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90So while it's a somewhat weak one-shot experience, digging deeper after it's done is where much of the reward comes from.
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95It's hard to imagine a Game Boy Advance game that could match the style and addictive action of "Metroid Fusion," but Zero Mission surpasses even the now classic handheld game quite easily.
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The bosses alone are worth the price of admission. You don't have to be Metroid fan to appreciate it - but after you play it, chances are you will be.
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The new content is spectacular, and fans of the series will absolutely adore this special edition...One of the greatest titles in the history of gaming. [Feb 2004, p.113]
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100Rarely does a game (much less a GBA one) keep the player so constantly surprised. [Mar 2004, p.75]
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90Every minute of that five hours was excellent, and Zero Mission takes its place as one of the finest titles in the GBA's already impressive pantheon of platformers. However, we can't help but wish that it had been longer.
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90It is quite possibly the most ambitious, comprehensive and successful remake ever attempted for a game of this type. Far more than a mere graphical upgrade, MZM 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 jaw-droppingly cool innovations which add new layers of complexity to the series.
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100While not without its minor shortcomings, Metroid: Zero Mission is damn enjoyable and perfect for blasting space pirates on the go.
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They've taken a beloved classic game, reinvented it, rethought it, retooled it, and come up with a new game that is not only better, but vastly superior in almost every way. [Feb 2004, p.52]
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You can't ignore Zero Mission's artful graphics, haunting soundtrack, and brilliantly balanced gameplay. This is a must-have for all GBA owners. [March 2004, p.128]
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90The original Metroid is also an unlockable bonus, which provides a great demonstration of how far video games have come in just under two decades.
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The Metroid series has never looked or played better. If you're worrying that MZM is just a graphical update to Metroid, don't. The game is much larger than the first Metroid, and it contains far more new than old. [Mar 2004, p.117]
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It's one of those titles that is equal parts nostalgia, new content, and addictive play that is the hallmark of so many "instant" classic games nowadays.
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90An excellent game to introduce someone to the Metroid universe.
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A masterpiece...This is the epitome of Metroid gameplay. The designers carefully mix all the best elements from the other games and layer them on top of the already brilliant level design and concepts of the original Metroid.
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90It's the kind of game that makes Gamestyle thumb its nose at the third dimension... collectively question the latter-day wisdom for 'bigger and better' experiences. Metroid: Zero Mission may be relatively small, but it's perfectly formed.
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90Besides the slight easiness and linearity of the main game, there isn't much to complain about. There is an added bonus to this game in that the game actually has further story after you escape from Zebes, and the gameplay goes in a direction never explored in the Metroid series.
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100In the end, Metroid: Zero Mission is not just a new snapshot of where the series began; it is a panorama of where the series has gone over the last two decades. By combining elements from several Metroid installments, Zero Mission unifies the overarching story of Samus Aran and sheds new light on her unusual childhood.
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92A great bit of gaming that should be enjoyed instead of rushed so make sure you explore the whole game because it will all be over too soon. I guess all wonderful things come in small packages.
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89Should you buy it? Well, simply because of the quality we'd have to say 'yes' - but next time Nintendo, please, make the experience last longer. [NGC]
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91A treat for the senses with fantastic gameplay, a rather strong story, given the nature of the series, and plenty of alien-blasting action, it's going to be tough to find a better GBA game in 2004.
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92The developers at Nintendo fixed the game up, minimized its flaws, and gave it new life. The result is a game that, in my opinion, beats the original by a few strides.
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90Where Zero Mission really adds to the legend is in the game's challenging surprise ending...this isn't your daddy's Metroid. [Mar 2004, p.92]
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93Metroid: Zero Mission offers a perfect balance of retro gameplay with new graphics, sounds, story, and a few surprises.
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90One of the few games that comes close to perfection. The gameplay is exciting and easy to learn, the graphics are phenomenal, the soundtrack is great, the extras are awesome… but the length of the game is painfully short and the skill level needed to get through it is minimal.
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93The new areas are some of the most challenging in the Metroid series, and although it does get easy the more you practice, it will take some time getting use to.
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90Not only does it exhibit and exemplify some of the best 2D level design for almost any action adventure game ever seen, but it also offers a wealth of engrossing replayability for those that wish to explore the gloomy depths of the infamous Zebes.
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89It bridges the gap between the original and Metroid Prime better than Metroid Fusion did. Unfortunately, it's so similar to the others that it almost seems like 'just another Metroid'. It's not.
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The only real knock against it is its length. Coming in at four hours just does not cut it. There are multiple endings the higher the completion percentage, and the original Metroid for comparisons sake, but the brevity of the adventure hurts an otherwise great title.
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90The game play is fairly brisk and the obligatory cut scenes are brief and well rendered - it looks like a classic "Iron Man" comic rather than schlocky animation.
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95Where Metroid's short length is an asset, it is more likely that you will play through it again because the time investment is very amiable.
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91The most disappointing part though was completely raping each boss in the game with a flurry of missiles. There is little challenge. This shortens the game into four or five hours, making it quick and dirty for game players.
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The sceneries are so good that they'll make it seem like you're playing a new Metroid rather than just a remake.
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Play this Metroid adventure and you'll be reminded just why Nintendo ruled the game industry in the late 1980's. [19 Mar 2004, p.L2T 14]
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95One of the all-time great GBA games. Don't miss it. [Summer 2004, p.30]
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88Graphically, the game manages to trump even Metroid Fusion, which itself outdoes Super Metroid.
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Rarely are games so well judged and lovingly crafted as this, and we defy anyone playing Metroid: Zero Mission not to lament the fact that brand new 2D gems like this could become a rare occurrence when the PSP moves hand-helds into 3D-ville.