If you own a Game Boy Advance or SP and you haven't already bought Nintendo's new "Metroid Zero Mission," I have one question: What are you waiting for?
This game, released in early February, is awesome, another masterpiece following Nintendo's original Game Boy Advance magnum opus "Metroid Fusion," which came out a few years ago.
I do have one small complaint.
This game was a little too easy. While the game still has some hard parts, the bosses weren't all that hard to conquer. For instance, I beat Metroid's most famous (arguably) boss Ridley on my first try.
So while I can't say "Zero Mission" is as good as "Metroid Fusion," overall this game rocks. It's kind of like comparing New York steak to filet minon. Yeah, one's better than the other, but you're not whining about either.
"Metroid Zero Mission" is actually a remake of Nintendo's original "Metroid," which came out in the mid '80s. While some remakes of old games flop, this one works well.
Like "Metroid Fusion," "Zero Mission" follows the story of bounty hunter Samus Aran, who has to be the most bodacious female to ever enter the video game arena.
"Fusion," I believe, was the fourth installment of Samus' story, while "Zero Mission" is a prequel retelling Samus' original adventure.
The story unfolds as the bounty hunter heads to planet Zebes where she battles space pirates and eventually Mother Brain. Besides Ridley, who you actually have to face twice in different forms, the game brings back the infamous Kraid, who is Metroid's largest boss. Toward the end, Samus ends up in a sort of ancient Egyptian tomb where she discovers some strange hieroglyphics and what seems to be a mirror into her past.
Maybe the best part of any "Metroid" game, including "Zero Mission," is the scavenger hunt for new weapons and powers that Samus can use throughout the game.
As she battles the space pirates and other creatures, there are numerous secret passages and hidden doors that, when found, lead Samus to new discoveries that will aid her quest. The space pirate fortress has been rebuilt for "Zero Mission" and if you're not careful, you can get lost. Sometimes you'll find yourself seemingly trapped in a few rooms with no way out. It took me several minutes of careful searching before I could find my way out of some situations.
To help you get through the various levels — Crateria, Brinstar, Norfair, Kraid, Ridley and Tourian — there is map screen outlining parts of the fortress on Zebes. The controllability of this game is perfect for Game Boy and I really couldn't find anything to complain too hard about.
I give it nine stars out of 10.
E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com