ROR: Metroid (NES) Vs Zero Mission (GBA) | Part 2 - The Remake

[@ExoParadigmGamer]

I had the hardest time ironing out editing mistakes for this one, but I finally got it in a good place. Since I know ya'll are going to ask, the cat's name is Yuki and I've been taking care of her for almost two years.

[@markdpane]

What I wanna know is, are you ever gonna get back to making the Pokemon Remake or Rebreak? That's the one I've been waiting for the most.

[@tanglelover]

Exo has a kitty! YAY.

[@RhizometricReality]

I'v been playing prime in vr and it looks amazing

[@mariodelrio2387]

Cute cat

[@jordyaguilar946]

You should join both videos

[@matthewcarter8456]

As someone who did a minimalist run on hard mode, I was pleasantly surprised that you had a section on them. Not many (if at all) reviewers mention minimalist runs even existing, let alone their personal experience with one. Also, not sure if you knew, but there are Missile blocks on the far left of the ceiling that leads to the Screw Attack room, allowing you to get the Screw Attack INSANELY early.

[@damascoup]

so glad he did. feels nice to know others have suffered the 9-15% hard mode depression like i have

[@steel5897]

My 15% Hard run was one of the most painful things I ever did.

[@BigHailFan]

I haven't done 15% hard mode yet, last ending i need

[@RobbWes]

I have 100% this game so many times that I have pretty much every item location and how to get it memorized. P.S. that shine spark puzzle in Tourian is supposed to be done with speed booster in tandem with space jump.

[@UmbraVivens94]

anyone here play Zero Missions randomizer? it's insanely fun to make the game have you think of alternate ways to navigate the game due to the shuffling of upgrade placements

[@moostrue_2771]

After you mentioned the price of an authentic loose cart, I had a sigh of relief because I bought this a good few years back at a convention off a guy selling it for like 30 something Chuck E. Cheese tokens. So certainly dodged a bullet in buying it there

[@jonathanhargraves2241]

I got lucky that it was cheap at some store since it was a used copy with slight exterior damage to it.

[@codydfwn]

Got it... Christmas of 2007? Or '08? In-box and everything... Pretty sure it was cheaper back then as it only released a few years prior. So people online sold it cheaper as it wasn't as sought after... and the GBA was phasing out. The DS and Wii were becoming all the rage. Literally was grateful for just being able to get that one game that day. ☺️ Brings me back.. the innocence.. nostalgia just waved over me, man. Lol.. The simpler times, for sure.

[@StormsparkPegasus]

I still have all my GBA games that I bought when they were new, and I always keep the box and manual, so all of my stuff is complete.

[@moostrue_2771]

@@codydfwn The GBA is always such a feel good, nostalgia enduser, that you can't help but have a fondness for. And I have always dubbed those early GBA games where they made the sprites super whiter than normal for a non-backlit screen as having. milky aesthetic, idk why

[@TheDutchGhost]

@@StormsparkPegasus Also fortunately still have my old GBA games, but a few years ago I bought Zero Mission and Fusion in new state. Fusion's box was showing signs of wear and tear and I accidentally put a chair's leg on the box of Zero Mission when it had fallen of my shelve where I keep my Metroid games. The new games never leave the cabinet I keep them in.

[@TWIP98]

I recently just did a playthrough of all the 2D Metroid games and Zero Mission is still my favourite by a decent margin. The accessibility of the game and controls really elevate it to the next level, and the sprite work is to die for. You did good with this ROR, my man 😎

[@happythumbsgaming8606]

Nice. To see you.

[@AltairEgo1]

Most Metroid fans would probably flay me for saying it, but I would say Zero Mission pretty much improves on everything Super accomplished. Not having to hold the run button just to get a decent speed alone is huge. It's awkward having to switch between the run button, shooting and jumping. Had to sacrifice aim down and just mapped run to R in Super. Zero makes it so you don't have to make such compromises. Plus that and the tight physics just makes controlling Samus feel good.

[@wangchung2157]

Theres actually quite a few people that say Zero Mission is secretly the best Metroid game

[@MrMarinus18]

Especially the visuals still hold up beautifully. There is a reason why the GBA is considered by many to be the greatest sprite based console of all time.

[@BahhBahhBrownSheep]

@@MrMarinus18 while I can maaaaybe see that being the case, the resolution hampers it comparatively, the screens were trash, and the sound kinda ruins the experience even IF the rest of the game is amazing. You have to admit that all of these games would have been better with an SNES sound chip.

[@BlaxxShadow]

I really needed this today Exo. Not to be a downer but it's been one of those days. Love your videos.

