Metroid Fusion is a fantastic addition to the series, and makes for grand debut on the GBA.
Metroid Fusion is certainly one of the most story-driven games in the series. The game takes place following the events of Super Metroid. Professional space bounty hunter Samus Aran, along with crew members of the Biologic Space Laboratories (BSL), make their way to planet SR388 (where Samus visited during the events of the second Metroid title for the Gameboy). During their travels they come across the X-Parasite, a creature that replicates the physical and psychological state of its host and kills it off. An X-Parasite latches on to Samus, whom is unaware of the threat that has attached to her. While riding in her ship, the effects of the X-parasite begin to take effect. Samus passes out and crashes to a nearby asteroid belt. Luckily, members of the Galactic Federation locate Samus and manage to give her a cure. The cure was comprised of the DNA left behind by the baby Metroid from Metroid 2. However, the X-Parasite infected large chunks of her suit so they had to remove those pieces and what she is left with is the fusion suit. It is also because of Samus' efforts in destroying all of the Metroid (who were natural predators of the parasites) back on SR388 that X-Parasites have run amok on the BSL space station. Soon the Federation assigns Samus the task of getting rid of the parasites. Accompanying Samus is a computer that reminds her of a former commanding officer.
Metroid Fusion follows a similar formula to Super Metroid. The game is divided up into six different sectors each with their own unique environments and enemies. You will be navigating large environments, destroying enemies, discovering hidden items, and facing intimidating bosses. Like in Super Metroid, the game includes a map function in case you get lost, as well as save rooms, refill stations, and navigation rooms. Your computer will give out a wave point to a specific location to advance the story, which makes the experience feel more linear than before. You are free to explore these areas, but when you start out you are not going to get to many places due to locked doors or you may be lacking a specific ability or weapon (much like in other games in the series). Once you do get new weapons and items, you certainly feel more powerful and it makes you look forward to exploring previous areas you couldn't access earlier. The overall amount of items you collect throughout your journey adds up to your completion rate at the end. On your first run you can beat the game in about four hours which, compared to Super Metroid, is rather short.
It's a lot of fun to be able to explore the sectors and blast away at enemies. The experience is made better thanks to the fluid controls. Samus is just as agile as she was in Super Metroid and can pull off pretty much every move available from that game. Just about all of the classic weapons make a return, like the space jump, varia suit, power bombs, missiles, morph ball, and many more. The only weapon that is absent is the ice beam, which Samus cannot use because of the Metroid DNA. Unlike in Super Metroid, you won't be collecting dropped missile ammo or health pick-ups. Instead, you will be collecting a few different colored parasites. The Metroid DNA found in her cure allows her to absorb the parasites. Defeating bosses and absorbing their parasite will also give Samus a more powerful ability.
At certain sections you will begin to hear eerie footsteps. That warns you of the most powerful threat that stands before Samus. As mentioned earlier, X-Parasites mimic the physical attributes of their host. So essentially, you will be up against yourself, who is at full power. At the state you will start out in, you stand no chance. The only thing you can do against the doppelganger is either hide or run away whenever it spots you.
Graphically, the game is simply gorgeous. Almost ten years after it's release and this game as aged very gracefully. The various environments are incredibly detailed and colorful; the detail and animations of the character sprites are simply amazing, and the game's framerate doesn't falter for a second. The sound effects and music just add more icing to an already delicious cake. The sound effects are crisp and satisfying and the music is very atmospheric and often haunting.
To sum things up:
PROS:
-Incredible graphics
-Excellent sound and music
-Fun discovering hidden areas and exploring new ones
-Fluid controls
CONS:
-A little more linear than Super Metroid
-Short lived experience
Metroid Fusion is simply a fantastic game, and it is more than worthy of bearing the Metroid name. Fans of the SNES classic will enjoy speed running through this and beginners will certainly enjoy this as well. This game serves as recommended addition to your GBA library.