The paid subscription service Nintendo Switch Online has slowly but surely become a better deal for the consumer. After coming out with a controversial “Expansion Pack” tier that cost far more for just a few additions like N64 games, further inclusions such as new and old DLC expansions have helped close the gap. TheFebruary 2023 Nintendo Directmade this pot even sweeter by adding an Expansion Pack-exclusive Game Boy Advance (GBA) library alongside base Game Boy titles, withMetroid Fusionbeing its first title introduced post-launch
A number ofGBA games are also confirmed to be hitting Nintendo Switch Onlinein the future, such asKirby and the Amazing Mirror,Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade,F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, andGolden Sun. However, this library’s collection ofMetroidgames should not stop atFusion. The series' original title also received a remake calledMetroid: Zero Missionin 2004 that deserves the spotlight.
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What Metroid: Zero Mission Would Bring to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
BecauseMetroid: Zero Missionis a remake of the 1986 classic, which is already available to play via Nintendo Switch Online’s NES library, one might wonder what theGBA title would bring to the more expensive Expansion Pack tier. There are a number of reasons why people might find the monetary investment worth having a chance to playZero Mission, first and foremost being its graphical updates.
WhileMetroidon NES is still playable and worth checking out for historical value,Zero Missionundeniably makes its story and atmosphere more accessible to modern audiences. Taking on the same pixel art style asMetroid Fusion, which released two years prior,Zero Missionpresents an image of Planet Zebes that’s more comparable to the perennial SNES entrySuper Metroid.Bosses like Kraidare brought in-line with their representation elsewhere in the series (being a screen-clearing monster rather than a dinky sprite), and there are short cutscenes in a comic pop art style that help sell its atmosphere.
More important is the bevy of additional content added forZero Mission. There are a handful of new items like the Gravity Suit, as well as gameplay functionality fromFusionsuch as diagonal aiming. Entire boss fights are also exclusive toZero Mission, such as a worm-like beast that acts as something of a tutorial for using Missiles before Samus can unlock the Charge Beam. Then, of course, it would be hard to discuss this remake without mentioning its post-game stealth segment in which Samus has to infiltrate the Space Pirate Mother Ship using only herZero Suit and plasma pistolto unlock greater powers.
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Getting Samus Aran’s Entire Story on Switch
The Zero Suit segment added to the end ofMetroid’s original story not only presents players with a new gameplay style, it also delves into some of Samus' backstory by exploring theZero Mission-exclusive ruins of Chozodia that she previously went to as a child (her drawings can still be found at the site of the Ruins Test). Between this narrative significance and a unique boss fight against a fully-mechanical Mecha Ridley,Zero Mission’s endgame provides more than enough reason to play even if someone has already completed the NES original.
Some features ofZero Missiondo become redundant if included with Nintendo Switch Online, such as the availability ofMetroid(1986) as a bonus for those who finish the adventure. However, theSwitch has already become a hub for Samus Aran’s complete adventure.Metroid,Metroid 2: Return of Samus,Super Metroid,Metroid Fusion, andMetroid Dreadare all available in one place thanks to Switch Online, andMetroid Prime Remasteredalso recently hit the console. The backstory and gameplay elements exclusive toMetroid: Zero Missionwould only make this package richer.
Metroid Fusionis available now via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
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