Metroid Fusion

"The best Metroid yet, and a must have for GBA fans everywhere"

This is a review for Metroid Fusion. The first Metroid was for the NES. The second was for the NES also and was entitled Metroid 2 Return of Samus. Super Metroid was released later for the SNES. After that there was quite a wait until Metroid Prime came out, followed up by Metroid Fusion. Metroid Fusion was released in November 2002. I have completely beaten this game.

Game play. This game has the best controls out of any GBA game yet. It is incredibly easy to master the controls and the special weapons that you will earn throughout this game. The entire story can easily be bested in less than 6 hours, but if you want to get all of the items it may take longer. The less time you take the better the ending you get. Like the other Metroid games, you collect new items as you play through the game. You begin with the normal fusion suit as seen on the cover, the normal blaster, and a regular jump. Later you will earn new jumps, like high jump and screw attack, and new blasters. You also get new outfits, which allow you to enter certain areas with extreme temperature that would harm you in the fusion suit. Unlike some of the original Metroid games, you actually begin with the grab power, allowing you to latch onto ledges. All the weapons work well and no battle is too difficult. The only problem is that without an FAQ, it can be very difficult to complete. Often it takes a while to find exactly what you're trying to do. This isn't too much of a problem, because you know your basic destination and the areas aren't overly expansive. The map is superb, and the area system works extremely well. One of the high points is that it isn't overly linear for a side scroller. If you missed an item you can always go back and get it. Samus' movements are perfect. You can control your jumps with no problems at all, and the movements are flawless. Your blaster can shoot in almost any direction, and you can switch between positions very quickly when surrounded by enemies. You jump very quickly and very high and you fall quickly enough to quickly dispatch enemies, but not so fast that you cannot prepare for an attack. It gets a 10/10

Story: This story works much better than any of the previous Metroid games. You begin with an incredibly intriguing video. Samus actually speaks quite often in this game. The computer talk very interestingly, and there is a major plot twist in the end. The bosses all play into a basic plot that remained the main story through the greater majority of the game. You spend most of the time running around destroying the virus of the X that are destroying the station. You also try to run from a little thing called the SA-X, an evil, psychopathical version of Samus with all of her original powers. One of the things that make this interesting is that they play it out like a sci-fi movie. Sometimes the SA-X will suddenly appear in the room above or below you. If this happens, you will have to run for your life to avoid it at all costs, or it could be instant death. Sometimes avoiding this death machine can result in the most difficult, strategic parts of the game. Another unique thing is that sometimes you may battle a tougher boss in the beginning, and an easy boss may be thrown in towards the end. This game has a lot of boss battles, some of which can prove very difficult. At some points, particularly at the beginning, the bosses may be more dragged out, but as the game progresses, you may find yourself battling several bosses in continuation. It all works together very well. I give it an 8/10.

Graphics: This game is the best the GBA has to offer. Samus looks great and everything flows fluidly. The mechanics are sweet, the blasts look cool, and the explosions are wild. The monsters look cool and some even have a 3D aspect to them. The enemy AI is insane for a GBA game, but the bosses always follow a basic routine. Some of the bosses though tend to break away from this pattern at certain times, and even the patterns may become difficult even after you memorize them. There are some great looking backgrounds, mostly just techs stuff though. The graphics, considering the system, deserve a 9/10.

Sound: Awesome. The jumps make noise, the monsters make noise, and the doors make noise for god's sake! If there were any more great noise, it would have to get a console upgrade. The whole thing is tied up with sweet music, and appropriate sound effects. There are so many times when you'll be surprised as a monster lets out an Earth shattering cry. The monsters all have their own unique voices, and they all have multiple noises they make. One of the most unique parts of the noise is the overlap. Sometimes, there will be really loud sirens as the boiler is erupting, and your moves get louder and the enemies get louder, and in the background you can hear a woman's voice saying “twenty seconds until boiler explosion.” As the problem stops, the sounds cool down and things go back to normal. Another thing that adds to the thriller concept of the game is that sometimes things get real quiet then suddenly a monster will let out a shrill, mutant cry. This fact alone makes this game way more sound enthusiastic than a lot of Gamecube games. I give it a 10/10.

Play Time: In a few words, this game is short. You can beat the whole thing in 6 hours on your first try, with items, and it gets shorter every time you beat it. If you get really good you can get a lot of items and beat it in under 2 or 3 hours, earning you the best endings. This doesn't create to many problems though because it isn't too easy. I actually had to use an FAQ multiple times. Collecting every last one of the missile tanks and energy tanks would definitely need some kind of guide, as there is no conceivable way you could get them all without them. I like the length personally. It ears an 8/10.

Replay Value: Incredible. You may find yourself beating it over and over again just to get a few more items or break your old record. Due to the sheer shortness of the game, that one item you missed, because you'll just want to beat it again, and again, and again, may not anger you. Beating this game has major benefits to it also. When you complete it, you can transfer your data to Metroid Zero Mission and Metroid Prime to obtain the original Metroid game. If you beat Metroid Prime, you can transfer your data to Metroid Fusion to obtain the original Metroid outfit in the game. Originally, I was going to give the replay value a ten out of ten, but I realized there was one minor flaw. No multi player mode. There could have been a multiplayer mode, where you all start out on different points of the area, and you have to find and kill each other. Co-op play would have been nice to, but if your looking for that, go check out Kirby and the Amazing Mirror. This earns a solid and unbeatable 9/10.

Final: If asked rent or but, I'd go with both. If you only want to complete the game, I suggest you rent it as you can beat the entire story mode in less than 5 hours. If you want to be able to play again and collect all the items, not to mention know you have the best Metroid game yet, I suggest you buy it. This game plays amazingly. There are easy controls even with the special items. You will want to play it over and over again, as it never gets old, and you may have missed certain items. The noise and sound effects are incredibly great, and pull you into the experience. The graphics are the best the Game Boy Advanced has to offer. The only problem is that the game is incredibly short. This problem really isn't a problem though, because it's so playable. This game earns a solid 9/10.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/01/04