SNES Games I Love #15: Super Metroid

On 02/15/2020 at 10:33 AM by The Last Ninja

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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.

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.

SanAndreas

02/15/2020 at 03:07 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.

The Last Ninja

02/16/2020 at 01:05 AM

Couldn't agree more. This is a masterpiece.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

02/15/2020 at 10:58 PM

I should play this on switch.

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

Cary Woodham

02/16/2020 at 08:31 AM

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.

02/17/2020 at 11:40 AM

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.

KnightDriver

02/16/2020 at 08:02 PM

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.

02/17/2020 at 11:41 AM

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

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/21/2020 at 01:11 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.

02/22/2020 at 10:18 AM

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.

PixlBit