Why is SUPER METROID So Good?

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The next MwM: The Many Layers of Glass Onion is already out on Nebula
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In this episode of Movies with Mikey, Mikey turns his essayist eye towards another major Nintendo franchise, Metroid, and investigates the impact of Samus Aran, Super Metroid, and the franchise on video game history. Where does Metroid rank in your Nintendo Big 3 (or 4)?
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Hello! We are Mikey and Teara and we run Filmjoy. We love to watch TV and movies and talk about why they’re art. We occasionally play some games too. We are now a Nebula First channel, check out our latest video before it hits KZbin
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Movies with Mikey is a positive look at film criticism through the eyes of someone who loves movies to an unhealthy degree.
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Opening Titles:
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Misc tracks licensed from:
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[@brianervin5065]

Interesting that Zelda and Metroid are fundamentally puzzle games, but their moods could not be more different. Zelda games are open and full of characters, while Metroid games are claustrophobic and isolated. Very cool topic.

[@angelbaitgames5427]

I've used the comparison "He's the Link to my Aran" for my brother and I for years lol

[@giorgiomx]

In 2016 I played my first Zelda, it was A Link To The Past, I thought "this is a puzzles game disguised as action/adventure", it was great and became a fan of the Zelda saga.

[@thehopeofeden597]

I’ve missed Mikey a lot. He helps me through a lot of hard days, so this excites me even though I’m not huge into Metroid.

[@filmjoy]

Awww, you're so sweet

[@MrShanester117]

Creepy obsequiousness

[@randomguy444]

Congrats on the Nebula gig, Mikey! Glad to know you're gonna keep making videos.

[@bgarrigus]

Samus being a woman was an ENORMOUS deal in 1986. One of the great gaming moments in my life.

[@Varstilone]

So stoked to see you make a great essay on one of my favorite games. Super Metroid is an absolute masterclass of minimalist story telling and atmosphere. One of my absolute favorite examples on minimalist story telling - how does the baby metroid recognize Samus now that it's grown, post kidnapping? It identifies her because of her warning siren on her suit going off after the metroid has almost drained all her energy, the last time it heard that siren was when Samus almost dies fighting Ridley to protect it. There's absolutely no narration, dialogue, lull in gameplay or anything to explain this. It's just there for the player to piece together if they're savvy enough to do it. The last memory, and possibly FIRST memory (if you assume Samus may have been critically injured after battling the mother metroid in the second game) of Samus is the whining sirens of her critically damaged suit. It's those same sirens that alert the Metroid that Samus is in danger when fighting MB, leading to MB's defeat and the metroid's death. Again, no dialogue or narration needed.

[@GeoffreyToday]

I was 15 when Super Metroid came out. I was so obsessed that it literally interfered with my ability to study for my exams. I had to dedicate a day to beating the game just so I could get back to studying distraction free. Right after I beat the game, I checked the mail to find my nintendo power player's guide for Super Metroid had arrived. What timing!

[@TerryKashat]

How did you do in your exams? 😂

[@GeoffreyToday]

@@TerryKashat as I recall: poorly :p

[@TerryKashat]

LoL - for this game - worth it@@GeoffreyToday

[@jasonhunter2819]

As a wise man once said...for about 3 hours, games have come a long way since Pac-Man

[@KhalilArafan]

I turned 42 today. The name's Arafan. So yes, Samus is almost family :p second videogame ever, after mario, in a small Moroccan mining town, before starting to learn English on my own in order to finish Zelda, I had to learn that very cryptic new language that still powers every Metroid cell inside me ever since. Much love Mickey.

[@FabioGnecco]

We share the same love for those games, even so far from each other Pretty cool stuff, huh ? Ahhahaha Glad that games are universal

[@EricGranata]

Giving it a watch now. Mike says Super Metroid was the first game he “experienced” and I could not relate more. It’s the first game I played that captivated me on another level with its storytelling.

