Exploration, solitude and atmosphere: from Super Metroid to Metroid Prime, Samus's saga invented a genre of its own, the metroidvania. RomWize re-ranks the best entries by its re-evaluated scores, each with its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"An exemplary restoration. The remaster smooths the controls without betraying the original, and Tallon IV's lonely atmosphere still grips you. Scanning the environment can slow the pace, but the aiming and exploration have aged beautifully."
"First Metroid Prime, revolutionary FPS-adventure transposing Samus to 3D. Tallon IV exploration, encyclopedic environmental scanning, strategic combat with special visors. Isolated and atmospheric mood, ingenious backtracking level design. Wii Edition offers precise Wiimote controls, more natural than the original GameCube. An absolute Metroid series peak, essential."
"Direct sequel adding the concept of parallel light/dark worlds, à la Zelda Twilight Princess. Aether and Dark Aether mirror each other, some areas blocked in one are reachable in the other. Beefier combat, demanding bosses, new gear like the Dark Visor. Harder than the first entry, sometimes punishing, but a rare-depth adventure. Wii Edition with polished motion controls."
"A masterful 2D return for Samus: dread-soaked exploration, ultra-fluid mobility and the E.M.M.I. introduce genuine stalking tension. Bosses demand reflexes and reading, and the slow mastery delivers a satisfaction rare in the genre."
"Direct sequel in a doubled world of light and darkness with deeper exploration mechanics. Tougher, denser and more oppressive in mood. Without quite matching the first one's clarity, it still hits an adventure peak and confirms Retro Studios as Nintendo royalty."
"Conclusion of the Prime trilogy, first Wii-native release with Wiimote controls from the ground up. Samus joins an interplanetary war against Phazon, equipped with a dangerous but powerful Hyper Mode. Multiple planets to explore, personal mobile ship, more present narration. Wiimote aiming precise and natural, combat fluid, exploration still brilliant. Trilogy peak for many, epic finale."
"Essential compilation of the three Metroid Primes on Wii, with uniform Wiimote controls and retouched visuals. Prime 1, Prime 2 and Prime 3 on a single disc, over a hundred hours of play. Shared trophies across all three, central hub. Exemplary collector edition that elevates the original GameCube experience. If you need one reason to own a Wii, this trilogy is it. An absolute reference."
"Metroid Fusion on GBA, absolute masterpiece of the genre. Samus vs the X parasite in an infested space station. Oppressive atmosphere, perfect gameplay, exceptional narrative. A timeless classic."
"One of the foundational games in all of video gaming. Samus Aran in armor in a labyrinthine alien world to explore freely. Unique solitary and oppressive atmosphere. Revolutionary, timeless, absolutely essential."
