The atmosphere in Fusion is like nothing else. I imagine it's quite difficult to make a sprite-based 2D game feel horrifying, but Fusion does a damn good job. It's foreboding, tense, and uneasy the entire way through, with the potential appearance of the SA-X making every area feel dangerous. I also like how the linear structure allows it to tell a much more structured and layered story, delving into Samus and her past relationships. I see a lot of people say Samus wasn't really a character before Other M, to which I immediately respond with "Have you played Fusion?" She's characterized very well with the dialogue she's given. She's courageous, selfless, and sentimental, but the game isn't afraid to show that she can also be quite stubborn and reckless at times. Her relationship with Adam is fascinating. She clearly looked up to him with a lot of respect. Calling him the "Perfect military mind," but she seemed to be in conflict with him over what the greater good actually needs and where priorities should lie when making sacrifices. And I love how none of this is spelled out to you, but rather is told implicitly in how they interact with each other. I adore Fusion to death, and depending on the day, it's my favorite Metroid game.
Not to mention that if players paid attention to Samus' dialogue at the *beginning* , they'd understand that Samus hates being ordered to specific points to do specific things *every bit* as much as the player does; so the linearity is meant to make the player empathize with Samus more by making them feel every bit as frustrated as *she* is along with all its *other* purposes.
@@CassiusStelar I have seen more than a handful of people say Samus had no character before Other M. It is blatantly wrong, and yet people have said it.
Honestly, this is my favorite basically because it feels open but is actually linear. Most interesting story and I feel like the pacing is the best in the series
Agreed I love Fusion. I really liked Super Metroid but I didn't like getting so freaking lost sometimes and having to resort to looking up guides to progress. Fusion you don't have to worry about it and you can simply enjoy the game and it's impeccable pacing...
It's my favorite 2D Metroid too. I disagree that it's particularly easy. Compared to Zero Mission it's significantly harder actually, because of the bosses for instance. The current objective is always indicated but you still need to find how to get there. You simply lose less time trying to remember where to go. And the biggest appeal of its level design is that when you think you've disovered most of it, there's a whole part which was hidden from the start. I won't spoil, but it makes it even less linear than the other games. 😁
From someone who had a miserable time with the original Metroid II on the Game Boy when it came out, I deeply appreciated the linearity of Fusion. I WANT to know where to go, but that's just the kind of gamer I am.
@@VRHyoumaru Might be due to how saturated Zero Mission was? Zero Mission, like a bunch of games during the GBA's time, dialed up the saturation so that the game would be easier to see on an original GBA and frontlit SP models.
What was your problem with OG M2? I played it as little preschool kid and had little problems except dying a lot at the final boss. Did you try the two remakes? They change a lot of the old GB design problems. I prefer the fan remake because I've never been a fan of the melee attack response.
I'm a little surprised at no mention of the hidden message for a notable sequence break after you get the speed boost for getting back without getting the diffusion missiles via a long chain of shine sparking (basically just the dev actually congratulating you on what he thought might be an impossible task). Its a fun easter egg and something I'd consider part of a full completion just to say you did it honestly.
Yeah, specially when he spent a lot of time comparing to dread to say theres not many shiny sparks sequence breaking, this game has basically the hardest of the series
@@vinisun9171 Hard? I found it the easiest after Zero Mission The nightmare boss was tricky and the Spider took me a couple of tries. But it was one of the few Metroids i could beat back then Even the final bosses are more of a "rinse and repeat" than an actual challenge. The mutated SA-X is almost a fight of attrition due to how limited it's movement is
The first time playing is the scariest when you think the SA-X could randomly show up at any time. Kinda wish they had allowed for that, but oh well, still a great game either way.
I imagine that would throw a spanner or two in the works. It would also mean a lot of coding for the randomiser and many rooms just arent suitable to an SA-X encounter
I love the dynamic behavior of the enemies in the game. For example, when they're first introduced, the Ice x-parasites are a terrifying enemy; they can't be fought, do massive damage, hide in destructible blocks, and chase you aggressively. However, they become harmless once you get the varia suit, and after a few encounters, they start running from YOU.