[@BigBossMan538]

Hope things get better for you. I’ve been going through shit, too

[@jonathanhargraves2241]

I was feeling down a few days ago myself, so I hope you feel well soon

[@megaton.settler]

Life does its thing. But. Remember, it’s not your life, it’s not my life. It’s just life. Something big that we take part it. Meaning you’re never alone, especially when people whom understand. We all got you 👍🤘

[@degmcgee]

same here, hope things get better

[@codydfwn]

Sending good vibes your way my dude... Struggling myself, but just glad I'm starting to get on my feet.. got a bit of a jumpstart but the road here, man it was one ugly and tough ride. Please feel better and keep your head up!

[@Alexrun902]

Remake or Rebreak has definitely come a long way since the Mario ROR's and while it took him a while he finally covered one the best remakes of all time! Amazing job Exo, I always love your videos and I'm really excited for the Remade ROR of Metroid 2!

[@3DWorldMan]

AM2R or Samus Returns tho 😉

[@Mqstodon]

@@3DWorldMan they're too different to compare honestly They're, genuinenly completely different in so many of their aspects

[@coreymon78]

@@Mqstodon This. The two games are entirely different products with different approaches, intentions, design philosophies and mission statements. Really, the only similarity between them is the original game they are based on. Which one you personally prefer would be up to which approach suits you more. But it's not really possible, in my opinion to say which one is "better" as they set out to accomplish entirely different things. They are both fantastic products.

[@kieranstark7213]

@@3DWorldMan Hopefully just Samus Returns (3DS), because Exo already reviewed AM2R a half-decade ago and did so much of a great job at it that it makes us a bit skeptical that he makes his own remake that of his review of Another Metroid 2 Remake, but, with that said, if he really is gonna do it, then maybe he could also do a remake on his reviews of the Super Mario Advance games aka ROR: Super Mario Bros. Tetralogy & Super Mario World Duology Vs. Super Mario All-Stars Vs. Super Mario Advance Tetralogy (NES Vs. SNES Vs. GBA) that way he can replace his Remake score he gave Mario Bros. (GBA) with a Replace score considering how aware he is of how much of the best version of Mario Bros. it really is.

[@Alexrun902]

@@kieranstark7213 That's what I'm honestly hoping for as well, The more videos he makes and the more time passes, the more his older Mario ROR's start to show their age, heck it's hard for me to even watch them now that the later videos super speed them in pretty much every way possible. Exo may have said on his Let's play channel that he didn't really put in much effort into them because of the small fanbase he had at the time and it really shows when you look back at them in 2021

[@QuasiTheChemist]

The first Metroid game I ever beat, only 2 or 3 months ago. Not the first I'd ever played, but this game was so great I immediately jumped into Fusion and Super. Also was trying out Castlevania Aria of Sorrow. Zero Mission is fantastic.

[@ameliamiller450]

Last year I did a summer of Samus where I played all the 2D Metroid games for the first time totally blind. Zero mission became my second favorite of the series.

[@jcdenton6427]

Had metroid month somewhere between November -December of 2021 played every 2D game on android using emulators. AM2R is my favourite

[@luis-sophus-8227]

Castlevania really good too

[@SilverSpireZ]

Still in my top 5 Metroid games for sure. Wasn’t the biggest fan of Chozodia, but I love everything else about it. It’s my favorite game to sequence break, too! Thanks for covering it, Exo!

[@glenngriffon8032]

I loved Chozodia as a concept, zero mission is one of the best metroid games ever made. That said I loathe that Samus' look from the game has become her default appearance. The bright neon yellow hair, the way her hair seems to be one big mass is just ugly to me. I prefered the way she looked at the end of the first Prime game, she looked like a human woman not some caricature with a stretched face

[@jordyaguilar946]

@@glenngriffon8032 i put it in number 3 after fusion and super metroid the 3 best of the series

[@Boooo]

Wait theres more than 5 metroid games?

[@jackson633]

@@Boooo I was going to make this joke lol

[@BigHailFan]

@@glenngriffon8032 what?

[@EmDub01]

Zero Mission is just a perfect game to me. I mean, putting aside shinesparking, which I have never been able to pull off reliably and basically ignore, everything about this game just works for me. The art style, the music (I love Kraid’s lair but the main menu theme is so beautiful and inspiring to me, it is so welcoming and inviting when starting the game, like I’m revisiting an old friend and we’re gonna go on an adventure), the pacing of the game and the feeling of progression (every powerup really makes you feel significantly stronger), the level design and environments, the enemies, the animations, the little cutscenes, the UI, and save rooms are perfectly spaced out so that I never feel at risk of losing too much progress. I was never a speedrunner, but I love how there is a scene for that and how much this fame caters to that crowd, and all of the little tricks and sequence breaks are just cool to me. Also, unlocking the original Metroid after beating the game is the cherry on top. Yeah, I have a ton of nostalgia since I got this as a birthday gift in the spring of ‘04 and I spent many warm, sunny afternoons that year hooked on my GBA SP, and it was my introduction to the series, but even as I have grown older and gaming has advanced so much, this game has aged like a fine wine, and it is very easy to just jump right in and have a great time running around Zebes. I love this game, always have, and always will. It was always the defining GBA experience for me, more than Pokemon or Super Mario Bros, in fact Metroid was my gateway into 1st party Nintendo games. I can only hope that the series gets the attention and love it deserves again soon!

