Metroid: Zero Mission

Metroid: Zero Mission[lower-alpha 1] is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Research & Development 1 (R&D1) and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance on February 9, 2004. 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 received acclaim for its new content, graphics, gameplay and improvements over the original, though it received minor criticism for its short length. The game received several honors, including 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. It had sold over 439,000 units in the United States and 69,000 in Japan as of February 2005. The game was released on the Wii U's Virtual Console in Japan on June 19, 2014, in PAL regions on March 12, 2015, and in North America on January 14, 2016.

Gameplay
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 areas that were previously inaccessible,[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] However, the game adds new items, areas, and mini-bosses,[2] as well as a completely 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 portion of the game, 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. Notably, Samus still retains all energy tanks she acquired previously.[3]

Completion of the game unlocks an emulated version of the original Metroid game. Zero Mission also 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
Metroid
Story chronology
Main series in bold, remakes in parentheses
[4][5]

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 then using them 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 eventually comes across Kraid, an ally of the Space Pirates, and Ridley, the Space Pirates' commander, and defeats them both. Along the way, Samus finds and destroys Mother Brain. While Samus leaves the planet in her gunship, it is attacked by Space Pirates, causing it to crash back onto Zebes, near the Space Pirate Mothership.[6] With both her Gunship and Power Suit destroyed, Samus infiltrates the Mothership, eventually 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 eventually 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

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.[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 Nintendo 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 new 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 game's plot accurately 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 claimed that 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 of the game; 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

Nintendo first 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] In other territories, Zero Mission was released in Australia on March 19,[14] in Europe on April 8,[15] and in Japan on May 27.[16] The game was later re-released on the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan on June 19, 2014.[17] This was followed by the release in Europe on March 12, 2015,[18] and in North America on January 14, 2016.[19]

Zero Mission was ranked the best-selling Game Boy Advance game in the United States in its debut month of February 2004, selling 151,807 units, and was the 3rd best-selling game across all video game systems in that month.[20] By May, the game's sales dropped to 7th among Game Boy Advance games, with 31,619 copies sold and $938,681 in revenue.[21] By February 2005, the game had sold over 439,000 units in the United States and 69,000 in Japan.[22]

Reception

Metroid: Zero Mission was given "generally favorable reviews", according to Metacritic.[24] The game was praised by a number of reviews, several which called it one of the best games available for the Game Boy Advance. Japanese game magazine Famitsu gave the game a score of 34 out of 40.[16] X-Play and GamePro enjoyed the game; X-Play said the game was "perfect for blasting space pirates on the go",[34] and GamePro was "constantly surprised" with what the game offered.[29] GameZone said it surpassed the "style and addictive action" of Metroid Fusion.[31] Nintendo World Report called the game a masterpiece and the perfect example of how a Metroid game should be done, saying that the designers carefully mixed all the best elements from the other games and layered them on top of the original level design and concepts of the original Metroid.[33] Eurogamer appreciated every minute of the game, affirming that Metroid: Zero Mission should be considered one of the best games available for the Game Boy Advance.[26]

A number of reviews were pleased with the new content added to Metroid: Zero Mission. Game Informer appreciated the new material, and believed that fans of the Metroid series would "absolutely adore" Metroid: Zero Mission, which they considered one of the greatest video games in the history of gaming.[28] 1UP.com considered Metroid: Zero Mission to be one of the "most ambitious, comprehensive and successful" remakes for a game such as Metroid, noting that Metroid: Zero Mission expands on its source material with refined control, gameplay ideas retrofitted from its sequels, new plot hooks for subsequent chapters of the saga, and some innovations which add new layers of complexity to the series.[25]

Criticism of the game stemmed from its short length. Regarded as a "weak one-shot experience", IGN felt that players would enjoy the game only after they had completed it and played it again.[32] Eurogamer was also critical of the length. Even though GamesRadar liked the game's quality, they said that Nintendo should have "[made] the experience last longer".[26] GameSpot was disappointed with the "short-lived experience", but blamed the game's captivating quality that compelled them to complete the game in a few sittings.[2] Calling Metroid: Zero Mission stale, GameSpy asserted that players less familiar with Metroid games would get more enjoyment out of it because of its similarities to previous Metroid games.[9]

The game was ranked the 46th-best game for any Nintendo system in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.[35] In their March 2010 issue, the magazine also ranked Metroid: Zero Mission as the eighth-best game to be released on a Nintendo console in the 2000 decade, in their "Best of the Decade" feature.[36] Metroid: Zero Mission was voted IGN's Game Boy Advance Game of the Month for February 2004,[37] and IGN staff named it the best Game Boy adventure Game of 2004[38] and the ninth best Game Boy Advance Game.[39] GameSpot also named it the best Game Boy Advance game of February 2004,[40] and nominated it for the year-end "Best Game Boy Advance Game" award.[41] Electronic Gaming Monthly also named it the best handheld game of 2004.[42] During the 8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded Metroid: Zero Mission with "Handheld Game of the Year".[43] Official Nintendo Magazine ranked the game 94th in a list of the best Nintendo games.[44] Nintendo Power also ranked it the best Game Boy Advance game of all-time in its August 2011 issue.[45] In 2020, IGN named Zero Mission the fifth-greatest video game remake.[46]

References
Notes
  1. Japanese: メトロイド ゼロミッション, Hepburn: Metoroido Zero Misshon
Citations
  1. Metroid: Zero Mission Instruction Booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  2. 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. Nintendo R&D1 (February 9, 2004). Metroid: Zero Mission (Game Boy Advance). Nintendo.
  7. Metroid: Zero Mission: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Canada: Nintendo of America Inc. 2004. p. 97. ISBN 1-930206-48-8.
  8. Harris, Craig (January 30, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission Director Roundtable". IGN. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2005.
  9. Turner, Benjamin (February 6, 2004). "GameSpy: Metroid: Zero Mission Review". GameSpy. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  10. 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.
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  16. 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.
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  20. "Software Sales". NPD Group. February 2004.
  21. "Software Sales". NPD Group. May 2004.
  22. "2004 Game Boy Advance titles database" (in Japanese). Shrine of Sales Data. Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
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  24. "Metroid: Zero Mission Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  25. "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.
  26. Fahey, Rob (April 16, 2004). "Metroid: Zero Mission Review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 30, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  27. "30 Point Plus: メトロイド ゼロミッション." Famitsu. No.1284. Pg.45. July 25, 2013.
  28. McNamara, Andy. "Metroid: Zero Mission Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  29. Stardingo (February 6, 2004). "Review: Metroid: Zero Mission". GamePro. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
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  35. "NP Top 200". Nintendo Power. Vol. 200. February 2006. pp. 58–66.
  36. "The Best of the Decade". Nintendo Power. Vol. 252. March 2010. pp. 68–77.
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  38. Harris, Craig. "Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games of All Time". IGN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  39. "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.
  40. Staff (March 2, 2004). "GameSpot's Month in Review for February 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 4, 2004.
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  42. "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.
  43. "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Metroid: Zero Mission". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  44. "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.
  45. "Best Game Boy Advance games". Nintendo Power. August 2011.
  46. "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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