NES Metroid HD Pack

[Aclectico]

Ok, the demonstrations helped - thank you. I think you are right that the new version seems to fit a little better. I can see how it sounded a bit strange. But, many with an untrained ear probably couldn't put their finger on why (myself included).

I'm just tying up some loose ends before the next release. I will most likely include the adjusted pitch version in the next rev level (along with credit). I may also take a look at increasing the volume of the music tracks a couple of decibels (while keeping the SFX level the same). I may still have some wiggle room before clipping is an issue for some of the files.

Thanks!

[Spooniest]

Not a problem. It is a subject of some debate in music circles, whether someone can train to have a good sense of pitch, or is just born with it, but for a very very long time (since I was about 17 or 18, in fact) people have been telling me that I have a near-perfect sense of pitch.

It's not something I ever trained for... It just so happens.

[Aclectico]

Version 1.5 of Metroid: HD is now available for download at the start of this forum thread. A video overview of new features can be found here (re-post): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo5e4nF1zBs

A changelog can be found below:

#Changelog for Version 1.5#
   -Increased frame count for heat wave effects in Norfair and Ridley's lair.
   -Most enemies now disappear during door transitions - No more cheap Rinka door deaths (special thanks to P0ZN0).
   -More predictable bomb laying mechanic (special thanks to P0ZN0).
   -Fixed glitch with the wave beam and ice beam icons shown at the file select screen (special thanks to delta7890).
   -Fixed graphic glitch that occurs with frozen Rinkas when the player is using the Zero suit (special thanks to delta7890).
   -Fixed graphic glitch that occurs with energy pickups in Tourian when the player is using the Zero suit (special thanks to delta7890).
   -Fixed graphic glitch that occurs with red doors in Tourian when the player is using the Zero suit (special thanks to delta7890).
   -Minor adjustment to music volume level.
   -Minor pitch adjustment for "GotAnItem" sound file (special thanks to Spooniest).

[Joaco]

i made loops for the super metroid version of the kraid and ridley battle themes in nes style for the 8bitroid version of this pack, i thought i may as well leave it here if anyone wants to use them
https://www.mediafire.com/file/zsz7fcg13t6tb36/

[applejuice8432]

thank you for this!

what version of mesen is recommended for this? i didn't see anything in the OP like in the zelda topic

i have 0.9.9.62 debug, mkwong98's newest fork version (0.9.9-210415) and sours 0.9.9

[Aclectico]

I'm glad you like it. If you plan on just playing it without making changes, the pack should work with rev level 9.6 or higher.

If you would like to customize anything via the HD Pack Builder feature of Mesen (or if you'd like to do something manually in the hires.txt file), it's usually safest to edit in a legacy version 9.6.

The reason that the Zelda pack requires a higher version is because it takes advantage of some new features and adjusted syntax that were implemented later on (multi-layer backgrounds being one of those features). The Metroid pack doesn't feature some of those latest changes.

Unfortunately, a stable build that included multi-layer backgrounds was never created on the main Mesen site. For this reason, I point most individuals to just use mkwong98's version when it comes to gameplay as that should really work for most anything now.

[DarakuTenshi]

How do I get past the door after killing Ridley? Looks like a Super Bomb is needed, but I can't seem to find one anywhere.

[Aclectico]

How do I get past the door after killing Ridley? Looks like a Super Bomb is needed, but I can't seem to find one anywhere.

Spoiler

It should work if you fire 10 missiles at it

[close]

[TechnoSyndrome]

Is there a way to only install the music from this? I just want to play the original game with the analog synth music and can't figure out how to install that without also installing the Mother Patch and breaking a bunch of the graphics.

[Aclectico]

The closest option to what you are after is probably one of the bundled packs called 8BitTroid. It has 8 bit graphics that should be intact and it has adjusted music. However, there are aspects from the Mother patch in that variant. In addition, there are also some changes to the running animation and background graphics.

[PhantomCobra]

So, how does one go about using the Zero Suit, since there's no place to enter the Justin Bailey code?

[Aclectico]

If you beat the game in under three hours, it will let you play the game again using the Zero suit (along with most of your previous playthrough powerups).

[kamikaze55]

You shared this HD pack with me on the Zelda HD pack thread. I played through the entire game and I cannot say enough how great this is! Job well done!

The only con I have with it is that the slow down from the original is still present but I expected it and some consider it a necessary part of the game anyway. The major plus stuff is the graphics of course. The ability to spawn with full health. You got rid of that irritating music in Ridley's hideout and replaced it with the music from Super Metroid but even better imo. There's way to many pro's to name compared to cons so I don't know what you mean by "rough around the edges". Thanks a ton! It really looks like a prequel to Super Metroid honestly.

