Metroid Series Retrospective | A Complete History and Review
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2024
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Samus Aran and her battle against the Metroids form one of Nintendo's most iconic series - a franchise that has seen 17 releases throughout the company's storied history - a beloved mainstay of everything from Gameboy to Super Nintendo, GameCube to Switch.
And yet - for all its critical acclaim and longevity - it exists in the shadow of its siblings - never finding the financial success enjoyed by Mario, Zelda or Pokémon and often disappearing into painful hibernation.
Today we're going to be exploring this contradiction. How can a series run for four decades, define genres and platforms and yet constantly be on the cusp of extinction?
It's part critique, part retrospective, part review and part history lesson - obviously full of spoilers and obviously full of my opinions
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Credit for the incredible thumbnail goes to the immensely talented - @MicahTheBrave
All media in this video is used for the purpose of review, commentary or criticism and is defined as fair use under US Copyright law.
=== Chapters ===
00:00:00 - An Icon of the Past (Introduction)
00:04:25 - Metroid
00:25:28 - Metroid II: Return of Samus
00:43:27 - Super Metroid
01:11:35 - Metroid Prime
01:42:05 - Metroid Fusion
02:06:51 - Metroid: Zero Mission
02:31:16 - Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
03:01:50 - Metroid Prime Pinball
03:11:42 - Metroid Prime Hunters
03:28:52 - Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
03:53:33 - Metroid Prime: Trilogy
04:03:55 - Metroid: Other M
04:32:10 - Metroid Prime: Federation Force
04:47:50 - Metroid: Samus Returns
05:13:05 - Metroid Dread
05:48:12 - Metroid Prime Remastered
05:59:26 - An Icon for the Future (Conclusion)
===
#metroid #nintendo #retrospective 
Игры
If you're desperate for more LENGTHY video CONTENT - you're in luck. I've just posted a new video covering the entire ONIMUSHA SERIES. It's a lengthy exploration of one of the great lost franchises and how it almost destroyed the company that made it. Enjoy! - ruclips.net/video/6zI6lW3BjZ4/видео.htmlsi
Thank you !! I have gotten obsessed with this channel and none of the videos are disappointing
Wasnt there also a retrospective of the Tomb Raider Series , i wanted to rewatch it but i dont seem able to find it .
That's because I haven't made one! Maybe it was by someone else?
That's really kind to say. I was quite worried about this one for quite awhile but it's nice to see people are enjoying it
Although it is rapidly becoming common parlance here on RUclips, "funnily enough" is one of those expressions which is... Imprecise. Things aren't "funnily enough", because things aren't "funnily". Things are just funny, or funny enough.
Please help stop the spread of this madness.
Back when I was a tiny child, I'd watch my dad play LoZ, Metroid etc. When super Metroid came out, my dad was stuck on Kraid. It was the first time he handed me the controller and was like "you try." I remember beating him on the first try and my dad never questioned anytime I wanted to buy a new video game. He knew his daughter was a serious gamer and even though I'm almost 40, he bought me Metroid Dread, LoZ: TotK, and SMB Wonder.
Super Metroid will always just have that special place in my heart and I'm so glad I found this video to see the evolution of the games from then to now. Time to binge the rest of your videos!
That's really awesome! I'm always so jealous of people that have nice video game memories with their parents!
Damn that almost 40 hit me hard
Your dad must've been proud! I wish I get to live that with my own someday.
@@assaf_jerry tears of the kingdom for switch
@@assaf_jerry rly?
When my dad died a couple years ago, I inherited his truck that I had ridden in many times as a child. I sent it off to a friend to get detailed, and behold, he discovered a copy of Zero Mission under the seat that I had gotten when I was around 10 I’m now 28, but I got to play that long forgotten game. It drips with nostalgia from days of childhood gone by.
That's a really nice thing to hear. I hope playing that was a really nice way to remember your dad and the relationship you had when you were a kid!
When I see a documentary-styled video that is 1+ hours long, I hope to see no unnecessary filler and this fantastic video does not waste your time. Every moment is meaningful and informative. Glad to see more videos bringing to light Metroid’s legacy.
Thanks my friend. I spend so many hours drafting and redrafting trying to make sure that the script is tight and doesn't have much nonsense bulking it out. It can be easy for people to presume that given the runtime but I really try my best to avoid it!
Something I really respect about these videos is how seriously they take every game they talk about, even something like Metroid pinball, which helped me understand it better and see why it’s an interesting part of the series
The reality is that even the most stupid and misguided game you can think of was still worked on by someone as their job and presumably intended to be good! I feel like if you take this approach you can really start to work out why certain games go so wrong beyond just "this game is terrible"!
Nobody intends to make something bad!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Even ET was made to be at least functional, according to the developer.
I find it amaizing how a franchise like Metroid can be such an important landmark on videogame history, influencing so much of the industry, and yet also be kinda niche, never reaching Mario and Zelda heights.
It's the great Nintendo contradiction!
Just wanted to say, I’ve been consuming RUclips video game essays for years now. Nobody else comes close to your objectivity and completeness of covering any one game let alone a franchise. So on behalf of everyone interested in game preservation and/or history, thank you sir. You deserve substantially more views and subscribers.
Thanks so much my friend. Honestly I just think of myself as someone who really enjoys telling stories about video games! The videos aren't meant to be too intellectual or deep - just a cool tale about something interesting! Thanks for your kind words and I hope you enjoyed the video!
Its the love of the story and the storyteller. Danclark nailed this comment. completely agree.
One of the best creators on YT... in my opinion.
Yeah, I couldn’t agree with you more.
*Noah Caldwell Gervais entered the chat*
Jks but really he’s in a similar vein as this. Both this work and Noah’s are excellent and insightful deep dive content made with care!
