RealRed's Hack Reviews - Metroid Construction

SM Redesign: Axeil Edition by Drewseph [

Exploration], rated by RealRed on Apr 19, 2015 (

)

66% in 10:27

Version: 1.0 - 2/5 stars

I was going to rate this hack a 1, but I'm going to give it a two for effort.

Super Metroid Redesign: Axeil Edition Falls completely short of its intent. Redesign easier? More accessible? ohh no. Not even close.
It starts out seemingly easier with auto-walljump and automorph, but beams/missiles/weapons in general are still incredibly weak and hard to find, enemies are no different, auto-morph only works very selectively...

Not too far in axeil becomes MUCH harder than the original redesign due to excessively complicated puzzles, instant-death acid in lower norfair, a complete lack of supplies due to expansions being insanely hidden or placed behind puzzles that are impossible for beginning, moderate, or even advanced players, and Tourian is no longer a straightforward hellhole, but an endless maze of a hellhole that takes 4+ hours of in-game time to start to figure out.

If redesign: Axeil was a challenge hack of Redesign, absolute success, immersive depth, 5/5 stars.
It's not meant to be though, so why is it so crushingly difficult and endlessly tedious?

----
Version 1.4 3/5 stars
+1
Drew is moving in the right direction, but I can't bump him up all the way just yet; that would be too easy. :)
Plus I can't give him 4/5 immediately because I'm still recovering from the frustrating 1.0, lol.

The hint system was wildly more helpful this time around since all of the hints worked. Acid was heavily nerfed for a new system that gives you a limited amount of time to get out before deathmode kicks in, making lower norfair much more forgiving & survivable.

Tourian is still monstrous, but the godmode metroids are saved for the end of the dungeon rather than the moment you enter. Also, acid (once again) isn't forced immediate death. A few remaining issues with how findable secrets were have been brought to Drewseph's attention, so 1.5 will be even better.

My remaining complaints with the hack are largely dealing with the plasma beam, which is awful and weak and shitty, and the chozo statue hunt, which feels like fetchquest filler content.

Meanwhile, Drewseph is working on further spoiling us with updates. Looking forward to future updates!

Cliffhanger by Digital_Mantra [

Challenge], rated by RealRed on Apr 19, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

Hard as FUCK, long as FUCK, frustrating as FUCK, enemies are dangerous as FUCK, and the big comlexicatedc DMan structures are cool as FUCK. Only play it if you're good as FUCK and determined as FUCK.

Limit by Sin [

Unknown], rated by RealRed on Apr 19, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

Seemingly great, this one is an old goodie.
The level aesthetics are pretty solid, but this hack is overly punishing.
I had to hack the game to complete it and fully enjoy it.
A valuable gem that somehow broke itself. Perhaps someday someone will piece it together?

Volta by FirePhoenix [

Incomplete], rated by RealRed on Apr 21, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

Fucking rock-solid level design cut short by having not been finished. Shame...

Super Metroid: Golden Dawn by Black Telomeres [

Exploration], rated by RealRed on Apr 21, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

Eugh. Play Dependence instead.

'Roidz by DemickXII [

Improvement], rated by RealRed on May 02, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

Not the first or the last of its kind but it sure looks nice.

Screwed And Chopped by InsomniaDX [

Unknown], rated by RealRed on May 02, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

Unfinished but strangely fun. The environments are empty and eerie, beams fire like miniguns, and exploring is super open-ended. One of the more inspiring hacks, I think.

I Wanna Be The Metroid by Maxg26 [

Challenge], rated by RealRed on May 02, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

lol

AngryFireChozo by DSO [

Quick Play], rated by RealRed on May 10, 2015 (

)

No completion stats.

It's just really fucking tedious.

Project Base 0.8.1 by begrimed [

Improvement], rated by RealRed on Jun 07, 2015 (

)

100% in 3:00

Project Base.

The accumulation of years worth of community resources combined with Grime's sheer love and dedication to the greatest game ever made.

This project nspired me to make Hyper Metroid with it's lush worlds, beautiful palettes, and endless supply of new abilities for Samus. It's just that good.

Super Metroid Clocktoberfest by Aran;Jaeger, moehr [

Exploration], rated by RealRed on May 13, 2020 (

)

No completion stats.

Quality is a bit too uneven. New music is cool, but it's often bad. Castlevania memes are fun, but is this the time or place? Unchanged elements from super metroid elements take away from overall concept, making it feel incomplete.

Metroid - Rogue Dawn by Grimlock, Optomon, snarfblam [

Exploration], rated by RealRed on May 13, 2020 (

)

No completion stats.

This hack is awesome. Congratulations Grimlock.
I've had the opportunity to work on this project. The degree of professionalism he has brought to enhancing the original game is unmatched.

So Little Garden by MetroidMst [

Exploration], rated by RealRed on May 13, 2020 (

)

No completion stats.

So little garden features an interesting mix of content of concepts. The varying quality of audio and visual from ripped sources, however can quickly change experiences from sublime to jarring.

V I T A L I T Y by Digital_Mantra [

Exploration], rated by RealRed on Oct 17, 2020 (

)

15% in 2:27

Vitality is the culmination of over a decade of Digital Mantra learning, practicing, and most of all, dedicating himself to refining his levels and his unique visual style.
It boasts a level of visual storytelling that doesn't exist in other fangames. On top of that, it manages to do so within a well balanced and fun set of Super Metroid levels.

As vanilla as it tends to be, we may never get another release like this one.

Retroid by ProjectXVIII [

Unknown], rated by RealRed on Feb 18, 2022 (

)

57% in 1:23

it's the closest you'll get to M1 in SM. to be honest, it's pretty fun. there are a few deviations from metroid, but the enemy halls are well intact, and you won't get trashed as hard. also, the forum has some hilarious reading material with some balding individual losing his marbles over my appreciation for the hack. pretty good stuff overall

Metroid: Desolation by jasinchen [ MZM

Exploration], rated by RealRed on Mar 29, 2023 (

)

100% in 9:02

This is basically the Vitality of Metroid Zero Mission. It doesn't follow any of the rules of the original game. It has eye catching new visuals, satisfying story, and a good mix of music. There are a few oddball rooms with ridiculous tricks to be performed, but they're optional so I don't give a shit.

Play this hack.
And that means play Imago mode too.

Username:
Password: