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Metroid: Zero Mission

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Metroid: Zero Mission[a] is a 2004 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It is a remake of the original Metroid (1986), and retells the story with updated visuals and gameplay.

Metroid: Zero Mission
A person in a powered exoskeleton aims a weapon toward the viewer.
North American box art
Developer(s)Nintendo R&D1
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Yoshio Sakamoto
Producer(s)Takehiro Izushi
Designer(s)
  • Takehiko Hosokawa
  • Masani Ueda
  • Ryuichi Nakada
Artist(s)Hiroji Kiyotake
Writer(s)Yoshio Sakamoto
Composer(s)
SeriesMetroid
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance
Release
  • NA: February 9, 2004
  • AU: March 19, 2004
  • EU: April 8, 2004
  • JP: May 27, 2004
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Like other Metroid games, the player controls bounty hunter Samus Aran, who travels to planet Zebes after learning that the Space Pirates are experimenting with Metroids, hostile parasitic creatures. The gameplay focuses on exploration, with the player searching for power-ups to reach previously inaccessible areas. The remake adds items, additional areas, mini-bosses, difficulty levels and a rewritten story that explores Samus's past.

Zero Mission was released on February 9, 2004 to acclaim. It received praise for its new content, graphics, gameplay and improvements over the original, but criticism for its short length. Its honors included a 46th-place ranking in a list of the Top 200 Games compiled by Nintendo Power. It was also named the ninth-best Game Boy Advance game by IGN.

Zero Mission had sold over 439,000 units in the United States and 69,000 in Japan as of February 2005. It was rereleased on the Virtual Console service for Wii U and the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service for Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay

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Samus faces off against Mother Brain. The scene from Metroid is shown on the left, while Metroid: Zero Mission is on the right.

Metroid: Zero Mission takes place on Planet Zebes, a large, open-ended world with areas connected by doors and elevators. The player controls Samus Aran as she travels through the planet's caverns and environments, hunting Space Pirates. Along the way, the player collects power-ups that enhance Samus's armor and weaponry, as well as grant her special abilities. These abilities allow Samus to access previously inaccessible areas,[1] so that the game can be played linearly or non-linearly. For example, the player may come across caverns that bypass certain sections, a method termed sequence breaking. To save their progress, players can enter either Save Rooms or Samus's ship on Crateria. As a remake of Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission's layout bears a resemblance to the original, and various powerups and items make reappearances from previous games in the series, with similar uses, effects, and appearances,[1] but it adds items, areas, and mini-bosses,[2] as well as a new area named Chozodia.[1]

Zero Mission is the first game in the Metroid series to include a sequence in which the player controls Samus without her Power Suit. In this sequence, Samus is more vulnerable to damage, must crawl through ducts on her hands and knees without the help of her Morph Ball mode, and has a weak pistol that briefly stuns enemies as her only weapon. Samus still retains all energy tanks she acquired previously.[3]

Completing the game unlocks an emulated version of the original Metroid. Zero Mission allows players to unlock the Metroid Fusion picture gallery by linking between Zero Mission and Fusion cartridges via the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable.[1]

Plot

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Space Pirates attack a Galactic Federation-owned space research vessel and seize samples of Metroid creatures. Dangerous floating organisms, Metroids can latch on to any organism and drain its life energy to kill it. The Space Pirates plan to replicate Metroids by exposing them to beta rays and use the Metroids as biological weapons to destroy all living beings that oppose them. While searching for the stolen Metroids, the Galactic Federation locates the Space Pirates' base of operations on the planet Zebes. The Federation assaults the planet, but the Pirates resist, forcing the Federation to retreat. As a last resort, the Federation decides to send a lone bounty hunter to penetrate the Pirates' base and destroy Mother Brain, the mechanical life-form that controls the Space Pirates' fortress and its defenses. Considered the greatest of all bounty hunters, Samus Aran is chosen for the mission.[1]

