This game is as good as people say. It is the best Metroid game. Ever.
Graphics: Believe it or not, they hold up very well today. Everything has some amazing detail to it, especially the bosses. This is one of the best looking 16 bit games ever, easily up there with the likes of Chrono Trigger and A Link to the Past. There are some framerate dips, but it is rare, and you'll likely be too busy admiring the scenery and detail to care. Attacks look flashy, bosses are intimidating, enemies have a strong artistic aspect, and everything looks incredible. 10/ 10
Sound: There is mostly just atmospheric music than full blown music, but it's very well done, and there are a few stand out tunes. The sound effects are very good for the SNES's capabilities. The monsters all sound good, as do the weapons. There are a few weird sounding ones, though. 9/ 10
Story: Um… Samus returns to planet Zebes to eliminate the Metroid scourge once and for all. That's about it. The story is so unimportant, I'm not going to score it, especially since there really is no story.
Gameplay: While Metroid introduced the world to the free roaming 2d sidescoller, but Super Metroid perfected it. From the beginning, you are pretty much given freedom to go where you choose. There are several different areas, all with plentiful secrets and powerups.
For the people who have never played a Metroid game, I'll describe it. Basically, the game is a 2d sidescroller, but instead of going through a level left to right, you can wander around an open map, searching for powerups and bosses to kill. Along the way, you overcome many obstacles, mostly enemies, with the occasional environmental puzzle thrown in. There are several spots with dead ends, so you must find a power up and come back to that spot later. It's a relatively complex formula, at least for the time, but it's extremely polished for this game.
For instance, take the boss battles. There aren't a whole lot (certainly less than in Metroid fusion or the Prime games) but they are very well thought out, and a few are more than a little challenging. The toughest one is definitely Ridley, and he definitely deserves to be Samus's arch nemesis. Actually, in order to get to the last area, you must fight all of the bosses and the way will appear.
The enemies in this game are pretty tough. Just when you get a new item or powerup, a new, tough enemy comes along to try to kill you. Each one has to be defeated in a specific way, and a few of the later ones are very difficult to kill.
The exploration in this game is very rewarding. You either find a new item, boss, or, if you're lucky, a whole new area. The best feeling, however, comes from gaining a new power up. Each one has a very strong feeling of progression. In the beginning of the game, you are weak, and can be killed in a few hits. By the end, you are pretty much a walking death machine. There are some great powerups, with one of the best being the Grapple beam. You can swing from certain blocks, but the mechanic is very well done, and the physics feel spot on. This game also has things like the X ray visor (which reveals secrets), the Space Jump (which, when mastered, can allow you to jump infinitely) and the Speed Booster, which makes you run… well, very fast. There are more, including several beams, (which can be equipped and unequipped) a few jump upgrades, and new suits. It is immensely satisfying to find a new powerup, because that means you can explore more.
This game is fairly challenging. There are even times which are frustrating. However, it is very addictive, and fun to play through. I'm surprised Nintendo hasn't released this with updated visuals and sound, because it is easily the best Metroid game ever. 9/ 10
Super Metroid has many things going for it. Great visuals, good sound, and amazing gameplay. No wonder Castlevania decided to copy this formula. It is very satisfying. This is one of the best games on Virtual Console. If you've got the Wii points, get this game. It has a lot of exploration, a fairly high level of difficulty (but rarely feels unfair. It does have its moments, though) and some good replay value. For completionists, there are a ton of secrets to find. And for people who like to come up with their own challenges, this game can support a speed, minimalist runthrough. (Good luck, though. I can't imagine doing it.) Thanks for reading, and keep on blasting alien scum away!