I think the linear direction was a fantastic choice! As Fusion was my first Metroid game, it was a great game to dip my toes in. By the time I got around to playing Super Metroid and Zero Mission, it was like being released from leash to go explore to my hearts content, which made me appreciate Super and Zero even more! Also, the SA-X scared the crap out of me the first few times I played through the game.
What's interesting that this is the 2nd hardest in terms of combat, but pretty easy when it comes to exploration. While I find super metroid hard to navigate, but easier combat
@@teneesh3376 Yeah, I agree! Most of the other 2d Metroids felt a easier combatwise after playing Fusion. Fusion does a fantastic job with making Samus feel weak. Things hit like trucks, even when you get the upgraded suits. I struggled a lot with the last few bosses in Fusion because they hit so hard, lol
I just beat this game about two weeks ago, and it made me love 2D Metroid games even more than I already had. It's not perfect, but dammit, it's fun to speed through, and if that's not the sign of a good Metroid game, I don't know what is.
Despite me loving the free world aspect of exploration in Metroid, this is my favorite metroid game Because it... removes that element? Basically so it's a new experience and I absolutely loved that Also the soundtrack is amazing and the boss Nightmare is absolutely terrifying
Anyone else feel like Nintendo needs to do a Metroid Collection for the Switch? Like, Kirby & Mario have gotten collections on previous nintendo consoles, we've got 2 Castlevania collections, a whole bunch of Mega Man collections and even one for Contra Like, imagine if we got a Metroid Collection on the switch and it included; Metroid Metroid 2: Return of Samus Super Metroid Metroid Zero Mission & Metroid Fusion Like, how cool would that be?!
Metroid Fusion was my first Metroid game many years ago and for me as a kid, it was frightening, challenging and yet, made me fall in love with the franchise as a whole. The pacing was perfect, the atmosphere made you feel alone and basically lost and it also made me respect Samus as a character, because the more upgrades SHE got, the less frightened I was, and it had to be the same for her. Great video Jared. ♥
It's actually amazing how scared I was of the SA-X when I first played this game as a kid. The frantic feeling of every encounter heightened by the music made me absolutely terrified of being seen by it. Took me ages to beat it specifically because of the sections involving the SA-X and my inability to cope 😂
I had this on my GBA SP and I had no problems with the SA-X portions. Metroid Dread however has the most anxiety inducing sections when I'm being chased by the EMMI's. They're not difficult, but they do give me a moment of dread before I go into their areas.
Idk maybe it happens when you're just the right age to not be able to see the whole picture. I am still terrified of Resident Evil 1 because of the nightmares it gave me as a kid back when I didn't understand the full extent of zombie horror. That first zombie cutscene and the fact that he doesn't die even after several shots-- then he disappears and comes back later... *shudders*
@@SoberAddiction I feel like the EMMIs didn't really instill a sense of dread as much as they were meant to, other than the first couple (and the first one is half destroyed, to be fair), whereas Fusion had more dread because of the SA-X, at least imo
Ironically, Metroid Fusion ISN'T an easier game as you say around 0:51. Bosses and enemies actually do more damage than other Metroid games on average. A lot of people expecting the more casual and forgiving bosses of the other 2D games usually get rolled their first time playing Fusion.
Metroid fusion corrupts everything. The landscapes, being a lab instead of a world. The sound track, the gameplay formula, and samus herself, in order to not be just super again, and in doing so creates something truly unique
Did you know, the Japanese Metroid Fusion has added Hard and Easy modes with English hidden in the game's code, which can be enabled with an edited save or ROM patch. It also has extra endings and a Gallery.
8:40 I think this was filmed a bit ago. I DEFINITELY played Fusion on the Switch a couple weeks ago. Actually, I think it was added same day as Metroid Prime Remastered got released
as someone who literally just got done watching Aliens for the first time a few hours ago today, I forgot how similar these series are. One thing that.. not really knocks metroid down for me, it's just always in the back of my mind.
