Cyrus Yount

Setting the standard for a series with as long and storied a past as Zelda or Mario is one thing... Setting the standard for an entire genre of games is another. And yet still, this game is a masterpiece in terms of design, progression, atmosphere, exploration, and environmental story telling. As A Link to the Past did to Zelda, and Super Mario Bros. 3 did to Mario, Super Metroid does to Metroid; it redefined the formula to impeccable levels. To fellow Metroidvania fans who might just now be getting into the genre after Dread (which is a marvel of a game in its own right), I implore you to check out the gold standard. There's a reason it's considered one of the greatest games of all time. And it's not because it sucks.