The Atmosphere of Metroid: Zero Mission 👻
Vložit
- čas přidán 29. 10. 2020
- It's that time of year where I study how Metroid games create their atmosphere of isolation, fear and dread.
Oh, and it's 2-for-1 this time, with this video being one part of a double-video special, the other being Metroid Prime 2: • The Atmosphere of Metr...
Enjoy, gang!
#MetroidPrime2 #MetroidZeroMission #MetroidDread - Hry
One note about the ridley cutscene in his boss room: The cutscene does not play *until* you turn hit a certain point, and turn around, helping to immerse the player in Samus looking over her shoulder to suddenly see Ridley flying at her
Yes but then you end up bombarding him with missiles and he dies after literally less than 10 seconds because they give you so many in that area. A terrible boss battle. Like almost all the ones in this game, Kraid part is quite nice, while Mother Brain is shit, she's just annoying and you don't have to do anything special other than tank almost everything and hope you've done enough damage
The pirate hiding in the shadows after you get your Full Power Suit is one of my favorite environmental details in any game, ever. There's so much satisfaction in seeing your enemies literally flee before you, but it happens surprisingly rarely in games.
Yay! More Metroid!
Zero Mission is the perfect Metroid game. Short enough to make let newcomers experience it without too many lulls in the pacing, but long enough to provide veterans with a full experience.
It has some of the best gameplay in the series, with fast, snappy movement.
If Super Metroid had come after Zero Mission, people would think it was a downgrade.
While I do agree, I think Super Metroid offers much more exploration than ZM
I somewhat agree, gameplay is snappier, but the atmosphere and exploration is on another level. ZM holds your hands all the way while Super only does it when it wants to. I get where you're coming from though
This is the only game I'm comfortable with speedrunning, the pace is perfect
@@Fiveshere imo the atmosphere of zero mission is actually horrible when compared to the perfect ambience of Fusion and Super. It's pretty bad for a metroid game but still fairly good in general.
Super Metroid is the perfect sequel to ZM, but ZM is the best entry point to the series I agree. SM visuals aren't as good either but if you want to play more Metroid after ZM then its a bigger less linear game with a bit more depth to the story.
The GBA Metroids were both so great. While Fusion was more uneasy and at times terrifying, I think of Zero Mission as intimidating.
Just because I'm used to you talking about animation, I noticed how little the game uses animation to give Samus a personality. It's all so functional. Which makes Samus in turn feel stoic because there is nothing to indicate fear, cockiness, etc.
To me, leaving Samus' reactions out of the picture (as with Link in Zelda games) helps increase the immersion, as you are left with your very own. - and a lot of not knowing. Beautiful game design.
dude Zero Mission is especially intimidating on hard mode.
Fun Fact about the cutscenes for Ridley and Kraid: They actually (slightly) differ if you have the varia suit or not, since this game was designed with speedruns and sequence breaks in mind
This is genuinely my favorite video game, I think I've played it with just about every combination of as few or as many items as possible
Oh that's cool! I love attention to detail like that!
Thank god someone finally analyzes Metroid: Zero Mission. I'm surprised how little attention this game gets. I know it may not be the best in the series and that it is "too hand-holding", But I consider that they were able to capture the atmosphere from the NES game.
Oh, and one last thing: The epilogue. Just the epilogue. We went from a metroidvania to a stealth mission. Definitely the best thing about Zero Mission.
This game is also the origin of the zero suit so we can thank it for that
I wouldn't say it's too hand holding especially compared to Fusion
But it still hand holdy compared to Super and Prime
@dee dee
But that's the idea behind the game though, just take the time to get lost in the world, not everything has to be explained.
I think Zero Mission being "handholdy" is a good thing for this specific game. I played Super Metroid a few times as a kid and always got stuck. I then played Zero Mission as I told it was a remake of the Original and cannonically the first game in the series so I find it to be a good jumping in point on a narrative level. I didn't even consider it to be handholdy when I first played it and there is still several places to explore on your own.
