"Zebes all over again"

One of my fondest memories as a child was receiving my very own copy of Metroid for the NES on a cold Christmas day. I played through that game so many times, eventually remembering where every single item lay. Moving on, I always bought the newest Metroid game, convinced Samus would lead me through a spectacular adventure, and thankfully, she always delivers. Now remixed and remastered, Metroid: Zero Mission is the first story perfected. An awesome update to the original in Every. Single. Way.

Graphics: 10
Simply jaw dropping. This is the game to show off the graphics power of your Gameboy SP to your friends. Looking better than Fusion AND Super Metroid, this game is a gem on the screen. Samus looks great on the small screen, much clearer and more fluid than in Fusion. The enemies all have that distinct flair to them all, and the animation brings all the enemies alive. The bosses look better than ever, and might even scare you in their size and intensity. The detail and fluid animation all run along at a steady FPS.

Sound: 9
For the Gameboy Advance, incredible. If you played the original game you will recognize these tunes, but you will also appreciate that Nintendo updated them with some much needed oomph. You might even hear some influence from Metroid Prime! The sound effects are standard Metroid through and through. Best heard through headphones.

Gameplay: 10
Samus is controlled beautifully, and the classic Metroid formula first tested in the original comes back full force in the remake. The game just feels right. Those that have gone through the first game will get done quicker I would imagine, but the game still provides many hours of quality entertainment. Nintendo has added some gameplay improvements from other Metroid games as well as some completely new moves. All of Fusion's moves are in Metroid: Zero Mission. But it somehow capture the original's feel. Shortly put, it plays great.

Replay/Value: 8
Offering a great tool for speed runs and 100% runs, as well as harder modes, you can replay this game all you like. And like all Metroid games, once is never enough to play through it. Though, once you beat it, you have seen most of what M:ZM has to offer. Still, it's a great pick-up-and-play adventure.

Final Score: 9
Fans of Metroid, this game is a must have. If you are looking for a quality game on your Gameboy Advance, put this game on the short list. Samus is still running strong in this great remake. Buy this one, for sure.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10 | Originally Posted: 02/09/04

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