Metroid Zero Mission is a mission worth accomplishing!
Way back during the year of 1986 on August 6th a rather strange action plat former came out on the NES titled Metroid. Metroid was indeed a strange and yet challenging plat former because it was the first game to ever introduce a female protagonist and it was also the first game to have nonlinear gameplay. Metroid Zero Mission is a remake of this old 80's classic that started the entire Metroid franchise! The original Metroid when it first released on the NES was VERY difficult and it started you out in the middle of nowhere with little direction. You had no map that told you where you needed to go next and you were at the mercy of the countless respawning enemies that could easily kill you if you wandered into the wrong places. Also if you died you had to remember a password that you received once you died which was the prehistoric method of how the game saved your progress! The original NES Metroid was probably the most challenging game I ever played next to the classic Mega Man games but I actually beat some of those games and I don't think I ever managed to beat the original Metroid until the Zero Mission remake happened! Anyway, my mission now is to review this game so let's accomplish it!
Storyline: Metroid Zero Mission begins when Samus Aran accepts an emergency order which will be her first mission ever! She must go to the planet Zebes and destroy the subterranean Space Pirate base that is believed to be breeding Metroids stolen from a deep space research vessel that they had attacked! She also must destroy Mother Brain which is basically the Space Pirate base security defense system and one of Samus's main targets in her Zero Mission! The depths of planet Zebes are home to many dangerous life forms now but they were also home to a race of bird like people called the Chozo who had raised Samus years ago like one of their own. Samus must accomplish the objectives in her mission on Zebes while in the process meeting the fate placed before her years ago during her childhood that will make her become the ultimate bounty hunter!
Gameplay: In Metriod Zero Mission you must explore the depths of planet Zebes in your search for the Space Pirate base. The sub terrain caverns of planet Zebes are quite treacherous and are broken up into many layers such as this:
The Crateria: This is the surface of planet Zebes. This also the area where your ship can be found and there you can save your game and recharge Missiles. The Crateria is just the entrance to the caverns below.
Brinstar: This is the cavernous rocky area of Zebes. Brinstar is home to an array of dangerous indigenous creatures such as Zoomers, Skrees, Rippers, and even a giant purple Centipede. (Boss)
Norfair: The Norfair is the volcanic subterranean area that contains magma and intense heat.
Ridley: Like the areas name it is home to Ridley who is the leader of the Space Pirates.
Kraid: This is the lair of the largest boss in the game!
The Tourian: This is deepest level you can go on the Zebes! The Tourian is the core of planet Zebes and also the where Mother Brain along with the Space Pirates and Metroids can be found.
All of the areas mentioned above provide each of their own challenges as well as the abilities that are placed within each of them. Metroid Zero Mission takes allot from Metroid Fusion as it has a useful map along with save points but instead of a computer informing you where you need to go next like in Metroid Fusion you have the Chozo Statues to point you in the right direction which lead you to all of abilities you need to explore Zebes with.
Graphics: As I mentioned before Metroid Zero Mission is ALOT like Metroid Fusion because this game is a remake using Metroid Fusions' same graphics style! You would just only wish that Metroid Zero Mission was more of the challenge that Metroid Fusion had brought. Also in Metroid Zero Mission there are these cool short cinematic that are placed during important parts of the game like when Mother Brain finds out you're on your way to Norfair or when Ridley is on his way to Zebes. It's the little add ins like this that make this remake even better!
Value: Metroid Zero Mission has a hard mode of course and you can still go back and collect the power ups that you missed. Also there is an extra level and boss fight that was added after you kill Mother Brain which extends your play through by probably another hour or so. Metroid Zero Mission has connectivity to Metroid Fusion also but you won't get much out of it because all you will get is screen shots from Metroid Fusion which really isn't much of a reward... (Why didn't they just add Metroid II?)
Overall: Metroid Zero Mission may lack the challenge and length that Metroid Fusion has but that doesn't exclude it from being a great game! Metroid Zero Mission is a worthy remake to a game that I believed was impossible to play! Metroid Zero Mission is also even better to play on the Gameboy Player if you still own one! The amount of fun and action in this game you can have makes Metroid Zero Mission a mission worth accomplishing!
Uh...Link will win. This review was brought to you by Wolflink001.