[@kieranstark7213]

Thanks exactly what I think of Metroid: Zero Mission. In fact, if I made a list of greatest GBA games with Superstar Saga, the Super Mario Advance tetralogy, Advance Wars, The Eternal Night (handheld version), WarioWare Twisted!, Sonic Advance 1 & 3, The Minish Cap, Golden Sun: Dark Dean’s predecessors and the early 2000s handheld Kirby games (Nightmare in Dreamland and The Amazing Mirror) on the list (at the very least as honourable mentions, at most in the top 10s), the 2002 Metroid games would make it to the top 5s, hell, it might even be the topper fo the list!

[@PuNkY-fr]

Happy to see an upload from you ! Long time no see !

[@lucasknox4871]

Salut!

[@BryantheArchivist]

The backtracking after you get the grav suit is so damn fun especially when the theme ramps up. As someone who thought the stealth was difficult, it felt extremely earned. If I were going for 100% id probably hate it too.

[@sparks4384]

Exo i really hope you see this. Me along with many others truly enjoy and are thankful for the content you put out. No one else goes this in-depth into all of our favorites games like you do which is what makes your channel all the more interesting and unique. Even if uploads don’t come out as often as i’d like, i’m still happy that you’re still doing youtube as a hobby and i can sincerely say i look forward to every upcoming video of yours that you plan to put out. I’ve been a fan since 2015 and I still plan on being a fan to the very day you’ll eventually move on from youtube. I’m wishing the best for you and for everyone watching right now. Have a great day y’all 🙏🏼🤞🏼💯

[@diegog1853]

Zero mission is the perfect type of remake, one that addresses the issues of a flawed game with good ideas that couldn't reach its full potential on its time, while at the same time staying close to the vision of the original.

[@UltraEpicLeader10020]

Fun fact: The Engine in Metroid Fusion is actually heavily modified from a little unknown gem called... Wario Land 4/Wario Land Advance

[@mooktendo7725]

Yes, finally someone else who agrees that the speed booster puzzles are extremely tedious and totally kill the pace of 100%ing the game! Great review.

[@damascoup]

the ridley speed running puzzle with the debris surrounding the missile blocks on a low percent without the wave or long beam

[@KeMiZe44]

Get gud. Lol jk. I can see how one would feel that way but I think they're cool. I loved figuring them out.

[@mooktendo7725]

@@KeMiZe44 I've played through Zero Mission twice, they definitely weren't as bad the second time around, but imo the issues are the sheer quantity of them, how the game fails to teach you about these tools (unlike Super, which actually does), and trying to pull off advanced techniques on a tiny handheld console. They are definitely fun to master, but it just takes far too long, especially on a first playthrough. If these puzzles were used for things like sequence breaks, quicker backtracking etc instead, it could have been the best of both worlds, ie, mastering techniques to enhance gameplay, rather than locking essential items behind them. And this is coming from someone who enjoys spending ages mastering tech in games like Melee, Mario 64, so yeah, haha.

[@EmDub01]

Lol the only Metroid game I have ever 100% completed is Samus Returns on the 3DS, and a huge part of that is because there are no speed booster puzzles. I am no good at using that powerup and never have been

[@Innerste]

For years, I had the same opinion, but in my most recent playthrough of Zero Mission it just suddenly "clicked" and I felt incredibly satisfied being able to complete these tests of sheer dexterity.

[@nfugitt89]

17:22 "Future 2D games" The flame of hope for Metroid: Dread is still alive!!!

[@ShibuNub3305]

Funny you should mention that….

[@charallave1000]

Sequence breaking Metroid zero mission is one of the most fun thing i ever done in a game. Great review man!

[@SQGReviewShow]

Fantastic second part, dude! This retrospective is shaping up to be your best so far. Probably because you've played these games so many times over and are finally doing this complete series retrospective.

[@RyansChannel0203]

I love Kraid's Lair as much as the next guy, but Phendrana Drifts will forever be my favorite Metroid theme.

[@turtleanton6539]

Oh for sure. Great song

[@bakubread9308]

This is my favorite Metroid game, and probably my favorite game in general. It's one of those titles where I can look past the small drawbacks like the easy bosses and the pain it is to 100% because of the sheer amount of fun I always have replaying it.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

It's only my favorite of the nintendo 2d metroid game, for me.

