Challenge can be thrown at the player in multiple ways. There are either often spikes, enemies, or exploration. Perhaps some combination of the three. And then there was Z-Factor, which took exploration to a whole new level. Early on, the hack pretty much leads you where to go, and you quickly get into Brinstar with a few upgrades and ready to take on the world. Then Z-Factor happened. Brinstar/Norfair mix into a puzzling adventure of discovery. Crocomire was guarded by a platform. The Wrecked Ship turned things back towards a more straightforward path, and then you got into Zaridia. And you lost your mind. There are a lot of hidden paths to find in this hack, and the hack is huge too. You could reasonably expect to see at least 7 hours on your first playthrough, because you have to explore and find the secret to advancing in the game. This isn't your "normal" challenge hack, as it will have plenty of challenge for the all but the most dedicated everything-bombers; however, even though this can often add to the frustration factor, it can be rewarding to find an item at every dead end and become all the more stronger for it.
- MetroidMst