




Like Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion’s gameplay is similar in some ways, but different. Like other Metroid games, Samus’s goal is to look for upgrades to her suit that will allow her to reach new areas in the game. To do that, she will need to fight bosses or look for Data Rooms. Samus travels in an open-ended world like the other Metroid games, the game takes place in the Biologic Space Laboratories. The Biologic Space Laboratories has a Main Deck and 6 Sectors. The 6 sectors are varied and unique. For example, one sector is iced-based, and another is fire-based. Samus’s new enemies are the X parasites which mimic as various enemies and bosses in the game. Samus can absorb the X Parasites when she defeats any enemy or boss. When she absorbs a X Parasite from an regular enemy, it restores health or missles. If she absorbs an X Parasite from a boss, Samus will gain a new ability. Samus can also gain new abilities from Data Rooms, which Samus will have to search for.
The boss battles are fun and unique, every boss requires a different strategy to defeat it. After defeating a boss, you usually have to defeat it’s Core-X [a X Parasite that can attack you] to truly defeat the boss.
But, what sets Metroid Fusion apart from other Metroid games is it’s linear gameplay. The main gameplay involes Samus taking orders from a computer in Navigation Rooms. The objectives ranged from finding a power-up, defeating a boss, and other objectives. This makes it it nearly impossible to perform any sequence breaks. You may think that because of this, Metroid Fusion is a somewhat medicore game. But, it is not a medicore game at all. In fact, Metroid Fusion is one of the better Metroid games out there. The controls are perfect, and game is a joy to play from start to finish. Not only does it keep the classic Metroid gameplay, but it adds enough new elements to make the game feel fresh. For example, Samus’s Fusion Suit is slight different from her Power Suit. She can no longer use the Ice Beam [instead she can use Ice Missles], but she can now grab ledges without the use of the Power Grip. Metroid Fusion is the first 2D Metroid game to have animated cutscenes. Metroid Fusion’s story is much more deeper and intresting than previous Metroid games.
One other new element is that Samus will encounter the SA-X [an X-Parasite mimicking Samus’s Power Suit] several times during the game. During these encounters, Samus will have to hide or run from the invincible SA-X. These SA-X encounters are intense but fun.
For an early Game Boy Adavnce game, the graphics are fantastic. The music is awesome and fits in well with the game. Like previous Metroid games, there is replay value in obtaining 100% percent. There are different endings where you can see Samus with or without her suit depending on how many weapons and energies upgrades you collected and how quickly you complete the game.
Metroid Fusion is a fantastic video game. It might be linear, but it’s new gameplay elements and deeper story makes this game extremely fun. Do not miss out on this overlooked gem, buy this game now!
Graphics:9/10 For an early Game Boy Advane game, the graphics are fantastic. Metroid Fusion is one the best-looking Game Boy Advance games.
Sound:9/10 The music is awesome, and the sound effects are great.
Gameplay:9/10 Metroid Fusion might be linear, but it is a fantastic game from beginning to end. Classic Metroid gameplay mixed with new elements makes this game fantastic.
Lasting Appeal:9/10 This game is not short by no means. There is plent of replay value in collecting 100% and seeing the different endings.
Overall:9/10 Awesome
To everybody wondering about my future reviews, I will explain. In celebration of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days being relased in North America very soon, I’m going to try to review all PS2 Kingdom Hearts games. You had already seen that my Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories review is up. But that’s not all, I also plan to review Mario & Luigi:Bowser’s Inside Story and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days in the future. I should be recieving my copy of Mario & Luigi:Bowser’s Inside Story on September 16, 2009, and I should be recieving my copy of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days on September 29, 2009. Now because of this, I might be posting reviews less frequently than I was posting during my Game Boy reviews special. But, don’t worry. Reviews will be on the way. I have no clue for sure what EXACT order I will be reviewing these games, and I might even throw in a suprise game review. Who knows? Time will tell.
EDIT:I will review Kingdom Hearts I and Kingdom Hearts II in the future, but it might be October or later before I’m able to review those games. My next review will be Metroid Fusion. I also bought Muramasa:The Demon Blade, and I plan to review that game when I complete it, it might even be my next review!
The winner of the contest is Nintendo Life member Chrono Cross. Congratulations Chrono! His request was for me to review Wario World. So, the next review will be Wario World.