[@jaretco6423]

Definitely one of my top tier Metroid games. And one of the best remakes of all time. I love this game so much.

[@BugsyFoga]

I always find it pretty neat when Exo explains how he records footage for each game he talks about , anyone else?

[@gars129]

Agree, when Im an adult, I wanna be like EXO.

[@LonkinPork]

y'know, I really appreciate you releasing this RoR in parts. Metroid isn't a game or series I have much attachment to, but for some reason seeing one half-hour video and one 45-minute video (approximately) makes me go out of my way to watch it more than I think I would for an hour-and-a-quarter video

[@DBumple]

Woah woah wait a minute. I love the shinespark puzzles. Nothing makes you feel more badass then when you get the one in chozodia near the lava.

[@dude-zr8gi]

Great review. Agree with almost everything except the comments on Metroid Prime's graphics. Personally, I think Prime and Prime 2 hold up the best from that generation in that regard, and I can still play them over and over again. Can't wait for the next RoR.

[@peco595]

Right? Those games still look amazing in my eyes. I can see someone taking issues with some of the cinematography for sure. Any time Samus uses the Morph Ball in a cutscene it certainly looks funny(I'm looking at you Omega Ridley). But as far as general asthetics go, those games are top notch

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

I kind of hate the artstyle of zero mission because of those super bright colors(even if I understand why it is that way).

[@carrotmaster8521]

this is where i started metroid not long ago, like barely a week a go. Almost finished, just stuck on the escape sequence with the elite pirates

[@carrotmaster8521]

playing on a homebrew 3ds btw

[@michaela2634]

I havent watched your videos in a couple of years. I forgot how great they are. Thanks as always man! Gotta go back and watch what I missed.

[@Silath01]

I really like the ending area, it shows how much of a threat the space pirates actually are. Without her suit Samus goes down rather quickly, it shows why the Federation constantly asks her to take on missions involving them, and just how OP in-universe she is.

[@hzafary]

This was such a joy to watch! Great work! Can’t wait for the Fusion vid.

[@DarkMarxSoul]

You are quite probably the most detailed and thorough game reviewer I've ever seen. Absolutely top-tier.

[@nicoloenricorimoldi7425]

One thing that tends to be overlooked is that moments in Super Metroid like the initial descent to Brinstar (which is the Metroid 1 starting point) and the mini-Kraid surprise tend to be undermined by Zero Mission.

[@ZipplyZane]

I couldn't help but think about these things, too. But, at the same time, the expectation is that you will still play Super Metroid before Zero Mission. What I would have found interesting is if they kept baby Kraid, but then had the bigger one as an additional boss.

[@esmooth919]

10:17 Every Game Boy Advance game I have ever played was in stereo, but you would only hear it on your headphones, or plugged into an auxiliary output

[@sparrowfox6943]

I will never get old of reviewers making the "*beats mother brain* Yeah, that's Metroid Zero Miss-*cue the cutscene*" joke

[@esmooth919]

21:55 This part surprised the shit out of me the first time I played this game, because like the NES version, I thought it was going to end there. Very nice twist.

[@DoctorTalon]

This is a really thoughtful review. You really got into detail why this game isn't ideal for 100% speed runs, but also nailed why it is so much better than the original. Great videos as always!

[@josevillouta4588]

Man what an amazing and complete job you do for your reviews! I appreciate every minute of the two parts. Looking forward to next episodes!

[@Mikau888]

Couldn't agree less on the shinespark puzzles, I think their clever and challenging design is great, and I cannot say I had the same trouble or BS you had with them. That said, I ENTIRELY agree with your take on Kraid's Lair haha! Best song of the game

[@mortalslide]

Knew this one was gonna get "Replace", but let me say, the shinespark puzzles are probably my favourite part of ZM. I am simply insane

[@train4292]

A little late, but i ain’t complaining. Glad to see the rest of this vid here! ^^

[@littleguystar]

"I'll use the Gameboy Consolizer" *Cries in Gameboy Player and GBI*

[@sapphirebulletbill]

Not a bad choice tbh. At least you aren't using the Game Boy Player standalone.

[@mattbunky]

My question is that how’d he get the lcd screen version haven’t seen that ever being sold

[@Ayunnuya]

An absolutely thorough review. Thanks for all the hard work on this review. Loved every second of it!

