Update #2 [Fri 1st Dec, 2023 09:00 GMT]: Infidelity's SNES port of the NES classic Metroid is now available.
The developer describes it as "the most extensive port I've ever done" – the culmination of two months of effort. You can download the patch directly from this tweet.
Update #1 [Fri 13th Oct, 2023 15:15 BST]: Infidelity's Super Nintendo port of Metroid is now available in beta form. You can download the game directly from the link included in his latest tweet.
One of the quality-of-life features already introduced in the SNES port of the game is the ability to save & load up to 3 files, which you can name (similar to the Famicom Disk System version). When picking your file, this system will display how many times you've died (up to 255 times), the number of energy tanks you've collected (6 max), and your missiles and their capacity, but does not currently list your last known health values.
As Infidelity notes in the save.txt, this new system for the most part coexists nicely with the existing password system. However, he warns that if you decide to start a game off with a password and then try and save your progress, it will overwrite whatever is in file 3. A warning for this is included on the start screen to try and prevent instances of this from happening.
Original Story [Fri 8th Sep, 2023 16:30 BST]: Infidelity, the romhacker and serial porter behind the fanmade SNES ports of The Legend of Zelda, DuckTales, Mega Man II, and Mega Man IV, has revealed he is about to start work on a port of the Nintendo classic Metroid for the 16-bit console.
As Infidelity mentions in the announcement for the port, he initially didn't want to tackle the game because he felt that Super Metroid was already the "definitive way to play a Metroid game on the SNES". Nevertheless, after completing his port of The Legend of Zelda earlier this year, he began getting an itch to port Metroid over to the console too.
As we've noted before, in order to get these ports working, Infidelity essentially takes the original game and then manually ports it over to the SNES using the Hexadecimal code and the Mesen2 debugger. This opens up the possibility of future enhancements further down the line, including updates to the game's audio, performance, and graphics.
We'll obviously be keeping an eye out for updates as the port progresses and will let you know once it is available to try out. For now, though, you can support Infidelity's work on Patreon, to thank the creator and see new builds of his projects before anyone else.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 13
Is "Hexadecimal" the name of some program I'm not aware of. I really doubt the author is just copying bytes from one ROM. They have got to be working a lot smarter. Such as using some kind of disassembly.
The question is, will they also add in features from the Famicom Disk System, such as the original save feature?
Also the farty door sounds. THAT was the thing we were most missing from the NES.
I might also be able to finish that game if they could fix that stupid flaw where Samus takes unavoidable damage from any enemy generator near a door. Zelda 1 was older and didn't have that. I just didn't want to farm Energy after every death, especially to cover for that.
Doesn't look like he's porting the superior FDS version.
I hope he takes the time to consider how much better the wavetable music is, and how great a OQL feature the save function is, too.
A list of the differences is available here:
https://metroid.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_version_differences#FDS_to_NES
This still looks great though! Loved his TLoZ port!
Forget the FDS version, there are 56 quality of life hacks for the original NES game on ROMhacking.net:
https://www.romhacking.net/?page=hacks&game=805
These add saving, maps, change the way energy refills work, correct the RNG problems, plus a myriad of other things.
I've been using the "Metroid + Saving" hack, which adds three save files to the NES game, plus an assembly coded map via pause and a minimap in the corner. It brings it in line with Super Metroid. A map fellow enthusiasts - A MAP FOR THE NES GAME!
Also there are hacks to make Samus look Super Metroid Samus, and another which has you start the game with full energy, instead of the default which is almost no energy.
Not all of these hacks will be to everyone's taste, but for goodness sake, he should at least add the save file option and the minimap! Do you really want to play it on SNES with passwords when you could just play the NES original hacked to have save files?
I'll be honest, I am really starting to dislike Infidenlity's ports. What even is the point of these things?
They are bare bones, contain no extra features, and are inferior to playing the original game with hacks on an actual NES. His Zelda port didn't bother to add the auto-map which already exists, nor did it improve inventory selection. It is less than worthless when compared to an improved version running on the NES. Maybe you don't want an auto-map in Zelda, but at least he could have improved the controls so that L+R cycle your items? He did nothing - literally NOTHING - to improve the base game. It's complete madness.
The worst thing is: by creating these crappy, slapdash ports, he discourages others from doing so. Someone who was maybe considering making a premium port of Zelda or Metroid to the SNES, with bells and whistles and cool extra features, will now think: "Eh, someone already did a port, why bother?"
Maybe some players want a pure and authentic experience? Well then the bells and whistles should be togglable in a menu.
Direct link to the map and save hack (the only way to play Metroid now):
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/1186/
Updated version of the map hack which makes the game a tiny bit easier, might not be to everyone's taste:
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4471/
@Sketcz He's not obligated to do any of those things. He's a hobbyist and worked on a project he wanted to. End of story. As per your own argument, players can go for the FDS version or tweaks for the NES version. All else is self-entitlement.
If a hobbyist's largely 1:1 port discourages another hobbyist's ports with bells and whistles, chances are the latter wasn't that motivated to begin with.
in b4 the cease & desist from Big N...
Keep 'em coming.
In lieu of proper brand new system-pushing games coming to the SNES, I will absolutely take all of this stuff.
The more the merrier.
@Sketcz Porting the game alone is enough work. Sorry but it is not very nice to criticize a hobbyist for not doing extra work unless one is also making their own effort.
@KingMike The extra work has already been done.
Someone else has already implemented the map in the NES version through assembly coding.
He could just port that version.
I mean, if he's going to port a NES game, he might as well port the best version.
Since it's a hobby and not a business, "maybe" he's a purist and leans towards the unmodified versions.
If it's the first time I'm gonna play something, I never use an improved version (unless it's a translation). And if it has multiple ports, I always go for the oldest possible. This is just part of the fun for me.
@Sketcz "Best" is always debatable. "Upgrades" or remakes.
A couple years ago, I was into a playthrough of Final Fantasy III, between the Famicom and DS versions. It had some improvements but not everything the DS version did was an improvement.
But as to Metroid, what if I like the farty sound of the FDS FM chip?
The main point still stands is that it's much easier to complain about a port than to make a port.
I hope someone does similar FF1, FF2 and FF3 ports with optional QoL changes. And maybe even the Pixel Remaster graphics too. As well as MSU-1 music.
@Sketcz Nah. Forget you.
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