Super Castlevania IV often makes the GOAT lists - but how does it actually feel to play now? In this episode of Cart Creeps, we focus on Super Castlevania IV as its own experience, examining how the game plays moment to moment rather than as a historical artifact. We cover: Movement, and combat • Level design and pacing • Boss fights, difficulty spikes, and pressure points • Atmosphere, music, and presentation.

Retro games aren’t dead. They’re just waiting for input.

About Cart Creeps: Cart Creeps is a retro gaming podcast focused on classic consoles, cartridges, and the long afterlife of old games. Each month, one retro game is pulled at random and examined to see how it really plays today. Follow us on Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Cart Creeps is a retro gaming podcast digging up old cartridges to see how they really play once nostalgia wears off.

In this episode, we dive into Metroid: Zero Mission on the Game Boy Advance. The discussion stays focused on the experience of playing the game itself — how it feels, how it flows, and how its mechanics, pacing, and atmosphere hold up today.

We cover:

• Movement, combat, and exploration flow

• Level design, navigation, and pacing

• Boss fights, difficulty spikes, and pressure points• Atmosphere, music, and presentation

• The Zero Suit section and additional content

Retro games aren’t dead. They’re just waiting for input.