Quite possibly no game has ever needed a remake quite as desperately as the original Metroid, a game bursting with fresh ideas and artistic talent that unfortunately came too early to take advantage of it. Seriously, a metroidvania without a map is nigh unplayable. So how fortunate we are to have received this game. Metroid: Zero Mission is a faithful recreation of the original experience, minus the getting hopelessly lost, the empty backgrounds, the lack of any idea where you're supposed to go next to progress, and, in general, all the bad parts. It overcompensates a little too much at times and gets handholdy, but if that's too big of an issue, the original game is included in this one as a reward for beating it!

There are a few problems. Some of the controls are still janky (looking at you, screw attack), some of the flashing effects are overwhelming, and I have mixed feelings on the final chapter. The stealth mission segment is fun and creative, but is not a satisfying follow-up to fighting mother brain and doesn't suit the game's style very well. However, getting that overpowered suit at the end and blasting through everything with the triumphant music is definitely a more fitting conclusion. I only wish the final boss was more climactic. A few super missiles, and he's dead. Way easier than mother brain.

Overall, this is the definitive way to experience the first metroid, and I'm so glad it got a second chance.