Another worthy addition the magnificent Metroid Series. Creepy and Spine-Chillingly superb gameplay make this a GBA must
By Andy Ryle (Ryle_Boy)
Metroid Fusion is just one of those rare games that doesn't fail in delivering a truly superb gaming experience. The old-school Side-Scrolling adventure that made Metroid what it is today is re-visited in Metroid Fusion, and a truly wonderful playing experience is had by all who play it.
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On With the Review!!
Overview
Metroid Fusion is the fourth (4th) game in the Metroid series, but coincides with the release of Metroid Prime. It is set 7 years after Super Metroid, and is the last in chronological order so far in the Metroid franchise. It re-visits the side-scrolling gameplay that the first 3 games implemented. Metroid Fusion can be linked up to the GameCube via. GBA - NGC Connection Cable and enables a full ported version of the original Metroid, and the Fusion Suit playable in Metroid Prime.
Story
Metroid Fusion is definately more story-driven than it's GameCube counterpart, and allows some very creepy encounters with monstrous beings, and nail-bitingly intense occurences with the SA-X. Basically, the player becomes Samus Aran, a galactic bounty hunter who must spelunk through artificially maintained habitats onboard a space station run by Biologic Space Laboratories, which, along with Samus, has been infected with a parasitoid species known as the X Parasites, or simply the X. She must regather the special abilities and weapons she has lost, as well as some new ones, to neutralize the threat to the station. Along the way she encounters various obstacles and enemies, including a highly dangerous X Parasite, the SA-X, which is mimicking Samus at her strongest.
Gameplay
The gameplay is very easy to master, and easy to get used to. The old-school-esque side scrolling gameplay is still apparent, and to some, at it's best yet in Metroid games to date. The platforming, shooting, puzzle-solving and action-adventure gameplay style that is unique to Metroid is still here, and is still a beaut to play. Often you will be called to look for secret areas, where you can expand your missle, energy and arsenal capacity. You will have to look for doors, morph-ball tunnels, switches, data-rooms and bosses for you to progress. Metroid Fusion allows the player to move at his or her own pace, and is a definitely rewarding play experience.
Verdict - 9
Graphics
The graphics are very similar to those found in Super Metroid for the Super NES and are rendered in 2D. The poses and colours displayed for both Samus and her enemies are a mark more detailed, however. The game is a side-scroller, so all of the action is displayed from a side-on angle. The graphics are rich, sharp, clear and wonderful to look at. The environments look very Metroid-esque, and set the mood of the game very well. The enemies, especially ones like Omega Prime, SA-X and Metroids all look superb. The decrease in frame-rate is also non-existent, and produces a fluent, unhindered and smooth graphical experience. The images shown in cut-scenes look amazing, too. The graphics in Metroid Fusion are easily appreciatable, and can be admired by even the most hardened graphic fanatic.
Verdict - 9
Sound
The ear-numblingly good sound in Metroid Fusion isn't cancelled out by any other Game Boy Advance game. The creepy, spine-chilling, and most-definately intense music really adds to the very bleak-futuristic mood. Often, with the sound setting the scene, you really feel as if you are all alone, and there is no chance of survival. The frightening encounters with SA-X are dictated by sound, often there is none at all, but that is most definately a plus in the mood-setting. Easily recognizable Metroid-like sounds are all apparent here, and every Metroid player will find the sound department of Metroid Fusion very nostaligic, and will find solice in the fact that the charm of the Metroid tunes are all here. As with graphics and gameplay, Sound is nothing short of amazing, revolutionary, and pushing the GBA's limits with this very amazing experience.
Verdict - 9
Value
Whilst the game is easily completable in under 3 hours, hardened Metroid players will clock up 100% in under 2 hours, which reveals a hidden reward. Still, apart from the easy completion time, you will most-definately want to play it over again, so for $28.95 (Amazon.com) you will really find a very rewarding, fun and intense gaming experience. Also, owners of Metroid Prime (GameCube) will really want to keep hold of Fusion, basically for the fact of the connectivity bonuses. So, all of this totals up to a magnificent value, and a worthy purchase, and quite frankly a must-have for any GBA owner, and any Metroid fan alike.
Verdict - 10
Tilt
Metroid is definately one of my most-favourite franchises, so a 10 is warranted. However, I highly prefer the first-person-shooter style of games like Metroid Prime and Echoes (GameCube), and the coming-soon Metroid Prime III: Corruption (Wii), so I have to give it a 9. Still, FPS isn't achievable on Game Boy Advance, but Side-Scroller definately suits Metroid Fusion, and is another great Metroid game.
Verdict - 9
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All in all, Metroid Fusion is another stand-out game in a stand-out franchise, one which rarely, if not NEVER fails to deliver maginficent games. Metroid Fusion is definately, I stress, a quite revolutionary game in it's own right, and continues to move the Metroid franchise onto bigger, better things, and is a step in the right direction by Nintendo.
Overall Score - 9.2 - Superb.