Funny... Fusion was the second Metroid game I ever played, yet in the four years it took for me to beat it, I also played the original Metroid, beat the entire prime trilogy, and liked Super so much, that it became one of my favorite games of all time. Even still, there was always something about Fusion that kept me interested. My developing spaghetti brain may have been too scared to play the damn game, but Fusion content is how I discovered RUclips, so I can't be too upset. While I wouldn't say it's in my top 5 of all time, Metroid Fusion is special to me, and as a game I'm sure many (especially recent fans) would consider it on par, if not better than, Super Metroid. While I can't say I agree entirely, there's still a case, and being comparable to SUPER METROID is the mark of a good game. Metroid Fusion IS, for all intents and purposes, a good game. I don't know what I'm ranting about anymore, tl;dr Fusion is cool
This is probably still my fave 2D Metroid game. Even Dread couldn't touch the creepiness and atmosphere that this game evokes imo - and that is an AMAZING game
@@andreethier816 I'll argue that "scary" for mature audiences comes from tension and scale, which was achieved with the sound design at the very least. There's immersive and darkly beautiful scenes and soundtracks to pace you out between the E.M.M.I. Zones, and each challenge is just enough of a step up from the last that you don't jump straight out of dread and into thrill. By the time you finish the game once, it has made you master its combat and movement beyond you thought you could in such a short time. For instance for a jump-scare to work it has to establish a norm and lead you into a false sense of security with contrasting elements. But Metroid isn't really a jump-scare genre. Point is, it's not cheap thrills, and Dread achieved something spectacular with the path that Fusion laid out.
@Tristan DizZo I get your point but I would argue that 'Dread' sounds like a much more atmospheric, tense or creepy experience than 'Fusion'
Год назад+3
Dread was a great game but when it completely failed in one part, it was being dreadful. It had none of it. Generally, the visual design, sounddesign, atmosphere and map layout was just way less striking and intense than in fusion. Not bad, but simply not on par, especially considering it came out 20 years later. But the gameplay was phenomenal and the cutscenes were quite good.
The Sa-x is the best antagonist. Having a full powered Varia Suit hunting you is terrifying. If only the could have it show up a bit more regularly. If it had a "I wanna kill you" vibe, but also some kind of "eh, I've more important things to do" if you get out of reach fast enough, they could've had it hunting constantly instead of the half a dozen times it does.
Metroid Fusion was the first GBA game I thought of when Nintendo added GBA to NSO. Needless to say I was so happy when they added it and 100% the game which I’ve never done before.
I’ve been waiting for an eternity for this video! It was worth the wait. This game is arguably better than Metroid Prime and Super Metroid. Metroid Fusion is mesmerizing. This is definitely one of the greatest GBA games of all time.
Seeing Jirard Bomb-Jump at 12:57 instead of bombing the tile right below him to get the metal platform both hurt me and was impressive at the same time.
Linearity didn't bother me at all in that game. Sure the whole direction is very straight forward, but you're always playing in small labyrinth areas and you have tons of stuff to unlock and all. As long as you're not doing a speed run, the game feels amazing to play. And back then in the early 2000s it was amazing to play such a quality 2D game on a small handheld.
This was my first Metroid game I played..... I must say I had a choice between Fusion and Zero Mission and younger me was drawn to the Fusion Suit design. It still remains a favorite design
Mercury Steam has the ability to create BY FAR the best Metroid game of all time. Fusion and Super Metroid (specifically Super) are the next two on the remake timeline.
Fusion's more linear progression allows for a more difficult combat experience overall, which honestly, I really loved! The bossfights in Fusion can be super tough, but also, super interesting! Coming off of the back of Super, trying to top it immediately was probably impossible, so going for a different direction was Nintendo's best move imo. It made for a fascinating story and imo, the best atmosphere in all of the 2D games. The oppressive, vulnerable nature of the game is almost on the levels of some of the best horror games! LOVE Fusion 😁
Federation Force is honestly, for all tense and purposes, is actually not a bad game, for what it is, its a perfectly fine spin-off with a neat potential to expand the world and lore of the Metroid series outside of Samus's POV. It has some unique mechanics to it, and the very idea of a co-op adventure is a pretty novel one. But I will say, it's far from perfect, it definitely has some flaws worth addressing and ironing out if they wish to make some kind of continuation of it to expand Metroid as a franchise. Just wish they didn't announce the damn game when there was a near two decade hiatus of such a beloved series, if it was postponed til after Samus Returns, I don't think it would've received quite as harsh criticism, but then again, I doubt it would've been picked up all that much either, it was very much a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation for the game
Awesome video, but something that I want to point out that you missed is that there are some illustration scenes that were only available in the original Japanese version of Metroid Fusion that we, outside of Japan, never got in the released game.