1:07:02 The frame where Samus looks up at The Baby attack Mother Brain so as to save her life is such elegant storytelling. Samus, who has with singular focus, traversed an entire hostile alien planet, now finds herself distracted for the first time. She performs a subtle movement completely outside of the control of the player. She sees her Baby save her. We, the player, do not look up. She does. It’s love, fear, appreciation, and awe all in the reorganization of a few pixels.
It's beautiful non verbal storytelling. Something that really was mastered during the 2D era!
The biggest takeaway from this review is that Kensuke Tanabe is just like Ridley: He never fails to return and wreak havoc.
I really wanted to put a bit in at the end of Fed Force to make sure that he didn't seem completely awful but the more I looked into his career the worse it got! The man basically ruined Paper Mario too!
A part of me thinks that Federation Force's concept could have worked as a sort of PvE mode for an existing game that had a more serious art style but, yeah, everything about it just ended up being tone-deaf and underdelivered. Oh, and also the mech idea is kind of dumb, would have been better to just present it as reverse-engineered power armor.
Also it probably would have been better on a console other than the 3DS, but at the time that would have been the WiiU, so a bit of a lose-lose situation there.
He was involved with all 3 games from the main trilogy as a Producer, Federation Force - a spin off - failed because of its timing's announcement, not because of its quality.
Also he's involved with Prime 4 as a Producer again whether you like it or not, and if the Prime Remaster is anything to go by, I find it hard to believe he has forgotten what makes the Prime series so special.
As for Paper Mario, I also find it hard to believe it is all on him, when there are interviews mentioning how there are restrictions put on the IP, and if M&L Paper Jam is anything to go by, it seems those restrictions might be true. I mean heck, Luigi's Mansion 3 - a very recent game - was mentioned in this video and he was also involved in that game as Producer, it's pretty much obvious he still has a great track record. The less well received games that he has worked on simply receive more attention because that's just how the internet is, negativity gets clicks.
@@IFinishedAVideoGame That's a complete mispresentation. Interviews with actual devs show something completely different, but good to know not to waste 6 hours on someone painting a target on a dev. Gross and toxic.
@@NuiYabuko lol what, everything ive seen from former retro employees and ninja theory employees backs up this video. you a nintendo shill? they still hate you like they hate all their fans
I played Metroid 2 when I was 10 years old back in 1991. I love that game, a couple years ago I found the cartridge in my parents basement. I had never finished the game because I got stuck because there was no internet. I fired up the game, and my game save was still there. I am happy to say I successfully completed the game 32 years later
That's really cool. Did you enjoy it in exactly the same way or did you approach it with a new perspective?
but metroid 2 came out in 1991
@@Melkac close enough. I edited it
@@IFinishedAVideoGame I can appreciate the game in a different way. But I can't really remember what I was thinking when I was a kid. It was very satisfying to finish it, so cool that my game save was still there for 30 years on that little battery
@@zg-it Get one of those devices to back up the save into a PC.
I still maintain that Metroid is the one Nintendo IP with the most potential for a cinematic venture. There’s so much actual continuity to draw from and avenues left unexplored
I'd rather they hand it to Genndy Tartakovsky and tell him to make a dialogue-free miniseries similar to Primal.
@@ClarkKentaiAgreed (also hilarious username). As far as I'm concerned trying to provide to much explanation would be one of the worst choices they could do. There should be lore of course but capturing the feeling of isolation is way more important for it to be Metroid.
A movie with a silent protagonist would be tricky...and we know Samus should remain a silent protagonist.
@@ClarkKentai Samurai Jack style Metroid is exactly the vision I had!
@@FlameOfUdun96that sounds f ing PHENOMENAL
Fun Fact Phantoon is the soul of the Original Mother Brain.
Damn I've just looked it up and it says so in the Japanese manual! I'll be!
Thank you for some information about this game that I can spring on my daughter who is obsessed with it that will make me even more awesome in her eyes😂
I love Metroid 2. I’ll never forget the dread I felt when I was down to one Metroid, then I went through the tunnel under the egg and the Metroid counter suddenly rolled back up to like 11.
That ending is so beautiful too
God I love Dread's ending. So much room for theorizing in such a short scene. Here's a comment I found on Vinesauce's Dread finale that some of you may find interesting as an alternate theory:
I choose to believe with the very very end with Quiet Robe X that what happened was genuinely like... the X have the ability to think critically and act self-sacrificingly in the name of their greater collective. We saw that in Fusion when they were willing to blow up the BSL Research Ship by overheating the Sector 3 reactor. They also inherit the memories of anything they absorb. That's how they knew how to do the thing with the reactor, that's how more than one can actually use the power suit functionalities stolen from you to be the SA-X and all. So the X that infected Quiet Robe knew everything he had told you earlier, that the Metroids were weapons used by the Thoha clan of Chozo, and that your genetic makeup was the one thing keeping you under control. It knew Quiet Robe was a Thoha. It also absolutely recognized that at this point, you were such a ragingly out-of-control organism that you could literally destroy and absorb X on physical contact with one's stolen shape-- Literally if you just walk into any of the enemies in the escape sequence you just eat them automatically. So at the very end with the Quiet Robe X in your ship, I don't think that was necessarily 'Quiet Robe is so strong and cool that he is the one person who can be sentient as an X'. That flies in the face of everything we know from Fusion. I think, genuinely, that was an X removing the greatest galactic threat to its species, by letting you absorb Quiet Robe's Thoha genes, thus bringing you back to genetic equilibrium, taking your Metroid Suit from you. It was very convenient for Samus, yes, but in the greater scheme of things, this was a very optimistic X thinking 'maybe if I sacrifice myself, there will be other X out there someday that can at least stand a chance against this freak accident of nature'. This ending is so minimalist but it's so fucking cool the way it all comes together.
I really feel like people complaining about the ending of Dread "not making any sense" really just don't get why the ending of Super Metroid is so good. It's like the perfect modern day twist on it! I loved it!
