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Classic Metroid Enhanced

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

THE GOOD: Awesome graphics; great music; solid controls; interesting storyline; nice powerup progression; challenging

THE BAD: Too many "hidden" paths; general scope is pretty small; short

DIFFICULTY: Medium-to-Hard

Since I missed the boat on the much loved Super Metroid for the SNES, this is really the only enhanced side-scrolling Metroid game I've ever played besides the original NES debut. When starting off I was surprised to see such a story emphasis on this game, basically you get sent to an intergalactic biosystem to investigate a virus "X" in which is destroying the place, and you are also infected... and later on, a couple of twists ensure. Nothing tremendous, but interesting enough to hold your attention. You get briefed on your objectives by voice command coming from headquarters, therefore you always know where to head to and what to do - whether it be to update suit powers or seek and destroy an enemy target (this may be seen as a negative to Metroid veterans who want to figure things out for themselves, but it works very smoothly here regardless).
If there's one thing Nintendo always excels at, it's the gameplay department, be it the controls, character progression and music and graphical presentation, it all works extremely well. The GBA's hardware is definitely pushed as you'll notice very nicely shadowed and crystal clear environments dolling up your GBA's screen. Action and sound effects move swifty and never slow down or chop up even when there's plenty of action on screen. So all in all, the gameplay and presentation is top-notch. This is a solid game TECHNICALLY.
What disturbed me during my playing experience could be seen as more nitpicky by Metroid veterans, but a good point by most casual players and newcomers. First off, I found myself becoming annoyed by not being able to progress because I didn't find that one hidden path I needed to sneak into. Usually I'm more used to hidden paths containing hidden items, NOT as a means to actually progressing through the game. The only reason I got the hang of it quickly enough was because these paths were prevelant to the original metroid game (although thankfully this time there's actually a map). Newcomers may find themselves scratching their heads as to where they'll need to go next, as many of these paths aren't clued in AT ALL. And constantly rolling around placing bombs everywhere and shooting walls to find the next path gets pretty tiresome.
As stated before, you're constantly briefed on where to go next, and because the general area of the entire game isn't very big, the story pushes you to progress at times when you'd rather be exploring for those hidden items you couldn't reach before because your powerups wouldn't allow you to.
That's pretty much all the compaints I have. When it comes to the action and the meat of the game is where it excels though. Climbing on walls, platforming puzzles, using different weapon abilities to destroy certain enemies one way and another a different way... it's all incredible fun and adds a good deal of variety to the gameplay. On top of this, I didn't find this game all too easy either. Boss fights are tough, and simply running and gunning won't always do it, so strategy plays a good part when trying to take down those bosses (and prepare yourself for the final boss, which is more like 4 separate fights which have to be beaten without saves). They're all pretty big and animate great.

BOTTOM LINE: A solid game with a classic Metroid feel which will interest veterans, but enough leeway and helpfulness to where it's accessible to newcomers... yet these features tend to cross over giving each side something to complain about.

Egg is the best band ever, duh.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 17
Date: November 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much from this game. The screenshots I had seen previously didn't impress me, and I hadn't played a Metroid game since the original. Unfortunately, I stumbled into Sam Goody and spotted a playable version of the game and was instantly hooked. I played for at least 30 minutes straight and was only pulled away to attend a necessary band practice. The opening to the game was quite long, but the astounding graphics (for a handheld) kept me standing there. When I finally got to control Samus, it felt exactly like the nes game, maybe better. Every once in awhile I'd run into a navigation room where I was told the situation and what my objectives had changed to, very hip. I only got far enough to gain the ability to use missiles, but that's probably because I was drooling over the screen in awe. I'm defintely going to buy a game boy advance for this one game. If you refuse to believe my rantings and ravings over this game (I would!) find the nearest electronics store w/ a playable game boy advance try it out. You'll dig it.

metroid fusion

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 11
Date: November 14, 2002
Author: Amazon User

If you liked Super Metroid then this is the game for you. The game play is common sense and the special effects are top quality. Samus has new challenges and weapons which will help Samus get through hard obstacles. This game has the right game play for kids to adults. Everybody should get it because it's for everyone to enjoy.

Falls a bit short compared to other Metroid games...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: May 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

While this game is highly enjoyable, it falls somewhat short of 'perfection' when compared to most of the other Metroid games.

I wasnt too fond of Samus new 'look' and the fact that this game pretty much holds your hand and tells you what to do next and where to go next. It makes you lose the sense of free exploration that the Metroid games are much known for.

