that can also go through solid material.
The Screw Attack is one of the many powerups available for Samus to collect.
In addition to these upgrades comes the energy tanks and the missile packs. The energy tanks serve as your primary way of upgrading your health, giving Samus what equates to another health bar. The missile packs are used to upgrade your missile capacity, allowing the bounty hunter to increase the number she is able to employ in her arsenal.
All of these were fun to collect and made exploring the underground caverns of the planet more enjoyable than they otherwise would have been.
Metroid is a great game that has served as the basis for many other fantastic games in the genre. The only thing that holds it back today is the lack of a map and the difficulty that can put off new players. However, the one thing I enjoy about playing these older titles is that it provides perspective to the newer generations and allows a glimpse into the past and makes you appreciate the what has come after. Though for new players, I would recommend trying out the 2004 Game Boy Advance remake Metroid Fusion as this remake adds items, additional areas, new story content, and numerous quality of life improvements.
