Gaming Target - Game Boy: Metroid Fusion

Written by Tim McGrew on December 05, 2002

Review: She's back and she's not taking any guff from Space Pirates.

Getting right to the point, Nintendo is responsible for a number of massive franchise characters that are synonymous with the company and are a testament to their quality of development. Metroid is definitely one of those chief franchises showing that not only can Nintendo create amazing gameplay features, but also superb characters. Plumbers, Princesses, goombas, green dinosaurs, giant morphing marshmallows, and of course, tough as nails space pirate slaying bounty hunters are just a few of the characters Nintendo is responsible for. Although the last one doesn't really fit too well with their flamboyant and over the top character design, it doesn't negate the fact that the character is absolutely amazing both to use in something as unique as Smash Bros and as her own dynamic self in the Metroid games. With that said, let's tackle this formidable and wonderful beast for the Gameboy Advance known as Metroid Fusion.

Metroid Fusion is the 4th installment in the Metroid series preceded by games spanning nearly every Nintendo console release with the exception of the Nintendo 64. Metroid Fusion takes place after the defeat of Mother Brain at the end of Super Metroid on the Super Nintendo with the player, once again, taking the role of Samus Aran. In the opening sequence, Samus returns to the Metroid home world of SR-388. On this planet resides something not previously seen by the scientists once they started to explore the world. When the Metroids were present on this world, they preyed upon something known as the X parasite that kept their numbers close to nil and relatively invisible to the creatures on the planet. However, with the Metroid presence now exterminated, the X parasite has grown to immense proportions.

Contracted by the Biologic Space Lab and the Galactic Federation, Samus is on SR-388 protecting the scientists from this parasite. During one of her missions, Samus was infected by the parasite and nearly killed. However, in an attempt to save her life the Federation stripped away her Chozo powered armor and inoculated her with a vaccine concocted from a cell culture from a baby Metroid that Samus УadoptedФ at the end of Metroid II. The Galactic Federation built Samus a new suit that is capable of working in concert with her Metroid DNA and can absorb the X parasite. The Galactic Federation also built her a new vessel since her last was destroyed by an asteroid belt when she lost consciousness and ejected from it. With these new devices, though hardly a shell of her former self, Samus was to complete her mission assisting the BSL.

Shortly after Samus took on her new suit and her new ship, the BSL fell under attack by an X Parasite that inhabited her old Chozo armor and was wreaking havoc throughout the station. Contracted to contain the situation, Samus sprang to action, attempting to ascertain the situation and halt this new ultimate threat to the galaxy.

The Metroid series has always been rather light with great back stories at the beginning of the games, but hardly any true story development during and at the end of the games. Metroid Fusion, however, destroys that mold and even fuses the game's excellent gameplay mechanics with brilliantly done cut scenes that emphasize Samus' thoughts and the always engaging and evolving plot. Most of the dialogue is between Samus and her new Galactic Federation AI counterpart, Adam. Adam provides Samus with information about the area she's about to enter and an objective for that area. It makes the game far more linear then previous Metroid games, but no less enjoyable. Free roaming exploration is still encouraged throughout the game to discover new missile packs, new energy tanks, and a bunch of other hidden areas to increase your explored percentage.

The mission objectives vary from level to level, but most of them require you to basically search out a single room, access it, and then leave the area. However, the reasons behind reaching certain areas may lead to opening new areas, fighting a high concentration of enemies, or even acquiring a new suit upgrade. Rest assured that despite the fact that Adam holds your hand every step of the way as you progress through the game you are never given the whole story. The AI works nicely when it comes to outlining new mission details as it not only conveys your new objectives, but also the concerns and progress of the Galactic Federation.

Although you'll be spending most of your exploration time searching for small upgrades to your newly acquired functions, the abilities that Samus acquires, such as the Morph Ball and Screw Attack, can only be acquired in a very linear pattern. Huge portions of the game are inaccessable without certain abilities and these abilities are found one at a time in a specific order so you can explore just enough of the area to find the next ability and the whole game unfolds in this manner. One note worth mentioning is that not only do some of Samus' new moves come as a welcome addition, but also as an inherent weakness as well since you are infused with Metroid DNA.

Speaking of the Metroid DNA, Samus can effectively absorb X parasites inhabiting enemies that simply fly off as soon as the enemy is destroyed. These parasites can reform into the old enemies that you just destroyed after a period of time, but they can also combine with more parasites creating a devastating enemy that can't be harmed by your current state. However, Samus can absorb the X parasites into her own body taking their energy or even replenishing her ammunition. Some of the larger X parasites, which are shed by level bosses, can be absorbed by Samus for new abilities that will augment her suit or her weapons. This added twist makes the game much more interesting since you'll have to quickly absorb the parasites not only to stay alive, but to eliminate future threats.

As expected, Metroid Fusion controls like a dream come true. Despite having 2 less buttons on the Gameboy Advance as Super Metroid did on the 6-button Super Nintendo, Samus can still fly through all of her moves with relative ease using combinations of buttons as opposed to switching to them via a sub menu. The weapon upgrades stack one on top of the other, augmenting weapons rather then creating new weapon sets. Holding R toggles the missiles and holding L fires angled shots, easily showcasing Samus' versatility. Some more experience Metroid players may not approve of this weapon stacking system but despite their issues, the controls work perfectly and contain the action to one screen rather then to several as you switch weapons, suits, and the like.

The graphics of Metroid Fusion are quite possibly some of Nintendo's best work on the Gameboy Advance. Players who found the new 3D design of Metroid Prime to be disappointing will be pleasantly surprised by Nintendo's efforts with this fully 2D sequel to the series. Although it shares plenty of similarities with Super Metroid, some areas completely surpass it by including real time weather effects that change on the fly and a few new animations for Samus and her new Fusion suit. The game also maintains the same foreboding style of presentation used in Super Metroid and enhances it with enemies that are both towering in size and incredibly difficult to defeat. With so many awesome effects and no slowdown at all, one would be taxed to find graphical areas that are not pleasing to the eye in one way or another.

The music and sound effects are also incredible and stand up to the offerings of the already excellent Super Metroid soundtrack. What impresses me the most is the fact that despite everything that is new, the familiar tunes and tones of older Metroid games are still prevalent in Metroid Fusion, including the five note tune that plays when you load the game and the familiar tune when you acquire new items and suit upgrades. The game also retains its wonderful and frightening atmosphere in concert with its dark graphics thanks to the music and is sure to impress even the most die hard of Metroid fans.