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Truly Must Be Experienced With Headphones

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

When I found out there was a new Metroid game coming out, I got a little excited. When they called it Super Metroid on [drugs], I got really excited. Got it the day after it came out.

Ok, I'll break it down to the basic aspects.

Controls: 5/5
I considered four, but I gotta go with five. It does seem a little glitched once in a while when you fire a shot from the air, but overall it really is perfect. The learning curve for the controls is only about 20 minutes, then you've got it. The old Super Metroid attacks are easier to control, Space Jump and Boost Jump in particular.

Graphics: 5/5
The cut scenes are truly epic for a portable system. In game, its very smooth, has the same feel as Super Metroid. The backgrounds are just the right shade so that movement on the screen is easy to see and you don't have the problems like you do in some of the other GBA games. The enemies aren't cloaked in the darkness of the screen.

Sound: 6/5
This is the best. The music is perfect for the game, and you have got to use headphones. There is a headphone mode for it. When enemies enter the screen from the right, it goes off in your right ear and the music in one section alternates sides. Very cool effects.

Replay: 5/5
You are going to have to play this game a lot of times to get the real ending, and its worth the work to get it. You can complete the game in 2 hours, but to beat it you are talking up in the 30s and 40s.

Overall: 5/5
Its not perfect. No game is without weaknesses, but this is as close as they have come to perfection on GBA. I would definatly buy it, especially since most places don't rent GBA games anyway. I will say this though. I still believe Super Metroid on SNES was better, but not buy much.

The Tradition of Excellence Continues

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

An excellent addition to the Metroid saga with some unexpected plot twists I hope to see used in future Metroid games (hint hint Nintendo!) I think this is definately a must have for those who have enjoyed the previous Metroids and something that everyone with a GBA should at least try. Agreed, for the newcomer the hiding places of some of the games items are remote and difficult to find on your own, but getting there is half the fun as they say! Graphics are exceptional and the controls are tight and intuitive. The music is top notch as well. Pick this one up, even if it's just to try. You can thank yourself (and maybe me) later.

One of the best Metroid games

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is the first Metriod game I have ever played, and after rI had finsihed it I felt compelled to play some of the other games in the series. This is one of the best games I have played in a while. The storyline is great and the weapons are awesome. Here's is what I thought of the game overall,

Controls: 7/10. The controls are pretty much okay, although they let me down in a few situations. One of the biggest problems is how you have to use the shoulder buttons (the L and R buttons) to fire missles (R) and to fire diagonally (L) I know that this was probably the most convientent way to do those things, but it is still very annoying. One of the most annoying things is when you have to fire missles diagonally. Otherwise, the controls are okay.

Storyline: 10/10. The storyline is the best I have seen in a Metroid game (I haven't played Metroid 2 or Super Metroid, so forgive if the storylines are better.) The story starts with Samus helping out a team for Biologic Space Labs capture some of the creatures of SR388. Since the metroids have been destroyed by Samus, the other creatures have had a chance to breed and flourish. One group of creatures in particular were the parsitic X's. Samus encounters an X, and before se can destroy it it infects her. After a near-death experience, she is transported to the Galactic Federation HQ. Everyone there though she was going to die because of the X, yet a vaccine made from a cell culture from the last metroid hatchling saved her. When she awoke, SAmus was sent to back to Biologic Space Labs to inspect a mysterious explosion there. When you arrive there you learn the the X's had taken over the station and it is up to you to stop them. Guided by your ships computer you try to elimate the X while recovering your abilties that you lost during the x infection.

Gameplay: 9/10. The gameplay is pretty solid. It is similar to the gameplay in Metriod Zero Mission. Basically you travel from the six sectors of BSL destroying the animals that the X are controlling and restoring abilties. You are given your missions by your ship computer. The gameplay is fun and easy to get used to.

Graphics: 9/10. Pretty good, nothing exceptional.

Music: 10/10. THe music in this game is really, really, really good.

Great platform shooter

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I was a big fan of Turrican on the Amiga. I was looking for something similiar on the Advance. This is an excellent jumper/shooter. The controls are easy to use and the range of moves is very good.

As the game advances you become more powerful and acquire extra abilities such as running, jumping higher, missiles, bombs etc. This means that you can return to rooms that you were in earlier and find extra secret passages. Speaking of secret passages there are loads of them. Shoot walls, the floor and everything really to find them.

The graphics are incredible and the gameplay could hardly be better. My only complaint is that there are almost too many puzzles and secret rooms. Finding things can take a long time. Not that it wasn't time well spent!!

Buy it

Great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 06, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is great. Although I had the original Game Boy and Super Nintendo, I had never played Metroid before. Well...I was hooked from the second I picked up the GBA. Contrary to what other people have said, I think the game was long enough and was challenging. If you have a GBA, this is a must-have game.

A long time in comming.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

It's been a long time since we've seen a Metroid game. I've gotten all three of the previous games and couldn't help but get this one.

It's very faithfull to the originals. If you've played any of the others, you'll feel right at home with this one.