[@thewinterprince1731]

Loved this!! I always enjoy watching your remake or rebreak series. :) I do have one minor nitpick though.. Personally I always thought Fusion looked better. The sprites and animations are significantly more detailed in just about every aspect, in addition to being more complicated. The beam animations in each game are perfect examples of this: in Zero Mission, the charge beam just looks like a semi-basic star, and flashes between like two frames really fast. Fusion, on the other hand, has like five frames of animation and a more unique appearance that looks closer to fluctuating energy. Similarly, Zero Mission's beam sprites are mostly just recolors or slight shifts in shape, particularly the wave beam which just looks like the ice beam but wiggly, and the plasma beam which looks like both beams but slightly more pointed. In Fusion, the plasma beam is a set of green lasers that are distinctly different from earlier beams, and the wave beam actually creates wide spinning spirals of green and yellow energy. Another great example is the shinespark. In Zero Mission, it's just flashing red light. That's it. In Fusion, it's not just rainbows, but rainbows that flow over Samus like I imagine speed boost energy would. Even the sound design between them is more varied. Beams all kinda sound the same in Zero Mission, with slight variance between them, while beams in Fusion have very distinctly different sounds that make them feel more unique and like a whole new kind of technology.

[@kylelangdon6724]

Ah, the first ever Re: Remake or Rebreak, or RROR. How exciting.

[@acesamm]

What does the Re part mean? Remake? Remaster? Revised???

[@kylelangdon6724]

@@acesamm well…yes…

[@ZipplyZane]

​@@acesamm I think he's pulling it from email, where "Re:" is used for replies to previous emails. In that context, it actually stands for "regarding"--meaning your message is about their previous message.

[@mariokarter13]

"Ridley is the easiest boss in the history of games." You "defeat" General Scales in Star Fox Adventure by drawing your weapon.

[@pulceilcane]

Totally agree on kraid's lair theme, damn it is so freaking good

[@raulvito6246]

Couldn’t agree more, spent a couple of hours playing the original NES game and it was sheer torture; confusing and grindy while the GBA remake is a joy to play

[@battl3rpwn]

This is one of those games I never get tired of replaying. Amazing how such a fantastic game that still holds up today was released on the GBA. One of my favorite games ever.

[@jaretco6423]

Same. I love most Metroid games. But this one is where I come back and play the most just for how relaxing it can be.

[@Master-Fawful958]

33:36 😂The cat’s just like: “Papa, are you alright?”

[@luliby2309]

I'm so glad you mentioned that Mecha Ridley is stronger when you have 100% of the items. I thought I was going crazy when I was on hard mode and managed to beat him without too much trouble before getting all the items, and then suddenly was dying left and right after I got them.

[@ProZangoose]

this video is absurdly good, was blown away by your metroid nes one earlier. tysm

[@EpicGem815]

Excellent video as always! Every episode of RoR is worth the wait!

[@JasonMontell2501]

Wow. Amazing content. The 40 plus minute run time just flew by. 👍

[@brenscott5416]

Honestly dread makes most Metroid games look like tests graphically, but honestly I'd say all but the first two games look absolutely wonderful, for their day or not

[@hyperflowey2564]

This was a terrific Remake or Rebreak episode, Exo! I know that it’s been a while since the last full review, but waiting 9 months feels like it was worth it in the long run. It’s nice to see a review/comparison of something simple like NES Metroid vs. Zero Mission, and it was also very engaging in general. You articulated your perspective and thoughts excellently, and taught me things that I never really knew about ZM prior to this review, such as the existence of the Time Attack mode and New Game+, alongside the item counters. (By the way, why are the item counters not available until after beating the game once? That seems blatantly cheap.) Also the comparison of the ZM emulation of NEStroid (that’s my nickname for the original Metroid) versus the Classic NES series port was a welcome inclusion. Because I have a lot of personal observations to share at once, I’ll share some of them in list/timestamp format in the comment below.

[@hyperflowey2564]

Here are the main observations I’ve made while watching the video: 33:27-33:40 = No context EPG moment is cute, wonder why Yuki was hiding under that hat :P 1:45-2:03/6:57-8:08 = The GBA consolizer looks and sounds like an incredibly versatile tool. I feel like it was a wise choice using that to demonstrate just how different handheld games look on their intended displays, plus to show how the games would actually look on such displays. Are there equivalents for the DS and 3DS, by chance? Where can I buy a GBA consolizer, as well? 15:01-17:24 = These sequence breaking examples are pretty interesting to know about - specifically the wall-jumping and bomb-jumping one. The only one that I really knew about before this review was the Early Super Missile trick in Brinstar. For some reason though, I always tend to struggle with that one, but it seems like the footage at 18:42-18:45 might help me understand the strategy better, thank you. 31:44 = Mentioning the Minimalist run was surprising and unexpected, in a good way. Seeing as I usually tend to try to collect as many items as I can in Metroid games, I really wonder what minimalist runs are like for the other installments, specifically for NEStroid and Samus Returns. 34:36 = The GBA emulations of NEStroid include a save feature? I legitimately didn’t know that, that’s nice! Saving passwords upon a game over while still allowing for cheats like Justin Bailey is a great way of providing newer players greater conveniences of continuing where they left off while still allowing for fun cheats and possibilities. On a side note, during 36:40-36:45, I was so expecting you to break out into the Dithering Song until you mentioned interlace flicker. This isn’t a big issue by any means, I just thought I’d mention that. 26:50-29:38 = While I don’t want to be that person, one thing that wasn’t mentioned about the Speed Booster in this review is that in Super Metroid, performing a Shinespark would drain Samus’ health, whereas in Fusion and Zero Mission, Samus would retain her current health during a Shinespark. This isn't a big deal, however; I know you put hours into making reviews the best you can, and I still enjoy this one regardless. The Shinespark health fact is just something to keep in mind for the AM2R revisit as well as the Super and Fusion reviews. Thank you for understanding.