Playing Metroid Fusion for me is a little bittersweet. Mostly because it was the last non-remake game made by Nintendo RD1 before splitting up. This matters because they made Wario Land 3, my favourite game of all time. I see the similarities to Wario Land 3 when playing Metroid Fusion as well. Game split up into separate areas? Check. Said areas change as you progress? Check. Mission control not being as benign as they seemed? Check. I'm still of the belief Wario Land 3 is the most unique metroidvania ever made and created a video where I did a reading of an essay I wrote awhile back. Having said this, I do think Metroid Fusion improved on Wario Land 3 in a various number of ways. Pour one out for Nintendo RD1.
I'd argue that Fusion is the best Metroid game and that to call it a "bad Metroid game" because of its linearity is to misunderstand not just what the game is doing but how good it is as doing it and to what end it is doing it for. You can't tell the narrative Fusion wants to tell while keeping the (mostly illusory) freedom of prior titles and its narrative is the best direction the series could have taken with the series and honestly made Samus Aran into Nintendo's best character.
Metroid Fusion is the game that made me take a step back and challenge my nostalgia around Super Metroid... and when I did do a modern run through Super, I found out that I actually liked Zero Mission, AM2R, Dread and Fusion more than Super. So glad to see a big name talk about Fusion... if not for Dread, Fusion would be my absolute favorite game in this series.
I'm glad to see someone actually take a critical look at Super despite having nostalgia for it. Too many people gloss over Super's flaws and ignore all the improvements its sequels made.
I didn't play Dread thus far(No idea if I will play it still because I ended up seeing spoilers and I did not particularly like what I saw) and Super Metroid is still comfortably in my top 4, kicked off from the top 3 place by the Metroid 2 remakes(Fusion is first place). Zero Mission just sorta isn't it tho? To me, it always feels like if someone threw Super and Fusion together but worse and then cut back the scope to resemble Metroid 1. The remake-unique "post game" after Mother Brain is pretty neat, but not exactly great enough to make up for me just not enjoying my time much overall.
Metroid Fusion may be my favorite Metroid game. It takes a unique approach to the Metroid formula and its linearity lends itself to a horrific atmosphere and a narrative the likes of which the series hadn't seen at that point.
It feels like you actually paid attention to what you were playing. Fusion is my favorite Metroid game. I hope to play it again, on an actual handheld this time
"Worst"? Excuse me *sir* Fusion is awesome and I will never understand the hate it gets. I love that it has more story than typical Metroid, while not being bad (like Other M). And the traversal in it is still great, which is what I usually see people complain about. Now I gotta replay Fusion again lol
I will never forgive the fanbase for hating on Fusion. It was always be my favorite. And I actually find Fusion way harder than any of the others in terms of combat/bosses.
Fusion is where I really found my feet with the Metroid series. Metroid 2 was my first Gameboy game and my first Metroid game but when I play it now I wonder how I managed with it as a 6 year old. When Fusion came out I would have been just the right age and had a few years of gaming familiarity under my belt. Plus the slightly more hand holding approach really meant that I got so much more out of it. Would love to revisit someday.
22:20 I wouldn't call it sacrifice but nature, that the X virus is enemy of the Metroid, so Samus got lucky the SA X prioritize the omega metroid over her.
