Wow, Metroid Fusion is good.

[Zing]

I haven't played any Metroid games since Super Metroid back at release. I recently got heavy into GBA gaming with my Micro and after being non-wow'd by a few games, I decided to give Metroid Fusion a try.

I am officially wow'd.

At first it felt a little weak. The combination of the map and no hidden stuff made it feel kind of bland and easy. After a couple hours, the game really picked up. The discovery of bombs brought back the old school Metroid OCD inducing "bomb everywhere" mentality and many, many secrets. The map is actually useful while not making it too easy. The way secret passages are marked (and not obviously revealed before discovery) on the automap is perfect.

The challenge quickly ramped up. I am reaching the end (I believe) and so far there have been two bosses that I thought "holy shit, this is impossible". After trying and trying, I finally figured out the tactics to use and then they were easily defeated. The most recent boss (don't know the name, the gravity related one) was so hard at first, that after trying many times, I almost gave up to hit read a FAQ or something (I avoid all forms of spoilers/FAQs/walkthroughs for games I am playing through). I kept at it and despite much cursing and frustration, when I finally figured out the pattern, it was so satisfying.

It has been a long time since I have been sad when a game is complete, but I predict I will feel this way once I am done.

[Bratwurst]

Metroid Zero Mission is even better, go play that right now.

[aclbandit]

Yes, it's amazing! In fact, it was the first Metroid game I ever played through. It's without a doubt one of my favorites.

[Poofta!]

yep, the metroid and castlevania games for the gba are amazing.

[maxlords]

Yeah, I was really impressed by Fusion and Zero Mission. Konami really outdid themselves on those :D

[Zing]

Metroid Zero Mission is even better, go play that right now.

I had been under the assumption that the relatively short gameplay and remake-status made Zero Mission not worth it. My rediscovery of the greatness of Metroid has changed my mind. I plan on picking it up.

[Bratwurst]

I had been under the assumption that the relatively short gameplay and remake-status made Zero Mission not worth it. My rediscovery of the greatness of Metroid has changed my mind. I plan on picking it up.

what the fuck whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefuck who put this silly idea in your gentle innocent head, child

anyone who has the slightest inkling that zero mission sucked must tell me so i can slice them open from stem to sternum and crawl inside to parasitically graft myself to their spine to gain control of their faculties and make them play it

[Sanriostar]

Fusion's a fun game indeed, but the difficulty in sequence breaking and the lack of "speed the goddam thing up" button in story mode gives it those two irratants. Fun bosses though.

[ProgrammingAce]

Fun fact: i only own 4 GBA games, both metroid games and both Doom games. All 4 are excelent. I'd put the metroids as some of the top gaming experiances i've ever had. And when you're done playing through the missions, go back and try out some of the glitches for even more fun.

[pseudonym]

I've only played Zero Mission. I found it to be on the easy side but still a great game. There are a lot of secrets to keep you busy and the twist towards the end was unexpected but a lot of fun. I really need to find Fusion now. =)

[Volcanon]

It was a good game.

Non-skippable cutscenes sucked though.

It was a bit linear for a Metroid game too.

[DigitalSpace]

In 2004, I bought my first GBA - an original silver model. A complete copy of Metroid Fusion was my first GBA game. The silver GBA was sold off when I replaced it with an SP, but the game's still in my collection.

I got about halfway through it - I was having trouble in a boss battle and planned to consult an FAQ for help, but I had acquired another game that steered my attention away and that never happened. I'll probably start it over and try again one of these days.

Based on my experience to that point in the game, I thought it was a little too linear, but still one of the best GBA games.

[heybtbm]

Welcome to 2002! Seriously though...don't forget, the Metroid games look great on the Gameboy Player too.

[jb143]

It was a bit linear for a Metroid game too.

That was really my only complaint as well. You couldn't go exploring as much as in the other games becasue you'd be locked in the area they wanted you to be in. Still a really great game and very reminesent of Super Metroid...which, I believe, it was originally going to be a remake of.

[Gentlegamer]

I'm playing Metroid Fusion right now. Well, as an off-and-on thing around bedtime since I blew through Zero Mission several months ago.

Both are awesome!

[aclbandit]

It was a bit linear for a Metroid game too.

There's the only complaint I had about it, yeah.

But, on the plus side, that makes it do-able without any help from GameFAQs, which one (arguably) must use if you plan to EVER find your way through the first metroid.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, I was really impressed by Fusion and Zero Mission. Konami really outdid themselves on those :D
lol

They're alright. I tend to like the heavier action games but for something that's playable without constant restarts, these titles are great.

[jb143]

There's the only complaint I had about it, yeah.

But, on the plus side, that makes it do-able without any help from GameFAQs, which one (arguably) must use if you plan to EVER find your way through the first metroid.

Didn't have GameFAQ's or guides back in the day...used good ole graph paper. I sorta miss and despise those days at the same time.

[skaar]

I had lined paper... no graph. That's hardcore :D

Actually I didn't map the first NES Metroid, I've just always had a good sense of direction. I had to play the game continuously though - I remember getting lost in Norfair after coming back the game after a two week holiday.