I hope Exelion Star Corp becomes a major human/alien antagonistic structure.
@@IFinishedAVideoGame You can leave a story open-ended without excluding detrimental information to understand the current story. At least, this is one of my criticisms on the ending.
YES. This is unironically one of my highlights this year. Looked forward to this for months.
Apologies it took so long but I finally got there. Hope it was worth the wait!
all good, but I hope your already working on the next one right now! @@IFinishedAVideoGame
@@IFinishedAVideoGame It's been well worth the wait! Couldn't ask for more!
You greedy gumdrops!
A detail I find REALLY cool that I never see people point out:
While Samus gets brand new Aeon abilities in Metroid Dread, Raven Beak seems to be repping the Aeon abilities from Samus Returns. His whole fist phase gimmick is the Lightning Armor, we're draining his Aeon in order to hit him directly. Second phase, while he's flying, he uses the Beam Burst to fire those gatling gun-like shots. It can be inferred that his zipping around isn't necessarily him just using Phase Shift, but Phase Drift! Especially those attacks where he attacks from corner-to-corner, I think he's actually slowing down time on his end, we're just seeing what Phase Drift looks like when it's used against us. So not only do we finally get to fight a Chozo, we're seeing the intended full function of the Varia Suit in combat AND technically getting to fight our own Samus Returns loadout. Without cheaply making us fight the SA-X again, we still get the satisfaction of fighting one of Samus's previous powersets.
Probably my favorite boss in the series, full stop.
That's a really cool observation! I think you might be spot on!
Damn I never considered this, very cool
I'm so thankful to learn the names behind some of these incredible franchises. It's easily the best part of all of your work in my opinion. The individuals that helped create these stories and franchises should be not be forgotten
I always think it's really important to make sure they get mentioned! People like Kiyotake, Abe, Pacini and Marquez are all such talented directors but you'd only think Sakamoto was responsible for the entire series!
Metroid prime was my first GameCube game. To this day it has one of the best soundtracks of any game I've ever played. It gives it such a distinct scifi identity. Each area has such incredible themes, but the main menu music is a banger for all time.
I still regularly listen to the final credits version just for fun. I had a friend who was into EDM who said it would make for a great song to play on the floor.
Oh it's amazing isn't it. I listen to it all the time while working. The fact that they composed ambient versions of the zone themes to compliment the nature of your visit is so damn cool
Tallon Overworld Depths has to be my fav ❤
Metroid Prime will forever be one of my favorite games, right there under Chrono Trigger and DOOM. When the remastered version came out, I picked it up day 1 and was amazed by how faithful it was, and by how much I actually remembered. If we can just get a Chrono Trigger port or remake for the Switch, I can finally have my top five favorite games on one system: Chrono Trigger, DOOM, Metroid Prime, A Link to the Past, and Monster Hunter GU.
Every remake should contain the original. I think this should be an industry standard. The original work should be honored.
Absolutely - I especially love the way in some like Halo 1 remake you can press a button to switch between the two versions. That's such a nifty idea!
Tell that to tlou part 2 remake lol
They actually did that with Diablo 2 you can flip between the new graphics and old with a button press.
Great idea when you're talking about a remake of a game that was 25mb in size. Not a great idea when the original is 25gb in size. Can't always fit that onto one disc or cart.
Great point!
Your commentary on Tanabe was a clear, structured throughline in Metroid's decline and fall. I actually lol'd at Federation Force being pinned on "the unknowable mind of Tanabe." As always, great video!
I was quite pleased with that line so I'm glad it got some flowers! Thanks for watching!
I appreciate that you're actually willing to say "Yes there are redeeming qualities, but Metroid M is a bad installment and game." FAR too many video essayists pussyfoot around actually having a substantial opinion on something, and coming genuine conclusions other than "Yes it has bad things but it also has good things too". Not everything is underrated or overhated. Some things are just bad.
Eh, I liked it. So it's not just bad, it's your opinion.
True I love seeing these games through a critical lens instead of simply going through the history
Thank you for calling out the health pools of Ridley and Metroid Prime in Prime one, they feel endless
They are such bullshit!
Am I the only one who didn't mind this? Not once during Metroid Prime boss fight did I feel bored or annoyed by how long it took. Maybe it's because I found the super weapons and maximized their use, but that fight always felt epic to me. I love that fight, and I always play on Hard, where the healthpool is increased.
@@TheDoomKnightI played the Metroid Prime remaster and... yeah, the bosses didn't feel damage spongey to me. This was also that I was fumbling with trying to change visors to see Metroid Prime to hurt her as well.
VERY excited to watch this!
Same bro
That's so cool to hear! I love your work so it's a real honor!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Finished it today, was a delight! I didn't even know that Metroid = Metro + Android. That makes so much sense!
I was shocked to find it myself! When you think about it it's such a strange name - especially as it's given to the creatures!
what if i told you that a video game about genocideing an entire race would become popular - long long ago
Gotta say, I seldom find videos so long that also contain genuine insight about their subjects like this Metroid Retrospective did. Subscribed.
Thanks very much. Glad I could surprise you!
Me: oh look he released another retrospective. I'll watch it over the next few days. Also me: watches it in one day. 😂
Haha! So many people comment saying they do this! You crazy people there are chapters for a reason!
@@IFinishedAVideoGameI mean, I do stuff like that cause I work 12 hour shifts and can listen for my whole shift as I work.
I can't believe the level of quality and effort you put into to your videos. I just absolutely love them!
Thanks so much my friend. It's very easy to get sucked up in imposter syndrome so it's really nice to hear people are enjoying my work
Brush that right off, this is quality stuff as mentioned above@@IFinishedAVideoGame
I'm always so astounded by the quality and comprehensiveness of your videos. The scripting, the editing, your voice and delivery. You must work incredibly hard to make these videos happen and I'm so grateful for it. It might take me several days to get to the end of this video but I know I'll enjoy every second!
