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While this is true, I find the distinction between graphical fidelity and art style to be important in these matters. While the graphics of Super Metroid might

While this is true, I find the distinction between graphical fidelity and art style to be important in these matters. While the graphics of Super Metroid might not be anything spectacular, the pixel art is phenomenal, and replaying it recently I gained a whole new appreciation for how future-proof the art direction in that game is. I think there are many more examples of this out there, too. For instance, people often bemoan early 3d games (Nintendo 64 games especially) for aging horribly. On the whole, that is true. But there are certainly exceptions, such as Majora's Mask, where (again) the art direction saved the game's graphics from the awkward low-polygon limitations of the system.

JonnieCache 12y ago
The sub-pixel movement engine in super metroid is fantastic too. It's what makes the art in that game really sing IMO. Also they got a bit of help from kubrick ;)
danielweber 12y ago
Each mode has a time when it gets "good enough," and everything on top of that is gravy. IMHO, for 2D, that was achieved with the NES generation. And for 3D, with the GameCube generation. (My son fired up Metroid Prime yesterday on the Wii, and it took me a while to realize it was a GC game, not a Wii game.) But, yeah, Super Metroid is amazing. I only played it recently (~6 years ago), never the original, and I still enjoyed it thoroughly.
- kibwen 12y ago
  In this particular case note that the Wii hardware is, to a large degree, a straight repackaging of the GCN hardware with a bit more RAM and a higher clock speed. That the Wii is not an extreme graphical advance over its predecessor is to be expected. :) I do agree with you in general, though. Which isn't to say that graphical advances aren't still perceptible (compare SNES-era sprites to any of the positively gorgeous sprites from Odin Sphere or Rayman Legends), but at some point you cross a threshold where graphics cease being cringe-worthy and start being merely dated. FFVII is a cringe-worthy example, whereas The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion remains breathtaking to behold (as long as you don't look anyone in the face, that is).
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JonnieCache 12y ago

The sub-pixel movement engine in super metroid is fantastic too. It's what makes the art in that game really sing IMO. Also they got a bit of help from kubrick ;)

danielweber 12y ago

Each mode has a time when it gets "good enough," and everything on top of that is gravy. IMHO, for 2D, that was achieved with the NES generation. And for 3D, with the GameCube generation. (My son fired up Metroid Prime yesterday on the Wii, and it took me a while to realize it was a GC game, not a Wii game.) But, yeah, Super Metroid is amazing. I only played it recently (~6 years ago), never the original, and I still enjoyed it thoroughly.

kibwen 12y ago
In this particular case note that the Wii hardware is, to a large degree, a straight repackaging of the GCN hardware with a bit more RAM and a higher clock speed. That the Wii is not an extreme graphical advance over its predecessor is to be expected. :) I do agree with you in general, though. Which isn't to say that graphical advances aren't still perceptible (compare SNES-era sprites to any of the positively gorgeous sprites from Odin Sphere or Rayman Legends), but at some point you cross a threshold where graphics cease being cringe-worthy and start being merely dated. FFVII is a cringe-worthy example, whereas The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion remains breathtaking to behold (as long as you don't look anyone in the face, that is).

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