Current Events > I remember when people really did not like Metroid Fusion. SPOILERS

(+) Yeah! (+)

Fusion focused a lot more on the element of horror and also creating some lore for Samus and the Metroid universe which I thought was great and refreshing. However, a lot of people did not like that there was a lot of hand holding, that there was too much dialogue which apparently destroyed the pacing of the game, that it was too linear and basically it was too different from Super Metroid.

Anyone remember this?

2003 right? edit 2002

I think at the time people was just too big of a simp for Super that they wouldn't allow themselves to enjoy Fusion. This is where nostalgia is considered a bad thing. People wanted Super Metroid 2 but got Metroid 4 instead LMAO.

I think a lot of folks compared it to Prime because it came out on like the same day. Prime seemed like a more natural evolution than Fusion

Metroid Fusion was my first Metroid, so I never had a problem with it. I like pretty much all the 2D Metroids, though, besides the first two games. Luckily, both of those have remakes.

I didn't like fusion and never finished it. The controls were ass.

Super Metroid has consistently remained in my top 5 all-time video games for the majority of my life, and yet I loved Fusion.

But I'm one of those loopy weirdoes who actually appreciates variety - if I love chocolate cake, I don't want every single piece of food I ever eat again to try and be chocolate cake; I'll just go have another slice of chocolate cake when I'm hungry for it.

I loved Fusion. I still do, but I used to, too.

I definitely remember people saying that it was dumbed down and "casual".

Their loss, it's a brilliant game.

What's also funny is Zero Missions didn't get nearly the same flak Fusion did when it was more similar to Fusion than Super.

Fusion is good, but it's definitely my least favorite Metroid.

I've not played that many tho

Too damn railroady.

Fusion was amazing

it's the best metroid game

I remember hearing that Fusion was great, but I had a lot of trouble getting into it after Zero Mission.

Eventually I played through most of the game and liked it well enough, but there are things that bug me compared to ZM. The main issue I have is that the palette and artstyle of fusion are bordering on cartoony compared to the sleek, understated palette and artstyle of Super and Zero Mission. But even then, it's not a deal breaker.

I also thought that the thing with the AI unlocking parts of the map as you cleared each section was a bit off-putting, whereas I thought ZM felt extremely open-ended and free. I think that's what turned me off in the first place.

Fusion is fine, but I found it when it had found its audience and it was heresy to say you didn't like it.

iirc people complained about linearity? not a problem for me tho.

MrMallard posted...

Eventually I played through most of the game and liked it well enough, but there are things that bug me compared to ZM. The main issue I have is that the palette and artstyle of fusion are bordering on cartoony compared to the sleek, understated palette and artstyle of Super and Zero Mission. But even then, it's not a deal breaker.

There are times when Fusion's more exaggerated aesthetics bugged me too, but on the other hand, they helped make such bosses as Serris, Nightmare, and Neo-Ridley much more visually interesting. One of my biggest gripes with the series post-Super is that they often struggle to make the big bosses memorable from a visual standpoint, and Fusion imo is the best post-Super game at alleviating this issue.

Ricemills posted...

iirc people complained about linearity? not a problem for me tho.

Linear is fine. Railroading is not.

I did not like Fusion much at all.

Essentially forced myself to finish it

Which is the opposite of how I've felt about any Metroid game that I've finished (which is all but 2 that I've played, Metroid 2 and this remake)

I probably always appreciated Fusion more than most other people at the time. I look at it really fondly nowadays and it was one of my most replayed Metroid games, though I would agree it was extremely forward in where it wanted you to go. But the atmosphere and music (which is surprising coming from a GBA game) as well as the overall mystery heavily carried it.

Despite all that I do feel Metroid Prime 1 is one of my absolute favorites of the series. I also heavily replayed that one.

It was fine, but Super Metroid was a lot better.

I hate that squawk that they gave to Ridley. What, was the original too scary for Nintendo?

FortuneCookie posted...

It was fine, but Super Metroid was a lot better.

