I like games. All kinds of games: indies, JRPGs, platformers, FPS thingies, you name it!

Feel free to ask my anything on Retoidded. The more videogame related it is, the more likely I'll respond <3

Proof: https://twitter.com/DtoidChris/status/318768673563230208

So this one is going to be pretty short, but I just had to share it with you guys.

After working like crazy at PAX East this weekend, getting my hands on every game I could, I came back to an AMAZING surprise -- my wife and mother-in-law completely gutted and redecorated my gaming closet!



For reference, this medium sized closet had a ton of shelves on the wall (where Mega Man is battling Bomb Man) which were all removed, and replaced with bookshelves. My wife knows that I like to categorize all of my major franchises, so she made sure to buy ones that had lots of different sections on them.





As you can see, Ni No Kuni and Demon's/Dark Souls have already found new homes. There's still a few more finishing touches to do, as most of the other Robot Masters from Mega Man 1 still need to go up (and I've only moved around a third of my collection into this room), but man am I happy right now!

[Read on for a description of every Splinter Cell game ever released in the US, and my completion of them all in 2013.]

2013 is going to be an exciting year. Now that I know you guys enjoy reading my Quests, I'm going to make an effort to do even more of them from here on out.

I hope that you guys have learned a bit about the franchises I've covered so far, as my plan is to inspire others to share their thoughts and feelings with the series of their choice as well (which many of you have done!).

In addition to Metroid, Mega Man Classic, The Elder Scrolls, Mega Man X, and the Mega Man Spinoffs, I also have another one ready to go for 2013: Splinter Cell.

Why Splinter Cell?

I was always intrigued by the Splinter cell series. Michael Ironside's incredible performance over the span of the entire franchise helped, but for the most part, it's the top notch gameplay and cutting edge aesthetics that put me over the edge.

My love of stealth games is incredibly obvious, having played every Tenchu and Metal Gear game ever (among many more), and Splinter Cell can easily be lumped into that group of quality stealth titles. Plus, with Blacklist coming out this year, now is as good a time as ever to take on Sam Fisher.

If you haven't joined me on my Quests before, the way they work is pretty simple. It's kind of like a retrospective, but rather than just give you an overview of a franchise, I'll generally let you know what I thought of the game when it was released, and what I think of it now.

If I didn't provide a complete vision of what the game is like before I replay it, I'll provide an "extended thoughts" section below each applicable entry. I'll update my progress in real time through my blog, and after I finish the entire Quest, I'll share it with you guys on the front page.



Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - PlayStation 2 [Owned], PlayStation 3 (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy HD), PC, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance [Owned], Mac OSX, N-Gage

The original Splinter Cell was a pretty unassuming release. I was a big fan of Tom Clancy properties beforehand (Rainbow Six), so the "TC" name kind of piqued my interest a bit, admittedly, whereas I probably would have given the initial release a pass. But after diving in, I was hooked.

Like the Thief series, Splinter Cell brought "light and dark" elements to the forefront. With the insanely detailed lighting physics compliments of the Unreal Engine 2, it made gameplay that much more immersive, and there's nothing more badass than a stealth-fiend who lives in the shadows.

Protagonist Sam Fisher's signature tri-eyed goggles were also incredibly cool, and helped catapult the game ahead as more than just a "generic spy thriller" aesthetic.

Like the early Resident Evil series, combat is not encouraged, and the lack of firearm utilization is the key to success. Non-lethal weapons such as ring airfoils and shockers were a large part of Sam's arsenal, which helped mix up gameplay a bit.

I've also never beaten the Game Boy Advance version of the game before, which I'll be playing here in addition to the original game.

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - PlayStation 2 [Owned], PlayStation 3 (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy HD), PC, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance [Owned]

I was hooked in already after the first game, so naturally, I was there for Pandora Tomorrow day one. This time around the game was developed by Ubisoft Shanghai, as Ubisoft Montreal was already working on the third game (which shows how successful the first game was).

Although gameplay wasn't really changed that much this time around outside of the adaptive AI (Sam can shoot upside down, and other small mechanics), it was still a great entry in the series, and one of the best reviewed stealth games of all time. An additional multiplayer mode would also be incorporated, but it wouldn't be fully realized until Chaos Theory.

As is the case with the first game, I will also be playing the 2D Game Boy Advance version of Pandora Tomorrow, which I've never beaten before in addition to the original.

