History YMMV / MetroidZeroMission

** Ridley in Hard mode is ''brutal''. You have half the health you'd have in Normal mode, but that'll be the least of your troubles. He's much more aggressive, his fireballs deal an obscene amount of energy, and your health drains at a ''ridiculous'' speed if he picks you up. Also, staying under his feet doesn't works this time.

* GameBreaker: Bomb Jumping in this game is quite possibly ''the'' most overpowered form of it in any ''Metroid'' game. Unlike the others, the developers didn't put a max cap on the number of Morph Ball bombs Samus can use at a time. As a result, it's possible to use Bomb Jumping by mashing the fire button to get to upgrades and areas ''way'' earlier than intended, allowing you to get late game powerups almost as soon as you get bombs. Naturally, this technique is a major friend of the game's {{Speed Run}}ning community.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: Fans who didn't like ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' tend to look favorably this game for bringing back a non-linear progression and letting down the dialogues.

* AwesomeArt: The pixel art and lower restraints on graphics introduce a much more colorful and diverse ''Metroid'' game than the [[{{VideoGame/Metroid 1}} original]].

** Mother Brain. Let us count the ways. First off, you fight her while standing over a pit of lava. And you don't get a platform to stand on. Instead you get just ''two measly blocks'' which ''aren't'' connected to each other that barely let you take more than two steps on either before you fall. Stand in one spot for too long, and you get targeted by Rinkas that will knock you off, and, just to be petty, are Red Rinkas that aren't guaranteed to give you any health or missiles. Surrounding the area are turrets that fire in random directions, making jumping risky because it's impossible to predict when and where they'll shoot. Even if you made sure to replenish your missiles after destroying all the Zebetite barriers blocking the way to her, you still have to waste a ton of them trying to crack her tank. Also, remember how in the previous games Mother Brain was just a sitting duck who wouldn't fight you as you filled her with missiles? Well, say goodbye to that; now she has a {{Eye Beam|s}} of doom that fires every time you damage her or fall off the blocks. God help you if you try fighting her in a 15% run.

* ThatOneBoss: Mother Brain. Let us count the ways. First off, you fight her while standing over a pit of lava. And you don't get a platform to stand on. Instead you get just ''two measly blocks'' which ''aren't'' connected to each other that barely let you take more than two steps on either before you fall. Stand in one spot for too long, and you get targeted by Rinkas that will knock you off, and, just to be petty, are Red Rinkas that aren't guaranteed to give you any health or missiles. Surrounding the area are turrets that fire in random directions, making jumping risky because it's impossible to predict when and where they'll shoot. Even if you made sure to replenish your missiles after destroying all the Zebetite barriers blocking the way to her, you still have to waste a ton of them trying to crack her tank. Also, remember how in the previous games Mother Brain was just a sitting duck who wouldn't fight you as you filled her with missiles? Well, say goodbye to that; now she has a {{Eye Beam|s}} of doom that fires every time you damage her or fall off the blocks. God help you if you try fighting her in a 15% run.

* ThatOneSidequest: HundredPercentCompletion [[LastLousyPoint is not as easy as in]] ''Super Metroid'' or ''Fusion'' - some packs and tanks require well-timed Shinespark or Wall Jump chains, others are just well hidden. Add that most can only be collected following the Chozodia part, and players can easily give up on getting the final upgrades to go after the FinalBoss. Plus, to unlock all the post-credits artwork, you have to do 100% completion ''three times'', the latter two times have be done under 2 hours and the last one must also be on Hard Mode. All for some pretty pictures.
** Perfect stealth in the Zero Suit segment, all due to the very first section which requires an incredibly precise shot of the Paralyzer to stun the Pirate while his back is turned. At least the rest of the run isn't as bad since there are secret areas where you can bypass many of the more inconveniently placed Pirates.

* LoveItOrHateIt: Whether you like this game or not really depends on if you played the original game back in the day or not. Most who haven't or played it after the series hit it's stride usually say ''Zero Mission'' is one of the best ''Metroid'' games in the series, while those who have played the original back in the day usually say TheyChangedItNowItSucks in regards to it.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Fans of the original [[VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}} NES Metroid game]] tend to hold this view, citing it doesn't really feel like the original game anymore with how much was changed and added. Those who haven't say this game is still really good regardless, though, so it shouldn't be a problem if you haven't played the original back in the day either.

** Perfect stealth in the Zero Suit segment, all due to the very first section which requires an incredibly precise shot of the Paralyzer to stun the Pirate while his back is turned. At least the rest of the run isn't as bad since there are secret areas where you can bypass many of the more inconveniently placed Pirates.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Fans of the original [[VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}} NES Metroid game]] tend to hold this view, citing it doesn't really feel like the original game anymore with how much was changed and added. Those who haven't say this game is still really good regardless, though, so it shouldn't be a problem if you haven't played the original back in the day either.

* AwesomeArt: The pixel art and lower restraints on graphics introduce a much more colorful and diverse Metroid game than the [[{{VideoGame/Metroid1}} original]].

