Genre: Action Adventure
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
# of Players: 1
Memory: Battery Save
ERSB: Everyone
Released On: November 19th, 2002
Also On: None
Features: GameCube/GBA Connectivity to unlock the original NES Metroid in Metroid Prime
Website: www.metroid.com
Introduction:
Ever since the Metroid series first debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, it has gained the respect of some of the most fanatical gamers in the world. With games like Super Metroid under the series’ mantle, the Metroid franchise, and its creator Gunpei Yokoi, demand(s) an incredible amount of prestige from gamers all around the world. However, with the death of Yokoi-san in 1996, fans became worried that one of their most beloved Nintendo franchises would be gone for all eternity. So it was once believed…
Now, eight years after her last adventure on the Super Nintendo, our favorite heroine Samus Aran returns on both the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance, with Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion. If you want to read my review of Metroid Prime you can just click this link, but this is Metroid Fusion’s time to shine, and it is quite possibly the brighter of the two, taking the classic 2D gameplay of the Metroid franchise to a new level.
Presentation:
Nintendo games have never emphasized much on story, yet the Metroid series has featured titles that have always distinguished themselves as being the anti-Nintendo, Nintendo game. The story behind the series has often been saving the galaxy from the evil Mother Brain and her Space Pirates, by thwarting her plans of unleashing the deadly Metroid species upon the galaxy. A species which could easily wipe out a civilization as quickly as locusts can destroy a crop field. This unique universe put gamers into a dark, gloomy, fictional world that you cannot just help but love. However, with the death of Metroid creator, Gunpei Yokoi, comes the rebirth of franchise, as it evolves for the better. Now, in Metroid Fusion (as well as Metroid Prime) story is focused upon more than ever. Metroid Fusion will not only provide amazing gameplay, but as well as a plot which equals in greatness.
As the story goes, Samus has re-visited the Metroid home planet SR388, after defeating the Mother Brain and her Space Pirates on Planet Zebes for a second time. While visiting the planet, Samus was attacked and infected by a parasitic being named X. This X parasite had infected Samus badly, unfortunately to the extent where she has been deformed physically. But thanks to the Metroid DNA in her body, the infamous bounty hunter survived. You see, the
"With the death of Metroid creator, Gunpei Yokoi, comes the rebirth of franchise"
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Metroid was the natural predator of X, they fed upon the species, and because of that Samus developed a form of immunity against the effects of the parasite.
The X is an interesting life form. They’re like locusts, they live only to cause misery to others. Growing day by day in great numbers, reproducing until they reach their goal, which is to destroy the galaxy as we know it. The X can imitate any type of life form it has encountered in body & mind, and the X has had an encounter with our favorite heroine at her greatest of strengths, thus creating the SA-X (Samus Aran X). The SA-X wants you dead, and throughout your adventure, it will attempt to hunt you down, and make sure that only one Samus Aran exists in the universe.
If it hasn’t become apparent already, I would like to mention that the story, as well as the entire atmosphere of the game, comes off as being very dark & gloomy, which it is. And seeing how a dark & gloomy atmosphere has been a staple of the Metroid series since its inception, I don’t find anything to dislike about it. However, the game isn’t one that will keep you depressed, or anything of that sort throughout its entire course. Metroid Fusion, as all other Metroid games, starts off as being a very dark feeling game, but as Samus grows in power, and becomes the hero she is destined to be, the game takes a drastic turn, as happiness and excitement flows through your veins, as the adrenaline pumps fueling you relentless will to exterminate the evil that awaits you. Metroid Fusion delivers that incredible, unique feeling of being a hero that not many, if any, other games can.
Gameplay:
Metroid Fusion brings you to a Bio-Lab Space Station, where the X parasite has taken over, murdering each and every member of the crew. Since this Space Station is designed to mimic the ecosystem of the Metroid home planet SR388, it features the standard fare when it comes to different locales in Metroid games, with the six different sectors in the
"Metroid Fusion delivers that incredible, unique feeling of being a hero"
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station featuring areas underwater, in hot caverns, in the jungle, and in the freezer, amongst a few others. Just like in every other past Metroid game, these areas are here for you to explore. Items such as the morph ball open up even more areas as well. Since, because of the morph ball, Samus will be able to shrink to the size of a basketball, rolling into nooks and crannies she never could have in her normal form. Although at times, you’ll see areas you cannot reach or access with any item you have equipped at the current moment. What that means is that you may return to that area at another time when you acquire newer items, such as the infamous Screw Attack.
Oh no! That means the game involves lots of backtracking doesn’t it?!