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - PlayStation 2 [Owned], PlayStation 3 (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy HD), PC, Xbox, GameCube, DS, 3DS [Owned]

The Splinter Cell series would once again get a bump in lightning and get some graphical upgrades that would make the experience much more aesthetically pleasing, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Sam would now have to monitor not only the lighting of his surroundings, but his noise level as well. This would be extra imperative, because the AI was improved, but Sam had a few extra tricks up his sleeve to deal with them (such as a new combat knife, and enhanced weaponry options). The Optically Channeled Potentiator (OCP) was especially useful, as it allowed you to disable cameras and other electronics simply by pointing at them.

Also, that multiplayer mode I casually mentioned in Pandora Tomorrow? In Chaos Theory, it's fully fleshed out, and it's incredible. On top of the already solid seven mission long coop mode (featuring Agent One and Two), there's the vastly improved upon Spies vs. Mercenaries mode, which pits Shadownet against ARGUS, both of which feature two vastly different playstyles.

I found myself and my group of friends favoring one group over the other, which would lead to a MAG-like favoritism of factions. Spies are more mobile, but must kill their prey through stealth. Mercs are more headstrong and aren't as limber, but they can kill Spies with reckless abandon, at both close and long range.

Multiplayer wise, Spies vs. Mercs was one of the most fun things I've ever experienced in all of gaming, and Chaos Theory is probably the series highlight for me.



Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Essentials - PSP [Owned]

I don't remember a whole lot about Essentials -- probably because it was a "here today gone tomorrow" PSP game that felt a bit broken at the time.

Given how great the first three games were, this is kind of a disappointment to see a "flashback" game given this little care by Ubisoft's development staff. In fact, it probably explains why there hasn't been a core portable Splinter Cell game in six years (Double Agent was ported to mobile platforms, and Conviction was ported to iOS and Android).

Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing what this can bring to the table: good or bad.

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent - PlayStation 2 [Owned], PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox 360 [Owned], GameCube, Wii

Double Agent was a vast departure for the Splinter Cell series, for better or worse. The "seventh generation" versions of the game featured a wholly new engine that didn't feel like the first three games, and the gritty "double agent" storyline was a vast departure from the shadowy feel of the series.

To go along with the nature of the title, Sam could opt to side with the NSA or the JBA, depending on how you want the game to progress. Choosing one side over the other would change your weapon loadout, and your ending.

This is also one of the most confusing releases of all time. Strangely enough, the 360/PS3/PC versions are different than the Xbox/PS2/Wii versions -- Splinter Cell Conviction confirms that the 360/PS3/PC versions are canon. The development between these games was split between Ubisoft Shanghai and Montreal, just like the first two games.

I wasn't a big fan of Double Agent when it was released, so lets see if a fresh playthrough changes my mind.

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction - Xbox 360 [Owned], PC, Mac OSX, iOS

After becoming a bit jaded by Double Agent, I was cautious of Conviction -- thankfully, my caution was unfounded, and I ended up loving the game. Although a fair amount of people weren't happy with the more action-oriented gameplay, I found the changes welcome, and a great way to introduce people to the Splinter Cell series.

The "Mark & Execute" mechanic, which allowed players to tag enemies or objects and pew pew them in rapid succession may have made the game a bit easier, but it was a ton of fun to actually utilize.

The "Last Known Position" mechanic creates a ghost of Sam, and shows players where the AI thinks they were located last. Again, this makes the game easier, but the mechanic itself is very well done, and very cool to watch in action. Visually, Conviction is also very impressive to look at, and is a more significant upgrade than Double Agent was (given that DA was essentially an upscaled Xbox/PS2 game for the 360 and PS3).

Multiplayer was also incredibly rewarding, as it focused almost entirely on coop -- even if the Spies vs. Mercenaries mode was nowhere to be found.

In an odd turn of events, Conviction is not available on the PS3 in any form, despite the fact that every other game in the entire franchise (including 2013's Blacklist) is available on a Sony platform.



Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist - Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC

I honestly have no idea what to expect from Blacklist, especially given the fact that Ironside is not returning to voice Sam (the reason given is because Ironside is unable to perform motion capture stunts), and the addition of possibly meaningless Kinect integration.

Still, I'm eager to see how the franchise can evolve, and the "Spy Vs. Mercs" mode will return, which could shake the multiplayer scene up in a big way if it succeeds.

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Collection Photo:

Final thoughts:

Hamza did it. Kyle is doing it. Brett, Holmes and Allistair are doing it. Heck, your mom is doing it. Everyone's making a top game list!

So I'll make one.

Of course, the hardest part is narrowing down all of the amazing games. This was kind of hard guys, because I played over 126 games. Yep, at least 126 games that I can recall when chronicling the mega year I had in gaming, and distilling it down to a few scant choices.

