Solid experience throughout.
I loved the fluidity of the movement and controls as well as the combat in general. The bosses especially were really fun and unexpectedly challenging. There was a little too much repetition of a few minibosses, and a few more bigger bosses would have been nice, but it doesn't bring the game down too much.
Samus is also excellent in this, one of the best protagonists I've played in a long time. She's badass in every cutscene and dispatches the bosses without so much as breaking a sweat. It gives the game a classic vibe, sort of like a Halo or an early God of War game. The gameplay is the focus, and the character is reflective of that in the best way.
There is a little I wish was different in this though. Though the combat treats you with respect and gives you a challenge, exploring the world is fairly straightforward. It's hard to get lost or explore in a similar way to many of the Metroidvanias I tend to enjoy. There is a very clear path with next to no independent backtracking. Unless you go back the way you came, the way forward is usually within the next few rooms in front of you, even if it's not immediately clear. In some cases, the way forward is so clearly dictated that the way you came is blocked in some way. I feel like this takes away from the game in some way, there's no need to explore or try different routes unless you're aiming for collectibles.
Additionally, the music and variety of zones is a little lacking. Most areas feel a little too similar due to the large EMMI rooms that all have the same visual design.
On the whole though, this was a great experience and a high-quality game.
I loved the fluidity of the movement and controls as well as the combat in general. The bosses especially were really fun and unexpectedly challenging. There was a little too much repetition of a few minibosses, and a few more bigger bosses would have been nice, but it doesn't bring the game down too much.
Samus is also excellent in this, one of the best protagonists I've played in a long time. She's badass in every cutscene and dispatches the bosses without so much as breaking a sweat. It gives the game a classic vibe, sort of like a Halo or an early God of War game. The gameplay is the focus, and the character is reflective of that in the best way.
There is a little I wish was different in this though. Though the combat treats you with respect and gives you a challenge, exploring the world is fairly straightforward. It's hard to get lost or explore in a similar way to many of the Metroidvanias I tend to enjoy. There is a very clear path with next to no independent backtracking. Unless you go back the way you came, the way forward is usually within the next few rooms in front of you, even if it's not immediately clear. In some cases, the way forward is so clearly dictated that the way you came is blocked in some way. I feel like this takes away from the game in some way, there's no need to explore or try different routes unless you're aiming for collectibles.
Additionally, the music and variety of zones is a little lacking. Most areas feel a little too similar due to the large EMMI rooms that all have the same visual design.
On the whole though, this was a great experience and a high-quality game.