Honestly this one was a huge slog to put together! Almost three months of playing, recording, research and writing - then two weeks of 16 hour days editing. Also had to suffer through covid which made the whole thing even worse!
Safe to say I'm very glad it's now out!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame your dedication really shows, but I hope you don't overwork yourself. As you touch on in the Metroid Prime section, even when the end result is great it's not worth the human cost of crunch. Same applies here, make sure you've got room to breathe!
Gosh I remember your Castlevania retrospective from last year. What a dang masterpiece. I'm so glad you're getting to the other half of Metroidvania now!! Love your stuff man!!
Thanks so much! I knew the moment I released that video that I also wanted to cover Metroid so it's nice to "close the circle".
Now I just have to get together the time for a non-Metroid/Castlevania Metroidvania video!
@@IFinishedAVideoGamemight I suggest one of the finest examples of modern metroidvania in hollow knight?
This is the FIRST TIME I've heard about region differences in other M's script I'm shocked.
To be totally clear - it's still a very bad story but I do think it's very worst moments are slightly more palatable in Japanese!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Dunno, I really enjoyed the Japanese version of the story. It opens up a lot of details about Samus as a character, and is very consistent with the manga and the later Dread portrayal of her.
The gameplay is still pretty damn bad, not arguing with that.
This and the Castlevania retrospective are two of my absolute favorites videos within the last few years of anything I've seen on RUclips. Keep up the great content.....and if you ever do a Resident Evil retrospective my brain might explode lol.
I'd love to do a Resident Evil video but they release them so damn quickly! Anything would be out of date within just a few months! Maybe one day if they take a little break I'll finally get my chance to talk about how much I like Resi Zero
@@IFinishedAVideoGame lol....I actually dislike RE0 so I would love to hear your take. Thanks for all the great content!
You're more than welcome bud
Crist that 6 hours shot by. Thought there was going to be about 3 hours of looking back and nope had it playing in the background the entire time.
Great work, well scripted and reasoned arguments for and against games.
Just finished a full playthrough of the full number series. My favourite game series of all time, they are brilliant games. I still get lost in super every time and still love too.
Well done sir.
Thanks very much my friend - I really appreciate the kind words and comment!
I absolutely adore your channel and gotta point out how much having these long form videos is not only entertaining and informative but having a whole series be contained in a single retrospective you get an idea for its progression in both a granular AND a wide view. Much appreciation for all the work that goes into these.
Absolutely! I think what sets my channel apart is that everything is contained in a single video and that makes it a lot easier to digest! I'd absolutely hate to have 100+ videos and have this be split over a bunch of different uploads!
You my friend, deserve SO much commendation for the effort you put in these videos.
Thank you my friend. I'm so pleased everyone seems to be enjoying this one!
You are without a doubt one of the best channels on RUclips. The effort and detail put into videos like this one is second to none and deserves every single second I and everyone else puts into watching them. Please continue the amazing work and I look forward to watching the Metroid retrospective many times over as I have your previous works!
That's so kind of you to say. I've been feeling a lot of anxiety around this release so it's really nice to hear such kind words about my work. Hope you enjoyed this one!
Just wanted to say I scrolled down to see how serious you were about replying to comments and clearly it’s not an empty gesture. I’m sure part of that comes from real passion for the subject, but another part is a respect for your viewers that really comes across.
Brands, businesses and content creators spend countless hours and dollars trying to figure out how to manufacture the rapport that creates.
You’re out here doing it for real. That alone makes me sure that your content is and will continue to be high quality (though your previous catalogue already assured me of that) and that success on this or any platform is virtually guaranteed.
Thanks so much! Yeah it's a bit weird because it's just something I started doing in the early days of the channel and have kept up! It's really not all that hard when you just sit down with a coffee and some music and chat to people who enjoyed your work - really it's pretty nice!
Hopefully I can keep it up for awhile yet!
Man, what a video. Huge props to the objectivity, breadth of information and entertainment value stuffed into a "mere" six hours, this is like a compilation of everything you‘d ever want to know about the history of Metroid, albeit the game series, not the world of the series (though there’s plenty of that in here as well). Thank you for making this!
Thanks so much! I really do try to be as comprehensive as possible so you can go from nothing to a Metroid fanboy in just six hours! Really pleased you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting!
You know, I love it when I'm doing work around the house and can't figure out just what it is that I'm going to watch for a longer stretch. Over and over again, I find myself circling back to your lengthy retrospectives as a kind of background-noise while I get things done, so it was an absolute delight to see this video updated less than an hour ago.
That's really cool to hear. I'm honored to be the go to long form video maker! Hope this one worms it's way into circulation too!
You might also find yourself interested in the more recent works by PandaMonium (reviews every U.S. SEGA Saturn game).
I am subbed and do indeed enjoy his videos!
This may sound like a weird compliment, but your editing was fantastic. So many videos say one thing while the visuals don’t match at all. Thank you for saying mario and showing mario on screen, sooo many get this simple thing wrong.
That's really nice to hear as I think that's my worst element! I am completely self taught and only as of about two years ago so I'm constantly learning how things work!
You're right, it's simple but it's not easy and very time-consuming
Thats that low effort editing (or lack of editing) that consists of putting looping footage and yapping over it. 😂
@@RiqMoranGOD I hate that crap
Can’t even imagine how much research went into this. Super awesome job.
Also 2:17:16 “Fresh paint of coat” 😂
Oh it was only about three months solid of my life and then two weeks of 16 hour days editing. Nothing much really (I wanted to die)
As for the flub - it's a reference to a mistake in the Castlevania video! I think I'm gonna start putting it in every video haha
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Well, your work gained a new subscriber! Keep up the awesome work man, I look forward to watching more from you and noticing those little references lol.