As for the year itself, 2012 was a great time to be a gamer. A lot of retro-only fans like to note how each year is increasingly worse for the gaming industry due to the over-saturation of AAA games. I heavily disagree. There are so many portables, consoles, indies, and big budget games each year, there's literally something for everyone.

Whether you're a fan of AAA or niche games, there's probably something anyone can enjoy in my top list of 2012.



The Walking Dead

There's really not much I can say that hasn't been said already. The Walking Dead by Telltale is my personal Game of the Year choice.

Despite some issues with Telltale in the past (the Wallace and Gromit games were alright, and Jurassic Park was pretty horrid), I feel like they've trumped their better previous efforts by far (Sam and Max), and they incorporated elements of all of their past games, and then some into TWD.

Coupled with amazing performances all around, I can hardly believe this game was sold digitally by a non-blockbuster studio/publisher. I even cried a few times, which pretty much never happens to me in a video game.

Great show, Telltale.



XCOM: Enemy Unknown

I was a casual fan of X-COM as a young child. Despite its complexity, there was something that really called to me as a strategy game fan.

Thankfully, XCOM not only lives up to the legacy of the old series, but it also incorporates many streamlined elements that newcomers will find extremely welcome.

Who can forget building bases for hours on end, without ever entering a mission? Or the nerve wracking decisions like choosing which countries to save, and which to plunge into peril?

The crux of my enjoyment from XCOM comes from one simple principle: you can't save everything, and nothing is permanent. Strangely, it made for one fun game and one of the best experiences of 2012 by far.

Also, who could forget putting your loved one into the game, only to have them blasted into oblivion a few hours later?



Halo 4

I was hesitant to get Halo 4 at launch. Despite the fact that I had a strong history with Halo as a Halo 1 and 2 tourney goer, I had a really negative experience with 3, and ODST and Reach really didn't do it for me.

I'm glad I listened to my friends and picked up Halo 4 at launch, because it was worth it. Everything feels new, yet classic, and developer 343 Studios really took the series by the horns and improved it.

I really felt like Bungie was getting too content, and continually making the series stale with each entry: 343's hunger bled into my experience with the game, and I loved it.



Spelunky

My wife and I play a lot of games together. But sometimes, developers design games that are too frustrating, or time consuming for her to get involved.

Spelunky, despite being one of the most difficult games of 2012, enamored my wife. There's something about the idea of jumping into a giant, sprawling cave together and forging our own adventures together that completely made her forget about how controller-throwingly hard it was.

We would spend hours cave crawling, figuring out new tactics together, and how to tackle every situation in the game. Weeks later, we were masters. You know what? It was all thanks to the amazing design choices of the developers.

Like Demon's and Dark Souls, Spelunky makes you learn the game, and gives you the tools to do it. It doesn't hold your hand, and I loved it for it.



Gravity Rush

I really didn't know what to expect from Gravity Rush, but I was blown away. Kat, the game's heroine, was one of the most likable characters in all of gaming. Period.

People who want more positive female role models in gaming need to look no further than characters like Kat. I sincerely hope she becomes a staple mascot of the Sony brand going forward, because I loved sharing my adventure with her.

My love for Kat aside, the game was augmented with an amazing soundtrack, a beautiful open world setting, incredible art design, and fun gameplay.

Even if combat was lacking at times (it's like the developers felt like they needed to put in combat in some portions), this was one of my favorite games of 2012, and I still go back to it from time to time.



Xenoblade Chronicles

I used to play at least a few JRPGs a month back in my heyday -- I ate them up like candy. 20, 40, 60 hours? No problem -- bring 'em on.

But as a I grew up, I became disenfranchised with longer games -- especially if they were sloppily put together, and had bad, outdated mechanics.

Xenoblade changed all that. It was a JRPG for western RPG fans. Why no one had really done this as well as Xenoblade had done it before, I have no idea.

Somehow, it perfectly captured that whimsical feeling that I experienced so many times late at night staying up playing JRPGs, and then some. If you have a Wii, this is required reading.



Dust: An Elysian Tale

The often referred to genre of "Metroidvania" really isn't well represented these days. Outside of the occasional release like Shadow Complex, fans of the genre really don't get their fill.

Dust was basically a labor of love by one developer, and it scratches that itch entirely. I loved exploring random nooks and crannies, and engaging in the well made combat system, while challenging myself with the fairly amazing difficulty curve.

I just had to go play Super Metroid afterwards, and I owe it to Dust for letting me return to the golden age of 2D open world games.



Asura's Wrath

If you were ever disappointed by a Dragon Ball Z game and were left wanting more, you need to buy Asura's Wrath. Despite the fact that the game is mostly comprised of QTEs, Asura's Wrath presents an intriguing, and intoxicating narrative that you'll want to play out until the end.