Love you and the Beard Boys. You all are wonderful people. The whole team. This was such a wonderful watch. I recently watched your play through of Fusion with Alex, Trivia Love always. It helped me get such good rest for work. Thank you for being the best of the best. 💜
I've been so busy with life and haven't been able to check out a Completionist video in a while. It was nice this morning to sit down with my coffee and watch one. Thanks for all the great videos Jirard and team!
I love this channel. I get to see the games that I grew up with and the ones I never had. It brings me joy that you guys archive and showcase all these games. Plus, I love Girard and his personality. It really makes the videos perfect.
Yeah, I like when a game gives you an opportunity to figure something out, but offers a hint system if you can't. Don't beat me over the head with it, but don't leave me for dead.
Completionist really likes games like NEStroid and M2 more than fusion? Fusion is my favorite metroid game bc of its charm and controls. It's short, but every time I play it it never gets old. To each their own though. :)
never got where this "Samus answers to nobody" thing came from when she's literally a bounty hunter/mercenary. Feels like an overprotective read of the character because other m wasn't written well
Fusion was my introduction into the series. Besides her appearance in smash. I had it for the gba with a playbook for both fusion and prime. I’ve compared every main title to fusion. I memorized every corner, every powerup, every piece of dialogue. It gave me a reason to revisit the older titles. I’ve memorized every piece of metroid lore, storylines, character developments, and easter eggs from every title. Because fusion was so jammed packed with them, i couldnt fully appreciate them at the time. But now i love every bit of it. It made me a diehard and lifelong fan!!! It defined the scifi horror game genre all together! And should always be played with love
After watching Alex and Jirard play this game, I will forever hear the metriud item acquisition music as Alex singing: "ahhhhYou know dasher, and dancer and prancer and vixennnnn~"
“The best worst metroid game” kinda has me fuming in terms of “yeah ok it’s straightforward” but it serves the more story driven element of the game… And I’m just gonna say this now. I’ve only played Super once. It is overrated as hell to me. Yes it nails the atmosphere and the loneliness. But the controls?? My god, they did better in Fusion- and Dread was so much more fulfilling. Not only that- but FUSION AND DREAD *NAIL* her character! They give her an internal voice in Fusion and then an actual voice in Dread! Plenty of Metroid titles are better than Super and I think we don’t say it enough. Fusion was also my first game, so yeah, bias, but also, come ON man- we dick ride Super now like there isn’t WAY more games that control and feel better than Super Metroid ever had.
During that segment of the video there was an annotation saying this video was uploaded March 1st for patreon members. Its been done for some time now, before Fusion was added to NSO.
This was actually my first Metroid. The story is great. I understand that veterans were a bit upset about the game getting a bit lineal but it never bothered me. They could have added ways to skip the story, break sequence or alternate scenes.
The good news is that Fusion IS now available on the Nintendo Switch Online app, along with Metroid 2 - if you have a switch and NSW Online, you can access every 2D Metroid game.
This video went up March 1st early for patreon members. We are only now getting it which dates some of the NSO info. That is why he added a little annotation during that segment.
I'm definitely intending on playing the older Metroid games at some point in my life, not having grown up with Nintendo originally. Also, Jesus, if I didn't see incorrectly... At around 17:20, taking contact damage from SA-X literally chewed through AT LEAST 374 points of energy, if those little bars are the Energy Tanks in the game beside the Energy number. That's scary.
This video was written and uploaded by March 1st. Patreon members got to see the video early, everyone else gets it now. Some of the NSO stuff is outdated now, which is why he added an annotation during that part.
Honestly I think all Metroid games are linear at least the first time you play them. The developers designed all of them to have sequence breaks but unless you have seen a playthrough before or have played the games multiple times you probably wouldn't know about it. Plus they leave you breadcrumbs to follow so that for first time playthroughs you don't get too lost. Anyways with that being said Metroid Fusion is the most linear of them but with the horror aspect of the game it needed to be this way or the atmosphere would not have payed off and is part of the reason why this is my favorite Metroid game. I think everyone should play this game with those thoughts in mind and I feel a lot of people who disliked it the first time through might enjoy it more for a replay. Great video as always and sorry for the long message I just wanted to give some thoughts on the Metroid series as a whole!
