Metroid Fusion

aka: Metroid 4, Mìtèluōdé Rónghé
Moby ID: 7812
Game Boy Advance Specs
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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

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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)

A weird - but welcome - part of the Metroid series

The Good
The game is a good example of how Metroid series could logically be something else than what it usually stands for. So far, Metroid games had been mostly lone adventures where the plot is largely of the implied kind; Fusion, on the other hand, relies on direct narration and even - as unusual it sounds in a Metroid title - dialogue. So, this game is a refreshing change of pace; it's actually quite nice to see Samus, for once, having to cooperate with other people.

Also, the pacing changes are just beautifully done. The space laboratory undergoes changes. Power goes down, and suddenly you have to figure out different routes. There are times when you just have to make quick decisions.

The environments are beautifully done, and the graphics are surprisingly detailed for a 2D sprite game - a tradition which fortunately continued in Metroid: Zero Mission. Music is somewhat different from the usual Metroid tunes, but fit the game very nicely anyway.

The Bad
This game is much harder than Metroid: Zero Mission, and the boss fights, at times, approach Metroid Prime in their careful crafting of annoyance. How hard would it be to put the save points right next to the annoying boss fights? In a few places, I just hated to walk around for several tricky minutes from the nearest save point to the boss room where the boss flattens me in no time at all. And, of course, the last boss fights in particular were a marathon in murder. (Luckily, usually the most aggravating part was first in these...)

It's also a less open-ended game, which obviously comes from having such a strong plot this time... No problem in that in itself, but if you combine the annoying bosses with no freeform exploration, you get a distinct "oh man, I again need to trudge through those annoying rooms to get to the spider from hell, maybe I'll play this next week instead" feeling.

It's almost if this game needs more deliberate planning to play through; it's a game that you plan to play, instead of a game (like Zero Mission) that you can play in small doses and go in random directions and still make progress - something that is a good quality in a game for a portable system.

But maybe that feeling will wear off once you play this through a few times and you develop an understanding of the game, the same way you can develop an "understanding" about Zero Mission. I don't know yet, personally.

The Bottom Line
Fourth 2D part of the Metroid series is a nicely crafted continuation from the groundwork set forth by Super Metroid, and, control-wise, is built to work perfectly on the Game Boy Advance. A lot of strange things are going on this time: a whole new kind of an enemy that is also a master of mimicking, X Parasite, wreaks havoc in a scientific space station. Samus gets infected, disinfected with a new vaccine, and her old Chozo suit gets replaced with something odder.

We also see an evil clone of Samus herself, sure to induce some fear with its awesome weaponry - equivalents of which have traditionally been strewn around the station and you need to go grab them again.

This time, Samus takes orders from an artificial intelligence program which Samus calls Adam, and we also see, much to our non-surprise, that things people would rather not discuss are going on in the space station. Samus talks in this game, (though if you wanted sound samples, we had to wait for Brawl) and also uses her amazing blogging skills more than she used them in Super Metroid, now in form of many diary notes.

So here we have it: Fascinating science fiction tale in crammed, scary quarters of a huge space station - a finely crafted tale at that, if you are into that sort of things. Those new to the series should not take it as a representative of the series what comes to the look, plot and narration, because a lot of things are very different and unique in this game - just the basic gameplay and equipment remains the same compared to the rest of the series. This game works pretty well on its own, but I might recommend trying Metroid: Zero Mission first to get your feet wet - but that's not entirely necessary, I wager.

Game Boy Advance · by WWWWolf (444) · 2008

Samus' last adventure is certainly not a silent one

The Good
Metroid Fusion is chronologically the last Metroid game(the Metroid Prime franchise takes place between Metroid 1/Zero Mission and Metroid II: The Return of Samus), and it's Samus' first 32bit adventure on the Advance.

Personally, I really enjoyed the game throughout. There were some things I disliked about it but generally the whole experience is very enjoyable. Samus' new abilities, such as climbing ladders and the Power Grip which allows her to grip ledges come in handy for sure. I also like that they made the missiles upgradeable, that really simplified a lot of things for sure. Overall, Metroid Fusion feels simple, easy to play, and something you can just pick up and play, which is how handheld games should be like. The sound effects are very well done in comparison to older games.

The Bad
I didn't quite like the fact I couldn't skip the cutscenes. Having to watch the long intro every time I start a new game is a real pain in the butt. Also, I didn't like how much the game relied on story and mission objectives. I felt that the freedom and non-linear experience I had in Super Metroid was completely absent. Also, the music isn't nearly as memorable as the Super Metroid soundtrack, but it fits the atmosphere well.

The Bottom Line
Metroid Fusion is a game that some will find very entertaining and exciting, with huge replay value as you will try to find more and more items and do it with less playtime, while others might find the increased linear story-driven gameplay boring and uncharacteristic for the series in general. But all in all, Metroid Fusion is not a bad game. It's maybe not the best in the series(I give Super Metroid that title), but it's playable, and it gives room for another prequel.

Game Boy Advance · by x0n1c64 (12) · 2008

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

[ 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)

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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.