The more linear structure is alligned with the game's proposoal of a bigger emphasis on narrative and is welcome since, at its core, the main design philosophy from past 2D Metroid games is still here. Level design might not be as open as earlier titles, but it still works and still provides a gradual exploration-based progression, locking certain areas and items behind upgrades that you find by exploring the map. Most of the time i was fine, but there were also a lot of frustrating moments spread throughout the game in which it just wanted me to magically guess how to get past particular parts of it's many areas. For example, guess which structure is distructable and which isn't, since there is no visual indicative for any of that whatsoever and just guess which extremely specific walls are false and which are not.
Aside from all that, another stress inducing aspect of Fusion might be the boss fights which are mostly repetitive when not plain stupid, with most bosses dealing absurd amounts of damage, and while requiring simple but not much optimal strategies and even looking up online, most of the time i had to get hit and the constant return from save points, sometimes pretty far away, if not non-existent at all really stressed me out.
Graphics and sound design are still really good though, specially graphics. Lots of colors and varied environments make up for a very good looking sci-fi game with plenty of weird aliens and all kinds of biological madness. As for the sound design here, while still atmospheric, is flawed, specially when compared to Zero Mission. A lot of sounds are very high pitched and have hurt my ears throughout te entire playthrough. Composition-wise everthing is nice,but the sound programming does not help it. Its a lot like Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance in that regard.
Summing it up, it's a nice time and a cool sci fi game with an entertaining while most certainly kind of empty narrative, engrossing, yet flawed atmosphere and ambience promoted by its converging visuals, sound design and even level design, really. Worth a shot but it was a pain to play a lot of times and i would not do it again for a while
Aside from all that, another stress inducing aspect of Fusion might be the boss fights which are mostly repetitive when not plain stupid, with most bosses dealing absurd amounts of damage, and while requiring simple but not much optimal strategies and even looking up online, most of the time i had to get hit and the constant return from save points, sometimes pretty far away, if not non-existent at all really stressed me out.
Graphics and sound design are still really good though, specially graphics. Lots of colors and varied environments make up for a very good looking sci-fi game with plenty of weird aliens and all kinds of biological madness. As for the sound design here, while still atmospheric, is flawed, specially when compared to Zero Mission. A lot of sounds are very high pitched and have hurt my ears throughout te entire playthrough. Composition-wise everthing is nice,but the sound programming does not help it. Its a lot like Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance in that regard.
Summing it up, it's a nice time and a cool sci fi game with an entertaining while most certainly kind of empty narrative, engrossing, yet flawed atmosphere and ambience promoted by its converging visuals, sound design and even level design, really. Worth a shot but it was a pain to play a lot of times and i would not do it again for a while