I recently played through the 2D Metroids and had a great time.
This was my first time replaying Super Metroid in a few years. After Zero Mission and AM2R (I played the remakes), I was surprised at just how floaty everything is in Super Metroid. Jump, wait a while, land, shoot... I love the atmosphere and exploration of Super but the slow movement took a bit of getting used to.
What are you playing? Have you found games to feel a little different than you remember?
Been playing a bit of Nightmare Creatures 2 for the PS1. It's delightfully janky as many of these early 3D games are. I think for the question on finding these old games different, yeah being used to a second stuck for the camera it kind of feels like playing with an arm tied behind your back. But it's also a cool era where everyone was trying to figure out how to make 3D games.
I've kind of gone full circle with right-stick camera control. When I first started gaming again about five years ago (after a twenty year break) I struggled with it. I kept forgetting to move the camera and it would end up facing the wrong direction in a fight. I wasn't a fan then, but now it's second nature.
Talking about early 3D games, I recently tried playing the first Resident Evil. I couldn't get on with the way the camera works. It completely changes position and angle half way through a corridor or room. It was a popular game so it must have worked for people back then, but I just find it jarring now.
I think it was around the GameCube era that using the right stick started being common for me. And I used to invert the vertical camera controls, I think that was a hold over from old school joysticks. Pretty crazy to see how everything's evolved.
I remember when the OG Resident Evil came out. I'd say it was one of my seminal game play experiences. Going from the likes of Super Mario World to that was pretty mind blowing at the time! Although the tank controls are now maligned, they do give you consistent directional control through viewpoint changes (up always moves you forward). It probably takes a good deal of getting used to from today's standards, but you can also get pretty good with it if you keep going.
I do wonder whether I would have been a lot more forgiving of RE's camera at the time. In fact, if I had nostalgia for the game, I would probably put up with it now. For instance, I have nostalgia for OOT so I'm quite willing to put up with the sloow text crawl and Navi's incessant nagging.
I haven't played Nightmare Creatures 2. Would it be classed as a survival horror? Did you ever play ZombiU?
Yeah, I hear you with the nostalgia bit. Definitely smooths out some of the rough parts. I actually skipped the N64 Zelda games back in the day, and my Ocarina playthrough on the 3DS stalled a while back for the reasons you listed.
I'm still early on with NC2, but I would classify it as survival horror. There hasn't been much in the way of puzzles or environmental backtracking, but health is fairly limited. I managed to accidentally overwrite my save state with 1 hit left on the old health meter, which has been fun.
It's full of 90's horror vibes and has a soundtrack by Rob Zombie. Combat is mostly melee based so far, but very clunky. It's also had a full 3d swimming section with an air meter which the controls made truly terrifying.
I haven't played ZombiU. The Steam version requiring a UPlay account has kept me from picking it up there. Is it pretty good?
I have the 3DS OOT on my to-play list for the next year. I'll be my first time playing the 3DS version.
I played ZombiU on the Wii U and it made great use of the second screen. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very atmospheric. You really feel as if you're in a zombie-infested London. Good story and a constant feeling of threat. If you do decide to play it, you should know that you'll die a lot. It's part of the game. I also played Resident Evil: Revelations on the Wii U. ZombiU is definitely the more Survival Horror of the two. If only it had a Rob Zombie soundtrack...
ZombiU sounds pretty cool, I'll add it to the list. I might have to go back and continue OOT at some point. Feels like one of those games I should at least finish.
I was really impressed with AM2R. Great controls and movement; atmospheric in the same way as Super. It really feels as if you're exploring a planet. One of the best Metroids.
I agree with you about Nintendo's handling of the situation. They had the opportunity to embrace the product of the community's love for Metroid. Instead, they tried to smother it.
I have played Dread and I would say it's the best 2D Metroid. If you can find a used version for sale, it may be worth checking out.
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