Metroid Database.com

1UP recently published an article reflecting on the history and accomplishment of Metroid's game design (particularly as seen in the classic 2D titles). In it, directors and designers of several games like Shadow Complex, Cave Story, and the upcoming Aliens: Infestation, shared some of their impressions of the qualities of Metroid, and how the games have been a source of inspiration for their own projects. Super Metroid is still "one of the greatest games ever made, if not the best game ever made," reaffirms Donald Mustard, the creative director of Shadow Complex.

In addition, 1UP also created a fancy flowchart displaying a number of related titles that followed or preceded the Metroid games with similar design features. Click to view the full image and let us know what you think of their categorizations.

If there are any other games that you've played that you think have similarities to Metroid, feel free to discuss them here in our forums, and don't forget to check out our ongoing list of Recommended Games.

--Aurora Unit