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Forum Overview
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Deleted Posts
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by Voyons Donc 03/20/2006, 1:32pm PST |
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I guess what happened is that after Nintendo rehabilitated the Metroid franchise with Prime for Gamecube and Fusion for GBA, they went back and looked at the earlier games. If you bust out the SNES emulator and play Super Metroid you'll find that it still holds up really well and is still enjoyable almost ten years after its release. Metroid for NES has aged so badly that it's basically unplayable. For example, you have to toggle between beam and missiles with the select button. After playing Super Metroid (which lets you switch between the different weapons with the shoulder buttons) and Fusion (in which you hold R to fire missiles so that you can alternate beam and missiles on the fly) you just can't go back. They must have realized that though those of us who played it remember Metroid One though a rose-colored haze of nostalgia, a sizable portion of their audience wasn't alive yet when the NES title came out, and that they had no memory of it and wouldn't be able to enjoy it on the off chance that they tried it using NESticle. They also must have realized that they could sell these kids a brand new Metroid while getting the over-25 crowd with the nostalgia angle. So they made Zero Mission, which is a remake and modernization of Metroid One.
The game opens with a paragraph of introductory prologue text from Samus, in which she explains that this is the story of her first mission against the space pirates, which is apparently supposed to give us the impression that we're getting the true full story that we weren't prepared for back in 1986. Now it can be told!
The level design is based on Metroid One and it more or less recreates the same series of worlds or levels, but it doesn't conform exactly to the original maps. For example, the area that looked like it was made of bubbles of green and red glass is reproduced pretty faithfully (I think that one's called Norfair), and the opening world (Brinstar) is as blue-gray and bland as you remember (first thing you do is go left and pick up the morph ball). There are some rooms that are absolutely identical, even to the extent that you'll remember which block you have to bomb to get the missile upgrade. The visual theme is some sort of a mid-'80s comic book deal. Samus' power suit is the original clunky yellow and red design instead of the rounded shoulders from the first Game Boy title and Super Metroid. The scrolling level backgrounds are extremely simple, often just two or three shades of the same color and black, and this produces an effect that reminds you of the NES game and old comic books like Rom the Silver Spaceknight.
(Speaking of Rom, it just dawned on me that it was probably one of the major inspirations for Metroid. Rom had a power suit; Samus has a power suit. Rom had a gun that was part of his suit; Samus has a gun that's part of her suit. Rom had an x-ray scanner, Samus... had one in Super Metroid. Okay, maybe not.)
Zero Mission brings in some of the items that were introduced later in the series like the dash that lets you break through some walls if you build up a head of steam, super missiles and bombs, and one item that lets you grab onto ledges and pull yourself up or jump off like you could in Fusion. The levels are altered from the original to account for all the new shit you GET EQUIP WITH. There's also at least one new area (the Chozo Ruins). There's no dialogue or mission briefings like in Fusion, but every so often when Samus finds a Chozo idol (the bird things that hold the items in little spheres) it'll give her a vision or hallucination of the general area where she needs to go next on the map, which eliminates the need to take notes like you had to with the NES game. There are also some animated cutscenes after big events like killing a boss, all done in a very '80s visual style.
I haven't finished the game yet, but all indications are that it's pretty short. Think maybe five hours on your first playthrough. I'm about two and a half hours in and I'm about to fight Ripley, which I suppose is at least halfway through. This is traditional for the Metroid games, and your ultimate objective will probably be to finish it in under three hours so that you can see the best ending (ie. the smallest swimsuit).
There's some kind of useless bullshit connectivity with Fusion, the previous GBA title. Supposedly you can link a GBA with Zero Mission to a GBA with Fusion and unlock some kind of gallery in ZM, probably of the pictures from the different endings from Fusion. Yeah, thanks Nintendo. I exchanged Fusion months ago after playing though it three times. The real bonus is that finishing the game unlocks the NES original in all its hideous glory, with a save feature so that it'll at least be feasible to attempt a playthrough. All of this is promised in the back of the manual. Can't wait.
Anyway, it's good. You'll probably get the most out of it if you've played the NES game and can pick up on all the little references and retro touches. I'll probably play though it three times before exchanging it, never getting the best ending, which is exactly what I did with Fusion.
By the way, the best reference to the NES original is at the title screen. The word "Metroid" is blue and it flashes red every couple of seconds, just like the title screen did back in 1986.
