I have to admit.. I wasn't a fan of the original Metroid. The graphics struck me as dull to tell the truth and the game play never managed to suck me in and keep me playing. So of course, I wasn't very hopeful for this game. I expected it to be the original Metroid with a new coat of paint. After playing through it, I'm willing to admit I was very wrong.

Graphics: I was impressed with the graphics of this game. Especially the bosses. Each enemy and environment made me at least stop to admire it for a moment. Each environment had graphics that really showed what the GBA was capable of, providing the perfect backdrop for your adventure. As I said before, this is especially true with the bosses. Kraid managed to be intimidating in this game, which is more than I could say for him in the original Metroid. Ridley actually looked like a large, deadly dragon in this game. Mother Brain also had a marked improvement, showed by the detail that was put into her. Mecha Ridley even managed to be intimidating. The amazing backdrops, along with the great looking sprites are what made me give this game it's high graphics score. The cut-scenes even further show off the graphics, with detailed sprites and crisp graphics I didn't expect to see in a GameBoy game.

Sound: Of course, graphics aren't much if you don't have good sounds to really improve the experience. I was glad to see that this game didn't disappoint sound-wise either. Each weapon made a satisfying noise when it made contact. This helped imagine the impact after each weapon connected. The music was also amazing, especially the music in Kraid's lair. The soundtrack really was a high point for me in this game, which really surprised me. This is a GameBoy game that was making me stop and listen to the music, a first for me.

Addictiveness: As you probably know from all other Metroid games, this game can be very addictive. This mostly owes to the large amount of collectibles that cover every area of the game. Each one is rewarding, making you just that little bit more powerful for the next wave of aliens you need to kill. This means you'll spend a lot of time looking for each one. But likely, you won't even find them all in your first play through, this is part of the reason this game is so addictive. It makes you want to check every nook and cranny, trying to find every item you can. Especially in the time limit for the best ending, adding even more replay value in trying to get all the different endings. This is a game you'll most likely play at least twice, or even more time in order to collect everything in the shortest times possible.

Story: The story in this game is another aspect I didn't expect. Especially with the addition of cut-scenes. This makes it easier to get a story through even though most of the game is just exploring. While I won't go into any spoilers, I will tell you that anyone who hasn't already seen this games story, will enjoy it. Especially a plot twist just when you think it's done. The cut-scenes I mentioned earlier also help contribute to this. Many of them manage to show at least a bit of the story, such as Mother Brain seeing Samus enter the planet. Or one near the end involving Samus and the Chozo. This game has one of the best stories of the 2d Metroid games. Maybe only beaten by Super Metroid or Fusion.

Depth: Do I even have to go into the depth of this game? As you've probably noticed from my earlier mentions, this game has a lot of depth to it. Especially with the items. Each area has plentiful extra rooms that you'll never have to enter, but can get you extra items for looking for them. The maps you find through the game helps, as you'll definitely need to know the layout of the world if you really want to get a a hundred percent completion. Even better, it offers a playable version of the original Metroid in it. So even though I'm not a fan of the original, this game has the original for you if you really want to play that.

Difficulty:I found this game pretty difficult through my first play through. Though it might get easier each time you play, your first run will probably involve getting lost at least once or twice. You might even need a guide to find your way through the areas. The enemies also can prove challenging sometimes, especially when lava is involved that you might accidentally get knocked into. Most of the bosses prove to be difficult to beat. Though Ridley and Mecha Ridley were much easier than I would have expected at this point in the game. Mecha Ridley can be challenging though for those collecting everything, as it's much more powerful if you have all the items in the game. Mother Brain was definitely the most challenging point for me though, needing to dodge attacks while attempting not to fall into the lava on the floor.

Wrapping up:In conclusion, this game really surprised me with how good it was. I was expecting the original Metroid game with better graphics. Which though it did have much better graphics, it really improved on every single part of the game. If you're a fan of the Metroid series, I'd say this game is a must play for you.

name543 : This is a good review you kade. It has lots of information. And you broke it down into different categories. Keep up the good work and have a nice day

Good review here. It explains the game well, and gives a good breakdown. Good work. I'm looking forward to seeing you make some more reviews.