Metroid Zero Mission - The Pur-Zero Suit of Happiness
When compared to this game, the original NES Metroid looks like a failed prototype, as this here is a complete reimagining of the original narrative, that improves upon it in every single way, and goddamn is it refreshing.
Better controls, detailed visuals, improved soundtrack, quality of life enhancements, a map, a clearer story, and even some new original content to go along with the narrative. I was pleasantly surprised at the care that went into this. Just upgrading your suit piece by piece activates my little ape brain and keeps that drive to explore constantly. I also personally enjoy the puzzle-solving aspect, as some of these puzzles require a bit more critical thinking, for sure. And it's all made miles easier with the map and the fact that the game attempts to nudge players in the correct direction. This Metroid story is playable now, and it's great.
HOWEVERー it's not without its flaws. There is classical Metroid bullshit, as one may call it, scattered throughout. Sometimes it can still be a little unclear as to what to do such as when to move to another room you have to interact with a specific thing that is hidden and has basically no way indicating that it is unique. Also, the way bosses scale is sorta insane. It starts off with, albeit unique, quite easy boss fights, and then it ends with two of the most tedious fucking boss fights ever. Some of these boss attacks are either way too inconsistent to be able to be dodged predictably, are spammed like crazy to where dying and doing it all over again becomes tedious rather than a neat challenge, or are unforgiving as SHIT and must be executed almost frame-perfectly.
That, or maybe I just need to get better, but even with the ability to rewind and use save states via emulation (I have no shame whatsoever), these were some of the hardest bosses in the series, even if the game now has opportunities to save progress constantly. So consider that if you’re a more casual player I suppose.
Either way, if you really wanna get into the Metroid series, and also don’t mind a few, ‘close up shots’ of Zero Suit fan service, this game is a great start.
SOLID 7 Super Missiles out of 10.
When compared to this game, the original NES Metroid looks like a failed prototype, as this here is a complete reimagining of the original narrative, that improves upon it in every single way, and goddamn is it refreshing.
Better controls, detailed visuals, improved soundtrack, quality of life enhancements, a map, a clearer story, and even some new original content to go along with the narrative. I was pleasantly surprised at the care that went into this. Just upgrading your suit piece by piece activates my little ape brain and keeps that drive to explore constantly. I also personally enjoy the puzzle-solving aspect, as some of these puzzles require a bit more critical thinking, for sure. And it's all made miles easier with the map and the fact that the game attempts to nudge players in the correct direction. This Metroid story is playable now, and it's great.
HOWEVERー it's not without its flaws. There is classical Metroid bullshit, as one may call it, scattered throughout. Sometimes it can still be a little unclear as to what to do such as when to move to another room you have to interact with a specific thing that is hidden and has basically no way indicating that it is unique. Also, the way bosses scale is sorta insane. It starts off with, albeit unique, quite easy boss fights, and then it ends with two of the most tedious fucking boss fights ever. Some of these boss attacks are either way too inconsistent to be able to be dodged predictably, are spammed like crazy to where dying and doing it all over again becomes tedious rather than a neat challenge, or are unforgiving as SHIT and must be executed almost frame-perfectly.
That, or maybe I just need to get better, but even with the ability to rewind and use save states via emulation (I have no shame whatsoever), these were some of the hardest bosses in the series, even if the game now has opportunities to save progress constantly. So consider that if you’re a more casual player I suppose.
Either way, if you really wanna get into the Metroid series, and also don’t mind a few, ‘close up shots’ of Zero Suit fan service, this game is a great start.
SOLID 7 Super Missiles out of 10.