Top 5 Metroid Games

Metroid Fans didn't have it easy the last couple of years. The last real game in the series we got was 2010 Metroid: Other M, which was mechanicaly fine, but really put a dent into Samus image as badass bounty hunter. Or to say it bluntly. The Gameplay was good, but the story really sucked. Apart from that the only other Metroid Title, apart from Virtual Console releases of older games, was the universally lambasted Metroid Prime: Federation Force.

I've already talked lots about this game in the months leading up to its release. While it was an okayish game in the end, it was released (and announced) during the most unfavorable timeframe imaginable. But the failings of Other M and Federation Force aren't todays topic. Today we're going to focus on the good parts.

Like I said at the beginning the last couple of years haven't been easy for Metroid Fans. Luckily this changed during this years e3. Not only did we get the conformation that Metroid Prime 4 is in development for the Nintendo Switch, no we also get a classic 2D Metroid for the 3DS. Given it's only a remake of Samus first mobile adventure on the GameBoy, but it looks like it's greatly enhanced.

So to honor the return of the first female badass of video games I plan on focusing on the Metroid series this month. I won't dub September Metroid Month because I'm not sure if I'm going to repeat it next year (unless Metroid Prime 4 releases during that timeframe), but at least for this year the month of September will mostly be dedicated to Samus Aran.

And what better way to start this exciting Metroid Celebratin than with a list of the five best Metroid titles.

5: Metroid

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Every game which names a complete genre deserves a spot on such a list. Couple this feat with the introduction of a female protagonist (huge news at that time) and you have one of the most influantial games of all time. Metroid didn't only convince the Metroidvania genre, but also it got everything right about it on it's first try. Of course if you play it today you'll dearly miss some of the quality of life improvements implemented in later titles of the genre, but the building blocks are all there and function perfectly. A huge, hostile world that opens up piece by piece as you aquire new weapons and abilities. The feeling of isolation and lonelyness that defines Metroid.

Generally speaking the atmosphere is one of the strong points of this game. Of course it can't compare to later entries in the series, but if you compare it with other games of that time the first Metroid oozes atmosphere. The obvious inspiration the developers pulled from Alien is obvious, but if you take one Science-Fiction Movie as model, then there is nothing wrong with choosing one of the best and most iconic ones out there.

Also one thing I just have to mention when talking about the first Metroid is the fact that Samus is a women. Of course this is basic knowledge nowadays, but in 1986 (or 1987/88 in the US/Eu) this was still a huge revelation. Even more so because it was only revealed to the player after you beat the game in under five hours of playtime. A fact that further improved the replayability of the title.

Today the original Metroid may seem a little bit antiquated, but luckily Nintendo released an excellent remake for the GameBoy Advance, called Zero Mission. It contains the same game layout but improved the graphics by a lot and enhanced the backstory further. So if you want to experience the best version of the game I would recomment Zero Mission, but the original also still works today.

4: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

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By the time the Wii was announced Retro Studios was already seen as a new Rare for Nintendo. And while the Austin,TX based developers weren't creating titles in the quantity that Rare did for the N64, they nailed the quality part. After shocking the world by taking Samus in a completely new direction with Metroid Prime they intended to end their trilogy with a bang. And what a bang it was. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption has his rightful place among the best games for the Nintendo Wii, even though it was released during the first year of the Wiis existance.

The amazing thing about this is that Corruption absolutely nailed motion control. It showed how a shooter had to work on the Wii. After games like the first Red Steel were pretty lackluster this was the first time that the Wii showed that Motion Controls could work outside of casual titles. The transition from Gamepad to Wii-Mote wasn't without hiccups. Complexity had to be reduced. For example, Corruption didn't offer different beam weapons anymore, but Retro managed to wipe away this flaw by doubling down on the core strengths of the Prime Series.

Metroid Prime 3 was designed to be the end of the Prime series and this is a fact that you at each corner. Everything feels bigger, more urgent and generally more important. For the first time in the series there is voice acting. Altough Samus herself remains silent. (A good decision as we have seen through Other M) This time she isn't saving one planet by herself, like in Prime and Prime 2, but working together with other bounty hunters and the galactic federation to save a whole star system and win a war.

And while the classic Metroid atmosphere is weakened by this, it still comes through. During your infiltration of the Space Pirate homeworld and especially on the G.F.S Valhalla, which is the closest the series has ever come to the Alien Movie franchise.

Generally speaking Corruption was a fitting end for a trilogy. On it's own it may be slightly weaker, but after playing through the other two Prime games it is the great ending for a great trilogy of games and a fitting fourth place on this list.

3: Metroid Fusion

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After 8 years Samus finally returned in full glory with this game. The time between Super Metroid in 1994 and the release of this title and Prime also wasn't easy for fans. The only appearance Samus had on the N64 was her role in Smash Bros.
So excitement for the first proper Metroid title in 8 years was pretty high. Even more so because it was developed by R&D 1 the original developers of the series.And still to this day it marks the final release in the series, chronologically speaking.

Like Other M Fusion offered on a more linear manner of exploring the space station and focused more on it's story. But unlike Other M here it worked. In many cases Other M often feels like a weaker version of Fusion. In both games you explore a space station with different biomes, but in Fusion the exploration, while still beeing guided, simply feels more natural.

