Super Metroid Video Game Analysis

2926 Words6 Pages

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...

... middle of paper ...

...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.

Show More
Related

  • Who Is Mary Poppin's Prequel Saving Mr. Banks

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some of the special effect used in these films are animation. For example, the penguin scene in Mary Poppins. Another example of this is transitioning and flashbacks. An

    Read More

  • Impact Of Mario 64

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    The enemies in the game were all brought from previous games, following the same style of character designs. This created the comical and cartoonish look that has come to be loved by many. This level of detail and work was put into all the other aspects of the game creating the world renowned game we have come to know of today. Super Mario 64 is thought to be one of the greatest games of all time by many fans and critics.

    Read More

  • Taking a Look at the Legend of Zelda

    1395 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mythology is constantly being reincarnated into new mediums. It began centuries ago as oral stories being passed from generation to generation and has weathered the test of time to present day. Mythology influences current day literature, movies, and even video games. One video game that heavily draws on mythological themes is The Legend of Zelda created by Japanese video game designer and producer Shingeru Miyamoto. Through Zelda, gamers are exposed to and are able to play through a hero’s journey filled with mythological motifs such as the idea of creation and destruction, the struggle between light versus darkness, the subconscious in relation to reality, and the idea and distortion of time.

    Read More

  • Raiders Of The Lost Ark Analysis

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    Generally, when the characters are at different places, the music can remind the audience of that place since the composer uses lots of traditional and local instruments at scenes that are associated with different cultures and countries. Those special instrumentations go along

    Read More

  • The Creation Process of Video Games

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    At this time, video games have made their way into the homes and hearts of many people since their meager beginnings as television novelties and arcade hits. But what goes into the process of creating a video game? Games, especially board games, don’t just happen. Their digital counterparts are not part of the exception either. There are painstaking processes and stages involved in creating and developing a game so that it is ready to be marketed to the public and so it also appeals to a certain fanbase or so it appeals to the masses. There is also the level of immersion and engagement that has to take priority within a game so that the player feels invested enough within the game to continue playing it after a certain period of time. The stages that take place within the creation cycle of a game can vary, but they usually follow three main phases. These phases are the Pre-production, production, then testing phases.

    Read More

  • The Sapphires Essay

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    The sound used in this scene are all diegetic, the sounds of gunfire and explosions show that the characters in this scene are in very real danger of being shot or blown up, this helps the viewer grow a more personal connection with the characters since the scene is towards the end of the film, the viewer has developed a personal connection with the characters and do not want them to die. The diegetic sounds of military personnel can be heard, this is used to show the urgency that the military personnel have to get The Sapphires and Dave out of the dangerous situation.

    Read More

  • Nintendo

    1712 Words  | 4 Pages

    For instance, between 1994 and 2002 there were no new Metroid games, despite the popularity of that franchise. The benefit of such a strategy is that when Metroid Prime was released in 2002, it received extraordinary reviews and sold over a million units. The downside to this approach is obvious. Nintendo effectively surrendered the revenue (almost certainly more than $100 million) that could have been milked from the franchise throughout the latter half of the 1990s.

    Read More

  • The Elder Scrolls V. Skyrim: Book Review: Skyrim

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Discuss about the genre of the game. Provide several similar genre games and compare those games’ approach with this one.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Myamoto Vs Nintendo

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most people argue that Xbox or PSP is better than Nintendo, but I disagree. Nintendo as changed from the old Atari games to 3D, third person, adventure games. At first glance this may seem too geeky or nerdy, but I can assure you this is very interesting. In the beginning, Atari games were more popular. Games like Pac Man, Space Invaders, and Dig Dug were more liked than other games of the time period. But before this Myamoto was a child have adventures of his own and exploring the land of Japan.

    Read More

  • Violence, a theme in the Movie "The Shining"

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    techniques such as Camera angles, Lighting and sound. This movie users all of this elements

    Read More

  • Tim Burton's Cinematic Techniques In Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, every time there was a close up of Augustus Gloop in the candy room, sinister music would play. This foreshadowed that something bad was going to happen to him in that room. It puts the viewer on edge and creates a mood of suspense because they don’t know what is going to happen. He also uses music to foreshadow events in the movie Edward Scissorhands. Every time Edward saw Kim happy, angelic music would play which foreshadowed that something would happen between them and also gave you a hint about his feelings towards her. Burton used music to show foreshadowing in the movie Dark Shadows as well. When Josette was walking toward the edge of the cliff suspenseful music played create a mood of suspense and fear that Barnabas wouldn’t make it in time and she would fall to her death. One of the many other cinematic techniques Burton often uses in his films is using lighting and color to show

    Read More

  • Nondiegetic Music Of The Doors In The Scene Waiting In Saigon

    1343 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sound plays a significant part in all movies and one of the most interesting of all the sound techniques would be the use of nondiegetic music. In the movie Apocalypse Now, there is a double disc soundtrack with thirty tracks on it. The one song on there that has the most meaning would The Doors song “The End”. This song not only set the mood for the scene waiting in Saigon and the move as a whole but is also used to foreshadow the death of Coronal Kurtis. Mr. Coppola, the director of the film, was a genius for picking this song to represent the movie. It not only fits the movie with the sounds of helicopter but the words alone have significant meaning to the movie. Along with it serving as a premise for the movie, Mr. Coppola plays with the viewer’s perception of diegetic sounds and nondiegetic music.

    Read More

  • The Hobbit Film Analysis

    1621 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the films most important and groundbreaking technology is the use of motion capture. Motion capture technology has the ability to capture more realistic eye movements. Special reflective markers are placed onto the actors, which are wearing tight suits. Cameras recognize these markers and therefore the movements of the actor can be recorded. The captured data that was recorded is transformed into a digital model and transferred to a 3D software which would show the characters moving exactly how the actors did when they were performing for the scene. The data is cleaned up and animators will bring the character to life, with movement, texture, skeleton and muscles. An advantage that is offered in motion capture is it is more rapid and producing the animate...

    Read More

  • Types of Gamers

    835 Words  | 2 Pages

    Video games have become one of the largest forms of entertainment within the last decade or two. People of all ages play these games to get out of the boring reality of things and experience the thrill of fantasy, combat, or adventure. But what kind of games gives you the experience you want? Some may want to control one person, a great being on a quest to restore his or her torn land, wielding great powers and becoming enveloped in a great story. Others may want to control a million persons, on a great battlefield, seizing land and bringing about destruction to all who come across his army. Or you may want to recreate your favorite sports team, leading them into the history books as the greatest team to ever step foot onto the field or court. Let us take a look at the different types of game genres that encompass the majority of games today and see what one you might wish to partake in.

    Read More

  • A Career as an Animator

    2479 Words  | 5 Pages

    Animations are a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of objects, like puppets and models, which are different from each to create a variety of entertainment for the audiences. Animations are what brings excitement and mystery, hooking the audience in through interest. It is a form of some sort of “magic” where things that aren’t real but from the imagination comes to life in front of people who live these mundane, ordinary lives, adding color to the eyes and mind. The creators of such amazing arts and creation are animators.

    Read More

More about Super Metroid Video Game Analysis

Open Document