So, I've always wanted to do a special run...

[Faybro]

Y'see, I've played through the entire Metroid series, but I've never done a low-% run or a speedrun or any other kind of special run. So, I've picked up my copy of ZM, and, after seeing so much talk about the sheer vastness of SB's in game and low-% runs, I've decided to do one myself - I'm going to get my old NDS and try to get the lowest possible % on ZM.

I'm wondering, is there any kind of authority on this kind of thing? Where I can find what does and what doesn't up my %, and what is and isn't necessary for game completion?

[Smoking Spoon]

Mmm... you can find a walkthrough or scratching your head like I did.

Lowest for MZM is 9% ( I think ) . But it's really really tought , you may want to try 15% instead ( it give a cool ending picture too !)

Here's a couple of tip:

Every item count as 1% . So logically there is 100 item ( Or almost)

Skip the: long beam , high jump boot

ONLY collect one : Missile ,super missile ( It's been a long time but I think you can skip the power bomb

Toughest boss for me was Ridley , and your best friend are Charge shot ,Walljump and bomb jump , master them !

A tough item to get without "grappling glove" ( dont remember the item name ) and High jump boot, is the varia suit . I take the varia suit , it reduce damage and help later , I think some of the UNKNOWN item are unnecessary

[Troid]

Ridley is the easiest boss for sure if you just stay under him and only go for Missile refills at ground level.

9% is pretty hard on Normal, especially if you don't get the Varia Suit (it's a forced 1% after the Chozo warrior spirit, so getting it in Brinstar or not doesn't matter to completion percent). 15% isn't bad at all, as you still get plenty of upgrades.

The hardest parts of a low % run are definitely Mother Brain (especially without Screw Attack) and the two black Space Pirates at the very end (collide with them rather than get lasered, it's way less damage). Tourian's a breeze if you're good enough at freezing Metroids.

Now, a Hard mode 9% (or even 15%) run is hard. Since Missile Tanks only give you 2 Missiles, all the bosses become a lot harder. I'm not positive you can actually get through the Zebitites without getting two Tanks. I don't really know about Hard mode, I never actually finished a 9% run on Hard (did a 15% though).

Post any specific difficulties you have and I'll be able to help, or go look at a walkthrough.

[Faybro]

Woah, Super Missiles are optional?!? Hell yeah.

Thanks for those links. I've searched a vid on YouTube, and saw what you mentioned. I'm doing normal mode, luckily, so, a full five missiles for me. =p

However, I will need to practice my bomb jumping - it takes me awhile to get an infi-bomb jump and I suck at horizontal bombing.

[Smoking Spoon]

Huh . I guess we are all different , some say mother brain was toughest some like me Ridley .

Mother wasn't so tough on both normal and hard low% ( for me at least , You may have a different difficulty Faybro )

And the black pirate , absolutly not !! , I invented this trick but nobody listnen to me
It's super easy , you stay on the highest platform, you shoot them diagonally while they are climbing, and when they are near you enter the air vent in morhball , you go in a bit , they will follow, but fall down , then you repeant the process untill they die !! Trust me it work!

[Troid]

Did you have the Screw Attack?

[Smoking Spoon]

Nop , but check my tip on my last post edit , about the black pirate

(I didn't use the spank attack, but did use charge shot as a replacement )