I'm not as far as you, but I was surprised how much stuff you get right towards the beginning. It seems to lack, as far as I am, at least, that part most of the games have where you either start with no equipment or start with lots of stuff only to lose it almost immediately. Even early on in this one, I have a few energy tanks, missiles, morph ball (with bombs), etc. Not necessarily bad, but quite different.

1 and 2 require me to shift my grip on the controller, but since they're being used for the map, it's not such a big deal.

Actually getting to be inside Samus's ship sounds cool

So far there are things I don't know if I like such as traveling between planets... er, smaller areas of planets that aren't accessible unless you use the ship. Maybe this will change.

I also find it interesting that you get as many items as you do from the start... it could just be a really long introduction until you lose your stuff. Dunno.

1 and 2 don't bother me as much as actually navigating on the map screen - feels like the scrolling control should be inverted...

Also, I'll leave you all with the title of a Warren Zevon song that embodies how the past Metroid games made me feel and this one does not: Splendid Isolation.