/vr/ - Retro Games

>>4099071
>Why would anyone prefer fusion to this?

Well, I just replayed Zero Mission, so let me tell you why I still do.

A Metroid game is all about atmosphere for me, and Zero Mission falls way flat mainly cause of the music. I like Kraid's lair theme but other than that, this game has some really poor choices for soundfonts, Brinstar's theme sounds specially horrible. Aside from maybe the newly added Chozo Ruins, there's nothing that reaches the level of Maridia or come to think of it, anything in Fusion. Fusion had atmospheric pieces that accompanied the landscape of the sector you were in, and Zero Mission limited itself way too much to the original Metroid, and it shows. The comic book backgrounds are nice I guess, but coupled with the bright remakes of Metroid and SM tiles, it just doesn't look immersive. I'm aware this whole point is quite subjective, yes, but it bothered me when it came out as well, so i can't ignore it.

In terms of difficulty, it's an undeniable step down from Fusion, albeit I found it harder than Super Metroid. There's some mild threats in the form of those jumping giant fuckers and both forms of Ridley (quite the heavy hitters) but overall, dying is not common. Save stations are even more plentiful than in Fusion, and not justified by several visits to the area, Ridley's lair has 4 or 5. This was most likely to make the game a more "portable" experience and I understand it, but it does decrease the tension. Just like the difficulty. Bosses in ZM are fine, and those little cutscenes are welcome adittions, but here's also a step down from Fusion; battles are too simple, easy and far too few in a game that, correct me if I'm wrong, is larger than Fusion.

There's the same degree of "exploration" than in Fusion. Chozo statues still tell you where to go, and in the few optional challenge areas theer's nothing like unique enemies, like Super Metroid did, a game which compromised its difficulty for freedom in the first place.(1/2)