I did map the first Phantasy Star though. ;)

I love 2D Metroid. I never quite got into the 3D ones though.

[kupomogli]

I like Fusion better than Zero Mission, though the fact that it's too linear just like other people said makes the game extremely hard to go back to in comparison to Super Metroid. The worst part about the game is the ending though, when everything is finally unlocked there are still no areas you haven't been in aside from the parts that allow you to go from one corridor into the other. Also. The music that plays at the end and never changes.

Metroid Zero Mission is awesome, except one part which is extremely boring. Playing as Zero Suit Samus and that part they threw into the game on just Chozodia wasn't fun.

[Tron 2.0]

It was a good game.

Non-skippable cutscenes sucked though.

It was a bit linear for a Metroid game too.
Yeah that's what i didn't like about fusion either it was too linear beside being easy.

[Guru of Time and Space]

I can't stand the jumping in Fusion and Zero Mission. Not floaty enough for me.

-GoTaS

[Lady Jaye]

Samus-X in Fusion is one of the most stressful enemies I've ever seen in a game... Whenever it'd appear, the whole "run for your life" sequence really got to me (at least until Samus got strong enough to fight it and survive).

[Lord_Magus]

Hmm interesting... I'm a huge Metroid fan and I never considered Metroid Fusion to be a "real" Metroid game - especially when compared to the greatness that are Super Metroid and Prime, it just felt way too linear and unpolished for me. Maybe I should give it another go sometime though, as I never did finish it...

[skaar]

Samus-X in Fusion is one of the most stressful enemies I've ever seen in a game... Whenever it'd appear, the whole "run for your life" sequence really got to me (at least until Samus got strong enough to fight it and survive).

I shared in that - I really did get freaked out at those bits too.

[c0ldb33r]

Samus-X in Fusion is one of the most stressful enemies I've ever seen in a game... Whenever it'd appear, the whole "run for your life" sequence really got to me (at least until Samus got strong enough to fight it and survive).
I was going to post the same thing. I never thought a gameboy game would scare me, but Evil Samus did it :)

[Zing]

I finished the game over the weekend. It said I had something ridiculously low for item discoveries. Geez.

Also, the final battles were probably the easiest in the game.

I don't think I will be going back trying to get 100% or anything. Who knows.

[BetaWolf47]

Metroid Fusion is great. Zero Mission disappointed me to no end. It's like a 6 hour game.

[Ro-J]

Having never owned a GBA, I picked up both of the Metroid games earlier this year to play on my DS. I loved Zero Mission, and the inclusion of the original NES game on the card made it even better.

Fusion, however, sounded HORRIBLE on my DS. The game played great but the audio was completely messed up, especially when firing the gun. It almost made it unplayable. Luckily I had my Gameboy Player to fall back on since it sucks to play Metroid without decent sound. Anyone else have problems with the sound of Fusion on the DS?

[fahlim003]

I finished the game over the weekend. It said I had something ridiculously low for item discoveries. Geez.

Also, the final battles were probably the easiest in the game.

I don't think I will be going back trying to get 100% or anything. Who knows.

Same here, I just completed my first run through in nearly under 4 hours. Got a measly 55% collection rate which is the worst I've done in any Metroid game I've tried to date.

I agree about the final battles, I'd say Gravity Suit boss was tougher than SA-X/Omega Metroid.

I'll probably give another run to get a higher percentage but honestly I don't know how much more I can improve. I find MF is very limiting in exploration thanks to the extreme linear nature of the game, which I feel the Metroid team greatly improved upon in ZM. I also didn't care much for the audio, specifically the soundtrack. Not what I'm used to in terms of gloomy/bleak Metroid fare. I will say the art direction was terrific and as such the atmosphere presented is terrific especially when avoiding SA-X early on. For me ZM, length aside is the better game as it should be as it is the newer developed title. A bit of a shame the US/Canada version of MF got nerfed for Hard mode and the Gallery.


Metroid Fusion is great. Zero Mission disappointed me to no end. It's like a 6 hour game.

ZM, 6 hours in one run? That is really slow. I think most complaints stem from the fact it's a 4 hour game tops. Not that it detracts, I think the pacing and balance is superb and it never feels like it's too short. Of course Super Metroid is much longer than both MF and ZM but there is still plenty of value and in a lot of ways ZM feels more of sequel to SM than MF does.

[Zing]

Fusion, however, sounded HORRIBLE on my DS. The game played great but the audio was completely messed up, especially when firing the gun. It almost made it unplayable. Luckily I had my Gameboy Player to fall back on since it sucks to play Metroid without decent sound. Anyone else have problems with the sound of Fusion on the DS?

I bought my copy of Fusion used and it had an end-game save on it. I loaded it up when I first got the game and I couldn't believe how unbearable the gun fire sound was. It was loud and grating. After playing through the game myself, I don't recall even noticing how bad the sound was.

While the soundtrack isn't awesome, it is enjoyable. I listen to it every few days.