[@hyperflowey2564]

Overall, fantastic EPG review, and I look forward to the revisits to Metroid II and AM2R, as well as the review/analysis of Samus Returns. Keep up the good work! Also I have a couple final questions: will the old Metroid II vs. AM2R review remain up on this channel? Will it be labelled differently to distinguish it from the eventual new video(s)?

[@brobunni]

Perfect timing dude, I was just listening to Metroid music for *9 hours* straight.

[@ag2023en]

So, the recommended way to experience the Metroid franchise is by playing Zero Mission, then AM2R, then Super Metroid and then Fusion? That way you play what are considered the best versions of Metroid 1 and 2, and you can understand the story better by playing in chronological order. It also means that all the games in the order are either considered great games from the start or are considered great remakes of games that bring the quality of the first 2 games more in line with Super and Fusion. Seems like a good decision to me. If someone is to play the Metroid games, that order seems to be the best way to do it.

[@InsaneKorean77]

I would really like to see the future episodes in this series be about the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games.

[@guyudontno7689]

Hey, Exo. It's good to see that you're getting back into the swing of things. This was an excellent ROR, and I really want to play through Zero Mission at some point. It would be pretty great if Nintendo actually put more effort into making their legacy content more readily available... But anyway, I'm looking forward to you revisiting Metroid 2 and also covering Samus Returns.

[@bakubread9308]

I will be sure to leave much more in-depth opinions whenever you cover the two Metroid 2 remakes, but as it stands it definitely feels like AM2R sort of perfects 2D Metroid gameplay, and Samus Returns works to evolve it (in a way that I really enjoy).

[@banjoboi24]

33:36 that kitty is so gosh darn cute >w

[@themidnightbarber524]

I appreciate the effort you put into using the right hardware for video capture! Plus awesome analysis in general, loving your work.

[@MattCrossMedia]

Excellent coverage. I haven't played many Metroid entries, but this game is one of my favorite handheld experiences ever. So impulsively good that every time I'd go on vacation that involved a long plane ride or downtime, I have zero hesitation choosing this game to boot up and do any kinda run I please. Not as rich in plot or spectacle as other entries, but shines as an intuitive af game on its own for me.

[@asymptoticspatula]

Your attention to detail is staggering. Thank you’d or these videos.

[@Mattos77]

Honestly while the raw quality of the gba sound can be a bit scratchy, I've always enjoyed a lot of compositions on the system. Zero mission sounds phenomenal

[@jamjam445]

You always impress me with your dedication to authenticity. The fact that you put so much thought into something like the color scheme shows how passionate you are about what you do.

[@Exmotable]

hey man i'm not gonna word this right but hopefully my dumb message gets across anyway i really, REALLY appreciate how much you value video game resolution and pixel perfect integrity. so often when making videos about old games released prior to the now standard 16:9 aspect ratio, video makers will insist on blowing up and stretching the vidoe resolution instead of doing their best to maintain pixel fidelity. i just think it's super cool that you care about that sort of thing.

[@foolio1990]

Your Farnsworth impression is shockingly good.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

I think Samus Returns really needs more love. The only reason i’m not still replaying it is because my New 3DS screen broke :,(

[@ChiefMedicPururu]

Yeah.

[@lpfan4491]

I wish Samus Returns came to the switch. Maybe with the fusionmode being locked behind a 5$/€ DLC if they can't bring themselves to include it by default. Because it being locked behind amiibo is just stupid.

[@SharlaBlades]

This is what reviews should be. In depth, well produced, informative, and dedicated. Not 5 - 12 minute excuses for videos that are filled with memes. Or often just miss the point completly.

[@RedBlueSpot]

Whoa! I thought I was subscribed to your channel. Now.. there.. I fixed it. This was one of the best videos I've seen on Metroid, and I watch videogame fact videos many hours every day. Looking forward to more. Now, let's see what other videos you got!

