| Requirement | Reward | | :--- | :--- | | Beat the game once (any difficulty) | Unlocks the Image Gallery and the original NES version of Metroid . | | Complete Hard Mode | Unlocks the Sound Test. | | Link up with Metroid Fusion | Unlocks the Fusion Gallery (on GBA; unlocked by default in the Switch re-release). | | 100% completion on Hard Mode | The toughest final boss battle in the game. |
Metroid: Zero Mission represents the absolute top tier of the metroidvania genre. It took a flawed, archaic masterpiece and rebuilt it into a timeless, infinitely replayable speedrunning haven. By perfecting Samus’s movement, respecting player agency through sequence breaking, and adding a legendary third-act twist, Nintendo created a blueprint for how all video game remakes should be handled. Whether you are playing it on an original GBA or discovering it via modern retro emulation, Zero Mission remains an flawless pinnacle of side-scrolling design.
The environment is littered with "developer-intended breaks." A cracked block hidden behind a block of lava, an obscure wall-jump point, or a perfectly timed Shinepark can completely alter the item acquisition order. You can skip major upgrades, fight bosses out of order, and beat the game in under an hour. It respects the player’s skill and intelligence, offering a completely different experience depending on how deeply you understand its mechanics. Visual and Auditory Mastery metroid zero mission top
Metroid: Zero Mission for the Game Boy Advance (2004) is not merely a remake of the 1986 NES original; it is a reinvention that perfected the formula for 2D exploration. Even in 2026, it frequently tops "Best GBA Games" lists and remains a high-water mark for the Metroidvania genre.
Zero Mission may be my favorite Metroid game. Definitely top 3. | Requirement | Reward | | :--- |
S-Tier (God Tier)
You receive Power Bombs late in the game (during the Stealth Section), but they instantly become a top-tier tool. | | 100% completion on Hard Mode |
After acquiring the Space Jump, return to the very first vertical shaft in the game. Near the top ceiling, there is a false wall on the left. Power Bomb it to reveal a tunnel leading to a Power Bomb tank.