In a July 2022 Twitch stream that stunned longtime fans, eminent speedrunner Zoast abandoned his typical fare of legendary Super Metroid runs to unleash his power on a different Metroid challenge – the beloved 2004 Game Boy Advance title Metroid: Zero Mission. Electrifying viewers with his sheer skill, Zoast proved his talents translate seamlessly to Zero Mission‘s distinct style of sequence breaking, propulsion, and non-linear progression.
While Zoast boasts world record times across countless Super Metroid categories, his Zero Mission showcase represents a thrilling departure. By adapting his intimate Metroid expertise to Zero Mission‘s unique technical demands, Zoast exhibits tremendous versatility cementing his status as a true Metroid maven. Let‘s analyze his approach, execution, and mind-blowing display of abilities reminding us why Zoast sits comfortably among speedrunning royalty.
Metroid: Zero Mission – Pixel Perfect Perfection
First, quick history. Metroid: Zero Mission replays the seminal inaugural Metroid adventure from 1986 with completely redesigned graphics, expanded environments, and vastly refined gameplay. This remake represents a true showcase title for Nintendo‘s Game Boy Advance, featuring gorgeous high-color sprite art and animation, moody technological soundtrack, and the signature exploratory action the Metroid franchise pioneered.
Zero Mission modernizes outdated NES-era design while preserving Metroid‘s ingenious open, interconnected world and gradually unfurling power progression. As the definitive way to experience this foundational Metroidvania entry, Zero Mission garnered universal critical acclaim, coming as close to pixel perfect perfection as imaginable.
Metroid: Zero Mission perfects the formula established by the original NES Metroid (Image credit: Nintendo)
Given Zero Mission‘s prestige among Metroid devotees, the game has cultivated a passionate speedrunning community seeking to complete Samus‘ mission as swiftly as possible. While less visible than the scene surrounding franchise mainstay Super Metroid, dedicated Zero Mission runners grind through Zebes with intricate route planning, technical execution, and frame-perfect inputs absolutely mandatory to set world-class times.
Zoast‘s early run proves he has the tools to potentially claim Zero Mission records down the line. But this initial outing focused more on adapting his signature talents within a new Metroid realm compared to raw speed. Still, the results stunned viewers as Zoast reminded everyone of his truly superhuman skills.
The Signature Skills of a Super Metroid Supernova
Before analyzing his Zero Mission run itself, let‘s survey qualities that make Zoast such a Super Metroid icon able to dominate so decisively. Zoast‘s Super Metroid accomplishments almost defy belief, including a sub 30 minute Any% run completing the entire game in a blistering 29 minutes and change. Achieving this requires intimate familiarity with Super Metroid‘s mechanics cultivated over thousands of hours across 6+ years of dedicated practice.
Specific elements of Zoast‘s genius include:
Pixel Perfect Platforming – Zoast maneuvers with laser focused inputs, perfectly threading the needle through intricate Super Metroid architecture. His movement and spatial mastery shaves precious seconds off critical pathing.
Adaptive Arsenal Management – Zoast frequently hot swaps between weapons and targeting modes, letting him assault enemies with ideal tools while scarcely slowing his pace. This mastery comes second nature to Zoast although it demands tremendous dexterity.
Intuitive Improvisation – Zoast demonstrates genius route adaptations on the fly based on split second environmental assessments. By instinctually responding to variables outside his control, Zoast can mercylessly optimize new scenarios.
Calm Under Pressure – Despite outrageous self-imposed constraints, Zoast maintains complete composure. He tunes out outside stimuli to achieve total zen concentration even when margin for error is nearly nonexistent.
These talents at the core of Zoast‘s abilities proved directly transferrable to a smooth transition into Metroid: Zero Mission.
Zoast Deftly Adapts His Gifts to Zero Mission‘s Distinct Sensibilities
Right from Metroid: Zero Mission‘s opening frames, Zoast displays a honed sense of the game‘s unique rhythms compared to his Super Metroid specialty. He wastes zero time propelling himself into intended late-game zones like the early Morph Ball grab in Brinstar showcasing immense sequence breaking potential.
Where Super Metroid‘s world gears more toward vertical shafts, Zero Mission‘s planet Zebes incorporates tighter horizontal tunnels and corridors. Zoast analyses layouts on the fly and squeezes through gaps with the optimal inputs without losing speed. His platforming, spatial judgment, and reactive decision making all shine.
While Super Metroid focuses heavily on collecting upgrades to enable progression, Zero Mission also emphasizes comboing weaponry for fluid offensive potential. Zoast caps enemy encounters with concise pattern recognition and economic movements while manually switching between missile launches, beam shots, and bombs to efficiently clear obstacles.
His adaptive management of Zero Mission‘s arsenal mirrors his tool expertise across Super Metroid runs. Zoast methodically knows what tool he needs at any given moment while crisply swapping between them during high-speed traversal and combat.
Later in his run, Zoast heads directly to the towering reptilian boss Kraid, a roadblock barring access to more advanced areas. By this point, Zoast has sharpened his Zero Mission blade – now it‘s time to showcase his improvisational genius through completely redefining intended progression.
Zoast topples the towering Kraid utilizing purely low-percentage plausibility tactics before collecting major late-game enhancements. The knock-down drag-out bout demands every ounce of Zoast‘s versatile skills as he combines Super Missiles, Charge Beam blasts, and Morph Ball Bombs while avoiding crushing blows by pixels. Ultimately it‘s a triumphant exhibition of reactive timing, creative application of tools, and grace under fire – Zoast‘s signature strengths amplified by Zero Mission‘s unique constraints.
Pushing Limits Across the Beloved Metroid Series
While Zoast likely won‘t abandon his Super Metroid specialty anytime soon, his Zero Mission run reinforces immense transferable talent. Zoast boasts the same underlying abilities equally applicable whether speedrunning Zebes or planet SR388 from Metroid Dread. His spatial cognition, refined dexterity, and internalized mastery manifest across titles even outside his multi-year Super Metroid comfort zone.
And while not hunting personal best times here, Zoast still revealed tantalizing upside for legit Zero Mission world record pace. With months of targeted practice building granular title experience, Zoast could assuredly claim gold here too. For now, Zoast reminds us that greatness recognizes itself across the wider Metroid pantheon.
