ironrusty's Hack Reviews - Metroid Construction

Cliffhanger Redux by Digital_Mantra [

Challenge], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Excellent. Yes, it's a challenge, but it kept pushing me to be better. I'm glad I stuck with it and kept exploring.

Super Metroid: Escape II by Hiroishi [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Lots of fun, big world, new technology, inviting but challenging. Secrets! Very good for a first play or subsequent plays. I only have small complaints like the difficulty spike in collecting all items. Closer to a 5 than a 4.

Super Metroid: Subversion by TestRunner and AmoebaOfDoom [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

If one feels the need to gleefully pour oneself into a video game and feel like a kid again, Subversion is the way. There were so many enjoyable moments while hunting through Subversion: distinct areas each with their own vibe, the increase in challenge and dread, the thrill of finding secret passages and items, plus some of the big reveals. All in all, it's tough to top Subversion.

Hyper Metroid by RealRed [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Hyper Metroid kept me coming back for more. While there are some small troubles I have with this hack, it is certainly closer to a 5 than a 4 to me. Great world, good progression, overall enjoyable with a high ceiling for skill.

V I T A L I T Y by Digital_Mantra [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Visually amazing and still technically challenging to a seasoned player while being accessible. One of the greatest.

Super Junkoid by P. Yoshi [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

A different Super Metroid experience, but truly a great one. Disarming playful graphics and items combine with haunting and disturbing themes. It's a coming-of-age tale in the Super Metroid engine. It boats open exploration, with only a few moments where I was left puzzled about why certain paths were closed off. Eventually things opened up for me and I found my way. It was an enjoyable first play that holds up on subsequent plays!

Super Metroid: Ascent by Benox50 [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

One of the greats! The art, ambience, route, and special tech make Ascent a unique and memorable experience.

otherRotation by BuggMann [

Vanilla+], rated by ironrusty on Aug 18, 2022 (

)

100% in 2:59

After having played Rotation, I was excited to try its spiritual successor. Many of the same techniques come into play here, and many of the tweaks that need to happen to certain rooms to traverse them are handled a little differently in otherRotation. Great care has obviously been taken to make sure that the rooms work the way you would EXPECT!

I came into it expecting some tricky tech and satisfying maneuvers. In the end I was fully satisfied and intend to play it some more.

Metroid: The Blue Plague by Nodever2 [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Good visuals and I loved some of the wide-open rooms and areas that kept looping back together. There is some distinct work in honoring the player choices in this hack, which is good. The later progression felt heavy-handed by comparison. Good for a small (contest) hack, and I just wish there was more of it!

Eris by Digital_Mantra [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

A mix of good and great visuals, a fun map to traverse and re-traverse. Did I get stuck? Sure, a few times. I feel like the ending sequence is a highlight.

Super Metroid: Recovery by MetroidNerd#9001 [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

A nice interplay between the familiar and the unexpected. Not too challenging, but got me itching for a second try.

Rotation by SMILEuser96 [

Spoof], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

To think, such a simple premise could create a coherent game experience. Rotation on its own shows off the challenge and has plenty of satisfying moments.

Super Zero Mission by SBniconico [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

I almost gave up on this hack near the beginning until I looked up the way. It has some high notes after that but also a lot of frustration as I tried to get a grip on what I was supposed to do. From a blind play perspective, I would rate this hack low, but from a speedrunning perspective it has plenty of good to carry it.

Super Metroid Arcade : Endless mode by Lioran, Tewtal [

Quick Play], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

An inspiring take on Super Metroid, and it has been fun to see how much people will play this over and over.

Super Metroid Nature by Jefe962 [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Nature hits all the right notes, even if the progression feels a little constraining at times. Very good map and details.

SM - Cryogenesis by Onnyks [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Cool menacing theme and visuals, which in itself almost makes it a 5 for me. Elements related to progression were mostly good and I did feel free to roam in the open world. Sequence breaks are possible but some are difficult, which made me as a player start to doubt and want to turn back - a healthy balance! A downside of this hack is there are just too many cramped areas. A claustrophobic vibe can have its effect, but too much slows down the action. For me, it was a good first play and worth replaying.

Project Base 0.8.1 by begrimed [

Improvement], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

There is a lot to appreciate about project base, but I am still left puzzled about some of the changes. Certainly, the physics engine changes are monumental and influential, but this application of applying them to the original map with the many shortcuts still feels like a step 'on the way' to greatness.

gossamer by neen [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

80% in 7:30

The good: A visual feast with some interesting changes. Once I figured out what to do, I was interested in playing this hack again.

Not so good: Too much time spent suitless underwater. Many room ideas feel disjointed. The physics changes are not an improvement.

Overall: Between a 3 and a 4 for me. My speedrunner brain wants to untwist the labyrinth. My detective brain wants to go find 100%. My rando brain wants to camp out and playground all over this hack.

I forget my exact completion time and percent for my first play, but this is close enough.

Super Metroid: Hotlands by MetroidNerd#9001 [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on May 03, 2023 (

)

% in 1:30

Enjoyed the on-the-rails experience of this hack. Aesthetically, smooth tiling and room designs I've come to expect from MetroidNerd.

Stardust by Tyjet66 [

Quick Play], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

A fine adventure without too much world to wander in.

Super Metroid Exertion by Mentlegen [

Improvement], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

A hack with four suits! Sadly, it's not enough of a playground to show them all off. This hack has some good rooms and good ideas, but feels very constrained by the end.

Super Ethical Metroid by dewhi100 [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Pretty funny moments, retreading familiar ground of Super Metroid.

Oxide by Cyclamen32 [

Exploration], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

I guess I have to choose between if this hack is average or better than average. I'd say it's average. The missiles in this hack are a fun signature. Though there are choices in routing, they are ultimately not significant due to a good portion of the hack being linear. Visually, this hack uses a lot of the original assets, which is fine, but has too many dull platforming moments.

Super Metroid: Pit of 100 Trials by MetroidNerd#9001 [

Challenge], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

Good concept and some nice tweaks to keep this 'linear' hack from forcing the player to simply retread familiar ground.

Unhundred % by ClockwiseUK [

Unknown], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

A good idea and fine execution. It definitely makes you think!

B2-TW by Grime [

Quick Play], rated by ironrusty on Mar 01, 2024 (

)

No completion stats.

An interesting premise, a good attempt, and ultimately I found it more frustrating than not.

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