What's good:
After the years of not having a Metroid game come out, fans finally have something to sate their addictions, and this game does that quite well.
The missions are straight forward. You have a computer named Adam that tells you where to go and what to do. You do it, save the game and get back in touch with Adam. No fuss, no muss. It's all laid out what to do next.
Graphics are incredible. Especially given the size of the screen.

What's Bad:
While it's nice to have missions that are straight forward, it nags at me that the game goes so far as to restrict your movement to the level that pertains to your particular mission. You're not AS free to move around as in other Metroid games.

What's Neutral:
They've completely revamped Samus' look. Of course she's recognisable as Samus, but she's radically altered. I kinda miss the old costume.
Some of the old items have merged or changed slightly. Example, Hi-Jump is now a combination of Hi-Jump and Spring-Ball. The differant missles, instead of using one or the other, stack the abilities. You don't just have a regular missile, super missile, or ice missile. You have an ice-super-missle. Small differance, but you'd be surprised what some people would fuss over.

Over all, great game, if not long overdue. If you're a Metroid fan, definetely get it.

A Masterpiece of Gaming

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 30, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Metroid Fusion is a game that grabs you and does not let go. A compelling storyline coupled with innovative graphics and gameplay make for a fantastic adventure. Although it is the fourth outing in the popular Nintendo series, any newcomer (like myself) can appreciate the story and grasp the real danger behind the game's namesake, a parasitic lifeform known as Metroid.

The story seens to come straight from a sci-fi movie (in fact, there are striking similarities between the earlier Metroid games and the Alien series.) - Samus is infected by a parasitic life-form known as the X. Near-death, and after having to undrgo surgical removal of pieces of her Power Suit because they were so integrated with her body, scientists try a radical procedure - a vaccine made from the last known Metroid, the natural predators of the X on their homeworld of SR388. It works, but she is now part-human, part-Metroid.

When an explosion rocks the Biologic Space Labs station orbiting SR388, Samus is sent there. She soon discovers her mission - race against time to stop the X from destroying the B.S.L. station, infecting all the lifeforms aboard, and threataning the entire known universe. Samus is also threatened by a creature called the SA-X - an exact copy of her formed from the pieces of the suit sent to the B.S.L. station.

You are guided by a computer called Adam, and Samus occasionally compares it to an old CO she once served under. The computer directs you and gives you advice, but lets you also follow your own course to the objective.

The game controls are simple and intuitive. You'll find controlling the main character, female intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, is easy and rather enjoyable.

Graphics are top-notch, especially on the dark GBA screen. The colors are bright and vivid, and the game, althogh a 2-D side scroller, has a real sense of depth to it.

The gameplay never gets repetitive, or as soon as it does, Samus gains a new ability. The main way to restore abilities is by a data download or by absorbing the X parasites. It's exciting to try and find the next boss and get a new ability. It's also frightening to hear the sound of the SA-X as it patrols the hallways, waiting to destroy your weakened form. And with 5 different endings - based on game time and item collection - the game has high replay value.

Parents, if your child has good gameplay skills, this game is a great game. There is some violence, but no blood is ever spilled. There are no other humans on the station, so no human violence is ever depicted. The game builds memory and logic skills as you try to find hidden items, and it also encourages problem solving when trying to beat enemies. Text is displayed slowly, and you have a lot of time to read it. The words are not difficult, and the game directs you to locations instead of endless wandering. The game also encourages children to always strive for their goals and not to give up, thanks to later events in the game. There is no sex or vulgar language. In fact, you have a chance to save some cute little creatures along the way, which gives one a sense of responsibility for others. Plus, the lead character is a female, which helps give girls a role model and teaches boys respect for the opposite sex.

This game is fantastic. You will not be sorry if you purchase this game. Whatever genre you like, this game will thrill you and take you on a journey to the edge of space... and beyond. Buy Metroid Fusion. For any gamer, recommended 10 and up. It's incredible.

As good as you hoped and more.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

It's a wonderful time to be a fan of old school. Metroid Fusion is quite simply the closest thing to a new SNES Metroid adventure possible. From the very beginning it's clear nothing was sacrificed and much was gained. Samus is back and every bit as incredible as she was before. I must admit, I have a definite soft spot for Samus Aran. She's by far my favorite video game babe, bar none. I think just about the only thing that can irk me more than someone calling Link "Zelda" is someone calling Samus "Metroid". The graphics and sounds of Metroid are simply etched into my mind for all time so I had high hopes in starting up Metroid Fusion.

Don't let the fact this is a Gameboy Advanced game fool you. This could very easily be a SNES game and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. Samus starts the game without most of her abilities, but regains most of them and several new tricks throughout the game. Some are simple but well though out, like the ability to automatically grab ledges and pull yourself up. Simple, sure... but you'll be surprised how much jumping it'll save you. Other abilities are newer and cooler, like charging freeze missiles that freeze a room at a time.

The difficulty of the game is pretty much spot on. Early in the game things will flow smoothly, not too tough and not too easy. As the game progresses though, the challenges get harder and harder until things really heat up. By the end of the game, you'll be fighting for your life. Unlike previous Metroid adventures, you won't be running around aimlessly this time. You'll almost always have a near complete map, and an idea where to go thanks to your new AI commander. Your CO will give you objectives and help you out along the way, so you're rarely running around in circles. This is a very welcomed switch as it not only gives a better storyline, but less repetitive exploration looking for a missed entrance.