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The closest you'll get to an easy way to browse the deleted posts. by Creexul :( 03/13/2006, 6:02am PST 
So Jsoh and I both finished Sacrifice finally. by Creexul :( 03/13/2006, 6:51am PST
Metroid Prime 2 by Rafiki 03/19/2006, 12:52pm PST
Viewtiful Joe by Forensic 03/19/2006, 12:58pm PST
Mega Man: battle network: Blue version by Mischief Maker 03/19/2006, 12:59pm PST
Morrowing vs Daggerfall... FIGHT! by Ice Cream Jonsey 03/19/2006, 1:02pm PST
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence == Rygar with vampires, except better by godamit 03/19/2006, 1:03pm PST
SSX3 (PS2) by Fussbett 03/19/2006, 1:04pm PST
Re: SSX3 (PS2) by Ivan Dork It 03/20/2006, 3:23am PST
It's an in-joke for that time period. by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 8:57am PST
no no no by Ivan Dork It 03/20/2006, 10:57pm PST
Re: no no no by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 11:14pm PST
Re: no no no by Ivan Dork It 03/21/2006, 3:40am PST
Solved by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 9:50am PST
Crimson Skies (XBOX) by Funkula 03/19/2006, 1:05pm PST
Kirby Air Ride by Funkula 03/19/2006, 1:06pm PST
INC Reel Roundup and/or Cinema Showdown, pardner (plenty spoilers) by I need clarification 03/19/2006, 1:09pm PST
OH GOD THE SUCK! (Matrix 3) by Mischief Maker 03/19/2006, 1:10pm PST
Fire Emblem (GBA) by Funkula 03/19/2006, 1:11pm PST
So this Deus Ex 2 demo sure is short and small by Roop Dirump 03/19/2006, 1:13pm PST
MANHUNT (PS2) by Fussbett 03/19/2006, 1:14pm PST
KOTOR, PC by mrs. johnson 03/19/2006, 1:14pm PST
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun by Creexul ^_^ 03/19/2006, 1:15pm PST
Atari 10-in-1 by Ice Cream Jonsey 03/19/2006, 1:15pm PST
Gravitar by Ice Cream Jonsey 03/20/2006, 2:35am PST
Where did you get your Vectrex flashcart? Review plz. NT by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 9:00am PST
First impression: Godzilla Destroy all monsters (XBox) by Mischief Maker 03/19/2006, 1:16pm PST
Mech Assault (X-Box) by Mischief Maker 03/19/2006, 1:17pm PST
this really isn't a good review of this game :( by Weyoun Voidbringer 05/24/2009, 4:44pm PDT
ok I should do a real and honest review so the correct opinion is here by Weyoun Voidbringer 05/24/2009, 5:46pm PDT
Battlestar Galactica (X-Box) by Mischief Shai-hulud 03/19/2006, 1:18pm PST
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by FABIO 03/19/2006, 1:19pm PST
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (PS2) by FABIO 01/24/2007, 6:41am PST
Phantom Crash (XBOX) by Funkula 03/19/2006, 1:20pm PST
Age of Mythology: The Titans, worst demo ever by FABIO 03/19/2006, 1:21pm PST
Bujingai (PS2) (Jap) by Fussbett 03/19/2006, 1:25pm PST
Gackt the Gamer by Fussbett 06/23/2009, 12:53am PDT
I enjoyed this clip too much to say anything funny about it. by Zsenitanuki 06/30/2009, 2:28pm PDT
Ratchet And Clank -- Going Commando by Rigthbug 03/19/2006, 1:26pm PST
Re: Ratchet And Clank -- Going Commando NT by Quentin Beck 12/13/2007, 5:01am PST
Pithy review of Dynasty Tactics 2 by curst 03/19/2006, 1:28pm PST
Panzer Dragoon Orta (XBox) by Mischief Maker 03/19/2006, 1:28pm PST
I am TOTALLY freaked the fuck out right now (Beyond good & Evil) by Mischief Maker 03/19/2006, 1:31pm PST
NFL Street by Ice Cream Jonsey 03/19/2006, 1:32pm PST
Baldur's Gate 2 Dark Alliance 2 (Playstation 2) by Creexul ^_^ 03/19/2006, 1:33pm PST
Re: A bitter appraisal by Kab(uke) Seme by Kab(uke) Seme 03/19/2006, 1:35pm PST
Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns by FABIO 03/19/2006, 1:36pm PST
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic by elwonko 03/20/2006, 1:24pm PST
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles- first two hours impressions by FABIO 03/20/2006, 1:26pm PST
Mac fans: still flaming homos. by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 1:28pm PST
It kicks ass. by Frank McGillicutty 03/20/2006, 1:31pm PST
Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA) by Voyons Donc 03/20/2006, 1:32pm PST
Zone of the Enders 2 full review by Mischief Zero-Shift 03/20/2006, 1:33pm PST
Zwwwweeee fighting? by Souffle of Pain 02/07/2007, 11:54am PST
There was a link that was lost in the transfer by MMore Woman than you'll ever have 02/07/2007, 1:15pm PST
It was that pussy bitch who posts as me by Souffle of Pain 02/07/2007, 1:20pm PST
Colin McRae Rally 04 (PS2 EURO) by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 1:48pm PST
Along those lines by Mischief Maker 03/20/2006, 1:53pm PST
Culdcept (PS2) by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 1:54pm PST
Reactions by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 3:45pm PST
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 4:41pm PST
That one didn't get deleted. But I approve of the effort. NT by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 10:09pm PST
Silent Hill 3 (PS2) (PAL version) by Fussbett 03/20/2006, 4:43pm PST
AIM log review of Everything or Nothing. by Creexul ^_^ 03/21/2006, 5:50pm PST
Ninja Gaiden: I love this game!/I HATE THIS MOTHERFUCKING COCKSUCKING GAME! by Mischief Maker 03/21/2006, 5:51pm PST
The Suffering by curst 03/21/2006, 5:52pm PST
Review: Samurai Warriors by False 03/21/2006, 5:53pm PST
Red Dead Revolver (PS2) by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 5:58pm PST
Siren: Curst was right by FABIO 03/21/2006, 5:59pm PST
More Broussard forum posts by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 6:02pm PST
Front page this, please NT by Souffle of Pain 03/21/2006, 8:34pm PST
It's old though. NT by Fussbett 03/22/2006, 11:24am PST
I know it goes without saying, but Fussbett and INC make the best logs. by Jerry Whorebach 05/24/2009, 5:12pm PDT
jhoh NT by Weyoun Voidbringer 05/24/2009, 5:48pm PDT
I'm relieved Jhoh is publishing the book, because it sounds like a lot of work. NT by Fussbett 05/24/2009, 8:26pm PDT
Then when it comes out it's all switched with Mranduh logs. 8( NT by Creexuls, a monster >:3 05/25/2009, 1:41am PDT
JUNK II by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 6:10pm PST
Dvorak saying there were great 3D0 games is still as good now as it was then NT by Ice Cream Jonsey 05/24/2009, 5:18pm PDT
Junk by Fussbett 03/21/2006, 11:00pm PST
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