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2) Metroid: Zero Mission
Released: Game Boy Advance, 2004
Remakes can be tricky business. Make the game too similar to the source material or deviate too far from it, and fans will reject it remorselessly. Metroid: Zero Mission struck an absolute perfect balance between those two polar opposites, both building on the original while incorporating engaging, new material that was smart and unobtrusive. Zero Mission brought Samus’s original adventure to players weened on her more modern game installments, and also somehow pleased longtime fans, too. If only all remakes could be so well done.
The core of the original Metroid has always been its freedom of exploration. The caves of Zebes were large and intimidating, but gathering power-ups and using them to reach previously unapproachable areas made it a joy to run from one corner of the game world to the next. Though being left veritably directionless was a big draw of Metroid for longtime fans, Zero Mission made a reasonable concession by giving players navigation points that provided some minimally intrusive guidance. Along with the stealthy Zero Suit bit of gameplay at the end (where Samus was bereft of her armor), and not only did Zero Mission make the original Metroid better, it also pushed platformers forward with its cerebral challenge and intense combat.
I wouldn’t consider Muramasa a platformer. I think it’s more of a 2D hack and slash. Otherwise, great list. It’s good to see Tropical Freeze get some recognition.