Also we shouldn't forget about the hidden star of the game. The primary antoganist Samus-X or simply called SA-X. A doppelganger created when the X parasite infected Samus Varia suit. It is an enemy with all the same capabilities that Samus has at her prime, but noe of the moral concerns of a human. In other words it's a damn frightening bastard. And it's hunting you. The encounters you have with SA-X are among the most terryfying and intense moments I've experienced in Video Games so far. It let's you feel your utter helplessness. Something that is new for Samus. So far she had been the Hunter. And while there were many challenging encounters in her past, she was always powerful enough to handle them. But this time you're completely helpless. SA-X is you at your peak. Something that samus is far removed from during this game.

Metroid Fusion ranks among the best GameBoy Advance games and even though you may see it a the first step that lead to Other M this has nothing to do with the fact that Metroid Fusion is a great game and one of the best examples of the Metroidvania genre.

2: Super Metroid

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Talking about great examples from the Metroidvania genre. Her is the best one. It's no wonder that Super Metroid can often be found towards the top of best games of all time lists. Generally called the best SNES game by many the 23 years since its release in 1994 have done absolutely nothing to hurt this title. It's still as damn good as it was then.

During Metroids entry I said that the game got the concept of a great Metroidvania game right on it's first try. Well if the original Metroid introduced the concept then Super Metroid perfected it. I would go as far and say that even after 23 years this game is still the best of it's genre.

There are several factors at play to achieve that status. First and foremost it's Planet Zebes. The main base of Space Pirate operations is a beautifully crafted horrific world. It's dangerous and deadly around every corner. The enviroments are oozing with atmosphere and the great Sprite work secures that this is still as true today as it was in 1994. For me only one other game manages to create a better feeling of isolation and dread, while still maintaining a wish to explore every nook and crany of this alien world.

So Zebes is a dangeorus and hostile world, but luckily you're Samus Aran. I think this is the game that fully cemented Samus as one of the greatest female characters in gaming. And it did it without her uttering a single word. It did it fully through gameplay. The way Super Metroid allows you to approach the world and it's monsters. The tools it gives you to survive in this enviroment. All this forms Samus and how you see her. Even though she is alone on a world full of enemies she is fearless. Super Metroid shows Samus as what she is. The best Bounty Hunter in the Galaxy.

Now we have talked about the great gameworld Zebes and the great Character Samus, but don't worry I have saved the best for last. The Gameplay. And what more can I say except it's freaking great. During Fusions entry I said that the game focused on a more linear way of exploring the gameworld. Well Super Metroid is the complete opposite. Yes the world still opens up piece by piec via the acquisition of new power ups, but how you combined those pieces is completely up too you. That is one of the reasons why Super Metroid is still the Go-To game for speed running. The order in which you go for the necessary upgrades is a puzzle that you have to solve before even starting your run. Simply said Super Metroid is a game that you can play again and again and still find a new path.

1: Metroid Prime

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I said that only one game creates a better feeling of isolation and dread than Super Metroid. Well this is this game. When Metroid Prime came around it had been 8 years since the last proper Metroid Game. The series had been pretty dead up until then. With Metroid Fusion another classic Metroid was already in the makes for the Advance, but for the GameCube the series needed the next step. A new evolution. Luckily Nintendo found a small development company located in Austin,TX, which was wiling to take on the risk of guiding the franchise into the age of 3D. And the end result was not just good. It was good enough to spark an eternal war. Which is the better Metroid game? Super or Prime?

And while I would say that there is no right answer to this question for me it's pretty easy. I started with Prime and apart from Galaxy, The Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild no other game has been able to blow my mind like Prime did.

Atmosphere is a big part of the Metroid experience to me and no other titles does this better than Prime. The Planet of Talon IV is of of the greatest video game worlds of all time. A world that was annihilated by a catastrophic event many centuries ago. Forgotten by time and filled with hostile beasts. And Samus is completely alone.

The biggest part in creating such a perfect feeling of lonelyness is without a doubt the switch into first-person view. It made everything more intense. When you walk through the frozen wasteland of Phendrana Drifts, listening to the eerie music, it's easy to imagine yourself as the person looking through the visor. Metroid Prime is a game that further build Samus character because now you can imagine firsthand how she must feel.

But First-person view didn't only bring a dramatic increase in immersion and atmosphere, it also shook up the gameplay quite a bit. Of course the corner stones remained. The World gradually opens up piece by piece via the acquisition of new Power-Ups, but combat and and exploration got much more intense. Also with the introduction of different visors and beam types the battles gained a new strategy component.

Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. These two titles often get called the parents of 3D gaming because the showed how to perfectly transfer a 2D title into the three dimensional sphere. In that case I would call Metroid Prime the prodigial son. It's often overlooked, but just like the other two titles it is the perfect application of a great 2D concept in a 3D world. And now if you excuse me I think it's time to play through the Prime Trilogy on my Wii again.

Metroid is one of Nintendos most storied franchises. Sadly it often get's overshadowed by others. So tell me what great memories do you have of the series? What are your favourite games? Let me know in the comments.

And as always

Thanks for reading