Metroid Chasm

Metroid is one of Nintendo’s most critically-acclaimed series, with glowing reviews for almost every title released by the studio over the years. However, the old platformers are still fan favorites even today, when so much better graphic technologies are available. Hence, it should be no wonder that the fan remakes are using the same visual style as well, in order to keep the atmosphere intact.

Metroid Chasm is a remake that aims to provide the fans of the franchise with a new adventure into Samus’ world, while keeping most of the original gameplay elements untouched. As such, you get to explore a fascinating dark science-fiction universe, while dealing with a variety of nasty creatures and various other obstacles that try to make your journey as difficult as possible.

Story-wise, you just have to come up with your own plot, because there’s no dialog or intro sequence to explain what’s happening, or why is Samus putting herself in danger this time. It shouldn’t be that difficult to imagine a reason, however, especially if you are a fan of the franchise and you are aware of what’s Samus usually up to. It’s all about reliving the experience and enjoying the atmosphere one more time anyway, not about a new story.

When it comes to gameplay, most of it should feel quite familiar and cozy, although it may not be as comfortable using a keyboard. Samus can use different ammunition for her weapon, including missiles and ice shells, which come in handy when you need to freeze an enemy and use its husk as a platform. Naturally, some of the doors can only be opened using a specific type of ammunition, which is why it is vital to find the right upgrades by exploring the levels.

Speaking of which, the non-linear level design has been integrated into this title as well, given the fact that it’s a trademark of the series. As such, you often have to backtrack to previously visited locations, in order to access secret passages and the like. Not only that, but you can explore both directions, which considerably increases the size of the environments you get to visit along the way.

While Metroid Chasm is not exactly a complete product, and it certainly lacks a lot of elements, it’s still a lot of fun and a good way to treat your nostalgia every once in a while. Hence, there’s no harm in giving it a try, whether you have experienced the Metroid franchise before or not.