The famed Metroid series makes its return on the Game Boy Advance with Metroid Fusion. After Samus' exploits in the Super Nintendo classic Super Metroid, the intergalactic bounty hunter becomes infected with a parasitic life form known only as "X". Samus is rescued and revived by Metroid DNA only after undergoing some major changes in her body and suit, resulting in a drastic change in her appearance, and a new ability to absorb and assimilate the abilities of the "X" virus. Experience a new and enthralling chapter in the Metroid series, and relive the timeless gameplay and exploration that made the series a legend.
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the discomfort zone got too comfortable so we made the comfort zone discomfortable. samus: meet samus
where super dove uncritically into the power fantasy that metroid II (the game with a literal Genocide Counter in the UI) unmasked and deflated, this feels like it's turning it inward against you personally. Your body, Your likeness, and Your autonomy hijacked; Your celebratory past tense role as (repeated) casual annihilationist to reckon with and cower from
it operates as something of a Super Negative Image Metroid: an inversion right down to the uncomfortable, choking grip of the direction. all that clammy ADAMsplaining, those sequestered zones, the redline urgency; everything's dialed perfectly into the exact same channel with uniform intent. even the woozy alien psychedelia's been spirited away in favour of clinical, detached interiors and astroturfed xerox biomes with some of the most appropriately sterile Oops No Backlight lighting on the GBA
and no, it obviously doesn't accomplish the same things as its predecessors, but it's not attempting to. this is a game about lack of control, and altering the format would be akin to breaking the spinal column that holds it upright. fusion's big successes (the pacing, brevity, tonal and thematic consonance, and delicate curation of tension and challenge) are the result of its structural changes. being shunted around a tiny sarcophagus isn't a flaw, it's the entire premise. duh
even without all that though it's impossible for me not to love a game with nightmare, the Profaned Baja Blast Suit, AQA's sunken banger, shots like this, and those absolutely psychotic ridley screams
quite possibly the best SA-X heavy fusion since the sultry sounds of steely dan
where super dove uncritically into the power fantasy that metroid II (the game with a literal Genocide Counter in the UI) unmasked and deflated, this feels like it's turning it inward against you personally. Your body, Your likeness, and Your autonomy hijacked; Your celebratory past tense role as (repeated) casual annihilationist to reckon with and cower from
it operates as something of a Super Negative Image Metroid: an inversion right down to the uncomfortable, choking grip of the direction. all that clammy ADAMsplaining, those sequestered zones, the redline urgency; everything's dialed perfectly into the exact same channel with uniform intent. even the woozy alien psychedelia's been spirited away in favour of clinical, detached interiors and astroturfed xerox biomes with some of the most appropriately sterile Oops No Backlight lighting on the GBA
and no, it obviously doesn't accomplish the same things as its predecessors, but it's not attempting to. this is a game about lack of control, and altering the format would be akin to breaking the spinal column that holds it upright. fusion's big successes (the pacing, brevity, tonal and thematic consonance, and delicate curation of tension and challenge) are the result of its structural changes. being shunted around a tiny sarcophagus isn't a flaw, it's the entire premise. duh
even without all that though it's impossible for me not to love a game with nightmare, the Profaned Baja Blast Suit, AQA's sunken banger, shots like this, and those absolutely psychotic ridley screams
quite possibly the best SA-X heavy fusion since the sultry sounds of steely dan
i dont play metroid to be told where to go
Bom jogo, ótima história, música e Personagens, porém sinto que a jogabilidade é meio inércia se comparada ao Super e o Level Design bem mais linear e meia boca, ainda assim recomendaria aos fãs de Metroidvania, mas como um 8 ou 80. Outro você ama o jogo outro você tava pela janela.
wow a metroid game with a compelling story thats crazy
the linear design is really good and while its not a traditional metroid game it makes up for it with really fun levels and really amazing atmosphere
the linear design is really good and while its not a traditional metroid game it makes up for it with really fun levels and really amazing atmosphere
Mine can be considered an hot take, but.... I think Fusion is the best Metroid.
Many may consider it a step-down compared to its predecessors or the title that came after it, and I can see why: specifically because it drops the maze like structure of the map in the past games, for a more linear exploration, that can make the Research Station a bit too "Videogamy" compared to Planet Zebes and the other iconic locations in the series.
But this doesn't stop the gameplay for feeling immaculate, especially for a GBA title: Samus' moveset is fluid and leads to a gameplay loop that lets you move around the map in a thrilling way, and lets you enjoy the various quality in the map sections, enemies and bosses.
The biggest aspect of Fusion for me is its writing: Samus reactions to ADAM and the corrupted decisions of the galactic federation leads to the best characterization for the bounty hunter in the entire series.
The terrifying sequences and enemies you encounter literally turns this title into a horror game, that will keep you on your toes as you fight nightmares reminiscent to Jon's Carpenter's The Thing.
(side note but it also confirms that Samus canonically saved the animals at the end of Super Metroid, so that is a giant plus for me :D )
Absolute banger game. Highly recommended!
Many may consider it a step-down compared to its predecessors or the title that came after it, and I can see why: specifically because it drops the maze like structure of the map in the past games, for a more linear exploration, that can make the Research Station a bit too "Videogamy" compared to Planet Zebes and the other iconic locations in the series.
But this doesn't stop the gameplay for feeling immaculate, especially for a GBA title: Samus' moveset is fluid and leads to a gameplay loop that lets you move around the map in a thrilling way, and lets you enjoy the various quality in the map sections, enemies and bosses.
The biggest aspect of Fusion for me is its writing: Samus reactions to ADAM and the corrupted decisions of the galactic federation leads to the best characterization for the bounty hunter in the entire series.
The terrifying sequences and enemies you encounter literally turns this title into a horror game, that will keep you on your toes as you fight nightmares reminiscent to Jon's Carpenter's The Thing.
(side note but it also confirms that Samus canonically saved the animals at the end of Super Metroid, so that is a giant plus for me :D )
Absolute banger game. Highly recommended!
While much more linear than anything that came before Metroid Fusion’s core gameplay loop is addictive mostly due to the game having a difficulty curve at all. The hardest game in the series before Dread released.