It's like a giant anime episode that you get to play, and at times, if you jack up the difficulty, it can get really challenging (I LOVED the DLC Akuma boss fight on Hard).

Some people feel like Capcom's decision to sell the "real ending" as DLC is sleazy. If I had picked up the game at launch for full price, and had to wait for it, I would probably agree.

But getting the game months down the line for under $20 was a different experience entirely. I really, really liked Asura's Wrath, and it's a game that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life. If you like over the top anime, you need this game -- it'll put a smile on your face, guaranteed.



Sine Mora

What a surprise! Like our own Allistair P., I'm a huge fan of shoot 'em ups, and I can't get enough of them (specifically bullet hell).

Sine Mora delivered and more, as the developers were not only able to create a solid core shmup that plays great, but they also presented a well crafted, intriguing, and sometimes shocking narrative to boot.

Where else can you get a game where you're stopping time to dodge bullets, and dealing with substance and sexual abuse in the next moment?



Rock Band Blitz

What?! A rhythm game in my top ten? Yep, there were a ton of great rhythm games this year, but Rock Band Blitz takes the cake for me. The ability to incorporate your whole library of Rock Band songs is amazing, as is the fact that the game comes with songs that can be imported into Rock Band 3.

The scoring system is practically perfect, and the way Harmonix was able to incorporate social gaming into an asynchronous game was nothing short of brilliant.

I loved being able to compare and contrast my scores with fellow staff members, and Conrad's amazingness at the game left me with many long nights trying to play catch up.



Honorable mentions:

This is going to be lengthy, because I feel like there are a lot of phenomenal 2012 games that deserve credit.

Borderlands 2, Mass Effect 3, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Darksiders II, Sleeping Dogs, Mark of the Ninja, Fez, Crashmo, Rhythm Thief, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Rayman Jungle Run, Hotline Miami, Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Retro City Rampage, Rhythm Heaven Fever, New Super Mario Bros. 2, New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land.

[Read on for a description of every main series Elder Scrolls game ever released in the US, and my completion of them all in 2013.]

2013 is going to be an exciting year. Now that I know you guys enjoy reading my Quests, I'm going to make an effort to do even more of them from here on out.

I hope that you guys have learned a bit about the franchises I've covered so far, as my plan is to inspire others to share their thoughts and feelings with the series of their choice as well (which many of you have done!).

In addition to Metroid and Mega Man Classic, I also have another one ready to go for 2013: Elder Scrolls.

Why The Elder Scrolls?

Morrowind. Yep. Morrowind.

As I stated in my blog, the third entry in The Elder Scrolls saga is one of my favorite games of all time, and cemented my love for the series. No other open world game has replicated what Morrowind did for me.

In honor of that fantastic feeling, I'll be replaying every game in the franchise.

Yes, the first two series entries, Arena and Daggerfall, are fairly dated. But since I grew up on Wizardry, Kings Field, and many more classic dungeon crawlers, I think I'm up for the task. It also makes it easier knowing that the first two games are absolutely free on Bethesda's website.

For this Quest, I'll beat the main story of each game, and keep playing other content as I see fit. Since there are only five games in the core series, I'll be completing every bit of DLC to elongate the third, fourth, and fifth games.

I expect the first two to take quite a while, regardless of the lack of DLC. I'm also including The Elder Scrolls Online, which could also take up a lot of time to complete the main questline. I'll include extended thoughts on each game after I play them, since open world titles tend to provide you with different experiences every time.

If you haven't joined me on my Quests before, the way they work is pretty simple. It's kind of like a retrospective, but rather than just give you an overview of a franchise, I'll generally let you know what I thought of the game when it was released, and what I think of it now.

If I didn't provide a complete vision of what the game is like before I replay it, I'll provide an "extended thoughts" section below each applicable entry. I'll update my progress in real time through my blog, and after I finish the entire Quest, I'll share it with you guys on the front page.

Onward!



The Elder Scrolls: Arena - PC [Owned]

DLC: None

Size of map: Undetermined, due to instanced design

Although it was far from the first RPG (that was about 20 years earlier), Arena came out the same year as the first King's Field game, cementing it into a gold age of PC RPGs.

Arena is unique in that you can explore all of Tamriel, and not just one or two areas -- Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim are all at your fingertips, provided you can handle the dated visuals.

Speaking of the ability to explore everywhere, the way Arena handled the map is kind of odd. The map itself isn't a continuous, connected world -- it's actually instanced. You have to use fast travel to go between towns, so it's very hard to determine the exact size of the world map.

Like Daggerfall, the game is randomly generated. I hope it holds up somewhat!

