ITT: Learn your shit some fucking Metroid.

There's a lot of people ITT who don't know shit about Metroid. Time to lay some facts on you all (followed by opinions):

Linear Metroids: Return, Fusion, Trilogy, Hunters, Other M
>Linear?
Those games have a set path (there's ever only one right way to go), a set sequence, and were designed with the perspective that the player would not be deviating it. The key thing to consider is in how obvious the designers make it.
For example, Prime's large open areas vs. Fusion's locked sectors.
Non-Linear Metroids: Metroid, Super, Zero Mission
>Non-Linear?
The fuckin' opposite of Linear. Keep up. At best, there's an intended sequence for first-timers but the game is designed with the perspective that the player will do their own thing. The differences are in how the designers let the player go. No instruction (Metroid), subtle guides (Super), optional handholding (ZM).

>Fusion is non-linear!
No. If you use TAS tools to break into somewhere and get something early, you will not get the actual thing that is supposed to be there. The major item order is scripted, including things like opening security locks. For example, there's a video of someone using breaking into the Nettori fight early. Their reward was Security Lock Level 2 or 3 (I forget.) instead of the Plasma Beam. They were then completely stuck with no way out. Also, expansions do not work until you actually have the item they are expanding. The one sequence break is Diffusion Missiles (I'm referring to both methods.).

Now I'll say something good about Fusion that most people don't seem to know. Whenever you're inbetween objectives, you can go wherever you want (security notwithstanding).

>Zero Mission is linear!
No. Only the first statue is mandatory. The rest are optional. The game designers did what they did with Super and give you the tools to explore (like walljumping and infinite bomb jumping). They even went one step further and put in hidden paths. For example, did you know the Long Beam is optional? That you can do the Tourian escape ass backwards? Why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?

>Super is slow and clunky!
No. Actually, it is the fastest 2D Metroid (Yes, I'm that guy, if you've seen the screencap.). You just have to learn the physics. I shit you not. What's really gonna blow your mind is that Fusion is faster than Zero Mission. And those two were made in the same engine. It's not faster by much though.

>Prime is non-linear!
No. Well, not by design. The GCN version of Prime can be turned into a non-linear game with a glitch, and it's fucking awesome. But that doesn't exist in Trilogy.

>Samus is some freaky Metroid hybrid now, the fuck.
The end of Fusion fixes that. Absorbing the SA-X restored her to normal, as she was essentially absorbing herself. Sakamoto later confirmed it in an interview.

>Sakamoto is a hack/faggot/etc.
Yeah I know, Other M. But Sakamoto was behind Super as well. Maybe it's George Lucas syndrome, maybe it's because Sakamoto is just one guy and he's the one of the only ones left of that magical team. At least Tanabe is in charge now, and Retro is highly prioritized to make the next game.

>Tanabe?
He was in charge of Trilogy. Primefags, you may commence jacking it.

>Muh Opinions Time
I loved every Metroid game (for different reasons) except Other M, Hunters singleplayer, and the original.
I only marginally like the original. I don't think it's bad, I just don't get much out of it. Hunters multiplayer was awesome until the hackers.
Other M was a disappointment, but I still managed to have fun with it. To show I'm not biased, I will say one good thing about it. I fucking loved the Speed Booster. Shinespark was hit & miss. Also, I'm okay with the idea of Samus having PTSD, I just think the scene was done poorly is all. Anthony was alright. The scene where Samus activates the Space Jump/Screw Attack/both? (I don't remember.) was good. Almost felt meta, like Samus herself was sick of how the game was going.

There. I'm not the guy who claims (read: lies, but he does it to drum up discussion IIRC) to be the most knowledgeable Metroid fan on /v/. I'm just a reasonable Metroid fan who once went full autist and checked frame-by-frame how fast Samus moves in Super, Fusion, & ZM to settle a silly debate.