Ranking Metroid/Appreciation Thread

[o.pwuaioc]

Similar to Castlevania, Mega Man, and Final Fantasy threads, I'm curious about how people rank Metroid games. I already know that many people would put Other M last, but I'm genuinely surprised that Fusion ranks up there. So, what is your order, and most importantly, why?

For me, it's:

Super Metroid
Zero Mission
Metroid
Metroid Prime
Return of Samus
Fusion

Super Metroid is the pinnacle of the series. Although exploration wasn't as free as the original, it was free enough for my taste. I think it also codified what should be expected in these types of games: explore, find an item, reevaluate map in lieu of item, find new routes, find boss, explore some more, rinse, repeat. Aside from gameplay, Super Metroid just oozes atmosphere. Lost and alone in a cold, cruel world, the music and graphics convey this perfectly.

Zero Mission is Metroid, but enhanced.

Metroid, the original, my god, what a game. While the aesthetics aren't quite up to par with Super Metroid, the journey is freer, and the black background also captures that dark atmosphere that the series commands. This first established all the basics, and heck, even Castlevania follows the model. What a great game. The classic looks keeps it near it's enhanced remake, as well.

Metroid Prime is to me what many people claim Ocarina of Time is to Link to the Past: a 3D version. That's not quite true, but it's close. The exploration, the large emptiness, the ability to get lost until what you need is found, all in a 3D perspective, makes this rank very high for me. It just barely ranks below the 2D metroid games, but that's a personal preference.

Return of Samus was a slight departure from the norm, and frankly, I'm not a fan of the limited space. I had hoped for a large, expansive freely explorable universe, but it doesn't give that to me. There is some divergence of paths, but overall, it's merely find metroids, kill them, move on. At least that part was enjoyable, though, so it redeems it for me.

Fusion for me was a disappointment. Yeah, it looks and sounds like a Metroid game, but what is this handholding? What is this telling me what to do? Always checking in on me? Samus is reduced to just shooting everything in a room, and moving on. Plus, it's way too short. My expectations perhaps were too high (I wanted it to be the Mega Man X of the otherwise Mega Man series), but even then, I found the handholding too off-putting. It's just not my thing in any game I play.

I have not played Prime 2, 3, Hunters, or Pinball, or Other M. I gather that I would like Prime 2, but maybe not 3 or Other M? Are they worth getting? What about Hunters?

[Hazerd]

Super Metroid
Metroid Prime
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Zero Mission

Only ones ive played and beat, they really need to make another one like Super Metroid, set in the Prime universe, i always hoped they would of made a Metroid game using the Super Smash Bro. Melee engine, because it would be the perfect platforming engine for a Metroid game.

[MrPopo]

Super - no explanation needed
Prime - Holy shit did they nail it in the 3D transition
Prime 3 - Good use of the motion controls and much better level design than Prime 2
Zero Mission - I liked how they kept the same map layout of the original (with a few added corridors) but changed things up so you end up exploring most of the map, rather than the very minimal set you need to do in the original. Plus, when you get your suit back you feel incredibly badass.
Fusion - It was a good experiment in adding more in-game story, but it was a little too railroaded for my tastes. Fortunately they did include several segments where you go off the rails, which brought back some of that exploration feeling.
Other M - I don't have the same issues with the story as other people do, other than silly small things like having to enable Varia and Grappling Beam. I think this did the story better than Fusion, but the general perspective removed most of the vertical movement. And those stupid pixel hunts in first person mode, and they did a bad job of letting you know that it had transitioned from a first person cutscene to a pixel hunt. Also, I thought it was weak that the Bottle Ship was essentially a recycled BSL labs, complete with the same near end-game twist. But even though it sounds like I have a lot of complaints, I had a lot of fun with it. The level design was pretty good.
Prime 2 - I felt the level design was rather weak. It was a real pain to move between areas, which got really bad when you needed to find the keys at the end.
Metroid - I don't think it has aged very well. If you aren't going for a single run with no deaths it is very painful to proceed and the map design means if you're wandering around lost then you're very much on the wrong path; the actual paths to Ridley and Kraid are incredibly straightforward.
Metroid 2 - Very ambitious, but the game severely overreached. A Super-style large map without an in-game map, a large sprite which makes it hard to see enemies until they're too close, and powerups that encourage you to get lost with the new freedom of movement. This would move up many places if it got a Zero Mission-style remake, because I can see a fantastic game that's hampered by the technology.