But Super Metroid I love more. I like how free it is and how you have to find your own way around. I am glad it doesn't give you a beacon like in Zero Mission. Its like being in Samus's position, you have explored Zebes before and you are more expericnced now. I plyed Fusion shortly after Super Metroid and I enjoyed the game but I found it was too hand holdy and felt like it blocked areas off from me for no reason at times. I love the creepy vibe and story and stuff with Fusion but I feel like that games is the one that should be more open.
I haven't played any version of Metroid 2 so I can't speak for that but I want a new 2D Metroid now, a sequel to Fusion that has the best of all games.
My favorite moment of Zero Mission is just the whole thing. Start to finish. It's one of my favorite games of all time.
But I guess if I had to narrow it down, it's when you get your power suit back with the three new upgrades and you just mow down enemies left and right. It's so cathartic.
FINALLY we gonna give those henchmen fuckers a taste of their own medicine!
Yeah you make the pirates so scared they are hiding from you
I always loved the more comic book styling with cel-shading that this game's cutscenes had
3:00 The jarring music and sudden cut was really funny to me.
Zero Mission is a nearly perfect game. The dictionary definition of how to remake an already good game, keep everything that worked in the original and yet improve upon everything. Zero Mission is far far more forgiving while still packing a challenge for players who seek it either by allowing numerous power ups to be skipped or playing the hard mode.
These analysis vids are one of the few things keeping Metroid alive at this point.
And our determination ✨
And SUPRER SMAAAAAASH BROOOTHERS
Unfortunately you’re right 😔
If you havent, id check out the Boss Keys series on metroid design! And Geek Critique's series as well. Theyve both gotten me through this dark era
He’s doing more than Nintendo is
3:52 That cutscene sets the tone for what nightmare you're about to walk into: Hell
To me, *that* was the most terrifying moment in the game. Not the stealth section, *the Tourian one.*
I mean, for all the shitty situation that Zero Suit Samus is facing, it doesn't feel like a horror situation. Whereas with the Metroids... *my God, you wish you were NOT there at all.*
The music in Zero Mission is what really sells the atmosphere IMO, glad you pointed that out. The Crateria remix that plays during the stealth section never fails to jumpscare you whenever some Pirate catches a lucky glance in your direction. And of course, the iconic unknown item jingle is up there as one of gaming's most ominous music pieces. Great video, and an astute analysis!
To me, the most *haunting* thing in this game was the new remix of Tourian. That and the way they handled the presentation of the Metroids, my God. _Those fuckers coming out of the damn _*_shadows_*_ was so terrifying!_
Metroid Zero Mission feels like what remakes should be, and how it creates fear and improves on the Original's fear will never cease to Amaze me.
7:29 "Draw me like one of your French girls."
yes
"To the extent that *they* are now hiding from you"
Pahaha! I can't believe I never noticed that before! That's brilliant
Lol I remember that pirate hiding there but never thought he was actually hiding from samus.
ME NEITHER! XD Only one more reason why I love and hate the Space Pirates, they lowkey have some pretty fun personalities shown occasionally! *Unlike the Metroids in Tourian, those fuckers were just terrifying, I'm sorry.*
I think my favorite part of Zero Mission is probably that stealth section and the following cathartic onslaught you get to go on afterward, like you said.
It is astounding to me that this game and Fusion share a director with Metroid: Other M.
Other M's gameplay and animations are decent, it's just the finer details and that god awful story that lets it down massively.
@@VideoGameAnimationStudy I was specifically thinking of Other M's inept cutscene direction.
@@VideoGameAnimationStudy However the story was almost entirely butchered by the translation. So bad in fact that Samus is almost a completely different character than the Japanese version, as well as a big plot twist relating to the Metroids being completely missing that really explains a lot, like Samus being more emotional than normal. Check out "the Other M that Never was" to see the details of this. Then it will start to make sense how the director of ZM made OM, because the Japanese version is much better story wise.
Yep, recently watched that - really fascinating!!
@@VideoGameAnimationStudy Yeah, I've been trying to spread that video around cause I was worried one of the translations issues might have affected Dread, luckily that wasn't the case. Still though, I think the stuff about the Metroids and Phantoon being Mother Brain are very cool too.
