Learning To LOVE Metroid (NES)

Metroid is a well respected series with a first entrée that's not looked on fondly in today's age. I have my unique history with this game, resulting in enjoying it far more than I ever thought I would. I'm at a point now where I'll greatly defend this game and don't think it's as bad as many modern gamers would make it out to be. Sure it's old, but it's no less fun imho.
Music Used:
Kraid's Lair - Metroid
Kraid's Lair - Metroid Zero Mission
Kraid's Lair - Metroid (Analog Synth)
Kraid's Lair - Metroid (Synamax remix)
Brinstar Depths (Kraid's Lair) - Super Smash Bros Brawl
Misc Links:
‪@SynaMax‬
‪@Luministmusic‬
/ infidelity_nes
nesmaps.com/maps/Metroid/Metr...
metroid.retropixel.net/games/...
Outro Song: Frogger (PS1) - Menu

[@harry_kaiser]

the talk about cheats/accessibility options/exterior experience enhancers (like nintendo power maps) reminds of something the youtuber Any Austin said about how we like to customize the rules of traditional games to make them more fun for us - for example, if you wanted to change the amount of money everyone starts with in monopoly, you can totally do that, or I remember in gym class when we played kickball and our gym teacher said our kicks counted so long as your foot touched the ball, so you could literally just tap the ball and run to the base, which was great for kids who were bad at kicking - but when it comes to computer games, we're much more stubborn about bending the rules. I guess because computer games are designed by visionary artists and assembled through code or whatever, we feel like we have to adhere to their base rules more because there's a sense of authorial intent we have to respect, but idk, i think people can play their games however they want (unless youre cheating in a multiplayer game of course, then it's not okay)

[@Mr.Welbig]

People go on about how "magical" their first playthrough of a game is. But I don't personally believe it's mutually exclusive to the very first playthrough. I believe the magic comes from when the game "clicks". Which may not come from a first run through of a game. My favorite games of all time started with me cheating the ever living crap out of them. Until I became accustomed to the game enough to play legit. It allows me to have fun the first time around with many more games without much, if any frustration. Then when I'm comfortable enough to go through a game the legit way, then the "magic' finally kicks in and my enjoyment of the game only increases exponentially. Personally I find the worry of people using easy modes and cheats to enjoy a game to be misguided. I believe if a game is well designed enough to be enjoyed on an "easy" mode, then I would put my trust in the player to eventually crave a further challenge. Which would only be a testament to their investment. Just my two cents.

[@tuckman6958]

This video is AMAZING! I’ve always loved the Metroid series, and played the NES Metroid because it was my dad’s favorite NES game. Thanks for talking about the SNES port! I would’ve never known about it!

[@KnightGamer724]

Going into this: Nice, a Mr. Welbig video for my dinner! Leaving this video: Dang it, I need to pick up Infidelity's Metroid up to try it out. This was awesome. Great work on the video, you've consistently have put out bangers even if I never thought I'd be interested in the video topic. I'm hoping that this long game you're talking about is an RPG, since that's my favorite genre. Regardless, I'm excited for the next one.

[@marco12377]

If it wasn't for Zero Mission I probably would have never beaten Metroid 1. Great remake!

[@Loki-]

In 2018 I played Nestroid for the first time and my line I drew was I made save states at the elevators with full health, so I still had to make all the progress, but skipped the grind. I also only looked at a spoiler to find a ground tile to get to Ridley's because I went hours without knowing ground tiles blew up(lol). I partly blame myself though because I find the manual that comes with the game would've pointed me in the direction of all the locations. I recommend for new players to try it vanilla, read the manual, and save state at elevators with full hp/missiles. See how much you find on your own because those hidden abilities and items were legitimately exciting to find even to a jaded gamer. (Or try Infidelity's ver. with minimal qol changes because those little changes are AMAZING looking!)

[@gamingwithahandicapreviews]

I love your style of game essays man! Can you do an episode on the Wind Waker if possible! :)

[@norik434]

Welcome to the cult! I had a very similar experience with this game, growing up with the standalone GBA port of NEStroid and blasting through it with the NARPASSWORD. It annoys me how obviously a lot of internet discourse on Metroid 1 is just people outsourcing their opinions to the hivemind of video essays and reddit posts instead of meaningfully engaging with the game and deciding for themselves how they feel about. Most people who have actually given it a chance will agree there's a lot to love in it. @HPRshredder made a great video about this a couple years back. On the topic of enhanced ports of this game, are you familiar with Metroid Planets? It's a 1:1 reconstruction of the original game on PC with a ton of added polish, very similar to the SNES port. In addition to improved animations and quality-of-life enhancements (it's hard going back to the original without beam stacking!), it also has a whole new second planet with new maps, enemies, items, and cool new features like lava cascades and hostile vegetation. It also has a map editor and an online mode where you play a roguelike map with rooms made by other players. It's really cool and I think every fan of the original will have a great time with it.

[@bumbleboosh]

This video actually motivated me to replay and beat the game again just the day after you uploaded. I checked out Infidelity's SNES port, but I disabled the additional patches so I could still have an experience mostly authentic to the original game while keeping the more intuitive controls and navigation. Things honestly went pretty smoothly this time around. The SNES version might end up being how I recommend the game to others from now on.

[@RimAura..]

I've never played the metroid series, but watching this entire video makes me wanna play every single one.