Not gonna lie, I was terrified of the SA-X when I first played this even though I was an adult at the time. The reason why was because when they first showed the SA-X' face when it first appeared, I didn't see a copy of Samus' face, I mistook the shadow above the nose as it's mouth. It looked completely alien to me and my heart always jumped when I ran into it. Loved the game though.
Pro tip: You get a nice checklist of how many Missile, Energy Tank and Power Bomb expansions you have out of the total there are in the area you're currently in on the map screen when you play on "new game plus" mode (the Screw Attack symbol) on a save file you've finished.
Honestly, design for games on the go as a topic always feels weird for me as a person who grew up with the DS Lite and 3DS which have sleepmode available at all times basically.(GBA games also have sleep mode, but not all games use it. Shoutouts to the Fire Emblem GBA games that for some reason require the unused debug-menu to use sleep mode.) So gaming on the go for me wasn't about having less time to play, it was about having MORE time to play because my playsessions basically never had a clear start or end(barring temporary pauses) as they weren't bound to a standing console like the Wii or Wiiu and those handhelds actually had a small size and decent battery life unlike the Switch.
This is my all time favorite Metroid, and also my first Metroid, after falling in love with Samus from Smash. I have played most of the others (never finished the Prime trilogy as it is my least favorite), but this personality and story is probably why I love it the most. I was terrified as a kid, of being caught by the SA-X anytime it showed up, and my heart would race as I heald my breath trying to sneak past to safety. I loved the back and forth between Samus and "computer program" because it felt like the most powerful person in the galaxy had the brakes put on, and as a kid, I felt like there was limits on what I could or couldn't do (not that I was the most powerful in the Galaxy, but you know what I mean). This game also lead me down the rabbit hole of finding the other Metroid games and playing them, and to my two other favorite Metroid games, Zero mission, and Other-M. I loved seeing where Samus came from in Zero mission, and to finally put more context to the relationship between her and Adam in Other-M. Any objections Lady?
Jirard, you missed a major bonus to Fusion that tests your abilities: The shine spark run. That is how you test you have mastered metroid and get a neat bonus for it too.
I think the way the game plays out is very much a product of the GBA’s limitation and honestly, it’s not a bad thing. This game is absolutely perfect. I’m not going sit here and over analyze it’s place on a Metroid tier list or be critical of “Adam’s” role because it’s part of this particular games story. Fusion is a masterpiece and one of the best GBA titles there is.
The atmosphere in Fusion is like nothing else. I imagine it's quite difficult to make a sprite-based 2D game feel horrifying, but Fusion does a damn good job. It's foreboding, tense, and uneasy the entire way through, with the potential appearance of the SA-X making every area feel dangerous.
I also like how the linear structure allows it to tell a much more structured and layered story, delving into Samus and her past relationships. I see a lot of people say Samus wasn't really a character before Other M, to which I immediately respond with "Have you played Fusion?" She's characterized very well with the dialogue she's given. She's courageous, selfless, and sentimental, but the game isn't afraid to show that she can also be quite stubborn and reckless at times. Her relationship with Adam is fascinating. She clearly looked up to him with a lot of respect. Calling him the "Perfect military mind," but she seemed to be in conflict with him over what the greater good actually needs and where priorities should lie when making sacrifices. And I love how none of this is spelled out to you, but rather is told implicitly in how they interact with each other.
I adore Fusion to death, and depending on the day, it's my favorite Metroid game.
Not to mention that if players paid attention to Samus' dialogue at the *beginning* , they'd understand that Samus hates being ordered to specific points to do specific things *every bit* as much as the player does; so the linearity is meant to make the player empathize with Samus more by making them feel every bit as frustrated as *she* is along with all its *other* purposes.
No one says that, because everyone hates Other M
@@CassiusStelar I have seen more than a handful of people say Samus had no character before Other M. It is blatantly wrong, and yet people have said it.
