Metroid: Odyssey of Aran Demo
Release date: Sep 08, 2021
Author: caldw3ll
Download: Demo v0.5 (801 downloads)
Download: Demo v0.4 (264 downloads)
Download: Demo v0.3 (218 downloads)
Download: Demo v0.2 (230 downloads)
Download: Demo v0.1 (287 downloads)
Genre: Incomplete [?]
Game: MZM
Difficulty: Vanilla [?]
Average runtime: 1:31
Average collection: 48%
Read Me: Readme
Forum Thread: Forum Thread
Rating: Star Star Star Star Star
Description
(NOTE: WALL-JUMPING IS NOT REQUIRED AND USING IT TO GET ITEMS EARLY MAY MAKE CERTAIN STORY-BEATS PLAY OUT-OF-ORDER. Use caution, because even though I tried to account for as much sequence-breaking as possible, I might have missed a few soft-locks!)

Metroid: Odyssey of Aran is a story-based exploration hack. This is a demo of what will eventually be the full experience.

The game takes place before Samus is done training with the Chozo. She has almost mastered the use of her powersuit, but the Chozo give her one final test to make sure she is ready. A research facility on Zebes has recently been experiencing a series of tremors and such in the mines below their ore processing plant. Two days ago, an SOS was sent out. Comms have been silent ever since. Samus arrives at the mines, and prepares for her final test.

This is my first hack, so certain things are pretty shit. Please be gentle.

Features:
New Beam Upgrade!
Unconventional Upgrade Order!
Slightly More Focus On Story!
Speed-Booster Can Destroy Bomb Blocks!
Lots of Shortcuts!
Bugs (see also: insects)!
Bugs (see also: glitches)!
Custom Intro Text and Music!
Secret not-canon-to-the-plot upgrades!
Post-game content!

Stuff That I will probably add in the final release:
Custom Music.
Ability to place power-bombs without morph-ball.
Custom chozo map-hints.
Way more rooms.
Maybe have entirely custom tilesets??
Ability to use chozo statue recharge without morph-ball.
uhhhhhh custom objects????
Resolution to the plot.

Credits:
Testing - The Brothers Crafters#8910, Conner#4315
ZMHT - Cosmic
Screw Attack/ Shinespark damage asm - Raygun
Projectiles continue off-screen asm - Raygun
Intro text OEM guide - somerando(caauyjdp)

Changelog (View full changelog on the forum thread):
v0.5 - Added slight deceleration when samus is falling.
Screenshots
Screenshot Screenshot
Ratings and Reviews
By The Brothers Crafters on Sep 09, 2021 (Star Star Star Star Star )
42% in 1:15
Honestly for a first hack this was very good! There were some tile errors but the map design was very good. The intended item proggression wasn't that intuitive (at least for me) but there were some sequence breaks really fun to pull out that made the gampley even better. Overall a really good hack. Can't wait to see the finished version!
By LetsPlayNintendoITA on Sep 23, 2021 (Star Star Star Star Star )
49% in 1:22
[Watch Video]  
This was an interesting demo and can't wait for the complete version.
Very well done. Sequence break. Secrets everywhere and nice pace.
And the narrative was very cool.
See ya in the final version!
By Sapphron on Jan 08, 2022 (Star Star Star Star Star )
49% in 1:27
Really nice hack! The narrative/text is a neat touch but it does get kind of long sometimes. Level design was fine although there were a lot of tiling errors and various bugs, such as music stopping after saves/map stations and such. Progression was neat and allowed for lots of sequence breaking, and it has an ending!!
Finished.
Recommend.
By KPF on Oct 24, 2022 (Star Star Star Star Star )
No completion stats.
This hack sucks. Can't find morph ball.
By RX-78-2 on Dec 29, 2022 (Star Star Star Star Star )
49% in 1:51
Too bad it's only a demo hack, I liked this hack alot while I was playing through it. and despite how short it is, it's still a phenomenal hack.. I love how the author added speedkeep in ZM because that's not something you normally see in ZM games, I also like how speed booster can break bomb blocks and how this hack is similar to SM Pantheon in the sense that there's a certain item (in both this hack and Pantheon) that you get later on in the game instead of at the beginning like with most metroid games


I think the narrative text was a nice addition. I also like the sequence breaks in this game along with the neat level design, this hack was very fun to try out. but other than that, there's nothing else too special about this hack apart from some tileset changes in some areas. anyway this hack is definitely a unique and I think it deserves a playthrough. great job caldw3ll, I'm really looking forward to playing through this hack when it's complete!

10/10
Finished
Recommend
By Cosmic on Jan 19, 2023 (Star Star Star Star Star )
49% in 1:40
[Watch Video]  
Max % for this hack seems to be 49%. If you need help, check my attached imgur gallery.

Despite being incomplete, this hack is a sleeper hit.

The first thing that caught my attention in this hack is the opening cinematic's modified music and custom text. This was really nice to see and something we've yet to see done in other hacks. Most either skip this cinematic or don't touch it.

Compared to other hacks this one also makes an attempt at a story and it's something I enjoy. From the opening cinematic to the intro text to samus' journal when she collects major items, you get the sneaking suspicion that this is more than just a training exercise, playing detective to figure out what happened and what is going on.

The level design was really interesting and combined with speedkeep made for some tricky but fun puzzles. A bunch of the rooms have or at least borrow from vanilla room layouts, which similar to lost chozo can give you some interesting deja vu moments. Seeing the raised platforms over lava thinking you're about to get hi-jump but it expands into a much bigger cavern, that sort of thing. I quite like this actually.

Speaking of speedkeep, in general, there are a lot of really neat-o custom code tricks up its sleeve, like all forms of weaponry revealing destructible blocks, ability toggling, and tractor beam (though this is the ye olde one that isnt very fast). Believe me, some features may seem pointless at first but you're guaranteed to use them at least once. Just remember that they exist!! Most especially, remember that with keep speed, you can keep charging up speedbooster if you change directions by spinjumping.

As others have stated you do not get the morph ball for a very, VERY long time. But you really don't need it until later.

The hack calls itself a demo and one of the items tells you the demo is over, but by that point there is still much to discover and collect, and you can infact beat it.

There is some level design jank but it is nothing too particularly offensive. There are some bad or nonexistent scrolls here and there that reveal parts of rooms you aren't supposed to see, some missing sections of rock or breaks in the everpresent maroon outline.

This hack used the patch that nerfs plasma beam but it carries the side effect of breaking some bosses like Charge worm and [REDACTED], so that can also feel a little jank.

Overall though, like I said, there's nothing here that makes this hack particularly frustrating or a no-go. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and if you have enough patience to hold out on Morph Ball, I think you will too.

Sorry I didn't get to this hack sooner, Caldw3ll. You did a great job! Can't wait to see what you do next!

Finished.
Recommended.
Edit the opening cinematic more, ZM hackers!! :v

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