Still, this is an extremely solid and well made space adventure that should keep you occupied in its 3-5 hour mission.

doesn't have that Metroid feel to it

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: February 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

On its own merit this is a very good game. However, Metroid fans may be disappointed in this outing. I am a huge Metroid fan. I have played them all except for Metroid II and Prime: Hunters and this is the weakest outing of the series. The major problems of this game are 1. The story kinda rams itself down your throat instead of the subtle story telling of the previous Metroid games. The reason the stories in previous Metroid games were so great was because you were creating the story as you went along. You were just given a beinning and you created the rest as you went along. Fusion tells you everything that you're doing and really tries to choke you with this overload of story. 2. It just isn't fun. The other Metroid games were fun because you were free to go at your own pace and feel free to explore the world your on. In Fusion, eerything is so rushed that you feel that you must go to your next goal as soon as possible. For another thing to take all the exploration out of the equation the game tells you exactly where to go next and gives you a mostly full map as soon as you set foot in a new area. On its own merit it is a good game but as a Metroid game it could have been so much better.

Classic Metroid returns with a vengence

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Metroid has always had a basic premise of a story, and not much else. We knew the game had plot, but never before has a Metroid game had so much actual story, and here's the best part of it, its a darn good one too!
Samus is on a survey mission when she is attacked by a parasite called X. In order to save her, the medics of the Galactic Federation genetically fuse her with Metroid DNA. The benefits of this fusion is that she can now absorb the X, the downside is that she has inherited the Metroid weakness to ice, and has to regain all of her powers, and there is an X Parasite who has decided to mimic Samus at full power (which can kill you quite quickly I might add.) The bosses in this game range from pathetic push overs to so frustrating you'll break your GameBoy Advance (which I haven't done yet because I toss it into a nearby couch pillow...) the game is not easy. Finding secrets and hidden passages in as it always has been. If you have played previous Metroid games you'll know what to do, if you haven't I highly suggest at least playing through Super Metroid first, as this story is a direct sequel to that game, and some story elements may not make sense otherwise.
Graphically I am impressed. Metroid Fusion features the graphics I have been waiting to see on the GBA, a handheld loosely based on Super Nintendo technology. I have seen some SNES looking games, but this one actually surpasses is SNES predecessor, which is amazing.
The music for this game is also amazingly well done, especially if you are playing with a good set of headphones! This game has both great graphics, and great music, which proves that the GBA can have the best of both worlds, unlike Castlevania Harmony of dissonance which had decent graphics, but horrid music.
I highly recommend this title, but more so for the seasoned Metroid fans, or for fans of the more recent Castlevanias. The complex game play may not be for every gamer out there, especially for younger audiences. Never the less its good to see Samus back in action, with the option of a classic 2D side scrolled for those who may not be interested in the 3D Metroid on GameCube (shame on you if you're one of those few!)

The BEST sequel since "Super Metroid"!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I first got this game on Christmas Eve 2002, expecting some good ol' classic Metroid gameplay with storyline/graphics that keep you hooked. I wasn't disappointed! This is by far the BEST Metroid sequel since "Super Metroid" (a.k.a. "Metroid III"), which hit the SNES in 1994. The storyline is far more compelling out of all the others (even the original!), and the graphics almost seem to go beyond any other GBA game! (with the exception of "Golden Sun" and "The Sword of Mana"!) Samus is also more powerful, faster, and intelligent than ever after becoming infected by an unknown virus that nearly takes her life but transforms her with a higher bodysuit upgrade! When the game begins, she seriously opens up a can of Whoopa$$ on her enemies!!! There are also more abilities, hidden areas, items, and big bad BOSSES than ever before, and the whole layout itself is both suspenseful and intense!

(WARNING: You'll sometimes have to run from Samus's old bodysuit which also becomes possessed by the virus and actually tries to hunt you down, until the final battle near the end!)

Some other old familiar characters return as well including Samus's old indestructable nemesis, Ridley, and the friendly creatures from Planet Zebes on the previous installment! You'll have to watch yourself at ever corner and keep moving fast until you reach the ultimate enemy of them all... THE 'OMEGA METROID'!!!! Or face certain destruction! OVERALL: I give it a 10/10! I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS GAME! ADD IT TO YOUR 'M' COLLECTION NOW! I also reccomend: "Super Metroid" & "Metroid: ZERO MISSION"! They are some of the best!

