There was a big shift between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion. Compared to Zero Mission, there is almost no plot in Super Metroid. The only major plot point is the whereabouts of the metroid which Ridley abducted in the opening scene.

Super Metroid is much more action focused then the later entries. I will say that the later areas are a little more atmospheric than the first half of the game. Wrecked Ship definitely has a different vibe than the rest.

I’d say it’s okay to take a break from Super Metroid and try Fusion. Fusion is much more linear and story driven. There was a short Super Metroid comic series in Nintendo Power that might provide some more context.

If Civ 7 reviews well and works on Steam Deck, I’ll be tempted.

I’ve been a patient gamer since buying used NES games as a little kid, but I’ll buy at launch every once in a while. I was a single adult with a full-time job when Mario Maker came out. I took a day off work just to play it nonstop. It was a childhood dream of mine to design and play my own levels and spent my teenage years making ROM hacks with Lunar Magic.

I still think about how great that day was, staying home all day to play. Sometimes it’s nice to treat yourself.

I count myself among the SNES loyalists so I wasn’t a fan of the cutscenes either when I played the DS version. They feel so clunky and forced when shoved into an SNES-era game.

The best example happened in the middle of the game (no spoilers). There’s a pivotal scene featuring a character who unlocks the true potential of their weapon. The original features some quaint Mode 7 flashing lights with a music swell, but I always liked the moment.

Cue the modern version. Right before that big moment, the screen goes black. Now there’s a bit-crunched PS1-era FMV playing that shows the whole scene. Screen goes back to the game. Now we get to watch the entire scene again with in-game graphics.

They feel weird. I’m an old man now who likes to complain. I would just download the ROM to play on the PC. I also have to recognize that people don’t want to do that and it all amounts to personal opinion.

Good, worth the price if you don’t want or have emulation as an option. There were bug fixes after a rocky start and is based off the DS version. Other reviews will say the DS version is a “definitive version” because:

• It includes cutscenes from the PlayStation release.
• Includes bonus content and a new ending.

The PC and DS versions also feature a new English translation. Fans of the original (i.e. me) will notice the difference. The SNES loyalists will be the biggest detractors for this version. But I don’t think there’s a substantial argument against newcomers playing this port other than bias and nostalgia.

Mario 3

Chrono Trigger

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

I consider these my top 3 not because they’re the best, but what they meant to me when they released. Each game was so important to me when they came out. Mario 3 and Sonic were so influential because of the gameplay and presentation. Chrono Trigger was my first JRPG and was the first game soundtrack I became obsessed with.

There are a lot more but others include Halo 2, Unreal Tournament, Team Fortress 2, StarCraft, Age of Empires II, SimCity 2000, Link’s Awakening, Wind Waker, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and Metroid Prime.