Super Metroid Video Game Analysis

Super Metroid

Video Game Evaluation

Instructor: Ismail Alihan Hadimlioglu

Prepared by: Andrew Frost

Spring 2014

Table of Contents

1. Game Summary

1.1 Genre

1.2 Visual Style

1.3 High Concept

1.4 Synopsis

1.5 Setting

2. Gameplay

2.1 Features

2.2 Artificial Intelligence

3. Story, Setting, and Character

3.1 Story

3.2 Environment

3.3 Characters

4. Game Related Details

4.1 Upgrades (In expected order of acquisition)

4.2 Game Mechanics

5. Controls

6. Interface

7. Art

7.1 Sprites

7.2 Animations

7.3 Music

7.4 Sound Effects

1. Game Summary

'Super Metroid' is a single player two-dimensional side-scrolling action platformer game released for the Super Nintendo in 1994. The player controls the bounty hunter Samus Aran as they track down space pirates who have stolen a dangerous breed of newly discovered creature called 'Metroids', which are capable of consuming the life-energy of other creatures. The space pirates have taken the Metroid to their deep planetary fortress imbedded on the alien planet Zebes, where they hope to research and weaponize the Metroid to aid in their piracy. As the player explores Zebes, they will attain new abilities that allow them to progress to new areas and increase their power until they eliminate the space pirate threat.

1.1 Genre

Although 'Super Metroid' is an action platforming game, it has a very heavy focus on player exploration as well; players must search for new abilities and paths to make progress, and are also rewarded with new upgrades if they return to previously accessed areas once they have a new arsenal at their disposal. The gameplay is very similar to previous Metroid titles ('Metroid'- released in 1986- and 'Metroid II: Return of Samus'- released in 1991), bu...

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...nimation associated with them and are easily recognizable to what action they are performing. Animations flow nicely from frame to frame and have a good sense of fluidity.

7.3 Music

Area music generally has an over-all mysterious and alien feel to it that ties into the theme of the area; dangerous environments generally have a more foreboding touch to them, boss themes are appropriately exciting, and the escape sequences give a proper sense of urgency to them. The music helps to set the over-all mood of each area and help excite the player for when a tougher challenge is at hand.

7.4 Sound Effects

All sound effects seem to be appropriate for the action they correspond to and are clear and distinct, and the mix of alien screeches and with the science-fiction beam-blasts also tie into the over-all theme of the game and immerse the player into the planete Zebes.