Collection essentials #529: Metroid Fusion (GBA)

Super Metroid in 1994 greatly raised the bar for the Metroid series and was released to critical acclaim. While it wasn’t one of Nintendo’s absolute top sellers on the SNES, its sales numbers were still more than respectable. So it is perhaps a surprise that Metroid as a series went dormant for quite a few years afterward. Not a single Metroid game was released on the Nintendo 64 or the Game Boy Color. But thankfully, Nintendo saw the error of their ways and revived the series once the Game Boy Advance hit the scene.

Metroid Fusion plays a lot like Super Metroid, and is a direct sequel to that game. The story involves Samus being attacked on an expedition by small parasites called X. Her colleagues manage to rescue her and grant her a vaccine against the X. Parts of Samus’s power suit have to be removed and examined, which is a clever way to explain how she lost her powers in between games. But when trouble strikes at the space station, Samus has to go and investigate, finding that the X are trying to take over, with one of them taking the form and abilities of herself with all of her powers, which the weakened Samus is no match for. With the help of the ship’s sentient computer, Samus must find a way to take back the station from the X without any additional help.

Metroid Fusion is much more plot-driven than the previous Metroid games. Super Metroid had an intro upon starting a new game that featured dialogue, but no talking whatsoever after that. Fusion regularly has dialogue, primarily from the ship’s computer who gives Samus direction and updates about what’s going on with the station. The gameplay still feels very much like Metroid in many ways, with much of the same features and power-ups as well as the way secrets are hidden, but there’s a little bit less player freedom in how they explore the world, as they’ll be guided towards certain areas. 

Some Metroid fans aren’t too keen on the increased linearity of Fusion. I totally understand that. But I do feel like the style of Fusion works to its advantage in some ways. The game does a nice job delivering suspense. And with a foe lurking in certain plays who’s way more powerful than you, sometimes you feel weak and scared, in a good way! 

Metroid Fusion wasn’t my first ever Metroid game, but it’s very significant because it was the first one I truly got into. The first Metroid game I tried to play was Super Metroid, but my preteen self wasn’t very good at figuring out how to play it well and uncover its secrets, so I never managed to get very far. Then my friend Dan got Fusion when it came out and he let me try it out. Immediately, it felt a lot easier for me to get to and quite addictive. I had to get it and fully play it for myself! I grabbed a pre-owned copy and did just that, and it quickly became one of my favorite GBA titles. The copy shown in the photo is not my original; the one I bought back then had a price tag sticker right on the label that left an ugly rip upon removal.

Since this game is a direct sequel, it is not the best Metroid game to start with story-wise. But if someone wants to get into the series and has trouble with one of the other 2D titles, Fusion may be worth a shot due to its increased player direction and more straightforward storytelling. Either way, if 2D Metroid interests you at all, this is a game you must try at some point. It’s another one that is available on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. It’s one of my favorite Metroid games, and for that it’s a definite essential in my collection.