[@nightcrawler5696]

A neighbour introduced me to this game soon after it came out. At the time, it was the greatest gaming experience I'd ever had. The best part of this game were the controls. It was so fluid that you could forget you're even using a controller and just immerse yourself into the depths of its isolation.

[@nathanyoung8244]

The two things I love the most: Movies with Mikey and Metroid! I about peed myself when I got the notification for this.

[@seanwhite1104]

I was 14 in 1986 and Metroid is still one of my favorite games. Thanks Mikey for making such a great video about my childhood!

[@eacaraxe]

I can't for the life of me remember the channel that pointed it out, but my favorite part about Super Metroid is it's actually a five-act structure story with each act being a self-contained pseudo-monomythic structure, with the connective tissue in each act being how one reacts to isolation and how that isolation influences the self.

[@snakesnoteyes]

If you ever remember please drop a link or something

[@eacaraxe]

@@snakesnoteyes It's actually about the level design of Super Metroid, and it makes the point the "lock and key" Metroidvania structure exists in ludonarrative harmony in the game.

[@snakesnoteyes]

@@eacaraxe that sounds really familiar, like maybe I’ve seen it, but if you remember the channel or title please let me know.

[@IronChuck]

Never have I agreed so hard with any KZbin video. ALL HAIL SAMUS ARAN! (She's been my girl since 1986.) Also, didn't realize how much I missed this channel until now. Also, also; Gonna have to get me a piece of that Curiosity/Nebula action next paycheck!

[@filmjoy]

Aww thanks so much. Nebula can help us create more content of the same quality a little faster so we think this is a net win for everyone.

[@burnttoastspacegirlfriend8769]

Super Metroid was beautiful and kinda haunting. That and Ecco the Dolphin were two of my favorite games, which makes sense since both central characters embark on a long journey completely alone and isolated.

[@calvinsidle6509]

I was wearing my "No one knows what they're doing shirt" today. Happy to see you again!

[@brad4571]

I did about 20 complete play-throughs, 14-15 of them with no sound and listening to different genres of music. I found that Ministry’s The Land of Rape and Honey on repeat and then followed by The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste on repeat fit the game quite well. The Rhythm and mood of the two albums, the first one to start followed by the other one to finish is perfect.

[@darkrai6543]

Great to see MwM back! Lots of love to you all

[@ThunderRazorYT]

The 2nd biggest aspect that makes Super Metroid so great is that the player themselves unlocks knowledge. Perfect example is the wall jump. Samus always could do it, but the player couldn't. The game teaches the player to wall jump and does not just give Samus an item. For me this ties me to Samus, her world, and her isolation very strongly. Like you said, it is a master piece and playing this game in 1994 was the most impactful videogame experience I ever had.

[@jambulance]

Metroid Prime wasn’t my first game but it was the first game to blow my mind, and it was a massive part of my childhood escapism that I needed, that franchise consumed my life and it still is to this date my favourite series of all time.

[@Gfoot1]

I've missed Lindsay Ellis here on youtube... With you moving there as well, getting nebula becomes more and more likely.

[@tristanneal9552]

I honestly did not realize Lindsay Ellis had moved to nebula, I kind of just thought she quit 😅

[@Duiker36]

@@tristanneal9552 It's more accurate to say that she put up her whole back catalog on Nebula. If you want to follow her, the place to do it is honestly Patreon.

[@michaelthomashamilton]

Super Metroid was truly ahead of its time in terms of building an atmosphere. It was very cinematic, particularly the opening.

[@CptAwwsome]

12 y/o me pulling my hair out unsure where I'm supposed to go next and out of frustration roll around wasting superbombs as I go until the tunnel I'm in suddenly cracks from one of the explosions and I suddenly find myself in Maridia. My kid-brain exploded bringing relief and renewed purpose. Supermetroid is still one of my favorites

[@reenchanted]

I think Super Metroid was the first game that made me feel sadness and anger - not just frustration as a player but real anger as my character. It’s so ironic (or perhaps not) that the game that immerses you in isolation can make you feel so connected to something so strange and alien, only to rip it away from you. I’ve always loved games that make me feel something beyond the challenge and the systems, games that make you more empathetic and haunt you years after you’ve finished them, and for me, I think Super Metroid was what started that all for me.

