ColdGoldLazarus
Yet Another Samus Fangirl
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I'm gonna toss my hat into the ring with two uncontroversial takes and a crazy one.
Best? Dread. It really benefits in most areas from the years of development and industry evolution it has on the other 2D titles, and excels at the action side of Metroid.
Movement is the best it's ever been, and the EMMI are a great take on survival. Exploration isn't the strongest due to the frequent backtrack progression, but not as hampered as I initially feared. Atmosphere takes the biggest hit, but the deep background visuals make up for the weak music. Thematically it's kinda messy, but awesome enough that I'm not as bothered by that as I might normally be.
Combat's also really strong from an objective standpoint, but at least to my tastes I kinda wish it was less of a focus; most of the bosses are good or even great, but the final boss is not. I have two save files at 100% item completion, but still not completed, because of that guy. But on the whole, it's just a really really well-put-together package.
Personal favorite? Echoes. I love Prime, Prime was my first Metroid, but aside from a few areas of backslide, Echoes feels like it takes that foundation and runs with it. I also just love how much it's willing to stray away from the series' established concepts to introduce new ideas, something I think the series is badly in need of more of.
Fantastic atmosphere, great exploration (I particularly appreciate how each areas' layouts feel different to traverse), and a great survival mechanic in the dark world. Combat and bosses are much stronger than the first Prime, while still not being a primary focus, which is ideal for my specific tastes. (Though the Spider Guardian is just. Pain.) 3D Metroid movement is of course very slow-paced and tanky compared to the 2D titles, but playing on Wii Trilogy made it feel better to me, and I generally favor the Prime games' more deliberate pacing anyway. Thematically strong in the light/dark duality, but also kinda shallow with it, I really wish that element had been taken further than just the aesthetics. Its biggest weakness is the overall experience being extremely uneven (at least by Retro's high standards) and has some frustrating valleys amidst the high peaks. But I still love it all the same.
But here's where I might lose some people.
Greatest? I cast my vote in the poll for Metroid II: Return Of Samus. It's a messy, early overall package, but one that I think isn't given its full dues. Movement is a huge step up from NEStroid, but combat is weak and simple. Survival is tough but not unfair, and gimmick-free. Exploration is kinda limited by the linear sequenced world progression, but each area in that sequence is a mini-metroidvania unto itself.
But atmosphere? Unparalleled. IMO even Super doesn't do it as well, having to make concessions with gamey, fourth-wall-breaking stuff like symbol blocks. In Metroid II, so so much of the game's design is geared toward a deep, dark, and oppressive atmosphere, not just working around but using the limitations of the hardware in service of this goal. Both of the remakes fail to capture this, partially by trying to solve problems that this game turned into features. And similarly and most importantly, this is one of the thematically strongest entries, with Fusion as the only close rival. I hope I don't need to tell you why. These two factors are what makes it the greatest in my eyes.
It's also just plain the most important to the trajectory of the entire series; there's a reason all the Prime games are set before this. More than any other entry, (Super included), I think that if you erased Metroid II and replaced it with something else, Metroid would become a completely different series, unrecognizable thematically and in almost every other way from how we know it today.
Best? Dread. It really benefits in most areas from the years of development and industry evolution it has on the other 2D titles, and excels at the action side of Metroid.
Movement is the best it's ever been, and the EMMI are a great take on survival. Exploration isn't the strongest due to the frequent backtrack progression, but not as hampered as I initially feared. Atmosphere takes the biggest hit, but the deep background visuals make up for the weak music. Thematically it's kinda messy, but awesome enough that I'm not as bothered by that as I might normally be.
Combat's also really strong from an objective standpoint, but at least to my tastes I kinda wish it was less of a focus; most of the bosses are good or even great, but the final boss is not. I have two save files at 100% item completion, but still not completed, because of that guy. But on the whole, it's just a really really well-put-together package.
Personal favorite? Echoes. I love Prime, Prime was my first Metroid, but aside from a few areas of backslide, Echoes feels like it takes that foundation and runs with it. I also just love how much it's willing to stray away from the series' established concepts to introduce new ideas, something I think the series is badly in need of more of.
Fantastic atmosphere, great exploration (I particularly appreciate how each areas' layouts feel different to traverse), and a great survival mechanic in the dark world. Combat and bosses are much stronger than the first Prime, while still not being a primary focus, which is ideal for my specific tastes. (Though the Spider Guardian is just. Pain.) 3D Metroid movement is of course very slow-paced and tanky compared to the 2D titles, but playing on Wii Trilogy made it feel better to me, and I generally favor the Prime games' more deliberate pacing anyway. Thematically strong in the light/dark duality, but also kinda shallow with it, I really wish that element had been taken further than just the aesthetics. Its biggest weakness is the overall experience being extremely uneven (at least by Retro's high standards) and has some frustrating valleys amidst the high peaks. But I still love it all the same.
But here's where I might lose some people.
Greatest? I cast my vote in the poll for Metroid II: Return Of Samus. It's a messy, early overall package, but one that I think isn't given its full dues. Movement is a huge step up from NEStroid, but combat is weak and simple. Survival is tough but not unfair, and gimmick-free. Exploration is kinda limited by the linear sequenced world progression, but each area in that sequence is a mini-metroidvania unto itself.
But atmosphere? Unparalleled. IMO even Super doesn't do it as well, having to make concessions with gamey, fourth-wall-breaking stuff like symbol blocks. In Metroid II, so so much of the game's design is geared toward a deep, dark, and oppressive atmosphere, not just working around but using the limitations of the hardware in service of this goal. Both of the remakes fail to capture this, partially by trying to solve problems that this game turned into features. And similarly and most importantly, this is one of the thematically strongest entries, with Fusion as the only close rival. I hope I don't need to tell you why. These two factors are what makes it the greatest in my eyes.
It's also just plain the most important to the trajectory of the entire series; there's a reason all the Prime games are set before this. More than any other entry, (Super included), I think that if you erased Metroid II and replaced it with something else, Metroid would become a completely different series, unrecognizable thematically and in almost every other way from how we know it today.
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