I hate that squawk that they gave to Ridley. What, was the original too scary for Nintendo?

What do you mean? That Fusion voice made me afraid...that my GBA speakers were gonna blow out.

Maybe I missed something, but at the end of the game (when you fight the final bosses) you basically become locked in a section and cant go back and collect items unless they are in that section I suppose

Now the problem is that tanking the boss the one that looks like you, I forget the name is pretty much impossible and youre stuck. I had to go online and find a cheese strat that gives you the win every time

Adam being an AI doesn't change the fact that Samus spends most of the time going where someone else is telling her to go. Fusion shares a lot of DNA with Other M in that regard.

Fusion deserves a lot of credit for meaningfully advancing both the state of the franchise story AND for introducing solid new concepts that have stuck around, but I also can't fault people for not liking it as much, especially if they're actually a fan of the exploration part of Metroid.

FortuneCookie posted...

It was fine, but Super Metroid was a lot better.

I hate that squawk that they gave to Ridley. What, was the original too scary for Nintendo?

Personally I found Fusion's Neo-Ridley to be way creepier than any other franchise iteration. He was always the least intimidating of Super's big bosses imo, and Fusion did a good job of reversing this.

Prime's Meta-Ridley fight is still the tops from a gameplay / coolness factor, though.

BTW the wall jumping and grappling hook in Super Metroid are garbage, not sure why people pretend those dont exist

Damn_Underscore posted...

Maybe I missed something, but at the end of the game (when you fight the final bosses) you basically become locked in a section and cant go back and collect items unless they are in that section I suppose

Now the problem is that tanking the boss the one that looks like you, I forget the name is pretty much impossible and youre stuck. I had to go online and find a cheese strat that gives you the win every time

I don't quite remember where it locks you out (decent game design would be after the last save station), but I'm fairly sure you can find hidden passageways that link to the other sectors. That's how I was able to go back and get items I missed.

I really liked Fusion as a kid, though my exposure to the Metroid series back then was pretty limited, so I never had the classics to compare it to. I remember really liking the tone and progression of the game, and gave me my appreciation for more linear games today.

VeggetaX posted...

I think at the time people was just too big of a simp for Super that they wouldn't allow themselves to enjoy Fusion. This is where nostalgia is considered a bad thing. People wanted Super Metroid 2 but got Metroid 4 instead LMAO.

All of the first three Metroids were much more open than Fusion. 2 was partitioned into sectors similar to 4, but they were far less linear. Metroid until that point had been about exploring on your own, but Fusion was much closer to a narrated piperun.

Damn_Underscore posted...

Maybe I missed something, but at the end of the game (when you fight the final bosses) you basically become locked in a section and cant go back and collect items unless they are in that section I suppose

Now the problem is that tanking the boss the one that looks like you, I forget the name is pretty much impossible and youre stuck. I had to go online and find a cheese strat that gives you the win every time

There's hidden pathways blocked by Screw Attack blocks that link the sectors together, allowing you go for 100%, or at least close to it. They're not easy to find though.

Fusion was a good action game, but a bad Metroid game.

Still enjoy it, but not what I will reach for when I want to play a Metroid game.

If you think Fusion sucks, it's time to lower your standards a bit. Games that good don't come out every day.

Liu_Kano posted...

If you think Fusion sucks, it's time to lower your standards a bit. Games that good don't come out every day.

Fusion is a great game. Hardcore fans just want more of the same which is why FPS Metroid games got some flack as well.

Liu_Kano posted...

If you think Fusion sucks, it's time to lower your standards a bit. Games that good don't come out every day.

Honestly yeah most Metroidvania are kind of garbage. Its really rare I find of that is amazing.
Hollow Knight stole the throne when it came out but I cant stand Blasphemous.

I loved the game

hated that damn crab boss though

Fusion was and still looks amazing

Zero Mission is great too

Yes I remember that too. I loved it and still do tho.

Damn it, I need to find my old Gameboy and replay it.