Samus lands on the surface of Zebes and explores the planet, traveling through the planet's caverns.[1] She comes across Kraid, an ally of the Space Pirates, and Ridley, the Space Pirates' commander, and defeats them both. Samus finds and destroys Mother Brain. While Samus leaves the planet in her ship, it is attacked by Space Pirates, causing it to crash back onto Zebes, near the Space Pirate Mothership.[6] With both her ship and Power Suit destroyed, Samus infiltrates the Mothership, leading her to Chozodia, where a Chozo Statue offers her a trial. Upon passing the trial, Samus is rewarded with a new fully upgraded Power Suit. Continuing to explore the Mothership, Samus reaches the Mecha Ridley,[7] a robot built in the likeness of Ridley. After defeating it, Samus escapes the planet using one of the Space Pirate's shuttles, while the Mothership self-destructs.[6]

Development

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Metroid: Zero Mission was directed by Yoshio Sakamoto, a Nintendo veteran who has been involved with the Metroid series since its debut with the Nintendo Entertainment System game,[8][9] and has played a role in every game in the series except for Metroid II: Return of Samus.[10] Sakamoto was the only member of the original Metroid development team to work on Zero Mission.[8]

While working on the concept for the next Metroid game after Metroid Fusion was released in 2002,[8] one of the developers for Fusion suggested that Super Metroid be ported to the Game Boy Advance, but Sakamoto decided to port the original Metroid instead.[11] The development team decided to return to the roots of Metroid gameplay by creating a game based on the NES original. Sakamoto, noting that Fusion's gameplay and structure were drastically different from previous games, wanted to "show people who had never played a Metroid game prior to Fusion, the roots of the Metroid franchise, that this is what Metroid is, this is the style of gameplay that Metroid sprang from [...] at the same time, retell the story of Samus's original mission".[8]

One of the biggest challenges that the developers faced was adding enough elements to Zero Mission to make it feel new, while keeping the spirit of the original Metroid. Because both games were made for the Game Boy Advance, Zero Mission uses a rebuilt version of the game engine used for Fusion so that it did not need to be built from scratch.[8] This marked the first time two Metroid installments have been released for the same video game console. Metroid Fusion had offered connectivity with Metroid Prime on the GameCube, and Zero Mission was planned to offer similar functionality with Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, but these plans ultimately fell through. Sakamoto explained that because there was not enough development time for Zero Mission, compounded by the fact that both of their release dates were too far apart, the team was prevented from doing so. They did, however, manage to include the ability for Fusion to connect with Zero Mission.[10]

In addition to retelling the plot from Metroid, Zero Mission introduces cinematics to push the story forward. Sakamoto believed in the importance of having a story to complement a game. He found it particularly difficult to convey the plot in a way that the player can understand, because of the sparse use of dialogue in the Metroid series. The story for Metroid: Zero Mission was rewritten to explore Samus Aran's backstory more than in the original Metroid. Cinematics are used to show Samus' memories to move the story forward and to keep the plot open for interpretation. Sakamoto said this was intended to expand the original story while retaining some mystery. The game is the first in the series to let the player choose a difficulty level at the start; each of three levels varies in the amount of damage caused by enemies with the third option only unlocked after finishing the campaign once.[8] The battle with Mother Brain marked the end of the original Metroid, but Zero Mission offers an extra story segment featuring Samus in her blue Zero Suit.[10]

Release

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Nintendo revealed Metroid: Zero Mission at the E3 convention in 2003,[12] and its North American release date of February 9, 2004 was announced later that year.[13] It was released in Australia on March 19,[14] in Europe on April 8,[15] and in Japan on May 27.[16]

Zero Mission was the best-selling Game Boy Advance game in the United States in its debut month, selling 151,807 units, and was the third-bestselling game across all video game systems in that month.[17] By May, sales dropped to seventh among Game Boy Advance games, with 31,619 copies sold and $938,681 in revenue.[18] By February 2005, it had sold over 439,000 units in the United States and 69,000 in Japan.[19]