[@CorneliusCob]

"I'm tempted to call it the best looking game in the series, period." Dread: "Hold mah beer, watch this"

[@MarcusTalks1]

I have to disagree about super Metroids endgame being “slick” and “clean”. At the end of super you go into a room that locks you out of leaving forever and there is a save room right ahead, so any normal person would save immediately. But now you can’t continue that save file to 100% complete it unless you A. Know not to save or B. Start the game all over again.

[@ExoParadigmGamer]

The Super Metroid video is going to focus on exactly these kinds of things, the criticisms of the game that tend to be overlooked because of how much of a masterpiece the game is in general. In short, you're absolutely right, that is a beginner's trap and the lack of a percentage counter before the post-credits was a poor design decision. At the same time, I also find that Super Metroid doesn't have a long, unavoidable cleanup session after you beat Ridley, and that's what I was alluding to.

[@BassForever]

Sure, but that's a separate issue from the clean up lap. Super Metroid has it's big clean up lap in the middle of the game, after you've return from Norfair and gotten the power bombs. If you know advanced movement options like shine spark and the continuous wall jump you can basically collect every item in crateria, brinstar, and upper norfair when you loop through them a second time. The game is expertly designed that it teaches new players both of these techniques during this clean up loop! This makes it so the clean up loop in Super Metroid feels rewarding and fun both for first time players and experienced players. The wrecked ship, maridia, and lower norfair can all be 100% cleared the first time you visit them. There's no key item like the power bombs locked until the final 5 minutes of the main progression. Even with "normal" progression there are only a few items that a player would have to theoretically do a 3rd loop through brinstar to get (waterway, wave gate, and the grapple blocks in pink brinstar). All of these items are focused around one area of brinstar (pink brin) and there is a clear path from Ridley to Tourian through Pink Brin. Your issue is a separate qol problem that super metroid has same with not having a map that shows secrets, not being able to see maps of other areas, and not knowing how many items are left to find in a specific area. Zero Mission locks like 25% of it's item completion behind power bombs which is the final item you get in the game. It's a far bigger design flaw for people going for 100% completion because there's no way around this hard lock.

[@MarcusTalks1]

@@BassForever but on the other hand we could say that at least once you go to the pirate ship you’re not locked out of the rest of the map. Honestly it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. I played ZM first and not super, so when I do play super I feel like it’s a very slow moving game.

[@skibot9974]

@@ExoParadigmGamer do you plan to review all the Metroid games or just the 2D ones

[@benox50]

@@ExoParadigmGamer Im curious to see your opinion on it, cause its my fav but I agree that Super has alot of jank that is overlooked

[@kishi9507]

I've been waiting for this! Really, I think you are one of the best game reviewers out there.

[@user-bu3xt6mj4s]

Listening to you elaborate on technological stuff is pure ear pleasure.

[@galaxy2118]

YO WHAT THE FUCK?!?! you are like one of my favorite you tubers why do you only have 81k subs? Not cool man you deserve waaay more. The amount of effort and detail you out into your videos and your ROR series is one of my favorites of all time

[@roguetomatofilms]

So glad I picked up a physical copy of this back in the fall of 2019 for $30. Great video, I'd love to see a Resident Evil ROR (another definitive remake)! Keep up the good work!

[@sssdrake]

One thing i love is that the bassline from the pirate chase music in zero is present in the pirate homeworld in prime 3

[@matuzaato]

I was blown away when I played this on my 3DS, my first metroid and instantly recognized why the franchise was so loved, the exact same thing happened with Zelda OOT actually!

[@kray2373]

I wish you the best of luck, because i have been watching these for almost 6 years.

[@Elonyx.studios]

Lets see, I need something to listen to while I clean up my office. RECOMMENDATIONS: Oh EPG released a 2-parter?? WE HAVE A WINNER!!

[@8squared007]

I was sceptical about the new format, to say the least, but it genuinely feels as good, if not better than the previous format, and hey, anything to let you catch a break from doing documentaries on the Spyro trilogy. I also noticed you mentioned doing reviews on games without remakes again, and I love that it’s on the table again, there are so many games I’d love to see you cover on that segment. Most wanted videos would have to go to a review of Paper Mario 1 and/or 2, an RoR of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and a Mega Man RoR. (Probably The Wily Wars.)

[@xProErax]

Perfect timing just finished playing Super Metroid today!

[@YashBeanz]

That game is great

[@Zitsanrael1117]

@@YashBeanz the game is good when you know what you're doing IMO. My first run I absolutely hated it. But after grabbing a guide and learning the game in and out so I could play the SM/LttP randomizer I can say it's grown on me. Still not one of my favorite games or anything, but now it's one I don't mind revisiting.

