zb10948's Ratings and Reviews
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Opposition by mccad [SM Exploration], rated by zb10948 on Dec 22, 2022 (Star Star Star Star Star )
No completion stats.
Not finished yet, gonna rate it 5 stars from the get go.
This is a great romhack as far as map design and graphics and everything. It is unfinished and unpolished but every hack that brings good custom music is an auto star up for me. Regardless of the soundtrack being a compilation of Metroid and Metroidvania songs.
Super Metroid: Subversion by TestRunner and AmoebaOfDoom [SM Exploration], rated by zb10948 on Sep 09, 2022 (Star Star Star Star Star )
No completion stats.
Easily one of the most thorough hacks out there. A project of this scope actually feels hampered by its environment; this is one of the few hacks that would merit a more modern engine and fully original assets, it's good enough to be its own game.


The downsides are just a few. Although the new HUD item is crucial for one part of the game, it is seldom used throughout the rest. The soundtrack is OK, while having a soundtrack is certainly commendable (vanilla sound gets annoying after all these years), but I feel it's not up to par with the rest.
Metroid: Desolation by jasinchen [MZM Exploration], rated by zb10948 on Mar 31, 2023 (Star Star Star Star Star )
69% in 4:10
There is one big deficiency of this hack. Although story driven with multiple endings, it's clear halfway through the first run you'll be searching for items around a typical Metroid map created from MZM, MF and AM2R environments with mixed bosses from ZM and Fusion.

A major disappointment was the suitless phase which is nothing to write home about.

On top of this add using "Environmental Mystery" theme for a complete area. This is really annoying. I had to shut down the sound here on several occasions.
otherRotation by BuggMann [SM Vanilla+], rated by zb10948 on Aug 12, 2022 (Star Star Star Star Star )
90% in 2:50
The hack achieves what it set do to, a modified experience of the vanilla game.

It needs some small polish to get rid of the softlocks around the normal route. Early game, entrance to Climb you can get stuck in kneel pose right away on the ledge if you try jumping forward. You need to carefully move forward. Late game, if you enter Mickey Mouse room from lower side, softlock due to the door remaining grey. So don't enter it by mistake.

The recurring theme is walljumping and everything around it. It presents a tougher but a fresh outlook on the same map. But it is very pervasive, so I wish author enabled respin. There is no skill involved in having to do same walljump antics twice just because you have to open the door from the jump.


Overall a fun hack and a recommended play.