Super Metroid

Been trying to get as many upgrades as possible without getting key upgrades, which so far has been a pretty unique challenge. I'm surprised by just HOW many things you can get out of order if you really push yourself. There's a few really high infinite-bomb jumps you have to do to reach powerups for example, but it can definitely be done. I just got the Speedbooster yesterday sans-Ice Beam and sans-Varia, meaning I had to tank through the fire-areas and use two pixel-perfect walljumps to reach the speedbooster at all. It feels so satisfying to play as you always are challenged by the game going "this item is here, sure you can get it later the easy way....or you can do it now". It's very enjoyable playing that way.

You can also get the PowerBombs extremely early by using a specific set of walljumps with a hard timed shot in Brinstar, opening up all sorts of routes and doors you normally couldn't enter.

Such a fantastic game.

Finally playing this game again, great shit. Movement feels "alien" in a unique way but is reliable and satisfying. The game is actually quite generous with how much damage you take, so you can pull yourself out of sticky situations.

Got X-Ray Visor and Gravity Suit without Grapple Beam. X-Ray needed some enemy freezes and forced damage, and Grav Suit needed a bunch of tricky jumps. I love how the game doesn't present these as "oh here's the sequence break", it's just something you happen to be able to do.

Also playing on an arcade stick, took a bit to get used to but now it's lots of fun.

Yeah my biggest love is how it's never "this is the sequence break guys good job", it's all very organic. Like with every upgrade you think to yourself "... am I supposed to get this one?". Very nicely done.

I really liked skipping the Varia Suit until I had to go to Ridley (so basically it was my last upgrade sans the Screw Attack), really had you appreciate some stuff more. Also pretty fun to use infinitebombjumps to get in sneaky places.

Agree on the 'alien' feel. Your jump is supernatural and floaty, unlike the more modern takes where she falls like a brick.