Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)

Its been a while, but I felt compelled to post about one of my favourite remakes of all time. Released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance, Metroid: Zero Mission is a retelling of the classic NES title Metroid. Updated from the ground up using the Metroid Fusion engine, Zero Mission sees heroine Samus Aran blast her way through the open ended caverns of planet Zebes, updating her suit and destroying the evil Mother Brain along the way. For those of you wondering, I am still yet to complete Super Metroid on the SNES (Don't close your browser in disgust!) but there is no doubt in my mind that fans of that game will enjoy this one.


Zero Mission's presentation is second to none. After the beautifully drawn stills that introduce the game, you are greeted to a title screen not too dissimilar to the NES original. The updated Metroid theme that plays when you boot up the cart is a thing of beauty and sets the game up perfectly. The trademark suspenseful chords coupled with THAT cosmic melody further cement it's status as one of the greatest video game themes of all time. Best enjoyed with headphones of course, the GBA speaker fails to do it justice.


Once started, Zero Mission delivers truly alien environments that are a joy to explore. Each part of the map feels organic and the bold cavernous backgrounds contrast from area to area. Again if you are familiar with Super Metroid, Prime etc. then you will know what to expect, ancient temples, canyons, hieroglyph-esque drawings, caverns, nooks, crannies and your other traditional Metroid sci fi interiors. A collection of suit upgrades allow you to progress further through said levels and you really get an increased sense of power with each new ability. Screwattack, icebeam, morphball and bombs are all present, plus more.
Later on in the game, you are stripped of all your abilities and for me personally, this is where the game really plays its cards. After losing your suit and all upgrades, you are left to evade the Space Pirates with only your weak emergency pistol. This segment of the game relies on stealth and will have you running around in sheer panic if detected. It's very rare that suspense and absolute panic are conveyed so well within a basic 2D setting, especially for a handheld console. Combined with some screen filling bosses and gorgeous storyboarding, Zero Mission is an excellent package and probably my favourite Metroid game.



Clocking in at just under two hours, Zero Mission has become a favourite among speed runners. Completing the game within a certain time limit unlocks various gallery stills of Samus in and out of her suit. The original NES version of Metroid has also been included on the cart for those who have never played it before. Although a little on the short side, Zero Mission is a classic case of quality not quantity and is well suited to the Game Boy Advance in that it is perfect to play in short bursts or for two hours straight. Finding every rocket and health upgrade will sure take you some time.


Overall the game bears all the classic hallmarks of a great Metroid game, complete with appearances from Ridley and Mother Brain along with the key elements of exploration and weapon upgrading that the series is renowned for. An audio/visual treat, Metroid: Zero Mission is one of the best games available for the Game Boy Advance.