Metroid Nexus

Metroid is one of the most illustrious action-platformers ever released, with millions of copies sold and just as many loyal fans cheering for the series. However, times have changed in the meantime, and modern gamers are not really interested in platformers anymore. Even so, there are still those who try to keep the magic going and provide old timers with what they crave.

Metroid Nexus is a fan-made game in which you get to play as Samus one more time and help her deal with the same kind of enemies yet again. Granted, the game is not finished and it doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to be, but the gameplay comes pretty close to the classic formula. Not only that, but even the graphics are pretty great and in tune with what the franchise used to be.

There’s not much of a story to talk about, since you start playing right away with no kind of introduction or cutscenes. You can assume that it’s time to save the world again, but it really doesn’t matter what you imagine as long as the gameplay is fun. Thankfully, it pretty much is, at least if you enjoy tough platformers that punish every wrong move.

Although the level design is not bad at all, the playable sections are a tad too small to be any fun, since you barely have time to deal with a handful of enemies before you get to the end of the room. Hence, even if the map is split into separate sections and areas, it doesn’t take very long to explore everything. Exploration is important, too, especially if you want to find all the bonuses.

The graphics are designed to be as retro as possible, and they actually make the game look a lot like the original Metroid. The spires are pretty nicely made as well, even if some of them could have been a bit smoother. Not much can be said about the soundtrack, on the other hand, since there’s nothing special about the game in this regard.

In the end, Metroid Nexus is clearly unfinished and lacking in substance, but it should be enough to make old gamers remember a few things from the past. It also as challenging as platformers used to be.