Topic: Question on original release of Metroid 2

[Belmont legacy]

Hey there everyone. So as winter slowly approaches I've been wanting to do some Metroid (don't know why that ALWAYS seems to be the series of choice for the season for me. Possibly because of the "dark" atmosphere) and I have beaten Metroid and super Metroid (Jesus I love that game) however I haven't beaten Metroid 2 on Gameboy. Now note: I have this game on the original Gameboy and wish to beat it on the original console it was released on. However just like it's older brother, it lacks a map system and knowing my bad sense of direction without a map (I was spoiled by super Metroid and later releases/Castlevania games for that) how would one go about beating this without using a walkthrough and has anyone ever done so?

[zangetsu468]

Why don't you just use grid paper and draw the map in blocks as you play?

[Belmont legacy]

I could

[X]

how would one go about beating this without using a walkthrough and has anyone ever done so?

I have. It was before Super Metroid was even a gleam in the eyes of Gunpei Yokoi. Metroid II's layout is not like the original. There are sections that are blocked off until said Metroids are eliminated, then more of the map is available to explore. I don't have a good sense of direction either but Metroid II is not as bad as its predecessor or some other games of the day.

[theANdROId]

It seemed a bit more linear to me.  As X says, the map layout is kinda sectioned.  Once you rid that area of Metroids you can move into another section and repeat the process.  If I recall, there wasn't really a need for backtracking as is typical for this type of game (you know: you found X so you can go back to area Y to get Z that you couldn't before).  I think I have a decent sense of direction though (when it comes to maps in games at least) so that may have helped me out too.

What about Google searching for a map and just using that?

[Eric Roman]

I explored the fuuuck out of Metroid II... 

Though, when I began taking it on 25 years ago (roughly to the date) I had the convenience/crutch of the fully-illustrated December 1991 Nintendo Power review to help me along, but I say ditch that, make a blind adventure of it! 

On that note, you may find the Spider Ball to be your friend.  Damn, I miss that item. 

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

You could download and print a map for that oldtimey Nintendo Power feeling.

[Bloodreign]

I personally never beat the game (and all my old Nintendo Powers got damaged in the flooding in 2012 in my area, 20 inches of rain in 6 hours on that fateful March morning). I do know the game is easy to get lost in if you take time away from it. The lack of color also really added to the atmosphere of the game, dark and brooding, teeming with life forms that can kill.

Yes, I lost the NP that had the map, but Nintendo Power mags can be found, page by page scans if you look around for them. You can get entire issues that way, I had issues 1-29, never owned 2-28, but my old external HDD died, thereby once again wiping out Nintendo Power, Gamepro, and EGM magazine scans I had downloaded for reading purposes.

[knightmere]

You can easily find maps online for Metroid 2. I would try to find your own way first as that is the way the game is meant to be experienced.

[X]

The Metroid Database is a good spot for Metroid maps, and other things Metroid-related too.

[BLOOD MONKEY]

you could just play AM2R, it's a much fuller experience than the gameboy one and has a built in map.
i spent a lotta time with 'troid 2 on gameboy.  helped a friend of mine work on a colorized version, but AM2R is probably even better than super 'troid.

this ^^^

[PFG9000]

If your goal is to beat it without using any outside resources, I'd recommend drawing your own map.  It wouldn't have to be a grid-based map to-scale, but a rough sketch would be pretty helpful.  Besides, if I recall correctly, a to-scale map of Metroid 2 is not possible because the game has areas that overlap each other and could not actually exist on the same 2D plane.

I drew a map of the original Metroid my first time through it, and it really improved my immersion in the game.  I tried playing through Metroid 2 without drawing a map my first try, but it got so confusing that I resorted to an online map because I was too lazy to draw my own at that point.

[X]

Besides, if I recall correctly, a to-scale map of Metroid 2 is not possible because the game has areas that overlap each other and could not actually exist on the same 2D plane.

You right about this. Much later in Metroid II, the maps start to overlap each other. So it is difficult to sketch out a map unless you do what Nintendo Power magazine did, which was break up the maps into section in order to prevent the overlap issue.

[theANdROId]

...you could just play AM2R...

I had this on my other laptop but didn't get time to play before it died.  I need to go find it again for my new laptop (if it's still out there anywhere).