Metroid Zero Mission (2004)
by Nintendo R&D1 and Yoshio Sakamoto
Metroid: Zero Mission is a remake and reimagining of the original Metroid (1986), developed by Nintendo R&D1 and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. It revitalizes the original NES game with modernized graphics, updated mechanics, a deeper narrative, and entirely new content that expands the universe and story of Samus Aran, one of gaming’s most iconic protagonists
Story & Setting
The game follows Samus Aran, a lone bounty hunter, as she travels to the planet Zebes to stop the Space Pirates, who are using parasitic creatures called Metroids for biological warfare. The mission is to infiltrate their base, defeat Mother Brain (the AI in control), and prevent disaster.
Zero Mission expands on this core plot with cinematic cutscenes and Chozo lore, offering more context about Samus's childhood, her adoption by the Chozo, and the origins of her Power Suit. It also explores her resilience and ingenuity during a critical post-mission escape.
Gameplay Mechanics
Zero Mission is a 2D Metroidvania — a mix of platforming, exploration, and action where gaining new items and abilities unlocks access to previously unreachable areas. Key features include:
• Power-Ups: Missile Tanks, Morph Ball, Bombs, Ice Beam, Varia Suit, Speed Booster, and more.
• Exploration-Based Progression: You’ll constantly backtrack to old areas with new abilities to uncover secrets.
• Map System: A detailed, color-coded map helps with navigation, solving a key flaw in the original.
• Tight Controls: Movement and combat are fluid, with responsive controls suited to modern players.
New Content & Enhancements
While it closely follows the structure of the original Metroid, Zero Mission adds significant new gameplay and narrative segments:
• Zero Suit Samus: After completing the "original" mission, Samus’s gunship is shot down. She escapes without her Power Suit, forcing her into a tense, stealth-based infiltration of a Space Pirate mothership using only her agility and a stun pistol.
• New Areas: Chozodia (the Space Pirate base) and various hidden Chozo ruins weren’t present in the 1986 version.
• Boss Battles: Several bosses were redesigned or newly added, including Mecha Ridley.
• Save Stations: Replacing passwords from the NES version, save points make progress much more manageable.
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 Classics service for Nintendo Switch.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid:_Zero_Mission