Zero Mission was released on the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan on June 19, 2014.[20] This was followed by the release in Europe on March 12, 2015,[21] and in North America on January 14, 2016.[22] It was released for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service for Nintendo Switch on June 19, 2024.[23]

Reception

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Metroid: Zero Mission received "generally favorable reviews", according to Metacritic.[35] Several reviews named it one of the best Game Boy Advance games. The Japanese magazine Famitsu gave it a score of 34 out of 40.[16] X-Play and GamePro enjoyed the game; X-Play said it was "perfect for blasting space pirates on the go",[33] and GamePro was "constantly surprised" by it.[28] GameZone said it surpassed the "style and addictive action" of Metroid Fusion.[29] Nintendo World Report called the game a masterpiece and the perfect example of a Metroid game, saying it mixed all the best elements from the other games and layered them on top of the original Metroid level design and concepts.[32] Eurogamer appreciated every minute of the game and said it was one of the best games for the Game Boy Advance.[25]

A number of reviews were pleased with the content added to Zero Mission. Game Informer appreciated the new material, and believed that fans of the Metroid series would "absolutely adore" Zero Mission, which they considered one of the greatest games in history.[27] 1UP.com considered Zero Mission one of the "most ambitious, comprehensive and successful" remakes for a game such as Metroid, feeling it expanded on its source material with refined control, gameplay ideas retrofitted from its sequels, new plot elements for later games, and innovations which add complexity to the series.[24]

Criticism focused on the short length. IGN felt Zero Mission was a "weak one-shot experience" that players would only after they had completed it and played it again.[31] Eurogamer was also critical of the length. GamesRadar liked the game but felt it should have been longer.[25] GameSpot was disappointed with the length, but blamed the captivating quality that compelled them to complete the game in a few sittings.[2] GameSpy said Zero Mission was "stale" and that players less familiar with Metroid games would get more enjoyment from it.[9]