Metroid doesn't have a story
@@SENATORPAIN1 say sike right now
Honestly, this is my favorite basically because it feels open but is actually linear. Most interesting story and I feel like the pacing is the best in the series
And it's not even as linear as people suggest it is! You can definitely go off route and explore a lot. It's also my favorite Metroid
Agreed I love Fusion. I really liked Super Metroid but I didn't like getting so freaking lost sometimes and having to resort to looking up guides to progress. Fusion you don't have to worry about it and you can simply enjoy the game and it's impeccable pacing...
It's my favorite 2D Metroid too. I disagree that it's particularly easy. Compared to Zero Mission it's significantly harder actually, because of the bosses for instance. The current objective is always indicated but you still need to find how to get there. You simply lose less time trying to remember where to go. And the biggest appeal of its level design is that when you think you've disovered most of it, there's a whole part which was hidden from the start. I won't spoil, but it makes it even less linear than the other games. 😁
Same, I prefer a linear story that feels open too.
Much better pacing than Zero Mission, that's for sure.
From someone who had a miserable time with the original Metroid II on the Game Boy when it came out, I deeply appreciated the linearity of Fusion. I WANT to know where to go, but that's just the kind of gamer I am.
You should love zero mission then; it's the best combo imo of openness and giving guidance
@@stevenn1940 and I did, not as much as Fusion from purely an aesthetics standpoint but I did enjoy it.
@@VRHyoumaru Might be due to how saturated Zero Mission was? Zero Mission, like a bunch of games during the GBA's time, dialed up the saturation so that the game would be easier to see on an original GBA and frontlit SP models.
What was your problem with OG M2? I played it as little preschool kid and had little problems except dying a lot at the final boss. Did you try the two remakes? They change a lot of the old GB design problems. I prefer the fan remake because I've never been a fan of the melee attack response.
Metroid 2 was super linear. Here's 10 rooms to explore. Kill the metroids. Unlocked 15 more rooms
I'm a little surprised at no mention of the hidden message for a notable sequence break after you get the speed boost for getting back without getting the diffusion missiles via a long chain of shine sparking (basically just the dev actually congratulating you on what he thought might be an impossible task). Its a fun easter egg and something I'd consider part of a full completion just to say you did it honestly.
I came to the comments to see if he did it, cause I can't watch right now. That's surprising.
Since when are easter eggs part of completion for any game?
That's the definition of easter eggs, just a gag
Yeah, I was actually a bit disappointed to see he missed that.
Yeah, specially when he spent a lot of time comparing to dread to say theres not many shiny sparks sequence breaking, this game has basically the hardest of the series
@@vinisun9171 Hard? I found it the easiest after Zero Mission
The nightmare boss was tricky and the Spider took me a couple of tries. But it was one of the few Metroids i could beat back then
Even the final bosses are more of a "rinse and repeat" than an actual challenge.
The mutated SA-X is almost a fight of attrition due to how limited it's movement is
The first time playing is the scariest when you think the SA-X could randomly show up at any time. Kinda wish they had allowed for that, but oh well, still a great game either way.
It created more dread than Dread ;)
I imagine that would throw a spanner or two in the works. It would also mean a lot of coding for the randomiser and many rooms just arent suitable to an SA-X encounter
I love the dynamic behavior of the enemies in the game. For example, when they're first introduced, the Ice x-parasites are a terrifying enemy; they can't be fought, do massive damage, hide in destructible blocks, and chase you aggressively. However, they become harmless once you get the varia suit, and after a few encounters, they start running from YOU.
I think the linear direction was a fantastic choice! As Fusion was my first Metroid game, it was a great game to dip my toes in. By the time I got around to playing Super Metroid and Zero Mission, it was like being released from leash to go explore to my hearts content, which made me appreciate Super and Zero even more!
Also, the SA-X scared the crap out of me the first few times I played through the game.
What's interesting that this is the 2nd hardest in terms of combat, but pretty easy when it comes to exploration. While I find super metroid hard to navigate, but easier combat
I agree. They used the linearity well here. Dread... they did not.