Only one question: is there any benefit in this version to get the last gun ability? Can't remember the name of it...it's the one after the ice blaster...the squiggly ball one. I ask because in the original there was no real benefit as you needed the ice gun to finish the game whereas perhaps the last blaster also freezes?

[Aclectico]

There's way to many pro's to name compared to cons so I don't know what you mean by "rough around the edges".

All bugs that I know of have been ironed out. So, from a gameplay perspective, it's okay and it works. However, I feel that some of the art and animations could be a bit better. In addition, Samus does not have an idle stance animation and she does not have unique art for when the player is facing left vs. facing right.

Also, the coding and file organization is a bit of a mess. That has been the largest roadblock to improving some of the art. So, if anyone had the motivation to continue development of the pack or enhance it, organization is a bit of a headwind. I've been making small efforts to rewrite the pack from the ground up to make modding easier, to remove duplicate files, and to also take advantage of the latest features of Mesen (like multi-layered backgrounds). However, it's a large undertaking and I'm not sure if I will have time to complete it anytime soon. We will see...

Only one question: is there any benefit in this version to get the last gun ability? Can't remember the name of it...it's the one after the ice blaster...the squiggly ball one. I ask because in the original there was no real benefit as you needed the ice gun to finish the game whereas perhaps the last blaster also freezes?

Are you thinking of the Wave Beam? Environmental barriers do not stop that Beam and it has a larger area that it covers. The original game did not allow for the player to have both Wave and Ice Beams at the same time. However, this pack allows for Beam stacking and you can have the "Wavy Ice Beam". You can normally obtain it in the lower portion of Norfair. With that said...

Spoiler

Metroid: HD does have a new room that has been added in Brinstar which also contains the Wave Beam. I found someone on YouTube a while back that discovered the secret room that was added to the pack. That person may be in the minority, and most people probably aren't aware this pack has an additional Wave Beam location.

[close]

[kamikaze55]

So after I read your latest reply...I decided to do some soul searching. It took me about 25 minutes but I found the room! I won't openly say where it's at but did you really have to add that impossible jump like the one in Ridley's hideout for that one Missile pack? I did like that you added an Energy upgrade there too. The way it's constructed overall seriously reminded me of Super Metroid so that was really well done!

Before your latest reply I had decided awhile ago to get the wave beam to see if they stacked and I saw that they do indeed and was pleasantly surprised. One question though, is it not possible to mod the game to allow more energy packs than what the original allowed...I think like 6 or 7? In other words the Energy packs later in the game are literally just there to get you back to full health once you get 6 or 7 but why can't we have more than this like Super metroid?

[Aclectico]

So after I read your latest reply...I decided to do some soul searching. It took me about 25 minutes but I found the room! I won't openly say where it's at but did you really have to add that impossible jump like the one in Ridley's hideout for that one Missile pack?

  Yes, it is a very difficult jump. However, there is a technique that can make things much easier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPgGqPrKGE

One question though, is it not possible to mod the game to allow more energy packs than what the original allowed...I think like 6 or 7? In other words the Energy packs later in the game are literally just there to get you back to full health once you get 6 or 7 but why can't we have more than this like Super metroid?

I'm sure it's possible, but it's probably beyond my current skill/knowledge level for Metroid.

I couldn't find anything in the documentation from SnowBro/Dirty McDingus that seems to relate to this at first glance. But, I'm pretty sure when I tried adding energy drops (you can do this fairly easily with Editroid: https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/474/), a hard limit remained in place.

[looks png]

This game HD package is also what I like to study very much. You did a great job!

I have a question to ask, that is, how to replace music. I really lack talent in programming. Master mkwong98 also told me a lot and there are a lot of materials, but I just can't summarize the steps of making it. I don't know how to open ROM to let mesen execute it.

Can you share your production process? It's better to be like a file. I can study slowly with my mobile phone in my spare time.

Thank you, great masters

[Aclectico]

For Metroid and Zelda, I received quite a bit of help in that area. Most of my efforts focused on coding the graphics logic and locating/creating/modifying art needed. As a result, my knowledge in the music/sound FX department is a bit spotty and it's currently not something I can create from the ground up in a brand new pack without assistance.

[elsonrics]

Hi Everyone!

This is AMAZING! Many thanks to the creator for this. I have a question, I used to play this game all the time as a kid and love the original Samus sprite and the way it moves. Is it possible to remove the updated sprite and new running animation from the 8BitTroid HD Pack? I would love to see Samus exactly as she is in the original nintendo game. If anyone knows the answer to this please let me know. Thank you so much!!

[Aclectico]

It is possible, and there would be a couple of ways to do it. But, the path of least resistance would still require quite a bit of work and it would require some fairly advanced pack editing knowledge. The pack contains a large number of .png files. Some of those files contain the custom Samus running art. If those custom sheets are adjusted to contain the original art, it should result in the look you are trying to achieve.... but again... it would be a pretty large time investment since there are so many sheets.