Metroid: Zero Mission astonished me with how good it was. Ages ago I tried to play both Metroid NES and Super Metroid - both of which I bounced off of. I just found movement and aiming clunky in both, though I will try SM again soon.
I played Dread when it launched and that was incredible, everything feels so tight and precise. Even if I’m methodically combing through to 100% it, everything happens exactly when I want it to, so I feel like I’m rocketing through the area. I always tell myself I’ll stop at the next save room, and then zoom through it cuz of the incredible flow state I end up in.
What surprised me about Zero Mission was how few changes it needs to feel exactly like that, most of which are just hardware limitations. I missed the 360 aiming, general world traversal doesn’t feel as good without it, but the GBA doesn’t have a joystick so of course that wouldn’t work. I missed the slide, double tapping into the morph ball just didn’t feel as good as sliding and morphing in the same quick motion. But like, that’s it? Other than that it feels just as good as Dread, which for clarity is the game I’ve replayed the most. The main loop of running and exploring and unlocking abilities was absolutely incredible.
I don’t think the bosses were good, like at all. Fighting Kraid I realized it was the same pattern as Dread, died twice super early, and then killed home without taking hardly any damage. I stumbled into the Ridley fight, unloaded a bunch of missiles, and then won. Mother Brain my first few attempts I was wondering if anyone had ever beaten this fight because the amount of stuff in that room is way too high - I died a few times on the approach, those rooms are packed. Then my final attempt, in a new session, I did all the same things, and cleared super easily first try. With the bosses I never felt like I was learning patterns or beating an enemy, I felt like I just got lucky, every single boss, every single victory, it was really unsatisfying.
When the suit gets taken away, I was interested at the start, but quickly realized those parts weren’t great. Because stuff like Samus’ height and the enemy’s vision wasn’t communicated well, I stumbled through the final area. It was very difficult, but not very fun. Taking the power suit away is a really interesting idea, but I don’t think it worked. I didn’t feel tense, I felt annoyed. Maybe worked after all though, cuz when I got my suit back I was cackling until the end of the game. The Brinstar music came back, now with cymbals, you’re tearing through the pirates, it’s amazing.