Summary
If any franchise can be lauded for its gameplay systems, it’sMetroid. This long-running science fiction series made its debut in1986 on the NESand continues to be one of the most prolific in the industry, despite having a smaller selection of titles than more prominent Nintendo franchises likeZeldaandMario.
Whether it’s the perfection of 2D action-platform design that games likeSuper Metroidcultivated or the innovative first-person adventure ofPrime, this incredible series has proven its ability to be the best at what it does when a new entry comes out.Metroidcontinues to be a series with seemingly absolute mastery of whatever gameplay or function it’s trying to achieve on any given release, and these titles are the ones that have done it the best.
After being canceled several times and becoming a long-sought-after title,Metroid Dreadwas finally released for the Nintendo Switch in 2021, and it proved to be worth the wait. Set on a planet known as ZDR, one that is inhabited by the X parasite fromFusion,Dreadsets Samus off on a harrowing quest for survival. It feels just as snappy and responsive as anyMetroidgame to date, despite being made by a different developer in the form of MercurySteam, who also worked onSamus Returns.
Dreadalso features some additional gameplay systems, as the conflict against robots known as E.M.M.I. helps to keep the game fresh.The counter mechanic fromSamus Returnsalso makes an appearance, leveling out the arsenal of offensive attacks. It feels altogether fabulous to play and is easily one of the best titles available on the Nintendo Switch.
Despite it being unavailable on Nintendo Switch,Samus Returnsis a great excuse to dust off the 3DS and have some fun. Developed by MercurySteam, who also worked onDread, this outstanding titleis a remake ofMetroid 2: Return of Samusand is easily one of the best 3DS games of all time.
With the introduction of the counter-attack system, players gain a new way to protect Samus in the harsh landscape of SR388. It was a welcome addition, giving an extra layer to combat beyond shooting and the more advanced weapons. Additionally, upgrades for Samus that appeared after the original game were also folded in, including the Grapple Beam and Super Missiles. As far as action games on the 3DS go, it’s hard to find one better thanSamus Returns, as this excellent redo of one of the most fascinatingMetroidgames is still worth playing today.
The originalMetroidgame on the NES was the starting point for what would become a fabulous franchise, featuringsome iconic boss battlesand a dark sci-fi world, but it’s a bit difficult to go back to it when better 2D entries in the series exist. Thankfully, back in 2004, Nintendo completely remade the game for the Game Boy Advance and fixed a lot of the issues, and crafted one of the finest 2D action games of all time withMetroid: Zero Mission.
Zero Missionincorporates many gameplay systems and design elements from previous games, such as the Gravity Suit and Charge Beam. There’s also an excellent new final sequence, breaking off from the ending of the original and seeing Samus don the Zero Suit for only the second time in the series at that point. Playing out the events that lead directly intoMetroid Primeis a treat, as it sees the player navigating Samus through Chozo temples. This remake of the originalMetroidis currently available on Nintendo Switch Online, making it easier than ever to play.
Released the same day as a tie-in withPrime,Metroid Fusionwas launchedon the Game Boy Advanceand continues to be one of Samus' finest 2D entries to date. Breaking from the traditions the series had set,Fusionfollowed a slightly more linear progression system and sees Samus in conflict with the X parasite on SR388. The shooting feels brilliant and Samus' movements are flawless, as it feels like a slightly fasterSuper Metroid.
Fusionalso sees Samus go up against SA-X, the parasite that infected the suit that was lost inSuper Metroid. SA-X has all of Samus' most high-level gear from the end ofSuper Metroid, which makes it an utterly terrifying foe to go up against. The escape sequences featuring SA-X are some of the most inventive the series has ever seen, and it makes the eventual conflict with it feel even more rewarding.Fusionis easily accessible today, as it’s available on Nintendo Switch Online.
As far as 2D action-platform games go, there may not be a better example thanSuper Metroid. First released on the SNES in 1994,Super Metroidis a title that codified a lot of elements that make the franchise great today, as well as being a forerunner to what wouldbecome the Metroidvania genre.
The map is expertly crafted, weapon upgrades come at a perfect pace and the overall flow and structure of the game are nearly flawless. It also introduced some new offensive abilities for Samus, including the Grapple Beam and the ability to stack weapons so they don’t vanish from the player’s inventory as they did in the first game. It is the perfect example of a sequel surpassing the original and is readily available on Nintendo Switch Online.
As Retro Studios was hard at work on multiple projects, a visit from Shigeru Miyamoto prompted them to take one of their prototypes and affix theMetroidproperty to it. Theresult wasMetroid Prime, one of the greatest GameCube games of all time, and a textbook example of how to transition the game design systems of a 2D game into 3D. The stunning reveal at E3 2001 also unveiled the perspective change, as players were now saddled behind Samus' visor in a first-person view.
It was a bold move, but one that paid off, asMetroid Primeis still one of the finest action-adventure games of all time and towers above the rest of the series. The perspective is outstanding, as flashes of Samus' face during intense firefights are a beautiful touch. The aiming feels sharp and precise, allowing either for a lock-on or free aim. Progression through the world of Tallon 4 is also a highlight, as this maze-like world of Chozo origin unfolds itself in such a natural way, and the conflict with the Space Pirates escalates organically.Metroid Primewas recently remastered for the Nintendo Switch and is easily one of the best games that one can find on the platform.
