Metroid Zero Mission Top ~upd~
Zero Mission may be my favorite Metroid game. Definitely top 3.
The original NES Metroid was revolutionary but technically limited. Players had no in-game map, could not aim diagonally, and could not crouch. Zero Mission ports over the physics and engine refined in Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion .
Achieving this requires more than skill—it requires a route that ignores unnecessary expansions. Focus on Missile Tanks that are directly on your path, but skip Energy Tanks in Kraid’s lair unless you are taking damage frequently. The clock is your enemy. metroid zero mission top
The game respects your intelligence. It hides its best content behind cracked walls and shinespark puzzles. So, load up your GBA, Nintendo Switch (via NSO), or emulator, and remember: In Zero Mission , the ceiling is never really the ceiling. It is secretly a door.
Before diving into walkthroughs, let's establish the pedigree. Among the five mainline 2D Metroid games (Metroid, Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Fusion, Zero Mission), fans often debate which is best. Yet, Zero Mission claims the tier for three reasons: Zero Mission may be my favorite Metroid game
The game adds the stealth section in the Space Pirate Mother Ship (Chozodia), a controversial but brilliant twist that forces the player to rethink powerlessness before granting them the ultimate reward: the fully powered Gravity Suit and the hidden . It is this constant escalation—from lost soldier to unstoppable bounty hunter—that puts Zero Mission at the top of the franchise.
Here is a quick reference for the general route in a standard 100% run: Players had no in-game map, could not aim
Zero Mission is the ideal entry point for newcomers and a flawless refinement for veterans, achieving a rare balance of accessibility and depth.
| Password | Effect | | :--- | :--- | | / ------ ------ | Play as suit-less Samus with all upgrades. | | NARPAS SWORD0 000000 000000 | All upgrades, infinite Missiles, and infinite health. | | 000000 000020 --y000 000001? | Start with 255 Missiles, all upgrades, and no suit. | | BOMBS_ MISSLE SCREW_ ATACK_ | Access Debug Mode in the NES version. | | X----- --N?WO dV-Gm9 W01GMI | Automatically receive the best "no suit" ending. |
If you survive Mother Brain, you face the most divisive section: the stealth mission. Stripped of your suit, you must sneak past high-level Space Pirates with a mere stun pistol. This is where many quit.