Summary
While Nintendo franchises likeMarioandZeldamay get more recognition in the mainstream gaming industry, theMetroidseries has quietly been one of the most influential franchises for the company, and part of this influence comes from the expertly crafted titleSuper Metroid. The hype surroundingMetroid Prime 4’s release demonstrates how far the franchise has come despite always being in the shadow of Nintendo’s more popular series. Now, 30 years later,Super Metroidhas become a legendary title in the gaming space, contributing to the popularization of the action-adventure genre in both the AAA and Indie gaming spaces.
Super Metroidlaunched 30 years ago for the SNES and was developed by Intelligent Systems, who had developed the original NES title and would go on to be known for their work on theFire Emblemseries. As the third title in the series, followingMetroidon the NES andMetroid 2: Return of Samuson the Game Boy,Super Metroidalready had a formula established by these previous entries to work with. However, it was the waySuper Metroidfleshed out this formula and developed it beyond what its predecessors had done that made the game such a stand-out success and cemented its legacy as one of the best games of all time.
Super Metroid Set the Gold Standard for Action-Adventure Games
How Super Metroid Helped Popularize the ‘Metroidvania’ Genre
Fans ofSuper Metroidand similar action-adventure games are likely familiar with some of the genre’s hallmarks, like exploring the game’s map to unlock new power-ups that allow players to access new areas and checkpoints that aid in this exploration and back-tracking. While a game likeThe Legend of Zeldaallowed players to explore a large map, andSuper Mario Bros.challenged players' platforming skills, theMetroidseries combined these two elements but failed to gain the same popularity. However,Super Metroidlaunched the series into the spotlight by refining the gameplay of its predecessors, laying the foundation for what theMetroidvania genrewould become.
The term “Metroidvaina” has become the colloquial word to describe action-adventure games within the gaming community, even becoming widely used enough to warrant a tag on Steam. This term is a portmanteau of “Metroid” and “Castlevania,” series that hold two of the most beloved games of this genre. WhileSuper Metroidwasn’t the first gameto include what would become genre staples, its fluidity of movement, combat, and exploration wrapped up in a visually stunning package helped it stand out and jumpstart the “Metroidvania” genre.
New Mechanics Super Metroid Introduced
One of the biggest criticisms of the originalMetroidwas its clunky movement in comparison to other platformers on the NES, likeSuper Mario Bros.Super Metroidwent to great lengths to overhaul this movement system, creating one of the most fluid platforming experiences available at the time. Contributing to this system were thenew upgrades Samus could acquire inSuper Metroid, many of which affected how players could maneuver throughout the world and helped establishSuper Metroidas such a popular title among the speedrunning community.
Among these new power-ups was the Speed Booster, which allowed players to build up speed as they ran and perform the now-iconic Shinespark move, propelling players upward through breakable blocks within the game’s map. Another important traversal upgrade was the Grapple Beam, which allowed players to fire a grappling hook-like laser out of Samus' arm cannon to swing across otherwise inaccessible terrain. The addition of these upgrades would also lead to the development of anew suit for Samusto obtain, the Gravity Suit, which allowed players to freely traverse areas with stronger gravity, such as underwater.
Super Metroid’s Influence Can Still Be Felt in Both the AAA and Indie Gaming Scene Today
Notable Indie Games Inspired by Super Metroid
The love forSuper Metroidis still felt by both players and developers alike 30 years later, with the primary legacy of the title seen within the numerous indie games it inspired. Some of the most popular indie games in thegenre include titles likeOri and the Blind Forest,Blasphemous, andAxiom Verge, all of which have their roots inSuper Metroid’s unique movement system and 2D exploration-based gameplay. What’s great about the modern indie gaming scene is the way these titles are able to replicate the look and feel of a classic title likeSuper Metroidwhile simultaneously expanding upon its beloved elements to create a new era of iconic titles.
Hollow Knightis likely the most popular among the modern revival of theSuper Metroid-inspired games, with its sequel,Hollow Knight: Silksong, being one of the most anticipated indie titles currently in development. It’s clear thatHollow Knighttakes a lot of inspiration fromSuper Metroidnot only in its map and combat design but in its movement systems as well. A key part of success inHollow Knightis utilizing the different abilities players can find throughout the Hollownest to enhance their movement capabilities, which makes the game’s world similarly satisfying to traverse and contribute toHollow Knight’s popularity.
Super Metroid’s Legacy Still Inspires AAA Games
While the indie gaming scene may be home to the most modern Metroidvania games, the legacy ofSuper Metroidcan still be felt within AAA titles as well. AlthoughMetroid Prime 4dominates discussion in mostMetroidfan circles, therelease ofMetroid Dreadback in 2021came as a pleasant surprise to fans who thought the days of a 2DMetroidon a home console were gone. As the first home console 2DMetroidtitle sinceSuper Metroid, fans had high expectations forMetroid Dreadthat the game exceeded, earning glowing praise from both players and critics.
Outside theMetroidseries, there have been some other AAA developers who have made their foray into the world of modern Metroidvanias as well. The most notable of these titles isUbisoft’s recentPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which successfully translates the developer’s classic franchise to this new genre by giving players solid combat scenarios between exploration and puzzle-solving segments reminiscent of other titles in the genre. The fact that studios are still successfully adaptingSuper Metroid’s formula to AAA titles 30 years later is a testament to just how revolutionary this iconic title was for its time.
Super Metroid
WHERE TO PLAY
When space pirates snatch the last remaining Metroid, bounty hunter Samus Aran is called back into action! Use new abilities like the Grapple Beam and X-Ray Scope to navigate the massive labyrinths of Planet Zebes, battling enemies and enormous bosses with an arsenal of beams, missiles and bombs.Super Metroid is renowned as one of the greatest 2D action games ever made, and paved the way for the Metroid Prime series with its innovative blend of exploration, action and secrets galore.
