Metroid Fusion

Review by Flipmodeplaya

Metroid Fusion was my first Metroid game, so those who have played through all of them may find my review somewhat obvious. For fellow Metroid newcomers, read on.

Features

From my limited Super Metroid (about 2 hours) experience, I can tell you Fusion plays just like it, with some improvements. Most noticeably, you can now hang from ledges, and roll through one block passageways from such a position. For those even less familiar with standard Metroid play than me, its a 2D sidescroller with a very unconventional level design. Those familiar with the GBA Castlevania games will feel right at home with the layout, but as far as gameplay and controls it couldnt be more fluid or responsive. You can pick it up in a minute, and master its intricacies by the first boss. Its quite short, I used a walkthrough and beat it in about 5 hours. I do recommend use of a walkthrough too, as some of the puzzles could only be solved with blind luck. Its quite linear in comparison to past games in the series, but compared to most games its just fine. A standard mission has you in a HUGE level (there are six clearly defined levels linked together by an overworld of sorts), with a goal to get to. You have to explore your way their, and I actually prefer this system to the just look around till something happens system of Super Metroid.

Graphics

Fusion is beautiful, with smooth animation, big and well designed enemies, and dozens high resolution backgrounds adorn well placed levels. Its much more colorful than past Metroid games, but it looks a bit more real that way too. There are also some nice water and transparency effects to look out for.

Sound

The Music is almost hard to notice, and never seems to change, but it is nice and quite moody. Sound effects are beautiful and well created, and boss music ranges from catchy (Nightmares music) to drab (most others). Overall you will be too busy with the game to notice any disappointing tunes or otherwise.

Plot

The story starts out interestingly enough, with our hero Samus Aran getting a Metroid dosage to fight the X infecting her suit. By the end of the intro shes in a fancy new suit (which will change a few times during the game) and is now immune to the X. As the plot goes on there are some good twists that go against what has been said in past games. Everything leading up to the ending (that last hour) is a real thrill ride of double-crosses and returning stars, but the ending is somewhat anticlimactic and lacking in explanation. Overall its a story the quality of a good movie packed into great portable adventure game. Not bad at all.

Scores

Length and Replay: 6 Graphics: 9 Sound: 7 Plot: 8 Gameplay: 10 Overall: 9