LogFAQs > #950090096

#42 Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance, 2004)

It's about time I guess that a Metroid game showed up here. I really love 2D Metroid games. Even the original NES game, as incredibly flawed as it was, still managed to pull me in. This GBA remake manages to turn that rough first game into a polished gem.



Calling Zero Mission a remake is probably a little bit of a stretch. It has much more in common with Super Metroid than Metroid, except that it is a retelling of the story of Metroid. But I think that speaks more to how the gameplay had advanced by Super Metroid's time than anything else. Why go back?

The game plays a lot like Metroid Fusion, adapting the controls to the GBA's limited buttons fairly well. The bonus sequence at the end I could give or take, although it was certainly an interesting and complete surprise for me. Before then I was perplexed by all the places that I could not get to before the "final" boss and thought I had to be missing something. Ah! Then it all made sense!

Even if I really had a reverence Metroid, I would still be very glad this game exists. It's a cool take on the game and feels like a love letter, even though it was not afraid to drastically expand on the scope. I think that more NES remakes in this vein should exist.

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At least your mother tipped well