Metroid is a popular Nintendo series. It chronicles the exploits of a female bounty hunter named Samus Aran who is commissioned to battle the space pirates on the planet Zebes. The pirates are attempting to capture the Metroids that inhabit the planet and harness their energy-absorbing powers to control the galaxy.

That's about all the information you'll receive when you play the re-release of this NES classic. Other than an incredibly brief storyline, there is no other information to guide you through the game. There is no map, no compass and no non-playable characters to tell you where to go. Metroid combines exploration and combat. Not only do you have to figure out where to go and what to do but there are hidden goodies located all over each level that can help empower you.

Certain aspects of the gameplay in Metroid were considered ingenious at the time. I'm not so sure about the aimless wandering but it did convey a sense of confusion. The moody music also helped to elicit emotions of loneliness which was further exacerbated by the relatively large levels.

This was the first side-scroller that allowed you to move in any of four directions: up; down; right, and left. Backtracking was not only possible, it was mandatory since you have to collect things from other levels to access items from previous levels. While all of this may not seem like a big deal now, it was then. Keep in mind that when you play this game it's more than likely it won't seem like a big deal.

Ms. Aran wears a power suit and is equipped with a few weapons including a morph ball, ice beam and missiles. The power suit conceals her identity. You won't even know she's a he - but that's another story. She can only shoot down and straight ahead. If some of the enemies are short, you will have to find other ways to deal with them.

Metroid doesn't look so good. It may be colorful but it uses the same few tilesets over and over. To say this game is dated looking would be an understatement, but I will give Nintendo credit for not updating it and remaining true to the mandate of the Classic NES series to offer these games in their original form.

I doubt that few players other than Metroid fanatics will get anything out of this game. At the same time, they should also be in possession of a copy of Metroid Zero Mission which featured an unlockable version of this very game. You would be better off spending a few extra bucks and getting the Zero Mission game if you don't already have it. Otherwise I would be very hesitant to spend the twenty bucks on this old clunker.