The downside to this however is it severely shortens the game's length. I finished the game my first time through in about 4:33 play time. That translates to a few days counting replaying saves, breaks, and such. It's not a very long game. A casual player would probably take a week or maybe two at the most to finish the game. A hardcore player could do it in a day if they really wanted to. It's reply value is about the same as the previous Metroid titles were. Personally I doubt I'll be replying it too many times. Not because the game isn't worthy of replying, but it's like a movie I've already seen. Speaking of movies, there's several very nice little cutscenes where you get an insight into the past of Samus Aran through her own words. A very nice touch that's sure to please any fan.

My only real gripe aside from the somewhat short length the new Samus's new powersuit. The blue/yellow color scheme just doesn't look right. She just looks wrong in anything but the original colors. As the game moves on the suit upgrades of course, but you'll spend the majority of the game looking at a strange color scheme that just seems wrong. I'm not a vain person, but looking at this suit just bugged me the whole way through.

All in all though, Metroid Fusion will be pure bliss for any Metroid fan out there. This is what we've been waiting on for years now, and it's finally here.

- Rirath_com

Good but a little too short

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If that whole "Samus all rollin' around in 3D" thing doesn't put peanut butter on your chocolate bar, then either (A) seek help, for there is clearly something wrong with you, or (B) fret not, for there is another, more familiar, and equally excellent way to get your Metroid on. Metroid Fusion (a.k.a. Metroid 4) is an all-new, mildly hallucinatory spiritual successor to the SNES incarnation of the series, cast in the same 2D mold as that sacred original. It's a little bit smaller in some ways, a little more inventive in others, and just as indispensable as it ever was. Anyone hoping this first GBA title would be a new Super Metroid will be getting exactly what they wished for-if areas have a familiar look, that's because the environment is a sort of "experimental copy" of SR388. If you recognize some enemies, it's because the game takes place in an interstellar terrarium where a strange virus has "mimicked" the captive SR388 wildlife. In grand Metroid fashion, secrets are scattered everywhere-missile tanks and bomb upgrades hide in unassuming rocks, entire sub-cultures dwell beyond hidden breakable bricks. In fact, most of the game takes place in "hidden areas" not shown on your main map. The old warm, fuzzy feeling of Metroid Mystery Satisfaction is concealed in every corner. While a new SNES-style Metroid would have been more than enough for most, Nintendo went and did it up one better: In a game design stroke of genius, you're forced to chase after your health and missile power-ups once you blow them out of an enemy's shell; otherwise, they have a tendency to recombine themselves into bigger, tougher, more evil enemies if you're not fast enough. It's a small tweak, but one that boosts the frantic pace and challenge exponentially. Metroid Fusion even boasts a great story-a twisting, frightening 2001 meets The Thing meets Alien Resurrection sort of deal involving our intrepid heroine, a life-sucking life form, and a nigh-indestructible Samus "clone" that has the ability to make you wet your pants upon her very appearance (a very impressive feat for such a tiny handheld system). The game isn't without a few minor disappointments: Most of the old upgrades are intact, but you'll miss the Ice Beam (it's been replaced by the less-fun-but-more-reasonable Ice Missiles) and the Grappling Beam. You'll also miss Super Metroid's sense of utter inescapable hugeness. While the maps here are fairly big, there's less backtracking, and rooms are a lot smaller since they're designed to fit the constraints of the GBA screen-and, even though Fusion grew from the upper branches of Challenge Tree, the whole game shouldn't take more than five hours to beat the first time through. The graphics in Metroid Fusion may actually be superior to the SNES version's, finely detailed and attended to with extreme artistry, though they're a little more colorful than you're used to-a fine compromise to the dark nature of the GBA screen. The sound effects are superior (and should be very familiar to Metroid vets), though while the music is good it isn't quite up to previous stupid-high standards-and "classic" Metroid melodies come few and far between. Interestingly enough, there's an option at the game select screen that lets you choose "headphones" or "speakers," though the difference isn't as clear as it should be-you'd expect the headphones option to filter out some of the traditional GBA hiss...but it doesn't.
Metroid Fusion is a magical throwback to gaming's mystic past, a mighty reminder that good gameplay has nothing to do with bump-mapped textures or 87 hours of real-time cinematics. Even if 2D adventures like this (and similar-styled Castlevania games such as Harmony of Dissonance) no longer have a place on our televisions, they still have a place in our palms. Rediscover your love for the girl in the robot space suit-she works wonders in any dimension.

Great Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Let's get down to the basics.

+New exciting Plot involving new creatures and enemies and some old.

+Same Metroid style gameplay with new additions.

+Fun, very fun.

+/-Computer Tells you everywhere to go and everything to do for the most part

+/- New look for Samus

- If you Aim for 100%, the computer makes it very difficult for you at the end when you are locked out of nearly every section before the inevitable showdown

+ One or two little surprises at the end. Hehe

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