june gloom on 17/5/2010 at 04:40
Just so you know it's spelled Aquaria. You've been playing it all this time and you don't know how to spell it?
Aquaria is basically Metroid meets Ecco, if you want to be crude. Treat it like Metroid in that if you can't get to something, you will never be able to, so explore elsewhere for the time being.
Also be prepared for some tough boss fights.
Chade on 17/5/2010 at 05:02
Heh, that's what I get for hammering out my posts in such a hurry.
How difficult are the boss fights compared to the nautilus at the start? Cos he was a bitch. (In fact, I couldn't defeat him at all untill I picked up a rock to shield myself.)
june gloom on 17/5/2010 at 05:41
Methinks you need more practice because he was one of the easiest. Some of the bosses are infuriating, particularly the final boss. A few bosses are essentially extra-large versions of smaller enemies, like the Nautilus; the rest are fairly unique. Perhaps the most difficult boss is the Jellyfish boss, which is fortunately optional.
Chade on 17/5/2010 at 05:54
Ah well, looks like things should get interesting, then! I have pretty much no experience with this sort of game.
june gloom on 17/5/2010 at 06:02
Never played Metroid before? ;)
d0om on 17/5/2010 at 09:46
Sounds like are you in the same place as me in Aquaria, but after unsuccessfully trying to explore the abyss by coaxing a light-fish to follow me by singing to it and having it eaten by a monster I couldn't see trapping me in pitch-blackness I think I'm not supposed to go that way yet!
I try going straight up as soon as you get into the open waters, you should find a kelp forest zone which you can complete and rewards you with a new form.
Aquaria is maybe slightly too open-ended at that point, I had to explore for ages before I found something I could do!
Also, pro-tip: you can use the wasd to move while aiming with the mouse. I found that much easier than trying to move and aim with the mouse.
Chade on 17/5/2010 at 11:06
Quote Posted by dethtoll
Never played Metroid before? ;)
Nope. No consoles. :(
june gloom on 17/5/2010 at 14:49
Can't say anything for the Prime series (only the first one's any good anyway) but you can still play the rest quite handily.
If nothing else, give Super Metroid a play, it's easily, easily the best Metroid ever and the best SNES game ever.
d0om on 17/5/2010 at 15:06
I have to second super metroid recommendation, its awesome.
I liked the game boy one too, which is also very good. (But not as polished as super metroid, no map can make for a rather frustrating experience with the stop/start nature of a portable game.) Its great fun seeing all the Metroid life-cycle as you delve deeper into the depths of their planet though.
I played one of the GBA ones, Metroid X (or possibly fusion) I think? Its set last in the series (set just after super metroid) and introduces a new enemy called the X parasite from the Metroids' home planet which has now got out of control since you exterminated the Metroids, which used to keep them in check.
It is very similar to super metroid, but its perhaps TOO polished. It has not only a map, but also a remote commander SS1/2 style telling you where to go and what to do. This means you are rarely unsure where you should be going or what you should be doing which you would think might be a good thing, but it removes the exploration aspect and ends up cheapening the game I think. I enjoyed it, but not as much as super metroid.
june gloom on 17/5/2010 at 15:26
Metroid Fusion. A lot of people complained about it being semi-linear and kinda handholdy (the remake of the original, Zero Mission, is worse) but I found it a very enjoyable game and honestly kinda scary at times.
As to Metroid 2, despite there being no map it's actually quite linear in that your progress is mostly blocked by lava- once you clear a section by destroying the local Metroids the lava sinks and you're able to continue. The map largely goes in a clockwise loop with your ship, the starting point, being 12:00 and the final boss being roughly 10:00.
Actually, thinking about it...
Okay, they all follow the same timeline, Metroid Fusion chronologically occurs after Super Metroid, which is after Metroid 2, etc., right? (Ignoring the Prime series for now- I think that takes place before 2 anyway.)
But, in terms of how the game progresses, Super Metroid is a sequel to Metroid 1, not 2; and Fusion follows in the vein of 2, which meant it wasn't the Super Metroid sequel everyone was pissing themselves over. M1 and SM are largely non-linear, at least in the sense that you have to find out the hard way you can't open that door or swim through that lava, etc. whereas there is a logical progression to Metroid 2 and Metroid Fusion.
Another thing to consider:
Metroid/Super Metroid both take places on Zebes.
Metroid 2 takes place on SR388, SR388 plays a role in Metroid Fusion's plot in that it's where the X came from.
There is also a definite horror aspect to Metroid 2 and (especially) Metroid Fusion that's not really present in Metroid 1/Super Metroid. Metroid 1/Super Metroid were about exploring, Metroid 2/Metroid Fusion were about surviving.
