Metroid Zero Mission
Metroid: Zero Mission is a part of the Metroid series of games. Like the others, it features intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran as the main, and only, playable character.
General Mechanics
This game was made as a retelling of the story of the original Metroid game for NES, and most players will recognise the general layout as being very similar. However, many new items, areas, and minibosses have been added as well as an entirely new area near the end of the game. At first glance, it appears to be a linear game, forcing the player to acquire certain items in a certain order. However, careful exploration of the environment allows for the player to disregard a large part of this ordering. This technique has been termed sequence breaking and makes it possible, if very difficult, to finish the game collecting only 9% of the items. Progress can be saved only in certain rooms, called, appropriately, "Save Rooms", and marked on the in-game map with an S.
The Metroids
The appearance of Metroids themselves in this game is similar to the original Metroid. Metroids appear only in Tourian, the lair of the original final boss, Mother Brain, and only in the original "toothed jellyfish" form.
Items and Objects
Many powerups and items make reappearances from the older games in the series, with similar uses and effects. All power-ups from previous games except for the Spider Ball, Grappling Beam, X-Ray Scope, Ice and Diffusion Missiles, Boost Ball, Phazon Suit, and Phazon Beam are available in this game. The various visor upgrades from Metroid Prime are unnecessary and therefore unavailable. The Hi-Jump Boots and Spring Ball are now one item, as are the Wave and Spazer beams. The only new item is the Power Grip, which allows Samus to cling to ledges, an ability that she had innately in Metroid Fusion. The Wall Jump technique is usable in this game, on one or two walls, as is the Shinespark, Samus' Speed Booster-powered super jump.
Music and Graphics
The music consist of remixed orchestral versions of Hirokazu "Hip" Tanaka's ambient influenced anti-soundtrack remixed for the Game Boy Advance's higher quality sound. It is made by the Super Metroid composers Minako Hamano and Kenji Yamamoto. On the one hand some fans of the original game claim that Tanaka's compositions have been ruined when orchestrated since they were originally meant to be a response to the very commercial-sounding (in the sense of it being non-contributing to the actual gameplay) video game music at that time, on the other hand some claim that the music and sound is one of the best and of the highest-quality available on the Game Boy Advance.
The graphics are akin to Super Metroid, 2D sidescroller style and features cinematic cut-scenes which were hyped rather heavily during marketing the game even though their actual contribution as a whole may be questioned.
Extras
A feature unique to this game of the Metroid series is the ability to unlock extra stuff, such as an emulation of the original NES Metroid, and a sound test, by completing the game on different difficulty levels. Using a GBA to GBA game link cable, this game can link to Metroid Fusion, and any ending images seen on the Fusion game will be available for view on the Zero Mission cartridge.
