Title: Metroid: Zero Mission
System: Gameboy Advance
Publisher: Nintendo
Circa: 2004


Intro
The second Metroid title released for the Gameboy Advance. This game builds and expands on the events of the original Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System. While the NES version of Metroid is a classic, this redux of it offers a wide range of new content and the areas have been expanded and changed slightly to take advantage of the new abilities that Samus has.

Story
This story's focus is Samus's "Zero Mission". This tells the story of her first adventure to Zebes, the former Chozo Homeworld and Samus's own home, "in more peaceful times". The Space Pirates have taken over the planet and brought in these mysterious creatures called "Metroids". The Mysterious Bounty Hunter Samus Aran is sent to Zebes to counter this threat.

Gameplay
This game in many ways builds on the features and abilities offered in Metroid Fusion. Samus gains the ability to grab ledges, has Regular and Super Missiles and Regular and Power Bombs. The shoulder buttons still allow for the changing of weapon type and allow for aiming on a diagonal. This seems to have become a stable of the series since Super Metroid. Samus will also receive the usual Varia and Gravity Suit upgrades as well with the mixing beam weapons. She will also gain her ledge-grab ability with a particular upgrade as well.

With all these changes, there are still little rewards for having played the original Metroid. Much of what one knows about that game can carry over. Several hidden items have not moved at all, which makes it very easy to manage. The Morph Ball is still found by running to the left of the very start of the game.

The biggest change is an entirely new segment of the game. After completing the main game, Samus is leaving Zebes when she is shot down by some surviving Space Pirates. Having removed her Power Armor, she must navigate the Space Pirate Ship, avoiding confrontations. She will regain her Power Armor after a point and face down a new Final Boss.

Multiplayer
None.

Controls
Much of the same from Metroid Fusion. It does take some getting used to, mostly the aiming diagonally and switching between the weapon types with the shoulder buttons. The game is still fairly easy to control.

Graphics
This game is very close in style to Metroid Fusion. It does offer something of a more traditional look though. Samus's Power Armor goes through its usual color scheme changes as it upgrades.

Sound Effects & Music
For better or worse, the music got updated slightly. It remains fairly close to the source material, so it is very easy to recognize for what it is. The Sound Effects are on par for the series, making them decent.

Obscurity
Fallen much more into obscurity at this point. It will be better known by fans of the series

Summary/Author's Take
While not exactly a favorite Metroid, it offers a nice amalgum of the modern style to the old platformer style that made the original Metroid game what it was. This game also introduced "Zero Suit Samus" with the second part of the game. Stealth has never been a big part of this series but I tend to deal with it though it does take quite a bit of practice or time to really get through it. The rest of the game though is very enjoyable and usually something I look forward to beating or at least playing a good bit.

Story: 82%            Simple, but solid.
Gameplay: 92%        Builds on Metroid Fusion, taking it more classical.
Multiplayer: n/a        None.
Controls: 96%            A little time to learn.
Graphics: 92%            Improves on Metroid Fusion.
SFX & Music: 86%        Better than Fusion.
Obscurity: 65%            There was a Zero Mission for Metroid?
Overall: 92%            An improvement on the original Metroid.