CLASSIC ORIGINAL METROID, THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL!!! NES!!!
Original Metroid for the NES. This was back in the days when video games were ridiculously hard and also before the Metroid franchise had instituted maps, so unless you had a really great memory, running around, backtracking, and trial and error with where to go was a main part of your game play process. Sure, you could just run around and find your way and eventually you'd start to remember the layout, but perhaps it'd be a good idea to draw a map as you go, especially if you've never played before. This was a very simplisitc Metroid game in the terms of graphics and manueverability. Unlike the much improved Super Metroid you could not shoot on an angle, there was no speed boost upgrade, there was no grapple beam, there was no X-ray scanner. Though the pillars were still there, morph ball, missiles, wave beam, ice beam, suit upgrades and missile expansions. You'll have boss fights too. Ridley was even a part of the mix back then. You'll get to places in the game where you have no idea what you're supposed to do next, or where to go (like most Metroid games). You'll have to put your thinking cap on and think about what you have available to you and what you can do. You'll have to look for false walls and areas where you can pass in morph ball mode. I already noted that the graphics are pretty primitive and that's to be expected, I mean this WAS the NES, however there is absolutley no background in this one. They simply opted to just have it be a black background...and when you think about every Metroid game that followed this one, graphics were quite impressive for each Metroid game tied to its' respective system, in specific, backgrounds, horizons and just the environment in general. Well, this doesn't have that. I think perhaps they did it so they could make a bigger game, which it certainly is. Substance over flash really always wins out when it comes to video games anyway, wouldn't you agree? You are able to flip when you jump too, that has always been a part of Metroid, but don't expect to be able to do wall jumps either. This was another one of those games that my dad played endlessly. I think he actually beat this one, or if not got to the end. Yes, the end is against Mother Brain. I think that last fight is ridiculously hard. I myself at the time (we're talking early 90's here) never had the patience or will to get that far into thte game, but perhaps now I'll try again. I bought this game now becuase the Metroid games have always held a soft spot in my heart. There really isn't a bad Metroid game out there, and if you're so inclined, I highly recommend Super Metroid for the SNES, or Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2 Echoes for the Gamecube. I've reviewed a few of those on here as well. This game is very rewarding though if you actually go through and move on in the game. It's probably one of the more frustrating Metroid games but it's not too bad once you get the hang of it, and it's the one that started it all. It's classic vintage NES. You should really give this a shot if simply to own a piece of video game history. The one thing they really got down in this one as with other Metroid games is the mood of creepy with the music (which is awesome for that purpose and the music in this game is VERY GOOD for being an NES game). All in all I would recommend this game, but it's probably more for the hard core gamer. Here is a little hint though. Enter your name as JUSTIN BAILEY and see what happens!Read full review
