Topic: Which retro games do you find the hardest to map without using tools?

[sophia2005]

Hey everyone on VGMaps! I'm really curious about your experiences with creating maps for retro games, especially on systems like NES, SNES, or Sega Genesis. Which game do you think is the toughest to map out by hand without using tools like emulators or screenshots? Maybe it’s due to complex maze designs, continuous scrolling, or hidden elements that are hard to track down? Share your stories and how you tackled (or didn’t tackle) the challenge! I think this could spark some great discussions for those of us who love game mapping. 😄

[debrafrey]

That’s a great question! For me, the toughest game to map out by hand would probably be Metroid on the NES. The non-linear design and all those hidden passages made it a real challenge. Without modern tools like emulators, I spent hours retracing my steps and sketching out notes on graph paper, only to realize I missed an entire section hiding behind a breakable wall. The lack of an in-game map and the repetitive room designs made it easy to get lost. I remember it being frustrating at the time, but looking back, it was such a rewarding experience when the pieces finally started to fit together. How about you? What’s been your most challenging mapping experience?