I didn't grow up with commercials telling me to want Metroid. That's not me being a wise old sage about the marketing landscape of the mid-1980s. It's just true. My family got an NES for Christmas, the kind of package deal that came bundled with the three-games-in-one cartridge of Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt, and … Continue reading Alone in the Dark: What Metroid Taught Me About Being Lost on Purpose
Metroidvania
The Shift from Linear Levels to Metroidvania: Gameplay Evolution
There are certain games that, no matter how much time passes or how impressive the latest technological marvels become, I find myself returning to again and again. Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night sit at the very top of that list. In my opinion, they're not just two of the greatest games ever … Continue reading The Shift from Linear Levels to Metroidvania: Gameplay Evolution
Metroid’s Speed Revolution
When Samus Aran first touched down on planet Zebes in 1986, Nintendo inadvertently created something revolutionary—not just a new type of action-adventure game, but the blueprint for one of gaming's most sophisticated speedrunning communities. Nearly four decades later, Metroid speedrunning has evolved into an art form that celebrates the very essence of what made the … Continue reading Metroid’s Speed Revolution