I just recently picked up Zero Mission to get my start on the series, the music and background really hit the right notes. It's no shock that the genre Metroid inspired largely took in the same kind of atmospheric tension.
My favorite moment in ZM was definitely the entrance to the Ridley fight. They did something like that again in Other M with the final escape sequence. I love it when random unexpected stuff like that happens in videogames...
7:14 one of my absolutely favorite moments in a video game, finally feeling unstoppable once again, god it feels so good
The bloom on the game footage makes me feel like I’m losing my vision
we study fear... DREAD and isolation
Rewatching the series before metroid dread!
Excellent video. I played through this on a GB Player on Gamecube and it was amazing. I think the cut scene with MB waking up and watching you cheapens the experience though. Not knowing is more powerful than knowing what awaits you.
Hmm, yeah I guess it's a different experience in that regard.
These are excellent videos, love hearing your thoughts. Can I ask how come you added the 'bloom' lighting to the game footage? It makes it quite blurry. I realise you might think it's too simple an image by itself, but the embossed picture-in-picture and brightness-changing mood background is loads already. Love your attention to production values in general!
Hey thanks! Yeah I just wanted to try something different than just having game footage, I've realised it's not for everyone. I'll think of other ideas to present the footage in interesting ways. Thanks for watching!
I don't mind the bloom effect, even if it's maybe a bit strong here. Reminds me of playing the game with a GameCube and GB Player on an old CRT back in the day. Too bad CRT and LCD shaders tend to get eaten by YT compression.
@@VideoGameAnimationStudy Honestly It kinda makes my eyes hurt x_x
I checked several times if my glasses were smudged before realizing it was a video effect lol
@@liquidalb lmao same, but it brought nostalgia, so not a bad thing after all
Zero mission is for sure my favorite Metroid game what an amazing experience that I think people ignore/overlook for Super metroid
Really good video man keep the good work
This was my absolute favorite game as a kid playing the GBA. I would love if they brought it to Switch. I know we’ve got DREAD coming out now, super excited for that too
This game is so underrated. One of the best faithful remakes ever, with a TON of new goodies to keep it fresh and modern. Forever favorite. 🙌🏽🔥 ("Her stun pistol, and her hair." made me CACKLE 🤣)
the zero suit section of zero mission is amazing
The atmosphere in this game is mostly adventure, minus some exeptions like the chozo ruins and chozodia
As the video explains
I think even the Chozo Ruins and Chozodia feel like an adventure. Despite the dreadful situation of Samus being completely defenseless (basically naked) while Space Pirates search the entire place... it still felt like an adventure. Only, that part of the adventure where you need to use less action and more brain to solve the situation.
If I had to point out a moment where it did *not* feel like an adventure, at least for me, *_it would have to be Tourian._* T_T
The music, that intro cutscene, the dead Space Pirates all around, the Metroids coming out of the SHADOWS...! *_That... was a horror experience._* (at least until I reached Mother Brain, then it became one of the most challenging, though frustrating action sequences ever)
Metroid Zero Mission was my childhood, and today I still loving Metroid. Thanks for this video!
Thought my glasses were hella dirty lmao
Lmao I kept wiping my phone screen like a dummy
Same lool
I never realized the pirates were actually hiding from you after getting the new suit.
My favorite moment in Zero Mission is when you get your suit back and it plays a rendition of the modern item acquisition theme instead of the updated metroid 1 theme like you hear in the rest of the game. Makes me emotional!
my favorite. There are so many areas that are haunted into my mind. Incredibly atmospheric the first time, a zapping fast trip on subsequent tries. "A speedrunner's dream"
This game made me traumatized by metroids because i got swarmed in the last room.
Metroid Zero mission is easily my favourite metroid game to this day, and I think its because of how perfect the atmosphere is in it, like I am glad someone finally mentioned that. The part where you go down into the deeper parts of Norfair and there are these grotesque giant bugs waiting for you, and going into ridley with its sinister music and just generally off putting feeling might be my favourite part of the whole game. Theres also the skeleton hand mini boss, which has scared the crap out of me coming out of the lava in Kraids stage more than once. Also the Kraid fight, while easy, is really cool, and I wish we could fight kraid in another metroid game again like say Prime 4
i love how you kept saying DREAD in your videos and well, the new Metroid game
Yeah dread's a pretty common word in the Metroid series.