[@Ryan-Bell]

I recommend you check out the map screen mod for Metroid II. It’s really nice and looks like it belongs in the game too which I feel is something you’ll appreciate. I loved your videos, by the way. I don’t know why your comment section is so hostile all the time, but your videos are really informative and have a stellar presentation.

[@Zordyn]

1:04 it's so surreal seeing a modded 3DS with the default theme

[@Srry4RollingRocking]

The hidden pathways aren't "egregious trial and error". You can find them if you bomb dead-end walls/floors. I played through the whole game blind without a map and I never got stuck. Also, playing with a map does significantly dampen the original experience. Exploring and drawing a mental map is central to the original design. This isn't a game you were meant to beat in a single session (for a first playthrough), there's a reason it had saves/passwords. Playing with a check-listed map is the retro equivalent of playing BOTW with a map; you know what's around every corner now which takes away.

[@loreleiofthemist]

i completely agree and never thought i would live to see the day that this game is thought of as anything other than a timeless classic

[@Asocial-Canine]

I'll need to try out the SNES port now that you've recommended it, but another option to experience the game that deserves a shout-out is Metroid Planets: it's a fanmade port of the game for Windows that has a lot of similar features, along with some tasteful, not-super-garish visual improvements, but also has an original fangame made in the engine. Not to say it's better than the SNES port, just a different option with a different vibe.

[@davidconlee2196]

Nestroid has a special place in my heart. I first beat it as a kid in the 80s. It was a neighborhood community experience to figure out how to progress over weeks or months. I'll always love this game. But ... the modern criticisms are warranted. It's pretty inaccessible. ZM and SM are such superior experiences that it is tough to come back to this one, unless there is a nostalgia factor, as in my case. That said, modern criticism need to take into account the era in which Nestroid was born. It was frustrating, but we loved it. Also, great video!

[@theunluckycleric]

NEStroid was my introduction to the series [with the GBA port; not ZM. NES Classics] in 2009-2010ish. I played it for hours on end. I revisit it every year ever since (in fact it's my most replayed Metroid game with Super being second and ZM being third). I started out playing with the NARPASSWORD but nowadays i can get through 90% of the game without issue. I know 70% of the map layout to the point I can plan what missiles I grab and don't grab. Also there's a charm to it with the atmosphere despite the lack of a background that I don't get in any other title in the series. There's a fan remake out there called Metroid Planets which is just NEStroid but with more modern physics, and infiinite bomb jumping. It captures the feeling of NEStroid while being approachable if you wanna try it out.

[@utuberz123456789]

I dont think i would have finished rondo of blood for the first time without savestates. Now its one of my favorite games and i can get through the first half without taking damage (on a lucky run). I also played re1 with a map that lists item locations because the in game map only tells you if a room is "cleared" or not, even if all thats in it is an ink ribbon you couldnt pick up. Point is, if your options are "cheat" or dont play the game, id much rather people get to experience games they may end up loving.

[@midshipman8654]

I remember playing metroid on emulator a while ago and remembered it being personally enjoyable. only addition it had was savestates.

[@AntiRiku]

are you planning to do a video on totk? id like to hear your thoughts on it

[@ambushgaminglol777]

theres also a fangame called metroid planets,it has map and other things

[@TFSned]

Just knowing the layout of Zebes from playing Zero Mission makes the original a lot more enjoyable. It's one of the few remakes I'd recommend playing before the original.

[@aPonderousChain]

This guy is like a better version of EPG.

[@Mr.Welbig]

I'm flattered but I could only dream of making videos as professional as ExoParadigmGamer. His stuff is some of the best imho and I am a long time fan of his.

[@dis_inferno9173]

It's good game! If you have a lot of experience with it...

[@Ocarinist_Drew]

I'll let y'all in on a little secret as to how speedrunners get good at games quicky: We cheat! And by that I mean we use hacks, mods, savestates, etc to practice much more efficiently than you could on a vanilla copy of the game.

[@anon_y_mousse]

I don't know if anyone else would agree, but I feel like cheats for a single player game are just enhancements, especially if they make the game more fun for you.

[@eightcoins4401]

I love the atmosphere of the OG but god, the games level design is pretty bad. They had to basically reuse the same room layouts over and over to get around nes limits. Also I wish Zero Mission wasnt pathetically easy in comparison, i love the art direction but its a very boring playthrough. Alot of NES difficulty is grinding health, while Zero Mission just refills your health. Though i feel like alot of the more hostile atmosphere of nes is missing in Zero Mission. The pitch black backgrounds are a result of technical limitations, but i think they help alot with atmosphere.

[@captainharpoon]

The main reason I just can't play this game is because I played SM first and in my mind the movement is just soo much worse in comparison.

[@Loki-]

Frankly, you've gotta just figure out how it works. I hate sm64 movement, but after studying it and going with it it's much better. Also you can just try the Infidelity version for the smoother move/controls!

[@Sr.D]

Hell no, i played the game with the map hack and save states and i quit with mother brain at the end, the rest i was enjoying but, that last boss it's totally broken, i will play zero mission much better, metroid 2 on the gb it's much more enjoyable too.

[@Joseph-bf4ws]

*Promo SM* 😃

[@Raylightsen]

Nes metroid sucks hard. Simple.

[@loreleiofthemist]

in your dreams maybe