Metroid Fusion

aka: Metroid 4, Mìtèluōdé Rónghé
Moby ID: 7812
Game Boy Advance Specs
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay or Amazon links (prices updated 3/23 6:28 PM )

Description official descriptions

Metroid Fusion is the direct sequel to 1994's Super Metroid. The game begins as Samus Aran is sent back to planet SR388 to assist a Biologic Space Labs investigation team. While on the planet's surface, Samus is infected by a previously unknown parasite, known as X. The X parasite nearly kills Samus, but fortunately she is saved by a vaccine made from the Metroid she saved on Zebes. Shortly thereafter, an explosion rocks the Biologic Space Labs. Now Samus must investigate the Space Labs, which are orbiting SR388.

This game is similar, in terms of gameplay and structure, to the classic side-scrolling Metroid games. The game consists of a large inter-connected environment. As Samus learns a variety of new moves and weapons, she is able to explore new areas of the Space Lab and unlock the secrets of the X parasite.

Spellings

  • メトロイドフュージョン - Japanese spelling
  • 密特罗德 融合 - Simplified Chinese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Videos

See any errors or missing info for this game?

You can submit a correction, contribute trivia, add to a game group, add a related site or alternate title.

Credits (Game Boy Advance version)

46 People (42 developers, 4 thanks) · View all

Producer
Chief Director
System Director
Scenario & Story
Game Design
Course Design
Visual Director
Samus Design
Samus Original Design
Enemy Character Design
Background Graphic Design
Graphic Design
Program Director
Samus Programming
Enemy Character Programming
System Programming
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 89% (based on 55 ratings)

Players

Average score: 4.1 out of 5 (based on 117 ratings with 9 reviews)

The best Metroid game yet!

The Good
I liked the in-depth plot of Samus and the difficulty of the stages. Metroid has always been one of my favorite games and a must have for all gamers.

The Bad
They could have had a more variety of music to play.

The Bottom Line
Splendid display of colors, a great storyline and definitely worth your money.

Game Boy Advance · by Exodia85 (2145) · 2003

Brilliant for Metroid newbies as well as long-time fans

The Good
The gameplay was very smooth and easy to learn and just excellent. I don't think there are that many GBA games with such good gameplay. Furthermore the graphics are brilliant and when this was released back in 2002 this was one of the best looking GBA games to date and it still looks excellent. Everything is worked out pixel-perfect and the colors are beautiful and fit with the theme. The sound is simply very atmospheric and dark and just gives you the feeling of really being on the space station featured in the game but it's a bit repetitive, though. The story has always been a strong part of the Metroid series and with Metroid Fusion it's not different. Samus Aran is being infected with a deadly virus but a Metroid medicine saves her and makes her immune to them and able to feed on them to replenish energy. however the virus called X can mimic every creature. Now Samus must find her way through an X infected space station and destroy the X thread. The story builds up very well throughout the game. Simply a very dramatic and interesting storyline! there's also a nice link function when you complete the GameCube game Metroid Prime. You can import Samus' new Fusion Suit from Fusion into Prime.

The Bad
The music as mentioned before is good but repetitive. The replay is a bit disappointing because if you play trough it more quickly you only get awarded with a few more pictures. It gets worse if you know that the hard-mode was cut from the western release.

The Bottom Line
Another brilliant piece of shooting and jumping and most importantly exploring to get back your abilities. Fun for both fans or newbies (like me). Buy it!

Game Boy Advance · by Rensch (203) · 2005

Crumbling blocks steal the show

The Good
Imagine a gameplay screen. Imagine all the different things that can be displayed on such a screen. Now, Metroid Fusion decided to do something epic and fill that screen with crumbling blocks. These are ominous symbols of desolation and sorrow. What Samus has to do is either Space Jump like there's no tomorrow, or remain in a Shinesparking state and run past these blocks. There is also symbolism in this. Some of these rooms require very extensive use of the Shinespark technique. Samus remaining in a state of light (Remain in Light) is symbolic of the ever-present battle between light and dark, good and evil.

There are also Screw Attack blocks everywhere. The thing is that you don't get Screw Attack ability until near the end, and after that, the game will direct you to fight the final bosses, effectively preventing you from exploring the rooms behind the Screw Attack blocks. This adds a sense of distrust and unrest. You shouldn't trust the in-game navigation computer. You're still the rogue agent who answers to no one but her own plans and strategies. After the Screw Attack ability is unlocked, you'll travel in some amazing paths that connect the puzzle pieces you collected throughout the adventure. Things finally make sense.

The Bad
Some puzzles don't make any sense. Bomb the center of a platform to reveal a bridge? Kill a spider and expect it to morph into another creature and kill that and wait for it to morph into yet another?

No X-Ray. The Select button is useless in this game and could have been used to activate the X-Ray ability found in Super Metroid. Without X-Ray, plus the fact that the game violently dictates where you should go next by disabling doors and paths that were previously open, you just feel that the game is bullying you and deceiving you at all times.

Lack of moves and tricks. The map and layout of the rooms aren't memorable enough, probably the least memorable Metroidvania map I've played. I can't tell the various areas apart since they look alike and have similar layout.

The Bottom Line
It took me 15 hours to beat it with 99% item collection rate. Metroid Fusion is solid, but life is too short and I wouldn't really recommend a game that's not excellent. If you have played Super Metroid and liked it, it's probably a better idea to just replay Super Metroid, rather than playing this.

Game Boy Advance · by Pagen HD (146) · 2013

[ View all 9 player reviews ]

Trivia

1001 Video Games

The Game Boy Advance version of Metroid Fusion appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Ending

In the ending, Samus asks herself how her ship could've gotten her off the planet when it could only be operated manually. The ship's CPU then responds and says "They lent me a hand". The game then shows a picture of the Etecoons (the little gremlins from Super Metroid that teach you how to wall jump), and the Dachola (the ostrich-looking creature that teaches you how to Super Jump, also from Super Metroid).

References

When you fight Ridley and when you're escaping the station at the end, the music that plays is the boss/escape tune from Super Metroid.

Awards

  • GameSpy
    • 2002 – Game Boy Advance Game of the Year (Readers' Choice)

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Metroid: Zero Mission
Released 2004 on Game Boy Advance, 2014 on Wii U
Metroid Dread
Released 2021 on Nintendo Switch
Super Metroid
Released 1994 on SNES, 2007 on Wii, 2013 on Wii U...
Metroid Dread (Special Edition)
Released 2021 on Nintendo Switch
Metroid: Samus Returns (Legacy Edition)
Released 2017 on Nintendo 3DS
Metroid Prime: Hunters
Released 2006 on Nintendo DS, 2015 on Wii U
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Released 1991 on Game Boy, 2011 on Nintendo 3DS, 2023 on Nintendo Switch
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Released 2004 on GameCube, 2009 on Wii
Yusetsu
Released 2022 on Windows

Related Sites +

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 7812
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by quizzley7.

Nintendo 3DS added by ResidentHazard. Wii U added by Michael Cassidy.

Additional contributors: Guy Chapman, WWWWolf, Opipeuter, Tiago Jacques, gamewarrior, Patrick Bregger, FatherJack.

Game added November 25, 2002. Last modified January 22, 2024.