Yes, it does, but unlike previous Metroid games, Fusion makes the process of acquiring new items and progressing further in the game much easier than any Metroid game before it. On this Space Station Samus is accompanied on her quest to eradicate the X by the station’s Artificial Intelligence, which Samus named Adam, after a former CO of hers. Whenever you venture off into a different sector of the Space Station you’ll run into a Navigation Room, and in this room you will be greeted by Adam. Adam will basically tell you where to go next. Fortunately, all he basically does is highlight your destination on the game’s map, which still leaves tons of thought needed to figure out how to access these areas. Adam’s inclusion in the game makes Metroid Fusion feel a tad bit linear, though his role in the title is more essential to its story than it is to the actual gameplay. Nevertheless, Adam’s presence in the game, as well as an over abundance of Save Points and Refueling Stations available across the world map, make Metroid Fusion the easiest and shortest Metroid game to date, a game which can be easily completed in under four hours. However, these faults do not take away from the overall enjoyment the game will deliver at any extent.
You’ll enjoy every second of Metroid Fusion, with the most enjoyable aspect of the game being the boss battles. Boss battles in the game are more abundant than ever. However, it seems that most of them feel like one of those mini boss fights from Super Metroid, and unfortunately not a single boss in Metroid Fusion is of gargantuan proportions like Kraid from Super Metroid. These boss fights, are also a bit too easy, especially for a Metroid veteran. The only thing that actually poses a threat is the SA-X, which chases you around in the early half of the game, when you’re not strong enough to take it on. But when you are… the SA-X will get his ass handed to him by the baddest bounty hunter on the planet…YOU!
I mentioned earlier that the X parasite mimics everything you encounter in the game, in body & mind. This means that since the X has completely taken over the station, everything you encounter is an X parasite. Even though some faces may look familiar, under that disguise is an X. I also mentioned earlier that the Metroids fed on the X, and since Samus has Metroid DNA in her, she also feeds on the X, making the X her source of health, and oddly ammunition. So whenever Samus needs to replenish her health, or refill her missiles, she’ll have to hunt down an X and absorb its essence.
Any Metroid fan will notice that Metroid Fusion adds a lot, and takes away some things featured in past Metroids. In the end however, with even some new acrobatic maneuvers under Samus belt, Metroid Fusion feels and plays as tight as any other Metroid game in existence, and if that isn’t clear enough for you, than I’ll just say this… The game plays flawlessly, whether it’s the controls or the flow of the gameplay.
Visuals
The Game Boy Advance is literally the Super Nintendo reborn in handheld form, and with that said, Metroid Fusion looks just as good, if not a bit better, than the SNES’ Super Metroid. That in itself says a lot, since Super Metroid, at the time, was one of the best looking titles on the console. Featuring excellently hand drawn sprites, scrolling backgrounds, great Mode 7 effects, and just some cool visual goodies everywhere you looked. Metroid Fusion is basically just a cleaner looking and faster playing Super Metroid, and I can tell you that I can’t find a single damn thing wrong with that. However, when you compare Metroid Fusion to the likes of Golden Sun, you realize that the Game Boy Advance can handle much more than anyone could have possibly imagined. Thus, making Metroid Fusion a good looking game, but not a great one…
Audio:
With the audio quality of the Game Boy Advance, you would normally not be expecting much out of the little handheld. But, despite the platform’s (by today’s standards) poor audio quality, Metroid Fusion’s audio portion and soundtrack still hold up extremely well. Metroid Fusion’s soundtrack is perfectly fitting to the roots of the series. It’s dark, moody, and at times intense, but it seems that it still cannot surpass, to what must be the pinnacle of the franchise’s musical masterwork in Super Metroid. The themes in Fusion aren’t as
"Metroid Fusion adds a lot, and takes away some things featured in past Metroids"
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memorable as its SNES predecessor, but it’s an excellent soundtrack on its own; those expecting a soundtrack as epic as Metroid 3 might be in for a disappointment. Still, Yamamoto’s work with Metroid Fusion complete annihilates most of what can be found on “next generation” home consoles, aside from the efforts of Square and Nintendo themselves.
Final Thoughts:
For ages I’ve been longing for a sequel to my precious Super Metroid, and after eight long years I finally received what I prayed for in Metroid Fusion. Fusion is easily one of the most spectacular games I’ve ever played in my gaming career. The game is pure genius from start to finish; an amazing adventure worthy of standing toe to toe with its predecessor on all levels. So little can be said to diminish the greatness of Metroid Fusion… Sure, the game may be short, it may be more linear when compared to other Metroids, but that has never stopped anyone from going back to any Metroid game over, and over, and over again to do every possible thing there is to do in the game. Kudos to Nintendo, Kudos to Intelligent System – You would have made Gunpei Yokoi a very proud man.
See You Next Mission…
*GamersMark.com reviewed this game with a copy of the title purchased from retail