[Gunstar Green]

For me it's:

Metroid Prime
Super Metroid
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Zero Mission
Metroid
Metroid II

Not including the other Primes because I never got into them as much as the first or Other M which I outright despise.

Metroid Prime was a really incredible experience for me. One that was both new and familiar at the same time. It took the concept of Super Metroid to the next level. The graphical work made you feel like you were truly exploring an alien world and it managed to have 3D platforming that I not only tolerated, but enjoyed. The amount of polish and love that went into it is very apparent. It took a while before I decided that it dethroned Super Metroid in my mind but ultimately it did.

Super Metroid is a timeless classic and one of the first games I can remember with such a rich mood and atmosphere. It really felt like you against the world. These are all things that the original game tried to do but it wasn't really fully realized until it was done in 16-bit. Super Metroid enhanced everything that made Metroid special and is the very definition of what a good sequel should be. It deserves to be considered the best game in the series by the majority.

Metroid Fusion gets a lot of flack which I don't really understand. Yes you're told where to go but not how to get there and overall it's a much more difficult game than Super Metroid in regards to the puzzles, the boss fights and even the common enemies. The change of scenery worked well and gave an excuse to make it a colorful GBA friendly game. The story was interesting and I was suspicious of Adam and his motives the entire first playthrough. The SA-X was also a great gimmick that really added a lot of tension. It's the only time I remember actually being scared of something in a 2D game. I also feel the controls have been given a much needed refinement from Super Metroid. It's a great sequel and one that I feel is really misunderstood.

Zero Mission is fun but I have a lot of problems with it, mainly it's length and lack of difficulty. I also really disliked the stealth segments that seemed like an attempt to bring back the tense moments with the SA-X from Fusion. It didn't quite cut it though. It's still a fun game and probably my recommended starting point for anyone who wants to get into Metroid. For me though it's a mostly forgettable installment that didn't do anything to make it special. It's not bad though.

The original Metroid is, well, the original Metroid. It's still a classic but it hasn't aged very well comparatively. I appreciate its innovations but I don't often have the drive to play it.

The second game I never really thought was a great game to begin with. The controls are more awkward than the first, it's both linear and confusing because of its limited graphics, and fighting the various Metroids is a chore. For me it's just a really tedious and ugly game.

[ExedExes]

Super Metroid













Any other Metroids

Just can't compare!

[dsheinem]

I basically agree with MrPopo's ranking.

[CFFJR]

I basically agree with MrPopo's ranking.

Does that mean you got around to beating Super Metroid?

Regarding the topic, I don't really have reason to rank them all, (especially since I have played but never beaten the Prime games) but I can say with confidence that my favorite is Fusion.

I know that's uncommon, but I really enjoy the game and feel much the same way about it as Gunstar Green already described.

[dsheinem]

I basically agree with MrPopo's ranking.

Does that mean you got around to beating Super Metroid?

Nope, but it is probably the best in the series from what I've played. I will finish it - someday!

[MrPopo]

Metroid Fusion gets a lot of flack which I don't really understand. Yes you're told where to go but not how to get there and overall it's a much more difficult game than Super Metroid in regards to the puzzles, the boss fights and even the common enemies. The change of scenery worked well and gave an excuse to make it a colorful GBA friendly game. The story was interesting and I was suspicious of Adam and his motives the entire first playthrough. The SA-X was also a great gimmick that really added a lot of tension. It's the only time I remember actually being scared of something in a 2D game. I also feel the controls have been given a much needed refinement from Super Metroid. It's a great sequel and one that I feel is really misunderstood.

To me it feels like sometimes the overall navigation works well in providing more story context. From the perspective of a player going through the first time your path through Super Metroid is still pretty linear because of the way they gated areas with required power ups. But sometimes the navigation in Fusion felt really tight-fisted. But then again, it made the moments where you went outside the mission parameters (like when you fight the security bot the second time) feel that much more awesome. That sense of "now I'm finally getting loose."

[Flake]

Top Tier:

Super Metroid
Metroid Prime 3
Metroid Prime (wii version)
Zero Mission

Mid Tier:

Other M
Fusion

Bottom Tier:

Metroid
Return of Samus
Prime 2
Hunters