Junkoid: DX Edition

Junkoid is the direct sequel of Junko, a game inspired by the surreal exploration of Yume Nikki. You play as… well, Junko… a girl trying to fight off a nightmare caused by the demon Asmodeus. It uses METROID as a base, but the whole world gets rebuilt into distinct (and kinda creepy) biome areas you explore, hunting for new abilities to progress. The vibe is uniquely its own, mixing familiar METROID exploration with a fresh and slightly unsettling aesthetic that totally sticks with you.

Jumping into the gameplay, it just feels right. The movement and physics are pure classic METROID, but the level design is cleverly tuned to work with them. You can wander into different areas early, but the game gently guides you along the intended path by placing upgrades where you need them. There are healing hot springs (just like in Shantae) and missile recharge stations, which cuts out the grinding and lets you just enjoy the adventure. Some power ups (like turning into a rat ) are inventive, tho a couple others, like a ring or a dress, are cryptic and don't seem to do much.

Visually, it looks gorgeous. Every area has its own strong identity, with detailed animated tiles that bring the world to life. There's a fleshy pulsating zone called the Heart that's somehow both gross and fascinating to look at. The sprite work for Junko and the enemies is incredibly polished and the music composed by Mindflower is equally impressive, crafting a moody and memorable soundtrack that perfectly complements the strange landscapes, even within the limits of the NES soundchip.

Where the game stumbles a tiny bit is with some of its late game design choices. The final boss fight against Asmodeus is tough in a kinda unfair way, forcing you to juggle platforming on a small disappearing platform while dealing with endless enemy spawns. A couple of midbosses also encourage some cheesy strategies to win. Also, the map only works in the starting hub area, which means you're navigating the later more complex zones purely from memory. It can be easy to get lost, but since the areas so well designed and interesting, it isn't a total drag.

Super Junkoid is the third installment in this saga, completely transforming SUPER METROID into another eerie experience. This time, she's now trapped as a goddess being worshipped by the very horror she fears. It takes the foundational creepiness of the first two games and pumps it through the SUPER METROID engine. The whole vibe is just another unsettling mix of cute and macabre, where you're exploring beautiful or grotesque biomes that tell a silent psychological story, just like in the first game.

Gameplay-wise, it's familiar yet full of twists. The core movement and exploration are as polished as  SUPER METROID, but so many abilities are reimagined. Missiles become a magic system, the speed booster is a consumable item and you get back the fantastic power to transform into a rat. The world design is open and interconnected, offering multiple routes that make each playthrough feel personal. While some classic abilities like the wave beam are a bit underused, the overall progression is so smooth and engaging that you're constantly propelled forward by curiosity. The difficulty is generally relaxed, focusing more on exploration and atmosphere than brutal challenge, tho a couple of late game platforming sections keep you on your toes.

Visually, the hack is an absolute masterpiece of pixel art. Every sprite, tile, background and HUD element has been redrawn to craft a cohesive and disturbing world. Areas range from a eerie purple forest to a visceral fleshy heart chamber, each loaded with detailed animations and lighting effects that make exploration constantly surprising. The music curation is also strong, pulling from classics like Super Castlevania IV and METROID PRIME 2 to create a perfectly haunting atmosphere.

The bosses, while reskinned, largely reuse the behavioral patterns of SUPER METROID's original bosses, which makes them fun but predictable if you've played it. Also, a few people felt the final area and boss didn't quite live up to the breathtaking journey there, but these are minor quibbles. Regardless, this hack is executed with such obvious passion that it easily earns its place among the very best SUPER METROID hacks ever created.