PixlBit

Fusion...Ha!

Hey Pixlbit, how's it been? Today is apparently the 29th anniversary of Metroid, in Japan. Or was, but it still is on my time. As usual, Nintendo didn't mention anything about that, but that's why I'm here for right? Joking aside, instead of doing an anniversary post, I decided to make this a post about my thoughts on Metroid Fusion instead.

I recently finished it, well maybe a month or so ago. Don't remember talking about it, or maybe I may have mentioned that I finished it, who knows and it's too late since I'm typing this already. Well with that out of the way, here are my thoughts on it, hopefully without giving too much away...

Disclaimer: Before I begin, I would like to point out that I never played it in its original format on the GBA. I'm a 3DS Ambassador so I got to try it there. Thank you for understanding and continue reading this if you want.

One of the first things I noticed is that it clearly says it's Metroid 4, at that point there have been 3 Metroid games and it takes place after Super Metroid, or it's technically Metroid 5 since Metroid Prime released the same day as Fusion and it takes place after the original Metroid in Chronological order. And it technically takes place after Other M, but we aren't here to discuss that.

So now that I made your head hurt, here's how the game starts: the game starts off with Samus inside her Starship and she crashes on an asteroid. Apparently, she has been infected by something called the X Parasites and the Federation makes a cure out of Metroid DNA or something of the sort. Samus get's a new ability to absorb item drops from defeated enemies, but since Samus has Metroid DNA in her now, she also gained a Metroid's weakness to cold. Also, Samus got a new look too known as the Fusion Suit. Some people hate it, but I think it looks cool.

               

Now lets talk about the gameplay. The game takes place in the BSL or Biological Space Laboratories and you're tasked to find out what's going on in there after an explosion. The place is pretty big for a space lab. Not that big, but it feels just right. The game is much more linear that any of the previous Metroid games at that point. And here is where the complains from people might come from.

In the previous games, you usually landed in a planet or whatever, and you were on your own to explore without the help of anyone telling you what to do. It really gave you the sense that you were alone on the planet. In Fusion, you are guided by an AI that Samus named Adam. Adam gives you your objective, like an important area to go check out or something. I get the complaints, but it's actually not that bad in my opinion. I love exploring on my own and doing whatever, but it doesn't really hurt to get some help.

Plus, I can look past that because it gets the atmosphere right. Despite not being alone in a planet, it gives you the feeling that you're alone in an abandoned lab, and you don't know what's creeping around the corner. Giving it an horror/suspense tone. Plus, some bosses you fight look kinda creepy like this guy:

But that's not the worst of your problems with this running around the BSL...

 

The SA-X is an X Parasite version of Samus, complete with all her weapons and at full power. This thing ocassionally hunts for you during portions of the game. All you can do is run and hide from it. And you don't dare go against it because once it spots you, then you're in for a world of pain.

Unfortunatly I can't give more on the SA-X for those who haven't played it.

As for my final thoughts on it: I can see the problems people had with it. But I had alot of fun and enjoyed it. It controls really tight and fluid and the gameplay is really good. It really nails the brooding atmosphere and the SA-X will keep you on your toes. This is also one of the few games that you see Samus' human side without being forced or overdone like a game we wont talk about. The ending is also really good too, especially the final part. It may be a bit short, but I'm willing to overlook that because I enjoyed it, despite not trying it when it was in its prime. It's a very different Metroid game, but in a good way. Some people like it, and some people hate it. It's definitely worth a playthrough, and for those curious, it's available on the Wii U eShop right now.

Well that's all I got for now. Have you ever played Metroid Fusion? If so, what did you think of it? On an unrelated note, today is the anniversary of the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. Sometimes we try to forget about these horrible things, but you know you can't despite how hard we try. Especially when it's in the history books. The only thing we could do is try to forget the past and just look forward to the future. No matter how hard that may seem.  Well, enough of that, so thanks for reading, later, and happy birthday Samus.