Metroid -NES- 10

September 27, 2024

I first played Metroid in my sophomore year of high school, which was roughly 12 years after it released for the NES. Even being two console generations old at the time, Metroid still blew me away and has remained one of my all time favorite NES games. I beat the game once back then, a second time roughly a decade later, and a third time just now.

Metroid was a landmark title when it released in Japan back in 1986, and a year later in North America. It birthed an entire genre that remains popular and frequently imitated to this day. Later coined as “Metroidvania’s”, you are dropped into an enclosed environment, where certain paths are closed off until you unlock them further into your quest.

Metroid was loaded with genius concepts in gaming for its time. The nonlinear structure encouraged diligent exploration to find key items, and backtracking to unlock previously unreachable paths. Every one of the new items you picked up along your journey changed the way the game was played, constantly evolving and deepening the experience. The morphball and the screw attack are still the two coolest upgrades I have ever seen in a metroidvania.

When I popped in Metroid a few days ago, a wave of nostalgia hit me as I heard that classic opening theme again. The game strikes an eerie mood with its dark colors and brilliant soundtrack. My favorite tunes were the title theme, “Brinstar” theme, and “Kraid’s Hideout”. The strong atmosphere broods trepidation and loneliness, even on the dated 8bit hardware. And the sense of awe and wonder when you unlock a new ability is absolutely intoxicating.

Metroid might be seen as dated by some modern gamers. There is no on-screen map, and you have farm for health after dying. However, the game still holds up exceptionally well for me on this recent playthrough. It was a revolution for its time, and its impact on modern day gaming cannot be denied. Games like Symphony of the Night and Hollowknight later developed this gamestyle further, but it all started here. Going in blind, this was a long adventure into a cavernous world. I was enthralled right from beginning, all the way to the exhilarating ending. I rate this old but essential masterpiece a 10 out of ten.