[@barrettgarese2267]

Super Metroid is the absolute pinnacle of gaming. It never got better than that. I love modern games, and I own a gaming PC, Switch, and PS4/5, but still … Super Metroid was the peak. The perfect game. The one.

[@drewsaga101]

I love this channel so much.

[@filmjoy]

That's pretty cool because we also love you.

[@SteveJonesPookieMan]

Firstly- wonderful Metroid video. I was so happy to be able to share this link with my buddy who is a HUGE Metroid fan, and I learned some things about the franchise myself. And also- Congratulations on the new partnership with Nebula. I hope this makes things easier for everyone involved. Unfortunately, I don't think I can follow you over there because I'm maxed on streaming content providers. With that said, I will happily remain a Patreon supporter and when the videos come to KZbin I will excitedly view them. Thanks for all the content!

[@elizabethpemberton8445]

High school class of 1987. I played Sorceror of Siva on our Apple II+ and Ladybug at the arcade, and listened to the guys talk about playing Zork.

[@tedrex8959]

If SuperMetroid is Citizen Kane what does that make Prime? The Godfather?

[@hemangchauhan2864]

Only a film buff can explain the importance of videogames Another great video!

[@filmjoy]

Mikey worked as a game developer for 16 years before becoming a film youtuber so it's like the perfect combination (and thank you!)

[@Devil-Made]

I think one major flaw with Metroid is that it was proprietary to Nintendo. I would’ve LOVED to have owned ANY Metroid game through the years, but I was a PlayStation kid. There just weren’t enough compelling games for the Nintendo that interested me enough to beg my parents for a new console. I was always upset about this because Metroid is totally in my wheelhouse. And a lot of my friends were the same way. It was the game we all wanted for a system that we had grown away from. We wanted splinter cell, metal gear, and twisted metal. Metroid would’ve KILLED sales if it had been released under Sony instead of Nintendo. It’s kind of a miracle the franchise has survived this long. Now I can just buy my own console whenever I want. Metroid is finally within my grasp. 😁

[@i_am_clockwork6490]

I was a little young to experience metroid when it first came out, but Mikey's connection to the games is palpable. Thanks for the great video, and congrats on Nebula

[@whoanellynelnel3874]

Thanks team for another engrossing production👌 congrats on joining Nebula Mikey

[@Alucard-A-La-Carte]

It's ironic, but Super Metroid is a classic game I absolutely couldn't play precisely BECAUSE of how isolating and lonely it was. As a kid I played mostly RPGs and did it for the story and interaction, and this game was just me screaming into the void and hoping someone not trying to kill me answered. And none of them did. Except those awesome animals. Hell, because of that I didn't even beat it until last year before I played Metroid Dread. Which ALSO made me feel weirdly isolated because it felt like a game that was assuming you'd played a Metroid game before (and I hadn't really).

[@LC-sc3en]

Yeah I think one of the reasons it didn't sell quite as well is because it is 2 very niche genres especially at the time. Really hard puzzle platformer with an insanely large map game and horror. I watched a friend play it both because I didn't own the system and they weren't great at sharing but also because I can't play horror games.

[@BatmanAoD]

Not sure about Metroidvania as a genre being "nostalgia-driven". It's a really good formula that works in a variety of genres, and with the exception of Metroid Dread and Bloodstained, it seems to me that most successful modern Metroidvanias (Ori, Hollow Knight, etc) are not really trying to evoke memories of older games, any more than rogue-likes are trying to evoke memories of Rogue itself.

[@GenKraid]

My favorite KZbinr has made a video on my favorite video game! What an amazing world we live in!

[@kaox44]

Super Metroid was and ThE game that defined the 2D side scrolling that every 3rd/indies developer are using to this day.

[@mrkiddguy]

Title made me chuckle. I never realized that I have had the same relationship with both, looking forward to the video!