Ha! I believe it was me that caught that one too 😂 happy to see it’s a thing now 😊
Came here to comment about the "fresh paint of coat" too 😆
After watching this video over the past couple of days its insane to look back at Metroid as a series and the journey its had. Hopefully one day it can break out more into the main stream media and truly be one of the best.
Absolutely - I can only dream that Prime 4 will be that moment alongside the Switch 2!
For the first time, I was able to start playing through the games for the first time in preparation for the new series. I'm about finished with Dread for the 2D games, and Metroid Prime has been a blast.
Keep up the good work, man, you're one of the best retrospective writers around. Between you and Noah Gervais, there's no shortage of awesome historical deep dives to dig in to.
That's absolutely awesome to hear. Which have been your favourites?
And that's very kind. Noah was a big inspiration so it's nice to be mentioned in the same breath!
I actually loved dread. I don’t often make it to the end of videogames, but I really enjoyed the gameplay loop. Till the final boss, thought he was absolutely brutal, but overall a fun new way to do the 2D. I think they did another 2d before it right? I may need to go back and look at that one.
Edit: I’m an idiot I could have just looked further into the video. It’s samus returns
I sat down and played the OG Metroid 2 a few months ago and was blown away by how good it was. Especially for its time and hardware
It's amazingly ambitious considering it came out in 1986 but I do think it's a bit of a tough sell these days. Fan mods that include an in game map make it really really enjoyable though
You should play AM2R
@grizzlyhamster is that still going? I thought it got a C&D.
@@niallreid7664 it is. Just not openly, to avoid another one. It is also a fan team of the mod working on it.
Then again, it is on the internet. You could find it, if you look for it.
I did the same thing last spring! Played a hack that restores color and I had a blast👍 I've always been enamored with Metroid II, but have found it to be a somewhat unnapproacheable game, but I find myself gaining more and more appreciation for the original. Color helped tho, undeniably so😂
I still think most of the criticisms I've seen of the Ridley scene in Other M are a bit on the harsh side. The PTSD reaction didn't feel too out of place because Other M happens right after Samus blows up Zebes, which effectively kills Ridley for good. The horror that has been following her for her whole life is finally put down, but I think seeing him reappear yet again after a definitive killing blow would've shaken anyone. That being said, the *severity* of her reaction was way over the top.
I perfectly respect if it works for you but for me it's all just a bit absurd. By this point she's fought Ridley five times (twice in the manga, once in NES, twice in Super Metroid) so to have this sort of reaction at his sudden appearance seems extreme.
Like I said - the core idea of her having this response isn't the issue - it's the severity and it's place in the timeline. When it happened in the manga it was a really cool twist!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame
Taking into account the ending of Samus Returns, and the idea that the Prime Trilogy happens between Metroids 1 and 2, it could be argued that Samus has fought Ridley an additional four times before Other M!
While I understand the “he’s finally dead and that’s why she’s freaking out” explanation, I do agree it doesn’t exactly make sense when Other M is the *tenth time* she has had to fight some form of Ridley. I feel like her freak out would have made more sense if it wasn’t out of fear so much as in some sort of rage, as if she were to demand “Why won’t you just die and stay dead already?!” It would certainly coincide with her outburst in Dread.
Also compared to her reaction to seeing kraid in dread. Developers definitely got her attitude in line with how fans see her
Metroid is my favorite franchise ever. I've grown up with this series. I remember as a child, I use to have recurring nightmares about the SA-X appearing in my bedroom and I could never finish the game until I was a teenager.
This series means so much to me, so I really want you to take it to heart when I tell you that this is by far the best retrospective of the series I've ever watched. I'd even go as far as to say that your writing is some of the best on this platform. This is the first time in almost 20 years that I've watched a 6 hour long video.
Absolutely fantastic work! This was a JOY to watch and listen to!
Metroid Prime and subsequently Fusion were my first entries in the series, and I hadn't even asked for Prime. I got it along with a Gamecube and a few other games for Christmas one year, and was surprised but gave it a try anyway. I ended up playing it nigh exclusively for quite a long time and became a huge fan of the series as a result. This retrospective will bring back a lot of nostalgia, and I'm glad you took the time to finally cover this series. ^_^
That's an extremely cool christmas - I bet you were so happy in the rest of your holidays!
Oh Hell yes! A deep dive of every game of one of my favorite series! Always down for that
Fingers crossed I did it justice!
Your Castlevania retrospective has been my go-to longform video this past year for everything from long road trips and walks to falling asleep. It's one of my all-time favorite video game franchises and I'm always shocked by just how much you put into it. However, there are quite a few Castlevania games that I could never get into, so I found myself skipping around during my many re-listens.
_Metroid,_ on the other hand, is a franchise where even the bad games are still fascinating to me in their own right. So seeing you put the same love and care into dissecting my _number one_ favorite video game series of all time is nothing short of an early Christmas miracle.
I hope you know just how many people appreciate what you do here, man. Thanks and keep up the stellar work.
Thanks so much my friend. Honestly the comments have been so nice that it's hard not to feel encouraged to dive straight into the next one!
Insanely well put together. I thought to use the video as 2nd monitor content while playing other games but it quickly moved to any time slots where I only watched the video. Superb and an inspiration to all us other video creators out there.
That's awesome to hear. It's the ultimate "long video" compliment to progress from 2nd monitor to genuine interest!
The quality of your videos are phenomenal and you should be extremely proud of your work. After watching all of them at least once fully, they turn into a playlist of sleep aid material for me. The cadence of your voice is perfect for the content and there is nothing better than nerding out listening and drifting to sleep. Please keep them coming!
Don't worry - I've got absolutely no plans to stop any time soon and I'm really excited about my next two videos!
Man that development of the first game is insane. I don’t know how Nintendo thrived so much by doing stuff like that.
Oh it's really crazy. While Miyamoto was making sure the consoles were being used to their maximum potential - Yokoi was just allowing anyone and everyone to spend the departments money! And it somehow worked!