[@xProErax]

@@Zitsanrael1117 I would somewhat agree, in a few places I had to use a guide, but overall the game still holds up

[@YashBeanz]

@@Zitsanrael1117 well I first beat it with no guide except for the wall jumps. It took me like 16 hours the first time, but I got everything on my second run with a guide

[@Zitsanrael1117]

@@xProErax that's what I mean. It wasn't until I used a guide that it became fun. I have a self-imposed rule that I will try to not use a guide or walkthrough of any kind for my first run through any game, and without one Super Metroid was hell. I didn't even finish my first run because of how badly it pissed me off and I never played it again until I found the combo randomizer. So quite literally, my love for LttP is what saved SM for me.

[@Kaizir]

I certainly prefer this multi part strategy of video releases rather than all in one. Mainly because I liked knowing I had more video to look forward to after the first video, and I didn't see everything you have to give us all in one go.

[@BopSteady]

That was a very cool review honestly, it felt like everything was fair and neutral

[@miahthorpatrick1013]

Such high quality content! Love your videos, Exo! Makes me wonder why you still haven't hit that coveted 100 thousand sub mark yet. Injustice!

[@tahamohammad8842]

It’s probably because he doesn’t post terribly often. He mainly uploads from the april-august portion of the year and rarely uploads outside that part of the year meaning that there are many long periods where he just doesn’t upload

[@greatbigeyeball]

Looks like you summoned yourself a new Metroid game to review. Great work!

[@javiergarcia423]

Man, I really love this type of videos. Great work and outstanding analysis!!

[@blackhoggaming]

I can’t wait until the next episode! This episode was just as high quality as per usual

[@hansgretl1787]

Even more Metroid in the future? Sign me up! Personally, I live the Shinespark puzzles, they are really exciting if you ask me. I also never knew you could get the Crateria pick up above Samus' ship by building up a Speedbooster through the elevator and water room. I always thought you could only get the Speedbooster from the Tourian side. Also, the Pickup on the ither side of Crateria where you had to guess how high you had to Space Jump? I usually take the Speedbooster from the hallway toward Chozodia and then simply jump around the ledge. Anyway, I'm just rambling at this point. Great Review!

[@Artersa]

Yay! This series has always been a favorite of mine, and news of a Metroid II ROR is wonderful. Thanks for all of the hard work you put into each video!

[@Drax69420]

I do like the part based style. While each part can still be pretty long, they also feel more concise since it's not bouncing from one game to another in the same video. So keep going with it if you can.

[@earlduran6419]

I think some companies weren't nice enough to rerelease old games on newer hardware. This is especially egregious on physical games because not only the price is so high but there are also fake copies that sometimes were bad as a bootleg rom, using the wrong region, and it can even trigger Anti-Piracy measures. Emulation is there of course but for gamers who want a legit and authentic physical copy that is harder to get it. I can also say digital exclusive games should be rerelease physically.

[@Benjawin6671]

Dang, he's really matured since he's been gone

[@Saxdude26]

Enjoying the Zero Suit stealth portion of ZM honestly isn't a hot take in my opinion. As the first Metroid game I played, and BLIND for my playthrough at that, it was impactful in a good way. And I'm pleased hearing you also were taken by the Kraid's Lair remix for this remake. *chef's kiss* So so so so good! "I AM THE GREATEST!" *mreeow?* Okay, that was super sweet. And the Classic NES version of Metroid 1 had better pixel rendering? Interesting, I was always impressed with how well Mario 1 and Zelda 1 turned out, but had no idea the Classic NES version was polished from the unlockable in ZM. so there you go. End of the day, the verdict makes complete sense, and thoroughly enjoyed this two part review! Good stuff!

[@timekreepers]

I’m happy your back making these videos, I sleep to these videos all the time and rewatch them . I’m happy your doing Metroid I have never really played them but maybe you can change that lol

[@BigBossMan538]

Loving the video so far. Uploads from you are well worth the wait! Also, glad that I’m not the only one who hates the shine spark and for showing me NG+. I never beat ZM, I was close cuz I loved playing it, but I only expected that feature in RPGs!

[@cheezocheddarman7163]

Great deep-dive review as always! I have to admit, though, I tried Samus Returns on 3DS for 30 minutes, then put it down. Haven't touched it since, and I couldn't really tell you why. Kind of a shame because I've seen several examples of this series having fantastic, sometimes revolutionary game-design.

[@gageschleser6307]

EPG: I don’t like the shine spark puzzles Dread: I’m about to end this mans whole career.

[@kerkerzwerg]

This is my new favorite video series, and your channel is underrated

[@onegrinchyboi4279]

This 2 part series makes me really exited for dread. Thanks, man.

[@apokalypz]

Samus returns does look like a 2005 PSP game except when you crank up the 3D it looks outstanding. That is one of the few games where I felt 3D really added to the immersion. The way the camera moves around during cut scenes it really pops and achieves a nice effect.