[@helloena]

i somehow missed this when it came out, but now I've just finished my exams for the semester and damn right I'm sitting down and watching this, glad y'all are here

[@JerkingtheGerk]

I can’t believe how much I missed Mikey. After watching this video I’ve been going through his other videos for the past couple hours

[@TheMaskedDonut]

This is very good, but as someone who made an hour-long video essay both criticizing/defending Metroid: Other M, I feel weirdly compelled to talk about how it handles Samus' arc with regards to isolation. Still reeling from her near death with Mother Brain, she tries to join a group of Galactic feds. She even knows a guy on the team, and it's led by Adam Malkovitch; someone she greatly respects. Needless to say, it goes poorly. She loses trust in the Federation when it turns out they were behind the messed-up experiments on the ship. She loses trust in her team when it turns out one of them is a traitor. She even briefly loses trust in her friends, and the moment she regains it, they sacrifice themselves for her. It's like the universe is telling her: "this is why you're better off alone...". This makes her feel more vulnerable than ever, so when she ultimately triumphs at the end of the game (the ACTUAL end when the ship explodes), I feel like she's gone on a journey and thrived despite her isolation. It's a pity the localization is cringey and the gameplay is lousy (way too linear, and "item authorization" is the goddamn worst), because there's a lot of interesting elements in there...

[@soniashapiro4827]

I've never played any of these games and I still found this video gripping. ANY topics of interest to Michael, any at all, would be terrific. Home renovations, health care system, food, anything, really.

[@EricGranata]

Oh damn! Two things I love. Mikey and Metroid! Can’t wait to watch. 😊

[@Zapdos7471]

The terminal montage clips were a welcome sight even if unexpected.

[@wantsome-zs5sq]

I bought super metroid the day it came out. I was a fan of the original on nes. The end of super metroid blew my mind. It was the best moment in gaming ever to me. The first time I made it to mother brain she destoryed me. I was pissed and turned the system off. For a week I kept trying to defeat mother brain but I always got pissed and turned the system off. The last time mother brain destroyed me. I threw the controller on the floor out of frustration. I stared at the tv waitng for samus to die then the super metroid swooped in to save her. The entire time I kept quitting before that sequence. My mind was blown at the time.

[@nirellediamond]

The question is would we 80's kids LOVE the 80's as much if we were able to live through them as adults?

[@noahr4951]

I love your channel and I am rooting for your great success.

[@filmjoy]

Thank you!

[@MarxistMaverick]

I have never played a metroid and this was such an interesting way to discover. Great video

[@Cam3mix]

Happy to see you back, Mikey

[@jimihendricks5602]

Great video and thoughts on a underplayed series, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the later Gameboy games that tried to reconnect to Metroid's roots after the FPS games. I personally liked how they re-adapted the first game in Zero Mission expanding on Samus's history, and thought Fusion brought some interesting changes to her character as well. Also it was awesome to see you in person with the Desert Bus crew, hope you make it into some of their table top rpg sessions, you were great in the D&D game. Glad you're able to join Nebula and keep making content, you've been a favorite of mine since before Anthony saved the World. Thank you Mikey, be well.

[@arturo182]

I watched the whole video and I don't know what it was trying to say. Metroid... exists?

[@UmbraeSoulsbane]

Always a good day for a filmjoy release!

[@soulbrother5435]

Very recently I completed my first Metroid marathon (Zero Mission-Super Metroid-Metroid Fusion). Super Metroid indeed aged very well even in current climate among tons of contemporary indie metroidvanias. Unmatched atmosphere and music, the exploring. Playing Super Metroid after Zero Mission (especially the opening location) was like starting Doom 64 after Ultimate Doom, you immediately catch the different vibe but its even more exiting

[@NyJoanzy]

That bit about "Art being good when it catered to 'Me'!" Was a roast of do many it hath ended winter.

[@yanguskhan8513]

and i was thinking to myself, man i havent seen a filmjoy video in awhile, and boom! the gods answered and delivered.