Fun fact: Samus in zero suit *CAN'T* ledge grab if you don't have Power grip
I guess it was done to save on memory
Huh! Interesting
Yaaaay! I love these Metroid videos.
Also I love the full power up at the end. It's such an amazing payoff for so many reasons. This game was wonderful.
Yesss! I've been waiting for another GBA Metroid Video!!
3:00
You got me there
Zero Suit Samus as a Thumbnail choice is clever cause playing as zero suit samus really made you feel less powerful and it will help attract viewers who wouldn't watch this video otherwise.
Maybe it would even attract a few more if Zero Suit Samus was a little more to the right in the thumbnail if you know what I mean ;D
The part I remember most about Zero Mission was the start of the 2nd part. After the death of Mother Brain, escaping the count down and Samus powering off her suit I was expecting the ending credits. Instead she was ambushed by Space Pirates who wanted her dead as they fired everything they had all while equally frantic music played but she got away, however 1 direct hit landed and her ship went down like a meteor entering an atmosphere. Unbeknownst to the Space Pirates Samus had survived but was now in a weakened state and she even asked the question "Could I survive long enough to escape?" She was no longer a powerhouse, she was prey. After that cutscene ended I had to stop for my heart to slow down.
My first metroid game!
These videos have really helped, especially with my most recent video in terms of inspiration. Thank you for putting so much effort in!
I have been waiting forever for these two videos! ❤️
Love your content my man. Felicidades y muchas gracias
Can we take a minute to appreciate the re-use of the pterodactyl screech for Ridley cause that's the best and most terrifying sound he's ever made?
CZcams read "Dread" and "Metroid" and suggested this video! XD
Zero Mission is definitely up there with Super for me. Damn good game
There are some very good anti-spoiler mechanisms in this video that still let us know what you're on about.
Just found your channel and I LOVE how you’ve analyzed the Metroid games feel as well as animations! Really hoping to see a video from you about Dread some time soon!
Thank you, yeah I've got a metroid dread video in the works
What a nice Christmas themed video!
Thanks!!
After watching these Metroid videos, I can't wait for him to go over and cover Metroid Dread.
the black background gives you an additional color for your characters to work with. because the character sprites require a transparent color, you can use the transparency as black.
you can see that in a lot of games from that era, where bosses with lots of detail, use solid black backgrounds
Y'know what I liked about the stealth section? Although the situation is indeed *tense,* the entire "mood" of the circumstances do not evoke as much fear and dread that the SA-X on Fusion or the Metroids on Tourian did. Instead, I felt like in a James Bond scenario, except one where I don't have the guns to fight the bad guys, so I gotta run. It feels like that, more of an action thriller then necessarily a horror themed one.
With the SA-X, you are *terrified* at the idea of being found by a near unstoppable monster that, ON TOP OF ALL looks like you.
With the Metroids, there's the music and the fuckers coming out of the shadows. It's all incredibly unnerving and intimidating.
With the Space Pirates, though? _Pffft!_
I mean, it sucks when you get found out, but you don't exactly panic or feel fear of "being found by the monster". You don't feel like you are evading some terrifying monster, you just feel like you're evading some henchmen. Some usual "bad guys" and that's it.
And I know the Space Pirates obviously look pretty monstrous, but their behavior and the music during that section certainly don't sell a menacing horror theme to it. Like I said, it felt like James Bond.
2 videos at once?! Great!
YAY ANOTHER METROID EPISODE!!! THANK YOU!!!
The blur on your videos made me think I was going blind.
Can’t believe to see to videos in one day! Zero Mission is probably my favourite 2D Metroid coincidentally.
To me, best music: Kraid's Lair re-done for this. You're welcome
Bro I love your Metroid content, you are super smart man gg
Thank you for referring to the game's genre as "Search Action" rather than "Metroidvania." You're efforts on this front are greatly appreciated.