A worthy follow up to Super Metroid

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

From the moment when the game says "Metroid IV" before the opening cinematic you know you're in for something special. It has been years since Metroid had seen a new title, and now it's back in force. Metroid Fusion is a departure from the norm, but it definately lives up to its Metroid name.

The story is as follows, you, Samus Aran, are sent to help scientists of the Biologic Space Labs study life on the planet SR388 after Samus removed the top of the food chain by exterminating all Metroids on that planet during Metroid II. This seems all dandy and peaceful until you discover a strange floating viral organism that infects Samus and her power suit. Samus' suit is cut away in attempts to save her life and she's given a vaccine of Metroid DNA, Metroids being the sole predator of the virus organism which is dubbed "X", so the vaccine kills the virus and as a side effect it allows samus to absorb the virus.

Samus is then sent back out to see to a problem at the Biologic Space Labs in her modified and weaker power suit only to find that all hell has broken loose. This is where the gameplay starts and the differences begin.

First of all you're on a space station instead of a planet (The different areas are built to look like different ecosystems on a planet anyway). The graphics are phenomenal and a big improvement over Super Metroid. The gameplay has remained largely the same but that's a good thing, you take a lot of damage which can be explained away since your power suit is crappier than your old one. Also on this mission you're given missions dictated to you by a computer named Adam. This takes away from the non-linear gameplay of previous metroid games and makes it a tad bit more linear but it also adds a welcome and cool science fiction story. Another twist to the game is the SA-X. It seems that the X virus can copy anything it touches, and since it infected Samus with all her best abilities it decided to copy her. Through most of the game you have to run from this fake Samus as it kills you in only a few hits and this adds for some tense and frightening moments.

The music in the game is also noteworthy, all the tracks fit their intended purpose from the creepy to the heroic. You'll want to use headphones for this game.

In conclusion it might not be Super Metroid, but it's Metroid and it is nearly as good. No Metroid fan's life would be complete without picking this one up.

For those of you new to the Metroid series, I reccommend buying the equally fantastic Zero Mission first.

It's not Super Metroid, but it's close enough

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Metroid Fusion brought super space heroine Samus Aran back to life on the GBA hte only way you would expect to play her: blasing aliens, space pirates, and any other baddies in her way. The first thing you'll notice is that Metroid Fusion may resemble the classic Super Nintendo title, Super Metroid (regarded by many as the best Metroid game ever, and maybe the best game to ever grace the Super NES, which in itself is really saying something), but Super Metroid this is not. The game picks up with Samus trapped a maze like ship with alien life forms running amok, and it's your job to put them in their place. As the game goes on, you'll come across bigger and nastier baddies, as well as an enemy which bears a striking resemblance to our hero. Anyone familiar with any of the side scrolling Metroid games will have no problem at all getting into the game, as it features great graphics, sound effects, and tried but true gameplay that the series is best known for. The game's story is also something great as well, adding another layer to the Metroid mythology. If there's only one bad thing to say about Metroid Fusion, it's that it's a bit on the short side. Despite that though, Metroid Fusion still manages to be one of the best, original games to find on the GBA. All in all, if you can find this GBA gem, do yourself a favor and pick it up, you won't regret it.

Short , but VERY sweet!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: December 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Okay , I was never around to buy the First Three Metroid Games ( Metroid , Metroid II: Return Of Samus, Super Metroid) and I am hopefully getting Metroid Prime for Chirstmas , so i decided to burn the days away by picking up a copy of Metroid Fuison (aka Metroid 4) and turst me , I loved it! I would play this game at night , in my bed ,under the covers , for hours and hours , and eve nwhen i was sleepy i still wanted to keep playing! Samus's new , Metroid DNA enhanced< suit is very cool looking , and SA-X is cool too! The game has the BEST GRAPHICS YET ON THE GBA! And the SOund is very good too , even featurws some very clear voice work , mainlky for the computer in the BSL space station , not Adam though. The only downer is , that the game is EXTREMELY short , I would have liked to see a longer Adventure on this game , but still , it was fun while it lasted, now i hope to get Metroid Prime to haev even more fun , and to unlock Samus's fusion suit in prime ,AND UNLOCK THE ORIGINAL NES METROID GAME ON PRIME!

If you own a GBA , than dont deny yourself this game , its a great , sci-fi romp that will keep you hooked for days....now wheres my blaster?

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