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The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall - PC [Owned]

DLC: None

Size of map: approximately 487,000 square kilometers

Daggerfall is a classic RPG game, through and through. It provides a number of graphical and engine enhancements over Arena, and starts to follow a more traditional Elder Scrolls formula that would help define the series in the years to come.

You could become a vampire, werewolf, and wereboar (the former two would be implemented in nearly every subsequent game), and the political system was incredibly well done, and pretty much unprecedented at the time.

The game was also controversial at the time as an M rated game, as it showed lots of blood, nudity, and had sexual dialogue (which could be removed through parental controls in the options -- remember those, PC gamers?).

Unlike Arena though, you weren't free to explore all of Tamriel. Instead, you were stuck with High Rock and Hammerfell, although the game is so large, that Morrowind is suggested to be 0.01% the size of Daggerfall's map.

Bethesda jumped through this hurdle by randomly generating most of the map, although that caveat makes it bigger than pretty much every game ever made outside of possibly EVE Online. The sheer scale of the game is so unimaginable that it basically isn't possible today.

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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Xbox [Owned], Xbox (Game of the Year Edition) [Owned], PC [Owned]

DLC: Tribunal [Owned], Blood Moon [Owned]

Size of map: approximately 25.9 square kilometers

What couldn't I say about Morrowind that hasn't been said already? The vast plains, the amazing mushroom forests, the detailed ruins and keeps -- it pretty much trumped every single open world game ever released at that point, and the fact that they were able to cram it onto an Xbox disc is nothing short of amazing.

I spent well over 300 hours on one character just exploring, crafting items, and making up my own quests (this is with zero time spent on the main quest). Speaking of crafting, while some may say it breaks the game, the ability to create pretty much any item or spell increased the game's enjoyment tenfold.

I was able to spend hours creating spells like "Cure, Cura, and Curaga," as well as a "Mario Jump" spell that allowed me to leap hundreds of feet into the air. You could levitate, craft "The One Ring of Invisibility," -- anything. If you could imagine it, you could probably do it in Morrowind.

The one major detractor from the game is the fact that it hasn't aged well. Without a solid texture pack on the PC, you'll probably feel the burn of jagged, dated visuals.

While I don't think Tribunal was anything to write home about, Blood Moon rocked, and I'll be doing both for this Quest.

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - PC, PS3, PS3 (Game of the Year Edition), Xbox 360 [Owned], Xbox 360 (Game of the Year Edition)

DLC: Knights of the Nine [Owned], Shivering Isles [Owned], Mehrune's Razor [Owned]

Size of map: approximately 41.4 square kilometers

Oblivion, I felt, had a much less interesting world, and premise, than any other TES game before it. There's something about the plain feeling of Cyrodil that just didn't resonate with me.

While the trademark sidequests had some pretty great storylines, the main quest was probably the weakest and most repetitive yet. The gist is that you're constantly trying to seal "Oblivion Gates" to prevent evil forces from bursting through into Tamriel.

The problem is, the Oblivion realm is dreadfully boring, and Bethesda tends to re-use assets and even layouts so often, that it really takes away from the allure of the game.

That "samey" feel kind of projects itself onto the game in general, actually. Unlike the previous games (Morrowind especially), sometimes it's hard to discern where you are unless you look at your map. For me, that's not a hallmark of an Elder Scrolls game in the slightest. Contrary to popular belief, Oblivion's map is actually larger than Morrowind.

Still, while I think Oblivion isn't a great Elder Scrolls game, it's a pretty solid RPG that pretty much every fan should experience at least once.

I'll also be adding on the fairly short and lackluster Knights of the Nine and Mehrune's Razor questlines, as well as the incredibly detailed, and amazing Shivering Isles expansion.

To be frank actually, Shivering Isles comes close to Morrowind's greatness and originality, and judged seperately as its own game, is probably one of the strongest Elder Scrolls titles.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - PC, PS3, Xbox 360 [Owned]

DLC: Dawnguard [Owned], Hearthfire [Owned], Dragonborn [Owned]

Size of map: approximately 40.0 square kilometers

Skyrim immediately grabbed me more than Oblivion ever did, basically within the first hour. Although Bethesda just substituted green plains for snow (which also got old sometimes), the "dragon" hook gave the game markedly more character right off the bat.

The concept of a "dragonborn" hero that actually feels heroic, and the mere fact that dragons constantly patrol the skies made for a much more interesting, and fun game.

As always, the sidequests were much more fun than the particularly drab main questline, but I probably wouldn't have it any other way, as a few of the sidequests had better narratives than full retail titles.