[@madspunky]

It's the wall jump. A power up that let you sequence break, i.e., do things the developers didn't intend. Or perhaps they did? Play is about ambiguity, and it's the first time a game never gives away its intentions. It would take 26 years before games like Cruelty Squad, Tunic, and Astalon embraced this design philosophy.

[@pjdava]

FilmJoy, Your videos always make me happy, so I subscribed!

[@ShinkuGouki]

Metroid Prime 1,Ocarina of Time and Mario Galaxy were the prime of those franchises.

[@minaya]

I'll always remember this headline and Anthony Burches Rev Rant response to it. Another great video Mikey, thanks for putting in so much effort. Time to sign up for Nebula!

[@stevencooper564]

One of my favorite video essayists analyzing my one of my favorite games? Hell yes!

[@Zachawry]

Regulate in the Super Metroid sound font is incredible and I don't know what I was doing before hearing it

[@DQSpider]

I know this is about Super Metroid but thank you for acknowledging Metroid 2. It uses the limitations of the Gameboy to great effect in creating that isolated feeling. Still my personal favorite, even though SM is a masterwork

[@yeetkunedo]

@14:47 your superlative taste has been confirmed, Mikey - Crystalis is one of the all time classic summer jams

[@famousdraven5443]

2:19 80s Kid here. Born in the late 1970s. Allow me to paint a picture of the Video Game Landscape of the 1980s. It was a much easier time. Video Games were not the massive, towering, Industry Giant they are today. There was a bit less option and not everybody played video games. For the most part, Video Games were for the 8-12 Demographic. Video Games were a fairly new thing and back then you had Atari, Nintendo, Sega and the Arcades. The Teenagers were probably doing something Music related, the adults were probably raising the kids and the younger kids were probably just being kids. The Console Wars were more like the Console Cold Wars back then. Sure, most were either Nintendo or Sega with very little crossover. You were either Team Mario or Team Sonic, but, back then nobody was saying all that stuff. We just made our purchasing choices and that is what developed our tastes in the coming years. I just happened to get a NES when I was 10. Metroid, Castlevania, The Legend of Zelda were all wonderful worlds to just explore. No goal, just wander around and see what you found. I have memories of just wandering around Metroid, finding the statues of Ridley and Kraid and not knowing who they were, but being fascinated. I remember falling down a long shaft with nothing but those slow flying enemies going back and forth. If you did not have the Ice Beam at that time, you were stuck. I was apparently one of the two million people who bought Metroid II and I was there for Super Metroid when I received it for christmas 1994. 12:01 I'm with you. I am absolutely with you. The Mother Brain Battle in Super Metroid is simply Life Changing. I remember where I was. The funny thing is, Super Metroid could have been your very first Metroid game and you easily could have felt the same sense of loss that the veteran players felt. The only difference was, they watched the Baby Metroid hatch and fly around you lovingly. You understood that Baby Metroid was YOUR baby. He grew into this big, strong, healthy, COLOSSAL thing who gave his life saving his mom and you FELT IT. The music is the embodiment of "Oh, shit." We were all about that Hyper Beam, being a product of pure and absolute emotion. "NOPE. YOU DONE MESSED UP. YOU'RE IN TROUBLE NOW." So, thank you for this. I really like how to this day Super Metroid is a must play game and it tells a complete story, all through visuals. An iconic experience.

[@the_andy_ellis]

Child of the 80's here!

[@joshuacaulfield]

What’s up! 80’s kid here. You make an awesome platformer gone MMO, Mikey.

[@williamboissonneault7280]

80s kid here... the Original Final Fantasy was my gateway drug to virtual paradise... :D

[@bodhim4353]

I missed Mikey, like everyone else here, and to get a Video Game focused episode... *chef's kiss*

[@rogerledgister7913]

Glad to see you on da Nebs as no one calls it. Good job. Maximum wave beams.

[@chapablo]

Welcome back Mikey!