That kind of risk is what's missing in modern gaming... but then again, the amount of money involved in AAA game development is staggering. It's the same reason Hollywood also rarely takes risks anymore. They only invest in projects that the suits deem "safe", creativity be damned.
@@IFinishedAVideoGame meanwhile in 2023 no one is willing to take the risk on whether or not that same approach could still work today
Unironically, the good ol' days.
Unfortunately it's all down to cost. Games are eye wateringly expensive now so those with the purse strings don't want to risk funneling it into a flop! Sadly that also means it's harder than ever to get a mid sized studio off the ground - luckily the indie scene is beginning to move into full 3D projects so hopefully that will offset things moving forwards!
Okay, let me just acknowledge and commend the monumental achievement that is this video🤯 It's magnificently well put together, and I loved every second of it❤
Thanks so much!
Your videos really are something special man. I rarely see other people treat a retrospective as you do. It isn't just the game itself, it's the background and inspirations behind each installment.
You Panzer Dragoon one in particular I think fondly on.
Thanks my friend. That one was a real passion project
My man with the multi hour long review of one of the best franchises from my youth. Been waiting for it, and though I’m just getting started, I know it won’t disappoint
I hope you enjoy it my friend!
About half an hour in and another fantastic video. Your Castlevania video brought me to your channel initially and you are still doing fantastic work. You deserve a million+ subs like right now.
Thanks my friend! Well I've gained almost 100k this year so it feels like things are growing pretty quickly - especially considering my release schedule and format are pretty much the anti-RUclips!
I've been sick with the flu all week. I stumbled across this video and your channel while looking up some Super Metroid speedruns to pass the time. I've spent a few days finishing it between naps and fever spells, and I just finished watching this afternoon. Your video is articulate, informative, and entertaining, and I appreciate that you took some time to inject your own opinions into the discussion. I didn't always agree - but that's part of the fun! Thank you for taking the time to make this. It was a pleasure to watch.
Thanks so much. It's really nice to hear that this video could provide you with some relief and I hope you're feeling much better now!
Praise. You nailed it with this one. Thanks for taking the time to make this thorough dive
1:00:50 something that wasn't mentioned here (it could be mentioned in the next couple of minutes) is that the super missles do dmg equal to 5 regular missles, and when below 40 HP you can use the power bombs to do what's called a 'crystal flash' to recover a good chunk of HP. I forgot the buttons you need to hold down to do a CF, but it's like 90% of the buttons lol. all of this on top of opening different colored doors :)
Goddamn there are so many crazy tricks in Metroid! I started getting a headache just looking at all the speed tech in Super!
You also need to watch the opening sequence past the title screen in SM, as it covers how to use the power bomb to open access to Maridia, same with Crystal Flash. Mind you that is not as good as a manual explaining these, but that is how they did things in the 90s for lots of games, as even space in the manual was a premium.@@IFinishedAVideoGame
FANTASTIC WORK! This was a wonderful retrospective. I feel like any company other than Nintendo would have given up on Samus. Dread is a phenomenal game, and I felt such an accomplishment when I finally beat Raven Beak!
Prime Remastered is great
Can’t wait for Prime 4 and the follow up to Dread!
Let's hope that it's coming with the Switch 2! Thanks for watching!
Sorry for bad english (no native). I was recomended by a friend because im a Castlevania maniac. When i entered in your channel and see the lenght of the videos i said "Its so long must be boring". Watch all Castlevania and in my option is the best castlevania video i ever seen. After Castlevania e see the Metroid (bigger) and watched even i not a big fan of the series. It has perfect. Not boring, very informative, well passed, well written and made with love. I subscribe and now this is my favorite channel about games in YT. Gonna watch all your videos and i hope you continued with this marvelous work. Maybe a Zelda retrospective one day? Big hug from Brazil
Your english is fantastic don't worry about it at all. I'm really pleased you enjoyed this video and it went against your expectations!
Hope you enjoy my others! As for Zelda - maybe one day! I'd absolutely have to break it up into sections else I might go crazy!
Thank you for this video, I’ve watched it for the past couple of days and as a huge Metroid fan seeing the love put in this retrospective is very nice :)
I'm really pleased you enjoyed it!
Definitely get excited to see a new 6 hour ifinishedavideogame post every time, thank you for all the work
You're welcome - enjoy!
Just finished the vid, and let me say congratulations on completing such a well pieced-together project! All the hard work definitely paid off (as usual). Your analyses are insightful and nuanced, and your knack for building a narrative thread in each of these lengthy retrospectives does not go unappreciated. The “story” of how the development of each game leads to the next keeps it engaging the whole way through. I’m already looking forward to your next project!
Thanks very much my friend! I try really hard to make sure that the storytelling comes through and that it doesn't just feel like 15+ reviews one after the other. I'm really pleased that's come through because it took a lot of redrafted to get this video to where it is and I'm still not entirely satisfied with it!
it's my sleepover i get to pick the movie.
Cuts to Marcy eagerly watching this as Ann and Sasha sleep.
Amphibia, in case you're wondering what I'm referencing.
No hyperbole: this is undoubtably the best retrospective and video essay I've ever watched on RUclips. Just an amazingly in depth, well paced, exceptionally edited masterclass. Your effort most certaintly paid off!
That's really nice to hear. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it that much!
This channel genuinely deserves at least a million subs
You're too kind man. 125k feels insane to me already!
Can't wait to watch this in parts! Your narration really does remind me of TV shows and radio shows in the best way possible. Hope you have a peaceful and relaxing rest of the year.
Thanks! I was really self concious of my voice before I began on RUclips so it's been really nice to hear people enjoy it! Hope you have a great rest of the year too!
Man you do not need to worry about your voice buttery smooth I listen to you during my work days all the time
Incredible retrospective. A lot of work went into this. Underrated as many of the Metroid games themselves. A golden gem.
