2016 Album Review #10

Divinity – The Immortalist, Pt. 2 – Momentum (Nuclear Blast Records)

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After a brief hiatus, Divinity returned in 2013 with the first of a three EP concept album. Each EP would contain 4 songs, and the idea is one day they will be packaged together as 1 studio album. Part 2definitely lives up to its name, continuing the momentum brought by the previous EP, despite the three-year gap between releases. The shape of the album is easy to see, as this release shares many similarities as the previous one. Momentumcontinues the band’s trademark style of technical death metal blended together with melodic death metal. The EP begins with “Manhunt”, an extremely heavy track that goes from frantic riffing and drumming to brief melodic sections, really showing the vocal diversity that this band has to offer. “PsyWar” is a very groovy track that reminds me of how the band Nevermore was able to musically blend thrash metal and death metal with soaring vocals laid on top. Everyone is in top form on this release. The drumming is solid, the guitar solos are great, and the songwriting is incredibly impressive from a band that got their start in a more brutal death metal direction. The real surprise of the release is “DMT”, the longest and most melodic song the band has ever come up with. The beauty from that song is quickly replaced with the title track “Momentum”, which ends the album on a dark, sludgy tone reminiscent of Gojira. As a separate release, I enjoyed this part much more than the previous one. However, together they are even better, and the entire experience is something incredibly exciting to look forward to once Part 3 is released to the public.

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Album Score: 9/10

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-Jordan Salfity

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Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/divinitymetal/

Website: http://www.divinity.ca/

“Pigs on the Wing – Part 2” (Acoustic Guitar Cover)

Here is my acoustic guitar cover of “Pigs on the Wing – Part 2” by Pink Floyd, the closing song off their classic album Animals from the year 1977.

Metriod Prime 2: Echoes (2004)

Metriod Prime 2: Echoes (2004) – 94/100

– The Metroid franchise continued with the Prime Trilogy just two years after the first installment. Echoes begins like most games do for Samus: with her recieving a distress signal. She is sent to rescue Galactic Federation Marines whose ship has landed on the planet Aether, which is inhabited by a race known as the Luminoth. She discovers that the planet was struck by a large meteor that split the planet into two separate planets: Aether, which exists in the normal realm, and Dark Aether which exists in a dark dimension. She also discovers that the troopers were killed by a race known as the Ing, who are the inhabitants of Dark Aether. The Ing are trying to gain control of both Aethers so that the darkness will prevail. In order to prevent this and save what remains of the Luminoth race, Samus must go to three different temples located in the dark world to regain the stolen light, ensuring the destruction of the Ing and the return of power and energy for the Luminoth. Samus travels back and forth between the two planets through the use of portals. The game starts with Samus exploring the Temple Grounds area, allowing the player to get used to the controls and the extremely dark storyline. This area contains The Great Temple, where the final battle occurs. From there, Samus explores three other areas: The Agon Wastes (a desert area that contains a Space Pirates Fortress), The Torvus Bog (a forest/swamp area with a large underwater section underneath the temple of this area), and The Sanctuary Fortress (a large Fortress with robots who used to work for the Luminoth but have been corrupted). In each area, Samus must find three keys in the dark world to gain access to the dark temples (replicas of temples located on Aether) and fight the main boss of each area. Once Samus has done this, she must find 9 keyes located throughout Dark Aether (with the help of clues Samus finds along the way) to gain entrance to the Sky Temple (a dark replica of The Great Temple). There she faces the final boss: The Emperor Ing. Along the way, Samus also encounters Dark Samus, a replica of herself that was created when the Metroid Prime from the first game in the series attached itself to her after its defeat. Samus must fight her three times throughout the game, each time becoming more difficult than the previous time. The game play and weapons are similar to the first game. The use of portals to go back and forth gives this game an interesting dynamic. The air in Dark Aether is toxic, which means that Samus is constantly losing life if she is not protected by light shields that are scattered throughout the world. This makes fighting bosses in Dark Aether extremely difficult because Samus must always be aware of her life. Some interesting pick ups include the Light Beam (modeled after the plasma beam from Metroid Prime) and the Dark Beam (modeled after the ice beam from Metroid Prime). Another interesting feature is the Light Suit, which Samus acquires towards the end of the game, and allows her to not be affected by Dark Aether’s atmosphere and also allows her to travel through beams of light so that elevators are not necessary to go from area to area. Some boss fights are really unique in this game as certain ones require Samus to fight in morph ball mode, making bosses like the Power Bomb Guardian a personal favorite of mine. However, the game is overall more difficult and challenging than the first one. Not only because of the dark atmosphere, but also because of the lack of save stations, and because of bosses like the Spider Guardian and the Boost Guardian which are commonly agreed to be among the toughest in the franchise. Once you have beaten the game, there is also a hard mode, which makes the game even tougher (I have never beaten the final boss on hard mode). The challenging nature of the game makes it one of the Metroid games I play the least, but I still have a lot of respect for the amazing attention to detail and the incredibly interesting storyline. The game also is the first to feature a multiplayer mode with a mini game similar in style to 007: Goldeneye, where players try to defeat each other using weapons in arenas. This gives the game an attempt at more playability and I appreciate that. Overall, it is another unique addition to the franchise and to the trilogy. Not better than the first one, but there was a lot of effort and care in making it a whole new experience.