Nintendo Power named Zero Mission the 46th-best game for any Nintendo system in 2006.[36] In their March 2010 issue, they named Zero Mission the eighth-best game released on a Nintendo console in 2010s.[37] Zero Mission was voted IGN's Game Boy Advance Game of the Month for February 2004,[38] and IGN staff named it the best Game Boy adventure Game of 2004[39] and the ninth best Game Boy Advance Game.[40] GameSpot also named it the best Game Boy Advance game of February 2004,[41] and nominated it for the year-end "Best Game Boy Advance Game" award.[42] Electronic Gaming Monthly also named it the best handheld game of 2004.[43] During the 8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded Zero Mission with "Handheld Game of the Year".[44] Official Nintendo Magazine ranked the game 94th in a list of the best Nintendo games.[45] Nintendo Power also ranked it the best Game Boy Advance game of all-time in its August 2011 issue.[46] In 2020, IGN named Zero Mission the fifth-greatest video game remake.[47]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ Japanese: メトロイド ゼロミッション, Hepburn: Metoroido Zero Misshon
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f Metroid: Zero Mission Instruction Booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Kasavin, Greg (March 5, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission for Game Boy Advance Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  3. ^ Dunham, Alexis. "Metroid Zero Mission Game Guide – Walktrough: Part Five". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  4. ^ Quick, William Antonio (June 23, 2021). "Every Metroid Game In Chronological Order". TheGamer. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Parish, Jeremy (August 5, 2015). "Page 2 | "I was quite surprised by the backlash": Kensuke Tanabe on Metroid Prime Federation Force". VG247. Retrieved February 15, 2023. First off, [Yoshio] Sakamoto is behind the main series, taking care of all of that, the timeline. I'm in charge of the Prime series. I had the conversation with him to decide where exactly would be a good spot for me to stick the Prime universe into that whole timeline and the best place would be between Metroid II and Super Metroid. As you know, there are multiple titles in the Metroid Prime series, but everything takes place in that very specific point. Metroid Series go down the line, but with the Prime Universe, we have to stretch sideways to expand it as much as we can in that specific spot.
  6. ^ a b Nintendo R&D1 (February 9, 2004). Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Metroid: Zero Mission: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Canada: Nintendo of America Inc. 2004. p. 97. ISBN 1-930206-48-8.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Harris, Craig (January 30, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission Director Roundtable". IGN. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2005.
  9. ^ a b c Turner, Benjamin (February 6, 2004). "GameSpy: Metroid: Zero Mission Review". GameSpy. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  10. ^ a b c Lee, Justin (February 2, 2004). "Metroid Creator Talks Zero Mission". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  11. ^ "Nintendo on Metroid Zero Mission!". 2004-03-10. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  12. ^ Harris, Craig (May 13, 2003). "E3 2003: First Screens: Metroid: Zero Mission". IGN. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  13. ^ Harris, Craig (November 12, 2003). "Samus Gets a Date". IGN. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  14. ^ "She's Back!". Nintendo Australia. February 5, 2004. Archived from the original on April 2, 2004. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  15. ^ "Metroid: Zero Mission Release Summary". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  16. ^ a b メトロイド ゼロミッション [GBA]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  17. ^ "Software Sales". NPD Group. February 2004.
  18. ^ "Software Sales". NPD Group. May 2004.
  19. ^ "2004 Game Boy Advance titles database" (in Japanese). Shrine of Sales Data. Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  20. ^ Bivens, Danny (June 19, 2014). "Metroid: Zero Mission, Free Wii U Games, Pokémon Art Academy, More Hit the eShop in Japan". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  21. ^ Whitehead, Thomas (March 9, 2015). "Nintendo Download: 12th March (Europe)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  22. ^ Osborn, Alex (January 13, 2016). "Metroid: Zero Mission Coming to Wii U Virtual Console Tomorrow". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  23. ^ Shea, Brian. "Metroid, Perfect Dark, Zelda, And Turok Come To Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Today". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Metroid: Zero Mission Game Boy Advance Review Index". 1UP.com. February 9, 2004. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  25. ^ a b c Fahey, Rob (April 16, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission Review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 30, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  26. ^ "30 Point Plus: メトロイド ゼロミッション." Famitsu. No.1284. Pg.45. July 25, 2013.
  27. ^ a b McNamara, Andy. "Metroid: Zero Mission Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  28. ^ a b Stardingo (February 6, 2004). "Review: Metroid: Zero Mission". GamePro. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  29. ^ a b Zacarlas, Eduardo (February 15, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 2, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  30. ^ "Metroid: Zero Mission". GamesRadar. April 8, 2004. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  31. ^ a b Harris, Craig (February 6, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  32. ^ a b Metts, Jonathan (February 8, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  33. ^ a b "No zero". X-Play. Archived from the original on January 2, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  34. ^ "Metroid: Zero Mission Reviews". Game Rankings. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  35. ^ a b "Metroid: Zero Mission Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  36. ^ "NP Top 200". Nintendo Power. Vol. 200. February 2006. pp. 58–66.
  37. ^ "The Best of the Decade". Nintendo Power. Vol. 252. March 2010. pp. 68–77.
  38. ^ "GBA Game of the Month: February 2004". IGN. February 27, 2004. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  39. ^ Harris, Craig. "Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games of All Time". IGN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  40. ^ "IGN Game Boy Best of 2004 Awards: Best Adventure Game". IGN. March 17, 2007. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  41. ^ Staff (March 2, 2004). "GameSpot's Month in Review for February 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 4, 2004.
  42. ^ "Best and Worst of 2004". GameSpot. January 5, 2005. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005.
  43. ^ "Electronic Gaming Monthly and Computer Gaming World Announce the Best Games of 2004". Ziff Davis Media. February 8, 2005. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  44. ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Metroid: Zero Mission". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  45. ^ "100 Greatest Nintendo Games - The Complete List". Official Nintendo Magazine. March 3, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  46. ^ "Best Game Boy Advance games". Nintendo Power. August 2011.
  47. ^ "The Best Video Game Remakes". IGN. September 12, 2020. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
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