Samus Aran returns in the third installment of the Metroid series. The backstory to the game is this: In Metroid II, Samus defeated the Metroid queen and escaped from SR388 with the help of a Metroid hatchling. After delivering the hatchling to Ceres station and leaving to seek new bounty, Samus receives a distress call from the scientists at Ceres. When she arrives, she discovers that the scientists have been killed and that the container, which holds the larva, is missing. She finds the larva, and she encounters Ridley, who obviously killed the scientists to get to the larva. Samus fights with Ridley until she is at the brink of death. Ridley then takes the larva, and Samus knows she must go back to the place where it all started: The planet Zebes.
The gameplay in Super Metroid is similar to Metroids 1&2, but it has some enhancements. Weapons such as power bombs, super missiles, and the charge beam enhance Samus' arsenal, while the speed booster, grappling beam, and x-ray scope help her explore the vast labyrinth that is planet Zebes. Of course, as you find more items, you can access more areas and have an easier time killing the enemies you run into. Exploration is at the core of the gameplay in Super Metroid with Samus growing in strength by exploring secret passages and finding hidden items. Controlling the game is easier than in earlier installments since Samus can aim diagonally up or down when holding either the L or R buttons, and turning off special weapons only takes a button press. It is this combination of exploration and action with excellent controls that makes this game fun to play.
For a game released in 1994, Super Metroid has awesome graphics. Samus is cleanly animated, and the various creatures are well drawn and animated. Many of the bosses in the game are huge, such as the Kraid and Ridley, and each has different tactics for you to overcome. The environments are varied and include magma filled caverns, a rocky area, an underground lake, and a wrecked ship. In the sound department, we have one of the best soundtracks for the SNES in Super Metroid. Compositions such as the themes in Ridley's Lair, Crateria, and Brinstar really add to the feel of the game. The sounds of things in the game, such as beams and monsters, are also pretty good and don't feel out of place.
Super Metroid is simply one of the best games on the SNES, and one of the classics. With its fun and challenging gameplay, it will keep any fan of Action/Adventure games hooked for a while. If you look hard, you can probably still find this game for sale. I urge all of you to play this game, and experience the greatness that is Super Metroid.
Create an Account
Member Login
