Metroid (NES) Playthrough
5Playthrough of Nintendo's 1987 sci-fi action-adventure game for the NES, Metroid.
Metroid for the NES is an influential action-adventure game that introduced players to the mysterious and atmospheric world of planet Zebes. Released by Nintendo in 1986, it stars the bounty hunter Samus Aran on a mission to thwart the Space Pirates, who are using a parasitic species known as Metroids as biological weapons. Unlike many other NES games of its time, Metroid featured a nonlinear exploration style, allowing players to freely navigate an interconnected world of caverns and tunnels. This sense of exploration is at the core of Metroid, with gameplay focused on acquiring new abilities and items that unlock previously inaccessible areas, creating a unique sense of discovery.
The game’s atmosphere is enhanced by its minimalistic soundtrack and eerie visuals. With only a few musical cues, much of the game is defined by ambient, almost haunting sounds that evoke a sense of isolation and mystery. The visuals are equally sparse yet effective, utilizing dark backgrounds and limited colors to create an alien environment that feels foreboding and inhospitable. Zebes is divided into distinct areas like Brinstar, Norfair, and Tourian, each with unique themes and enemies. The enemy design also adds to the game’s atmosphere, with strange creatures lurking in each corridor, contributing to the sense that Samus is deep in hostile territory.
Gameplay in Metroid emphasizes a mix of platforming, combat, and exploration. Samus begins with limited abilities, but players soon find upgrades such as the Morph Ball, which allows her to roll into tight spaces, and the Ice Beam, which can freeze enemies to be used as platforms. These power-ups not only make Samus more powerful but also open up new paths, which requires players to remember and revisit areas previously explored. This backtracking mechanic is a key feature of Metroid, encouraging players to thoroughly investigate the world and making it one of the earliest examples of the “Metroidvania” genre, which combines platforming with open-world exploration.
The game’s ending offers a memorable twist, revealing that Samus is a woman, a rare lead for a video game at the time. This moment, unlocked only if players completed the game quickly, was groundbreaking and has become one of gaming’s most iconic reveals. The game’s save system is also noteworthy; rather than offering a traditional save option, Metroid uses a password system, allowing players to restart from key checkpoints by entering a specific code.
Metroid for NES is widely regarded as one of the most innovative games of its era. Its combination of exploration, atmospheric design, and nonlinear gameplay was groundbreaking, laying the foundation for an entire genre of exploration-based platformers. Samus Aran’s journey through Zebes not only set a new standard for immersive, open-world gameplay but also established a lasting legacy that would inspire generations of games to come.