Metroid Fusion (2002)

Metroid Fusion (2002) – 91/100

– With the success and critical acclaim of Super Metroid, fans desperately wanted a new game in the franchise and the creators tried to release one for the N64 system. This ended up not happening and there was an 8 year gap between games. On November 17th, 2002, the creators made up for it by releasing not one, but two new games. One of them was Metroid Fusion which was originally released on the Game Boy Advance (however, like Metroid 2, I played this game on the GameCube thanks to the attachment). Metroid Fusion (also known as Metroid 4), bears heavy resemblance in visuals and in gameplay to Super Metroid. However, the creators made sure that this game would have a new story and objective rather than just being a sequel or a rehash. The game focuses on Samus, who while investigating the planet SR338 comes in contact with the deadly X Parasite virus. To save Samus, she is sent to the Biological Space Lab (BSL) where they inject her with DNA from the metroid she saved in previous games. This makes her weak to cold but it also allows her to bond with X Parasites and regain her health. Parts of her infected power suit could not be removed and instead she wears a partial armor suit known as the fusion suit. When she wakes up, she is sent by the Galactic Federation to investigate an explosion that happened on the BSL and the game begins. The space station contains a Main Deck and 6 lower sectors (to observe and study different kinds of creatures) that are all accessible from the Main Deck through elevators. The lower levels are Sector 1 (SRX – a re-creation of the planet SR338), Sector 2 (TRO – a jungle area), Sector 3 (PYR – a fire/lava area), Sector 4 (AQA – a water area), Sector 5 (ARC – a snow/ice area), and Sector 6 (NOC – a dark area). With the help of her ship’s computer (nicknamed Adam), Samus explores the areas in such of answers. The gameplay is very linear (in the way that Metroid 2 was). Samus goes to Navigation Rooms to tell her where to go next (much like the hint system in Metroid Prime). Adam will tell Samus to find control rooms so that different color doors will open (she must find hidden ways into them), or he will tell her to go to development rooms in order to acquire a specific upgrade, or he will also tell her to go to rooms to check out something that is wrong (which will usually end up as a boss fight). It is possible to ignore these commands for a little while and explore the areas to find missile and health upgrades. The boss fights are similar to the style of previous Metroid games (focused on spamming missiles), but like the boss fights in Super Metroid, each boss is fun and challenging to face (not as unique from each other as later Metroid games, but more unique than the bosses from Super Metroid in my opinion). One function that allows a little more diversity in this game is the ability to climb on ladders and to hang from them so that you are able (and might have) to shoot bosses from above. The story is definitely the main focus, which is not a problem because it makes it very unique in the series. It was the first side scroller game in the franchise to have cutscenes. Also, Samus eventually finds out that the X Parasite has the ability to replicate its host, and Samus encounters a replica of herself known as the SA-X. The SA-X is way too powerful for Samus to deal with in her still weak condition, and she will either have to hide or run away from it during their many encounters. Also, Samus eventually finds a hidden lab, and discoveries that the Galatic Federation have been secretly using the metroids DNA to clone metroids in order to try and harness their powers. She finds out that the Galatic Federation are on their way to the ship, and knows that the X Parasite will overcome them. In order to prevent the spread of the virus throughout the galaxy, she decides to crash the ship into SR338. Along the way, she has to deal with a final battle against the SA-X as well as the final boss in the game: An Omega Metroid. Overall, the story is definitely the most impressive aspect of the game (that is not an insult to the gameplay). I found the boss fights to be challenging but not as memorable as other games. I really liked the different areas and thought that it had a nice diversity of creatures and areas for platforming. The music is good (better than Metroid 2, but not better than Super Metroid or Metroid Prime), and the game doesn’t bring a lot of new upgrades into the mix (but then again, it didn’t need to because all of the classic items are still there). Not my favorite Metroid game but enjoyable to play and very memorable overall.

