This one seemed a no brainer. While the exploration can sometimes be difficult, and it isn't always easy to find all the correct paths, Z-Factor has quite a good bit of exploration. In fact, it probably has more in the hack than the rest of the hacks released this year combined. Z-Factor offers a huge world, with brand new landscapes and lots of new secrets to find. Not only does it have a lot of exploration, it is the discovery that comes along with it that really sets it apart. Early on you get a glimpse of some of the unexpected discoveries you will find along the way. Eyes glow eerily in the background. A statue does not approve of you taking an item. A rain of boulders fall from the ceiling. There is a power outage in Tourian. And the best line of text in any Metroid game, "It's like I've gone and died to heaven." But not only that, after beating the game and seeing that message, you realize that there is something else to try to find, a Super Secret Room awaits the intrepid explorers, and it is filled with wonderful items. Try to find it if you can! All in all, Z-Factor makes exploration worthy of considering when stacked against lots of secret passages and hidden dangers.
- MetroidMst