Although I think Bethesda could have done better, Skyrim is still quite an amazing game, and a great gateway into the Elder Scrolls series. In addition to the rather short main quest, I'll be playing every expansion released for the game to date, and will update this Quest should any more DLC surface.

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The Elder Scrolls Online - PC

Size of map: Unknown

I have no idea what to expect from The Elder Scrolls Online. In some ways, I can see it ending up like my Old Republic experience: getting to max level, enjoying the story, then promptly quitting. In another breath, I can see the vast lands of Tamriel in glorious HD, and not just restricted to Morrowind, Cyrodiil, or Skyrim.

Subscription based models are pretty tough to run these days in tandem with Blizzard, but given the prestige of the series, I can see them trying it initially. We'll see what 2013 brings, but honestly, I'm just excited at the idea of being able to see Summerset Isles close up.

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Hi-Res

Final thoughts:

[Read on for a description of every Metroid game ever released in the US, and my completion of them all in 2013.]

As 2012 comes to a close, I really enjoyed my opportunity to tackle every Resident Evil, Tony Hawk, Kingdom Hearts, and Wario game ever.

But 2013 is a new year, and that means more opportunities to rediscover and relearn entire franchises. Right now I'm looking at starting off 2013 with Metroid and Kirby, with a potential Castlevania Quest to follow.

I'm outright stating "potential" Quest here because that would be pretty damn daunting. There are over 30 games in the franchise, so even with my usual "USA only" restrictions, it would still be in the neighborhood of 20 games -- a bulk of them following the lengthy RPG model.

Either way, stay tuned, and feel free to recommend anything else you have in mind below in the comments!

Why Metroid?

The original Metroid, Metroid II, and Super Metroid were among my first ever gaming experiences. Although they were years part, and on completely different systems, I felt like they all added to my growth as a gaming enthusiast.

They all taught me how to observe my surroundings at all times, which would come in handy for Demon's and Dark Souls years later. They instructed me on the art of cartography, and helped me understand world maps and minimaps for years to come in various RPGs and MMOs.

They also helped my twitch skills, which would come in handy for my competitive FPS days. But most of all, they allowed me to escape to another world whenever I needed them to, because it wasn't hard to get sucked into a Metroid game.

A really cool factoid about the Metroid series is the realization that there were never more than two Metroid games for any given console or handheld. A true testament to how the series never truly feels over-saturated.

If you haven't joined me on my Quests before, the way they work is pretty simple. It's kind of like a retrospective, but rather than just give you an overview of a franchise, I'll generally let you know what I thought of the game when it was released, and what I think of it now.

If I didn't provide a complete vision of what the game is like before I replay it, I'll provide an "extended thoughts" section below each applicable entry. I'll update my progress in real time through my blog, and after I finish the entire Quest, I'll share it with you guys on the front page.



Metroid - NES [Owned], Game Boy Advance, Virtual Console, 3DS eShop [Owned]

The concept of granting players permanent upgrades is not a standard mechanic back then. Most games relegated themselves to temporary, fleeting power-ups -- but not Metroid.

Getting the Morph Ball and the Screw Attack were a life changing experience. You actually felt like you were achieving something permanent as you went on your journey with Samus. Another cool aspect of the game is the fact that you essentially "level up" by beating bosses to extend your ammo count, and finding Energy Tanks to increase your HP.

In addition to the sprawling open world map, Metroid also introduced a concept that was fairly unknown to the gaming world, intended or not: sequence breaking.

In a nutshell, sequence breaking is the idea of going to areas "you're not supposed to go to yet" in order to progress through the game, and/or locate new items. This concept would be perfectly realized in Super Metroid, and would slowly cease to exist as game design progressed into more complicated overworlds.

I'll fully admit: even though I play this game regularly, it has not aged well. Those who want to experience Samus' initial outing will most likely want to spring for Zero Mission, which is a re-imagining of the canon, and a remake of the first game.



Metroid II: Return of Samus - Game Boy, 3DS eShop [Owned]

Return of Samus was an odd game indeed. In fact, it's potentially the strangest (and most confusing) game in the entire franchise. Part of the reason is due to the small screen of the original brick Game Boy, among many other facets like a confusing world map, samey looking areas, and more vexing design choices.

Even still, hunting down Metroids was both scary, and fun. You basically spend the entire game hunting various incarnations of Metroids, which gives it a distinct survival horror feeling to it, that isn't as easily replicated throughout the franchise.

There are two new weapons (the "spread-like" Spazer Beam and the Plasma Beam), and new moves like the Space Jump, which allowed you to jump to an infinite degree, or the Spider Ball, which allows Samus to attach to walls. You also start with the Morph Ball, which is a nice touch to provide some continuity from the first game.