Super Metroid (1994)

Super Metroid (1994) – 99/100

– Super Metroid was released three years after Metroid 2 for the Super Nintendo System. The story picks up right where the ending of Metroid 2 left off, but it terms of gaming, it is miles ahead. The story takes place on the planet Zebes, where Samus searches for a metroid that was stolen by Ridley (the leader of the Space Pirates) out of the hands of the Galatic Federation who was trying to research and understand metroids. Like all Metroid games, Samus explores a huge open ended area that allows for backtracking. Unlike Metroid 2, it is not linear. In that game, once you were done with an area, you did not need to return to it again. In this sense, it is much more like the original Metroid game. This world consists of 4 different and distinct areas that you are constantly moving between and going back to. This is because different power ups are located in different areas and it is necessary to continue to gain these power ups to advance. In Metroid 2, some of the power ups were not necessary to advance. Some of them were, but others just tended to make things easier. The areas consist of Crateria, where the ship lands and involves tunnels and caverns as the name would suggest, Brinstar, which is a jungle/forest like area with a wide array of wildlife, Maridia, which is a water area and contains a diversity of sea creatures, and Norfair, which is a hot area consisting of fire and lava. Another smaller area is the Wrecked Ship which is a mechanical spacecraft which is destroyed and contains electrical areas, robots, and ghosts. Most of the areas contain mini-bosses and 4 of the areas contain main bosses. Once all of the main bosses have been beaten, a new area called Tourian opens up in the heart of Crateria where you will experience the metroid you have been looking for (now the size of the metroids you experienced in Metroid 2), as well as the final boss Mother Brain (which is the same final boss that you battle at the end of the first Metroid game). Elevators connect the different areas and the path is not always clear. However many times you think you have explored it all, there is always something you are missing, and the flow of the game makes more sense with each time you play it. The game has very unique upgrades that help you on your journey. These include different kinds of beams, missiles, morph ball upgrades, speed booster, gravity suit, varia suit, space jump, screw attack, grapple beam, and X-ray vision. The game play is very smooth and some of the complaints I had with Metroid 2 are essentially gone from this game. The jump responses when doing wall jumps can sometimes be a little difficult, but overall the smooth gameplay makes this one of the most enjoyable games to play time after time. The boss fights are fun and challenging at the same time. Like Metroid 2, they are focused on spamming missiles, as opposed to Prime Trilogy where there are more unique styles of fighting bosses. The areas are very interesting to look at considering that this game was made in 1994, and the music might be one of the best video game soundtracks I can think of. It is creepy, atmospheric, and perfectly fits the mood of each of the areas. Certain music from this game have been used in subsequent Metroid games giving them a nice sense of nostalgia. All in all, I cannot say enough about this game. It is always a pleasure to play and to get better at. The average play time can range from about 5 to 10 hours, with many people becoming so good at it that they can speed run it in about an hour or two. My average play time comes to about 6 or 7 hours. I personally enjoy taking my time when playing this game and making sure that I’ve been to all the areas and that I have gotten all the possible upgrades. There are some parts of it that can be frustrating, but over all it is one of my favorite games to just relax to while playing.

Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991)

Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991) – 87/100

– At the time that I did this review, it was the earliest installation of the franchise that I have played, and yet it was also the most recent game I had played through. This game was originally released on the Game Boy console, however I played it on a Game Cube system thanks to the attachment. Unlike the other Metroid games I played, this one did not start with an area to get used to your controls or get an idea of the plot (I am unaware of the story was in the booklet that game in the original game). The game starts with Samus existing her spaceship on some planet’s surface, and immediately you control her to enter the caves of the tunnels below. Eventually you run into a metroid and once you kill it, you realize that there is a number with a picture of a metroid in the corner has decreased from 39 to 38. And suddenly, it all makes sense. You have come to this planet (known as SR388) by orders of the Galatic Federation to exterminate all of the metriods that exist on it. So you’re off in search of the remaining metroids. This was the first Metroid game I played that did not have a map. It was frustrating for me at first because I kept getting lost and all the corridors looked the same (and this was in color. I can’t imagine what it must have been like playing it in just black and white). Eventually, after the playing the game for a while, it all starts to make sense. The planet contains little subsections, and you can not move on to the next one without killing all the metroids in that specific area. Each time you do, the earth shakes, and an area that used to contain lava will become accessible. Along the way, there are lots of power ups. You can gain missiles, an assortment of beams, health, and typical Samus abilities such as the screw attack and the morph ball. All these things will help you on your way. There are also save stations along the way so that you are able to save your progress and pick up from where you left off. As you go through different areas, you encounter different kinds of species of metroids that are tougher and tougher to kill. Metroids stop looking like jellyfish, and start looking like giant lizard creatures. After 9 areas (not including the one you started on), you will reach the final area where you will encounter the queen metroid and complete your objective once and for all. All in all, it took me about over 5 hours to complete the game the first time. The controls were a little frustrating for me at times. Sometimes they were too touchy, sometimes they weren’t touchy enough. I found myself having to climb up the same cliffs over and over again because the controls just weren’t as smooth as in later games. Also frustrating is how you don’t have much control over Samus when she gets hit and she is most likely to get hit several more times before you get your grounding again. I finally got used to the controls and style of the game towards the end of the first play. Because of this, I instantly played the game again so that I could enjoy the beginning of it now that I was used to it. I was really happy to say that I enjoyed the second time a lot better and completed the game at just above 3 hours. It is definitely more linear than most Metroid games I’ve played due to the subsections, however there is still plenty of chances to get lost and wonder where everything is. Aside from that, I enjoyed the concept and like the idea of counting down how many enemies remain. I also found the final boss to be a challenging fight when you are not sure what to do, but a really fun boss fight once you know what to do. I also really enjoy the ending, after you have beaten the boss and make your way back to the surface level.

Metroid

 Metroid is one of my all time favorite video game franchises. The franchise consists of 11 game, the first one being released in the year 1986. It is science-fiction/action & adventure and follows main character Samus Aran who is a bounty hunter. Her main enemies are the Space Pirates who are constantly trying to harness the energy of metroids (jellyfish-like creatures) into a power source. The reason this franchise is my favorite is because it combines platforming with exploring, puzzle-solving, shooting enemies, acquiring power ups, all in giant nonlinear areas. It was one of the first games to provide backtracking, which made things tough. Some games provide maps and some games require you to explore the area for yourself. Either way, you must acquire power ups and defeat certain enemies in order to move on. So even though it does not some like it sometimes, there definitely is an reason to it all and a method to the madness. Unlike the Mario franchise or the Zelda franchise, the mood is much darker. It is also one of Nintendo’s most financially and critically successful franchises.

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Metroid (1986): 

Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991):

Super Metroid (1994): 

Metroid Fusion (2002): 

Metroid Prime (2002): 

Metroid: Zero Mission (2004):

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004): 

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Games Still to Review:

 

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Metroid Prime Pinball (2005)

Metroid Prime Hunters (2006)

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007)

Metroid: Other M (2010)