Metroid: Zero Mission

Title: Metroid: Zero Mission
Platform Played On: GameBoy Advance
Release Date: February 9, 2004
Date Played: 2004
Time Played: 7 hours
Completed (Y/N): Yes
Score: 5/5




Opinion:
Metroid games helped define the "MetroidVania" genre, and are some of the best Nintendo-made games. The franchise has nearly a dozen games and all of them are in the good to excellent range as far as scores are concerned.

Metroid: Zero Mission is a retelling of the story from the original game released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. For me it was a great way to play the original without having to suffer 1986 8bit NES graphics. It was actually one of the first Metroid games I have ever played. Not sure why, but just like Zelda it never made it to my NES in the early 90's. Perhaps these franchises were too good and gamers did not want to give them up or sell them. I actually didnt find out about the franchise until the late 90's.

While the story in Zero Mission follows that of the original game, the layout and some sections are not clones of the 1986 game. Some iconic rooms are copies with the upgraded graphics (such as the Mother Brain fight), which give a great nostalgic vibe. This was a great design decision because for the hardcore fans there were still new things to discover in this re-imagining, things such as the zero suit Samus. The first time anyone was able to play as her without her armor.

Gameplay-wise Zero Mission is exactly what you would expect from a Metroid game. Explore a maze like base, get new power-ups to gain access to new areas. The controls and graphics are solid. Metroid: Zero Mission has to be one of the best games released for the GBA. It is an excellent entry in the series (even though it covers the story we already know). And having this experience on the go in your hands make it an even better proposition.

To this day this is THE way to play the original Metroid game (unless you emulate it on an iOS or Andreoid device I guess). But with Nintendo DS's support for GBA cartridges I would say this game is totally worth a purchase. Alternatively you can play the original NES version via the Virtual Console on the Wii, 3DS and Wii U. However I think the updated graphics are totally worth playing Zero Mission over the original.

Metroid (1986) and Metroid: Zero Mission (2004) Mother Brain fight comparison.