If you're looking for a tough as nails, but highly addictive video game, look no further.
The gameplay is just like Kid Icarus except instead of the past, the future. Metroid takes place on a planet called Zebes where Samus goes to investigate after her starship crashes there. If you've played Metroid: Zero Mission, that is a remake of this game except a lot easier. You can also unlock the classic Metroid in Metroid: Zero Mission and Metroid Prime. The gameplay is like Zero Mission except ZM has added content and items and moves.
At first the controls are a bit stiff because you can't shoot diagonally or jumpup and shoot down. You can crouch but you can only shoot left, right or up. Once you're used to the controls it gets easier. You can also jump and go into morph ball. As you progress you'll find energy tanks to raise your life and missile enhancements. Yes you can use missile for heavy firepower. You can also get bombs and more upgrades more morph ball along with new arm cannons which are very helpful late in the game.
There are some neat bosses to fight like Robot Ridley and Fake Kraid and some others. None of the bosses are too hard but they do involve using a strategy to defeat them. The game is pretty long but there is no save system so you have to use passwords to recover all your items. No matter what you'll start in the first room of the game.
The graphics are good but the environments are a bit too dark and lack detail. Samus looks pretty good and so do the enemies and bosses but the backgrounds are usually just one or two colors. The music is really great and really suits the environments. Like, if you're in an underground place the music is deeper.
Metroid is a game that no NES owner should be without.