Super Metroid is really, really, really good

After opening up my Wii and getting some time in on Super Mario Galaxy and Trauma Center: New Blood, I decided to get my classic gaming gears in motion and download some old favorites.

There are a lot of games available for the Wii's download service, the Virtual Console, but not a ton that really light my fire. Except, of course, for Super Metroid.

Now Metroid was great and the Gameboy sequel was very good and also very underrated, but Super Metroid is the shining gem of the classic 2D Metroid games.

Super Metroid moves very fast , which earlier games didn't and quite often, you ached to save the game so you could try and forget about wall jumping your way out of a deep corridor. The puzzles and hidden areas are so much fun to figure out that you constantly seek out places where a bomb might just get you into a whole new area. In fact, the first major boss fight is only accessable at an elevator point by bombing a wall.

One of the standout features of the overall series for me is the fact that there is no buddy or computer telling you what's up. In fact, you don't meet anyone ever that doesn't want to kill you. You have to solve each puzzle your self and hunt for the power-ups and energy tanks without any hints or sinide remarks from know-it-all sidekicks who just really deserve a kick in the head.

The soundtrack is also amazing and actually works to compliment the game world, much like current 360 hit Bioshock. It's creepy and exciting and it keeps you focused while being very minimal and non-intrusive.

I had beat this game a number of times years before, but the end battle still got me excited. It may be the best classic end boss battle of all time (at least in the pre-64-bit era). Instead of using cut scenes and FMV's, it uses in-game mechanics to move the story along in Mother Brains's chambers which only serve to heighten the excitement.

It is a short game by today's standards, but that works to its advantage, seeing as how it's only 8 bucks and it is a downloaded game so you don't feel neglectful of the other more expensive titles sitting by your Wii, waiting for their turn.

If you haven't played it, get it. It's a hella fun 7-hour blast and a must for any 16-bit fan.

The Wii is in everone else's home, why not mine?

I almost didn't do this post, but if I have to be honest, I feel good about it. I mean, yes, it's a certain kind of dorky guy that has a gaming blog that he semi-regularly updates for really only one or two people who already know this stuff cause he plays these games with them, but I'm OK with being that kind of dork. One that bought an imported Japanese candy cab and spent dozens of hours searching for the most revered shmups you could play. One that actually enjoys mapping the dungeons in Etrian Odyssey. One that watches superplays of Ketsui like I use to watch skate videos to get me stoked to go skate. That, to me, is a cool-kind of dork, if there is such a thing, and totally acceptable.

Owning a Wii is a kind of actual dorkiness, or casualness that really lacks any significant gaming credibility. Kind of like buying all the Pop Cap games and telling your friends about your high scores. I play Peggle, yeah, but I would never actually tell anyone.*

So, on Thursday, I left work with my friend Dave and we shot off to his bank to deposit his paycheck, which just happens to be near a Game Stop. I'm a big PS2 RPG guy (currently working on Persona 3) and I'm really spend too much time with my DS (thanks, Mary!) and was looking for a few things to keep me busy. I found Izuma, The Unemployed Ninja, another Atlus made, old-skool RPG dungeon hack-crawler and at $19.99 plus tax, I thought my day was done.

Then, I asked the counter girl if they happened to have a Wii. She whispered to me over the counter, hand-cupped for dramatic effect and all, "I have four."

I was in mild shock as they you still can't get them for love or money, like Venus's arms or Brooke Shields buttocks,** and they can command up to $450 on Craigslist ($200 over retail).

Now, the only reason I want a Wii is that I have an Astro City which provides me with shmup madness, a PS2 which has no shortage of good, traditional Japanese RPG's, a DS and a GB Micro which both provide me with portable gaming fun, but I lack a system that can provide me with a child-like kind of experience. I like to giggle. I'll admit it.

I know there are virtually NO hardcore games for the Wii. Atlus's Baroque is a few months away and other than Fire Emblem, there is very little on this system that appeals to my traditional gaming loves.

Which is why I bought it.

I like the idea of owning a system that is just made for having a good time. It's kind of like a bunch of MLB players playing kickball. It's not a true test of ability, it's just a helluva lot of fun.

And as I sit and play Super Mario Galaxy and Trauma Center: New Blood (Atlus again, so brilliant), I am reminded of those early days playing Haunted House on the Atari 2600. Easy, intuitive controls and pure, distilled gaming fun.

And after five minutes of playing Galaxy, I actually giggled.

*all references to Peggle are included merely for the sake of good blogging and holding together a good analogy. Any similarities to person or persons playing it in the real world are totally, 100% for the sake of a good narrative...mostly cause my Mom still ownes me on this game.

**soon-to-be-obligatory Red Dwarf reference. Do yourself a favor and check this show out.