I greatly dislike _"Metroidvania"._
@@VideoGameAnimationStudy why is that? I've never really heard of anyone not liking 'Metroidvania'
Yeah it can’t be Metroidvania if it’s literally Metroid
Because most games which fall under "Metroidvania" are mostly Metroid-like, and the only reason "vania" comes into it is because of Symphony of the Night, which was very much like Super Metroid.
Search Action just sounds more "genre-y".
@@VideoGameAnimationStudy that makes alot of sense, thanks!
Thanks for the video, pretty good.
VGAS Is a federation scientist who samus talks to after bounty hunts
This game goes above and beyond a handheld game. The pacing and progression in this game is perfect.
Just realized Zero Mission was teasing the basic concept for Dread all those years ago
Well I think Dread is basing the EMMIs off the SA-X encounter from Fusion, really.
YOOO HE DID ANOTHER ONE
Great videos man
one of the things that makes me love Metroid series
Watching this video.... oh god so many memories...
Just finished this game, and it’s now one of my favorites
I was getting worried that you weren’t going to upload your monthly video in October but then I remembered “oh right he probably has something planned for Halloween” ha
Great vidoe. Not sure I have a favorite. I loved every part of this amazing game.
2:12 THATS WHERE THAT JINGLE IS FROM!
Lettts goooo another metroid Video
I love these metroid videos doing this game series justice. I can’t get enough of this game and I’m still hyped for metroid 4
I think you mean metroid 5. Metroid 4 is Fusion.
I think they mean Metroid Prime 4.
This was my first Metroid game and I loved that last section of the game. Chozodia was so much fun.
Dude.
This was my first ever gameboy advance game, and it still is one of my favorite games.
My best time is around 3 hours, and i never get bored replaying it; To the point of my gameboy SP not having working shoulder buttons and a barely working d-pad.
I really loved the part of Zero Mission where you only have the Zero Suit. It's such a huge change in gameplay, but it's just one of my favorite parts of the series. Really, the stealth-segments in Fusion, Zero Mission and Dread are easily among the most memorable parts of these games, at least to me.
Great video. Bit of a shame it't not as long and detailed at your Super Metroid video..
This is my absolute favourite Metroid game and I think it always will be, I think it perfectly combines the best elements of the original and Super with an even better art style! It was the absolute highlight of the days with my GBA SP which is still the best handheld that there has ever been in my eyes. I really hope one day we will get a new Metroid game with 2D art again, Returns and Dread look really cool and sleek, but they just don't have the same vibe anymore..
I played this game in one sitting for the first time this past Tuesday and I was blown away, such a good game!!
“The area of the game were I failed zero mission” 😂😂
I didn’t appreciate how good this game was when it was new. The audiovisual direction and pacing are absolutely top notch.
oh yeah great video. i just want to add one thing : that yell when you kill ridley. the final horror you got from him
METROID DREAD
I found the Kiru Giru Larvae and the Metroid cinematic in Tourian to be one of the few parts of this game that was scary, Tourian was really creepy though. This was pure adventure and easily my favourite of the 2D Metroid games because of it wasn't trying to traumatize me. Fusion was my series entry and that was iconic, but it also gave me so much stress. The stealth segment was honestly incredible it was just so different. Perhaps that's what's so special about Metroid as a franchise: They offer dramatically different experiences, despite sharing common themes.
A couple of small details: the jingle for getting the fully powered Varia Suit and ensuing return of the Brinstar theme are different to the versions you had been hearing until now, both being far more triumphant. Really sets the tone of the end of the game.
Absolutely!
Ah hell yeah! WOOOO
The screw attack is so damn hidden.its hard to find.
You can find it easily after beating Ridley. It breaks the statues on Ridley's entrance so you'll most likely go there for a "reward". It will have two shinespark cannons, first one gated by screw blocks and a second one which is open and will lead to screw attack.
First back from the Dread announcement
Love you too, Dan.
I'd be excited to see one of these for Samus Returns.
Love this game and I'm so annoyed I lost it. However I have played every metroid game again during isolation. Finishing up the prime games (great experience) and replaying all (except zero mission) the 2d games.
A master piece of a game
The ost is fantastic
Best metroid game so far