Thanks very much my friend. It was a huge amount of work and it's been nice to see that those who've watched have really enjoyed it!
I've become addicted to your content. Finishing a video bums me out because they're so well done and entertaining, but then I'm like "oh yea there's several hours worth of content I haven't watched yet." Keep it up and stay strong king! 👍
Thanks my friend! Unfortunately now you'll have to join the gang waiting patiently for the next one! Hopefully it'll be worth the wait as I think it's a very interesting series that nobody has covered!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame oh man, I'm sure I'll finish watching most of your content before your next video, but I'm positive whatever you're cooking up next is worth the wait chief!
Whatever the current generation says about Metroid 1....As a kid playing it was one of the most unique and lasting gaming experiences I have had. It was magical and left a deep impression on me. It imprinted a love for Metroidvanias for life. In my 40's now.
Back then it was so atmospheric, you might as well have been in space with Samus. It still has that atmosphere in my opinion
Totally agree. It sucked you in....And the music was so ominous and fitting....As a kid I was nervous as hell playing it and I felt sucked in completely. @@jarlwhiterun7478
Ah I'm so jealous you got that experience. Metroid Prime was my first and Super Metroid quickly after that - I'd have loved to experience the first as it came out without any prior ideas of the series!
It's really indescribable. Never had any experience like that ever again. I will never forget that journey through Metroid one as a kid. Literally, magical. @@IFinishedAVideoGame
Hold onto that! It's the stuff that keeps you in love with this strange medium!
I'm only halfway through my personal playthrough of this series. I'm excited to regularly check in with this over the next few months while I complete the rest of the games. I always love to hear your thoughts and your coverage on the context of a game's release!
That's really cool to hear you're going to do that! You'll have to update the comment with your thoughts as I'm interested to see if they deviate from mine!
The perfect mix of informative stimuli (to keep my brain busy) and your soothing voice (to relax).
Thanks very much my friend. That's really nice to hear!
I think my favorite thing about these videoes is how it helps recontextualizes the series as a whole. The section on Fusion was particularly refreshing to hear, as I remember alot of the conversation around that game being somewhat negative back in the day due to its radical (at the time) changes to the formula. Great video as always, mate.
Thanks so much! I always try to take you naturally through the history of the series so we can properly appreciate the innovations as they were designed! I feel like it makes for a good story!
I’ve been waiting for this video for months. It may take me a minute, but I will get through all six hours of this, just like I have with all your other videos.
Hope you enjoy watching it even it takes months!
Holy cow, six hours! Im ready for it, lets go!
It ended up being a little shorter than I thought (which was a nice realisation while editing) Hope you enjoy it!
You know when you try to convince your friend to watch a RUclips channel and you always send them a link to new videos, and they always respond with "bro I'm not watching a 3 hour RUclips video", to which you respond with "just treat it like a show and watch it in 15-30 min increments."
Then you get nowhere.
Then, one day, that same RUclips channel puts out a video covering their favorite topic.
Then, all of a sudden, that video is priority number one!!
Thanks for making cool content.
That's funny to hear! I always think of them as a netflix season dropping all at once - I really hope that people aren't trying to watch it all in one go!
Hope you're friend enjoyed it!
Wow, what a huge and long video, but also one of the most detailed and informative retrospectives I've ever seen on Metroid.
I enjoyed every single minute.
Thank you very much for that!
I really appreciate you saying that. It was a huge project so to know people enjoy it really means a lot
Bro...fantastic, gripping, exciting video as always. One problem! You unlocked a core memory by mentioning Vexx and you referenced Onimusha. I need a long-form video over Onimusha now and (hopefully) a short one-off for Vexx!!! Fantastic work, my friend. A unique and in-depth overview of one of the most unique IPs of all time, be proud!
Well if you saw the clues right at the end - you might not have to wait for Onimusha all that much longer
@@IFinishedAVideoGame😮😮 I'm so excited, it's my favourite PS2 series ever. Going to be a banger retrospective for sure
Metroid has always been one of my favorite series, and one of few where I can remember more or less exactly where I was both physically and in life when I played each installment.
- Getting confused as a 5-year old trying to work out how to progress in the first game which we got when we bought an NES from a family acquaintance.
- Picking up Return of Samus from a used-game store while out travelling with my dad and playing it on the train until it got too dark to properly see the screen.
- Being blown away by Super Metroid at my grandparents' place after they had helped us find a used SNES with a bunch of games.
- Rushing home on my lunch break while working in a store as part of the school-mandated work experience program to sneak in a few minutes of Metroid Prime.
- Sitting on the couch playing Fusion, quietly freaking out at the first sight of the SA-X (some creepy eyes still freak me out to this day) but unable to stop playing.
- Bringing my GBA to school in 8th grade to play Zero Mission during recess (hoping people would notice and think that the game, and by extension I, was cool).
- Dark winter weekend mornings playing Prime 2 on my 12" TV while listening to a music chart countdown show on the radio.
- Playing Prime 3 in my university dorm room just a few months after moving away from home.
- Treating myself to Samus Returns after moving to my first proper solo apartment which my girlfriend had helped me find.
- Ending my workday early (the perks of being a freelancer!) to track down a copy of Dread on release day and playing as much as possible before we had to leave to vist my fiance's parents (the Switch tagged along, you can't go cold turkey on a new Metroid game).
Listening to this brought back so many memories and really reminded me of how special this series has been to me over the years, regardless of what stage of my life I have been in at the time. Thank you for an excellent video and great analysis, you have well and truly done the series justice!
Thanks so much! It's amazing that this series has made such an impact that you remember every single moment with it! I love the transition from buying used games and picking them up later to getting Dread on release day - that's the exact same for me!
