While I’d still give a slight edge to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow for the award of ‘best Metroidvania on the Gameboy Advance’, Metroid Fusion is an extremely close second.

It’s true that this is a more linear, story-based affair, but it still employs a winding structure with plenty of secrets and things to find. In fact, I don’t think the linearity is this game’s biggest drawback. I found that they lean a tad too hard into using invisible blocks as a main funnel for progression. Get ready to use that morph ball bomb.

But that’s really my only complaint, as this is a buttery smooth and beautiful game with excellent pacing and tight controls. It’s challenging but not overly frustrating, easy to navigate without being simplistic, and atmospheric & creepy without being a retread of what came before. A perfect mobile entry that would have been considered one of the greatest SNES titles ever had it been released on that platform, and that should likewise be considered one of the best games on the GBA.

It also gave me an even greater appreciation for Metroid Dread, which is very much a sequel and follow-up to this game, expanding and improving on ideas introduced here without forgetting what made this one work.