[@Kry-Edge]

I love every MWM that Mikey does, I really think he's one of the best creators in the platform. But as a game designer hearing him talk about games if something else, love ya mikey

[@TheMaskedHero]

God, I just love that opener music.

[@marahwatta2181]

My subwoofer loves your videos.

[@Sabowie]

Oh also amazing video BTW. I should've lead with that! Long live Super Metroid!!

[@NoahNCopeland]

it is interesting how this video praises SM for being isolating. slow, and artistic, while the editing is hyped on sugar keep-your-attention jump cuts

[@MinorKey135]

Happy to see this come up in my feed!

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

"the Iron Giant beats on Velma in the year of our Lord 2022" this is a real mood

[@TheObsoleteModel]

I was 9 years old when Metroid came out,. I had watched Alien and Aliens by this point because in the 80;s my parents let me watch ever thing. Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, Stand by Me, Farris Buller, Labyrinth... Superman 3.... I had nightmares from that for years. I played Metroid on my friends NES ever time I stayed over. Getting a bit further every time.,

[@GlitchedVision]

Super Metroid was my very first Metroid title. It was also the first Super Nintendo game I have ever beaten with Link to the Past being second. I absolutely love both of those games. Even after all these years, they still hold up very well today. I can't decide which one is my favorite so depending on the day I'll tell you one or the other lol

[@EtherD86]

I had started on the NES playing games. I didn't experience games until Chrono Trigger, Super Metroid and what we in the US knew as Final Fantasy III (it was FF6). My family didn't own a SNES but a childhood friend did. I watched them play these 3 games for hundreds of hours just absolutely enthralled. I'd start my own game file but for me I found more joy watching a story I knew by memory play out again, out of my control, in a different order or helping remind my friend where to go next. Magical times...still are because games are capable of so much more it's just incredible. Love it.

[@pugetsoundwaves]

Super Metroid is one of those EXTREMELY rare games that you can play for the first time 30 years after it released and go "Oh this is SPECIAL". It's not "good for its time", it's a timeless fucking masterpiece.

[@Devon.with.an.i]

You’re one of my favorite creators. It’s always a treat when you upload!

[@Chozo_hybrid]

Holy crap! A video on my fave game franchise!

[@laverdieremath]

Man I remember buying Super Metroid, CIB not too long after it realsed, used for 35$ Money well spent. Little did I know but I would spend most of my spare time playing it. No internet for clues, no Nintendo power either. it was pure bliss :)

[@ricksloan5588]

Dude, 100 percent agree. That Mother Brain fight blew my young mind.

[@Ploominator]

I just wanted to say, that while I am not going to watch this video, it is only because I am currently playing through the Metroid franchise chronologically, and I haven't finished Super Metroid yet. But I will certainly bookmark this for the future when I do complete the game.

[@davidsykes6584]

Glad to see you now moved to Nebula, so many great content providers there and now that includes you! 👍

[@jimmyboyle3543]

Good thing I check my beloved Nebula every day

[@i.am.not.herbert]

I can remember spending hours and hours and hours after school every day trying to get ball mode Samus to bomb her way over that little Gap back door into krangs area, I think it was, but like before getting to him and defeating him the right way. Lol

[@MaximumTaco]

Most of my favorite stuff-talkers are on Nebula at this point. Nice.

[@Orson_Welp]

Glad to hear from you 😊

[@nklinef]

This could have been done with 1000% less edits

[@casualepic2555]

"flossing on our video game deities" is perfection

[@DrySushi]

So good to have a Mikey Monologue on Metroid

[@TheGoblinoid]

I need to play this saga again now.

[@maduross]

I have no idea what point you were trying to make in this video

[@Lukz243]

I haven't watched the video, I am very, very intrigued with the video

[@JayHankEdLyon]

I had no idea I wanted this so badly holy shit

[@SatNightShasta]

Aww, yeah! Games with Gikey!

[@BigGahmBoss]

I met Mikey at Pax East wearing a Simon's Quest sweatshirt. Represent