Standing ovation. Fantastic. Wonderful. Stupendous. Simply marvelous. I want all of my friends to watch this video. It explains absolutely everything I’ve loved about this series since I played the first game when it originally came out. There’s so much about Metroid that just can’t be explained in words but you have done the impossible ever so eloquently. Kudos. Aplomb. Love.
Thanks so much. That's really nice to hear that I did the series justice and you enjoyed the video so much!
This and the castlevania video are a Big inspiration for me to one Day get into these type of long form game retrospectives keep up the amazing work
Nothing is stopping you my friend! If you enjoy it go ahead and make one!
In my opinion, you do a wonderful job with these longer retrospectives, and the quality does not suffer with the longer video length.
That's really nice to hear!
It’s a bittersweet feeling finishing every video you make. I keep wanting more and the wait sometimes can feel too long but the end result is always worth it. Thank you for making this year’s of night shifts at work a lot more bearable and thank you for the hours of well researched content. Can’t wait for the next one!
I'm sorry to hear that my friend! This one did take a really long time to produce but I'm hoping that the next few might take a little less! My aim for next year is to try and have a video out every other month at the minimum! Six videos shouldn't be too hard to produce right?
This channel is seriously underrated, I LOVE your style and just IMMACULATE pacing.
thank you for all your effort.
This was six pure hours of bliss. Masterfully crafted, excellent info. Thanks for making this!
Thanks so much my friend. I'm pleased you enjoyed it
5:32:35 - I definitely dread those things. I have to admit I still have not finished Dread. Part of it was I'd dedicated to streaming it, but the other part is I stopped right outside of the purple one, E.M.M.I.-06WB and every time I start to think about playing the first thing I think is, "Oh god, I've gotta start by going through the EMMI zone again." I don't know why I'm so freaked out. The checkpoints are generous. I will lose almost 0 progress if I die. But the damn things just stress me out so much everytime I'm in their area. DX And I've loved all my sessions playing it. but clearly these sections really bother me if I'd rather keep procrastinating about finishing the game rather than dealing with one again.
Just dive into it my friend! I know it's intimidating as you die a lot but those checkpoints really make it not so bad!
Thank you for videos like these, amazing!
Thanks for watching! I'm really pleased you enjoyed it
Just wanted to mention this video helped me a lot with coping with the anxiety of my upcoming college semester. Thanks IFAV!
That's really nice to hear. I hope you're feeling better and your semester goes well!
I love the fact you can save the friendly creatures in Super Metroid. If you blow open a wall for them to get out, as Samus's ship is leaving Zebes you get to see a light shoot from Zebes to the right, as they escape before it explodes also.
What's even cooler is that they must be escaping on the re-energised wrecked ship!
I love Metroid and Metoidvanias in general. Thanks for giving me something to listen to at work, love your stuff as always
You're welcome - hope you enjoy it and it makes for some good lunch breaks!
what a fantastic video! I watched the whole thing over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially loved how the commentator focused on the strengths of each game rather than pick apart the bad ones. It felt very balanced and fair to every game, and I even learned a bunch of new trivia!
Man, I loved this so much. Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I also had a bit of a laugh as I finished samus returns and thought the end credit scene was hinting at a Metroid Fusion remake. Did not realize that it was to lead into Dread. Really need to get around to playing it.
You really do! Dread feels like a full realisation of the ideas behind Samus Returns!
Thank you for creating these videos. They are incredibly informative and well made.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it
My goodness, this was a fantastic watch, I had to break it up over several days, but I really appreciate the perspective you bring to the different games. It really helps me appreciate things that I wouldn't have thought of in each of them, thank you so much!
That's really nice to hear. Glad it was a good watch and that it could introduce you to some new perspectives! Thanks for watching and commenting!
This is amazing, one of the best documentaries I have ever seen on Metroid.
Thanks very much my friend!
Aside one or two facts, I heard everything there is to hear about this series, and yet I never get tired of it, that’s how good Metroid is.
Great video, it was a very entertaining watch 👍
You're welcome - glad it was a good watch anyway!
The severity of how underground this channel is, hurts my soul. You deserve so much more support and love from RUclips. I love this channel. Thank you for such great content Mr. Finished.
Honestly my dude - I'm really happy with where things are! The videos seem to get good traction, I'm working on the channel full time and I'm not so big that I've got legions of haters trying to kill me! Glad you enjoyed the video!
I've never played any Metroid games. But Samus Aran might be my favorite video game character now
Great deep dive into the series, very much on the level of your Castlevania work. It's especially informative for someone like me, who skipped many of the latter games but knew and loved the series from its first games.
That's extremely generous of you! I really appreciate it and I'm so pleased you enjoyed it enough to want to contribute! I've long imagined this video and Castlevania to come as a bit of a pair - hopefully everyone else sees it like that!
@@IFinishedAVideoGame Speaking of this, and this is a bit of a reaching question, but do you ever think you might cover Metroidvanias as a genre?
I know that's different than your usual content, but since you've covered both Metroid and Castlevania now, it might be interesting to see similar coverage of the "history" of the genre.
I know that sounds like a crazy task, because of all the variables, but something like that would be very interesting to see.
Of course, I'm only half-suggesting this since you've covered the two series that created the genre, but I thought I'd throw it out there, at any rate.
(On my second rewatch of this now! Stellar work!)
This was such a damn good retrospective. From roughing beginnings, the highest of peaks, the lowest of lows, and a bright new revival. It's really nice to see one of these retrospectives have a happy ending for a change. I've always been a fan of the Metroid Prime series, but after marathoning the 2D games along with Dread, I'm now a full-on Metroid fan. You did this series great justice. I sincerely hope Metroid Prime 4 turns out well.
Thanks so much for the kind words. We can only hope that Retro are cooking up something special - luckily I don't think they've ever really put out a bad game so I have a lot of faith!
5:14:26 you really can't underestimate it, Ridley getting into smash was what ended up with me being a Metroid fan