As a funny bit of trivia, there were technical difficulties that led to the redesign of Samus' Power and Varia suits. In the original game, these two suits were differentiated by color; seeing as that wasn't an option on the monochrome Game Boy, the Varia suit was updated with rounded shoulders.

Years later, developer Nintendo R&D1 would help create the Game Boy Color -- a device that would have basically solved this issue -- had Metroid II Color not been cancelled.



Super Metroid - SNES, Virtual Console [Owned]

I could basically just say "Super Metroid was one of the greatest games ever created," drop the mic, and I know it would satisfy everyone (especially former Destructoid Editor Chad Concelmo). But instead, I should probably talk about why this game is so great.

I still remember the day I got Super Metroid. I remember coming in fairly reserved, as the intro was a bit slow. But once I landed on Planet Zebes, I was utterly hooked. I played it all day long, and even snuck out of bed to play it past my bedtime. It was one of the longest, and earliest gaming marathons I've ever had in my life, and the telling part of this personal story is the fact that I was playing it two weeks later, at about the same frequency.

I would map out my progress, share tips with my friends, and race for that perfect 100% rating. Speed runs; 100% runs; you name it, I ran them. Although there are a myraid of reasons why Super Metroid is one of the best platformers of all time, I'd probably give credit to the vibrant, living and breathing world of Zebes first and foremost.

I mean, my God guys, Zebes is one of the most wondrous video game realms ever designed, and exploring every nook and cranny was a privilege that is rarely replicated even today in my gaming career.

Also, moonwalking.



Metroid Fusion - Game Boy Advance, 3DS eShop Ambassador Program [Owned]

Fusion is yet another solid entry in the series. We're already four games in, and we're still going strong here.

At launch, Fusion was yet again well received by critics and buyers alike, namely due to the drastically new art direction and solid gameplay. If I had to describe it, I would probably call it a portable Super Metroid -- and that's quite the compliment. Because Samus was injected with the Metroid vaccine, it has a real "Alien Resurrection" feel to it, in which she comes full circle with the creatures she once hunted.

There was also a neat little Nintendo extra that involved Metroid Prime GBA<->GameCube functionality, which unlocked the Fusion suit in Prime, and the original Metroid game.

Sadly, the only way to get this outside of tracking down the cart is to obtain it through the now defunct 3DS Ambassador program. Right now, Nintendo has no plans to release the gifted GBA games -- which includes Metroid Fusion.

You also want to know something odd? Every time I think about this game, I think about House M.D. (because Hugh Laurie played it in an episode of House).



Metroid Prime - GameCube, Wii (Metroid Prime: Trilogy) [Owned]

Nintendo could have had a disaster on their hands when they brought Metroid into the 3D realm for the very first time. Coupled with more mature themes and distinct survival horror tones, there was even more of a chance for a disastrous release.

In fact, fans decried the game when it was announced, saying that Nintendo was pandering to the FPS crowd and that the game would be garbage (I totally remember this).

Fortunately, Retro Studios (and producer Shigeru Miyamoto) did right by the franchise -- Metroid Prime took the world by storm. Billed as a "first person adventure" game by Nintendo themselves, Prime wasn't simply an FPS in the raw sense of the term -- it offered a full 3D adventure in the same vein as the King's Field series -- but with that distinct Nintendo charm and polish. Also, the game is canon, and takes place after Metroid, and before Metroid II.

I've only beaten Metroid Prime a few times -- the bulk of which were near launch. Yes, I know, the game is incredible and I should play it more -- but that's what Quests are for, right?

EXTENDED THOUGHTS



Metroid: Zero Mission - Game Boy Advance [Owned]

Zero Mission is criminally underrepresented and underplayed. It's also one of the hardest games in the entire franchise to find, since the only possible way to play it is through tracking down the original cart. This game is prime for a re-release, although the GBA is stuck within this nebulous state right now where Nintendo isn't headlining it on the 3DS VC, so good luck with that.

Anyways, Zero mission is an ace remake of the first game, plain and simple. In fact, I'd say that it's probably the best game in the entire series (besides maybe Super Metroid) to select as a "starting point" for new fans, as it acclimates them to the very start of the storyline, and contains updated gameplay in stark contrast to the admittedly dated original.

Although it is a remake, it does have new items and all new areas to explore, which makes it worth beating in tandem with the original (hence why I'm including it here!). Also, it's the first game ever that features Samus without her suit, and the first time any system ever housed two Metroid games (the GBA had this and Fusion before the GameCube hosted Prime 1 and 2).



Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - GameCube, Wii (Metroid Prime: Trilogy) [Owned]

Prime 2 is probably my least familiar game in the series, and one of the only ones I haven't completed. I don't remember what happened around Prime 2's release, but I was extremely busy, and never really got around to playing it.

While Prime 1 came at the perfect time, when I was hurting for GameCube games, and Prime 3 when I was hurting for Wii games, 2 was always kind of a non-issue for me. So, in 2013, the time of reckoning will come for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and I'd appreciate it if anyone had anything to share on it while I prepare to take it on.

EXTENDED THOUGHTS



Metroid Prime Pinball - Nintendo DS [Owned]

What can I say about this game that couldn't be communicated in the title. It's pinball. It's based on Metroid Prime. It uses the DS' two screens to replicate a full board.

The idea allegedly came along when Kensuke Tanabe, Producer for Nintendo, thought that Mario Pinball Land would be a no-brainer combination with Samus' Morph Ball form. So basically, he was allowed to make a game because of that, and it came with a Rumble Pak (for the first time on the Nintendo DS).

All in all, Prime Pinball is not a bad pinball game. It just isn't much more than that, so don't expect the world of me when I recant my experiences in the section below!

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Yep, it's pinball. Although there are a number of cool minigames inside each pinball machine theme, you've basically seen this before.

Of course, that doesn't mean it's a *bad* pinball game -- it's actually quite good. Everything is very smooth, from the controls to the animations, it's very cheap if you find a used copy, and it works on your 3DS -- what's not to love?



Metroid Prime Hunters - Nintendo DS [Owned]

Hunters is essentially an attempt to replicate the Metroid Prime console experience on a handheld, taking place in between Prime 1 and 2. In many ways, it succeeds -- in other, more obvious ways, it falls short.

One of the key criticisms (myself included in that group) was the control scheme. If it wasn't busy giving you carpal tunnel, it was being finicky. But if you can overcome that hurdle, you'll find a fairly well put together Metroid flavored handheld FPS, with a decent multiplayer mode (with bots!).

Although I never finished Hunters (I had way too much going on in 2006), I'm ready to finally tackle it in 2013 as part of my Quest.

EXTENDED THOUGHTS

Hunters, like Kid Icarus: Uprising feels very weird if you have giant hands, because they can cramp very easily by using the ideal control scheme. But you know what, the controls actually work, and they work well.

But that's not the issue here: the problem is the game feels too bland all around. At times, it doesn't even feel like a Metroid game, which is a huge problem. Sometimes, outside of turning into the morph ball and frolicking around, I completely forgot I was playing as Samus.

I understand what they were trying to do, when they set off to create a portable version of Metroid Prime, but in the end, it's unremarkable.



Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Wii, Wii (Metroid Prime: Trilogy) [Owned]

The Nintendo Wii has officially been out for about six years now. In that entire time, only two Metroid games were released for it, only one of them wasn't polarizing.

Metroid Prime 3 was the golden child of the two. Like the first two Prime games, the press and gamers alike ate it up. Pretty much everyone (myself included) fell in love with the new IR heavy control scheme due to the change in pace, and the mesmerizing visuals.

The voice acting also wasn't terrible like Other M, which made the poor voice work presented in that title all the more strange.

Hell, it's not just the voice acting, or even this game in particular: the entire Metroid Prime series is a collective gem. If you haven't played it, get on it.

The stock game is not that hard to find, but if you're gunning for the limited run Metroid Prime Trilogy, plan on spending at least $70 for just the disc. Luckily, I got it at launch!

EXTENDED THOUGHTS



Metroid: Other M - Wii [Owned]

Other M gets a bum rap. There, I said it.

After nearly six months of listening to people who dumped on the game and taking their word at face value, I finally decided to pick the game up due to a deal I couldn't resist ($20). During the course of that day, I fell in love with the game, despite all of the negative press it had thus far.

You see, Other M has a lot of problems -- but for me, most of them are not gameplay related. Yes, it relegates Samus into an undesirable collection of feminine tropes, and nearly ruins the character.

But personally, I was able to ignore this part of the game by muting every cutscene during the experience, essentially treating it like every other game in the series that has a fairly light narrative.

If you come at it at that angle, it's a much more enjoyable experience. Gameplay wise, the game feels pretty solid, boss fights are extremely fun, and I personally enjoyed the art style quite a bit.

I seriously doubt Team Ninja will have the chance to make an Other M 2. In fact, I wouldn't really want that, as a brand new HD first party/in-house Metroid would make for a much more interesting prospect.

But I still appreciate Other M for what it is. While the Prime trilogy reinvented Samus for a new era, Other M will forever remain, for me, as one of the more interesting games in the franchise -- for better or for worse.

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