* GameBreaker: Bomb Jumping in this game is quite possibly ''the'' most overpowered form of it in any Metroid game. Unlike the others, the developers didn't put a max cap on the number of Morph Ball bombs Samus can use at a time. As a result, it's possible to use Bomb Jumping by mashing the fire button to get to upgrades and areas ''way'' earlier than intended, allowing you to get late game powerups almost as soon as you get bombs. Naturally, this technique is a major friend of the game's {{Speed Run}}ning community.

* LoveItOrHateIt: Whether you like this game or not really depends on if you played the original game back in the day or not. Most who haven't or played it after the series hit it's stride usually say Zero Mission is one of the best Metroid games in the series, while those who have played the original back in the day usually say TheyChangedItNowItSucks in regards to it.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Fans of the original [[VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}} NES Metroid game]] tend to hold this view, citing it doesn't really feel like the original game anymore with how much was changed and added. Those who haven't say this game is still really good regardless though, so it shouldn't be a problem if you haven't played the original back in the day either.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Fans of the original [[VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}} NES Metroid game]] tend to hold this view, citing it doesn't really feel like the original game anymore with how much was changed and added. Those who haven't say this game is still really good regardless though.

* [[DemonicSpiders Demonic Metroids]]:

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Fans of the original [[VideoGame/{{Metroid 1}} NES Metroid game]] tend to hold this view, citing it doesn't really feel like the original game anymore with how much was changed and added.

* ThatOneSidequest: HundredPercentCompletion [[LastLousyPoint is not as easy as in]] ''Super Metroid'' or ''Fusion'' - some packs and tanks require well-timed Shinespark or Wall Jump chains, others are just well hidden. Add that most can only be collected following the Chozodia part, and players can easily give up on getting the final upgrades to go after the FinalBoss. Plus, to unlock all the post-credits artwork, you have to do 100% completion ''three times'', the latter two times have be done under 2 hours and the last one must also be on Hard Mode. All for some pretty pictures.

* ThatOneSidequest: HundredPercentCompletion [[LastLousyPoint is not as easy as in]] ''Super Metroid'' or ''Fusion'' - some packs and tanks require well-timed Shinespark chains, others are just well hidden. Add that most can only be collected following the Chozodia part, and players can easily give up on getting the final upgrades to go after the FinalBoss. Plus, to unlock all the post-credits artwork, you have to do 100% completion ''three times'', the latter two times have be done under 2 hours and the last one must also be on Hard Mode. All for some pretty pictures.

* ThatOneSidequest: HundredPercentCompletion [[LastLousyPoint is not as easy as in]] ''Super Metroid'' or ''Fusion'' - some packs and tanks require well-timed Shinespark chains, others are just well hidden. Add that most can only be gotten following the Chozoidia part, and players can easily give up on getting the final upgrades to go after the FinalBoss.

** Mecha-Ridley becomes one on a 15% or 100% run. His arm slash is highly telegraphed, but it has such a large range that the only practical way to dodge it is to have been out of its way beforehand. Where's out of the way? Up in the air, so you pretty much have to spam Space Jump for the entire fight. His worst attack is his EyeBeams, since they fire in random directions, travel quickly, and can't be blocked through Screw Attack. Shooting his core takes good timing, and you're backed against a wall the entire time. He only seems easy because he's a GlassCannon, and thus most player don't have to face the worst of his attacks. Fight him for an extended time, and Mecha-Ridley becomes a nightmare.

* AwesomeArt: The pixel art and lower restraints on graphics introduce a much more colorful and diverse Metroid game than the [[VideoGame/Metroid1 original]].

* CatharsisFactor: After having to run for your life through a mothership full of Space Pirates and then fighting a boss who's difficult to hit without missing or shooting yourself, the payoff of getting your fully upgraded suit is so, so worth it. Add this to the triumphant Brinstar theme playing again, and you'll feel invincible dashing through the Pirate hordes you once ran from, now slaying them by the dozens.

* HarsherInHindsight: [[http://media.tumblr.com/91f44318b45126781a6af76b0bf85a5d/tumblr_inline_mx95epDqug1r5618z.png This piece of concept art]] has the Zero Suit's designer specifically call for Samus to ''not'' get impractical high heels. [[VideoGame/MetroidOtherM Later]] [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros designs]] have given her CombatStilettos anyway.

*** Ridley is all but hard, even on hard. This very troper here managed to 10 seconds kill him on hard mode by spamming Missiles and Super Missiles like there was no tomorrow and lost one tank at most.

* SoCoolItsAwesome

* [[DemonicSpiders Demonic Metroids]]: Metroids are horrifically difficult to fight. Freezing them wears off faster than most enemies, and it's only when they're frozen that they can be damaged, and then only with missiles. If one latches onto you, you can deploy a bomb to make it let go, but drop too many and you'll accidentally bomb jump back into its mouth. They come in groups, so you might freeze one Metroid only to find yourself backed in a corner with another waiting on the other side of its frozen friend, ready to grab you as soon as you kill it. Add this to hazards like lava in some of the rooms, Rinkas that are a nuisance, and thus it only takes one trip from a missed obstacle to fall and become Metroid food. Play on Hard and/or a 15% run, and you'll soon find yourself out of Missiles, desperately re-freezing every Metroid surrounding you and picking off every Rinka in hopes that it drops a missile this time. Did we mention the doors lock so you can't leave the room?