@@teneesh3376 Yeah, I agree! Most of the other 2d Metroids felt a easier combatwise after playing Fusion. Fusion does a fantastic job with making Samus feel weak. Things hit like trucks, even when you get the upgraded suits. I struggled a lot with the last few bosses in Fusion because they hit so hard, lol
@@stevenn1940
Dread's linearity was so pointless and unnatural. If it had actually done something cool with linearity like fusion I'd have no issue.
I just beat this game about two weeks ago, and it made me love 2D Metroid games even more than I already had. It's not perfect, but dammit, it's fun to speed through, and if that's not the sign of a good Metroid game, I don't know what is.
Despite me loving the free world aspect of exploration in Metroid, this is my favorite metroid game
Because it... removes that element? Basically so it's a new experience and I absolutely loved that
Also the soundtrack is amazing and the boss Nightmare is absolutely terrifying
Anyone else feel like Nintendo needs to do a Metroid Collection for the Switch? Like, Kirby & Mario have gotten collections on previous nintendo consoles, we've got 2 Castlevania collections, a whole bunch of Mega Man collections and even one for Contra
Like, imagine if we got a Metroid Collection on the switch and it included;
Metroid
Metroid 2: Return of Samus
Super Metroid
Metroid Zero Mission
& Metroid Fusion
Like, how cool would that be?!
Agreed
Metroid Fusion was my first Metroid game many years ago and for me as a kid, it was frightening, challenging and yet, made me fall
in love with the franchise as a whole. The pacing was perfect, the atmosphere made you feel alone and basically lost and it also made me respect Samus as a character, because the more upgrades SHE got, the less frightened I was, and it had to be the same for her. Great video Jared. ♥
It's actually amazing how scared I was of the SA-X when I first played this game as a kid. The frantic feeling of every encounter heightened by the music made me absolutely terrified of being seen by it. Took me ages to beat it specifically because of the sections involving the SA-X and my inability to cope 😂
I had this on my GBA SP and I had no problems with the SA-X portions. Metroid Dread however has the most anxiety inducing sections when I'm being chased by the EMMI's. They're not difficult, but they do give me a moment of dread before I go into their areas.
Idk maybe it happens when you're just the right age to not be able to see the whole picture.
I am still terrified of Resident Evil 1 because of the nightmares it gave me as a kid back when I didn't understand the full extent of zombie horror.
That first zombie cutscene and the fact that he doesn't die even after several shots-- then he disappears and comes back later...
*shudders*
@@SoberAddiction I feel like the EMMIs didn't really instill a sense of dread as much as they were meant to, other than the first couple (and the first one is half destroyed, to be fair), whereas Fusion had more dread because of the SA-X, at least imo
This game introduced me into the saga, now around 20 years later, i'm a big fan of the whole series
Ironically, Metroid Fusion ISN'T an easier game as you say around 0:51. Bosses and enemies actually do more damage than other Metroid games on average. A lot of people expecting the more casual and forgiving bosses of the other 2D games usually get rolled their first time playing Fusion.
Metroid fusion corrupts everything. The landscapes, being a lab instead of a world. The sound track, the gameplay formula, and samus herself, in order to not be just super again, and in doing so creates something truly unique
The SA-X legitimately scares me. I get a shot of adrenaline every time it shows up
Did you know, the Japanese Metroid Fusion has added Hard and Easy modes with English hidden in the game's code, which can be enabled with an edited save or ROM patch. It also has extra endings and a Gallery.
8:40 I think this was filmed a bit ago. I DEFINITELY played Fusion on the Switch a couple weeks ago. Actually, I think it was added same day as Metroid Prime Remastered got released
as someone who literally just got done watching Aliens for the first time a few hours ago today, I forgot how similar these series are. One thing that.. not really knocks metroid down for me, it's just always in the back of my mind.
Funny... Fusion was the second Metroid game I ever played, yet in the four years it took for me to beat it, I also played the original Metroid, beat the entire prime trilogy, and liked Super so much, that it became one of my favorite games of all time.
Even still, there was always something about Fusion that kept me interested. My developing spaghetti brain may have been too scared to play the damn game, but Fusion content is how I discovered RUclips, so I can't be too upset.
While I wouldn't say it's in my top 5 of all time, Metroid Fusion is special to me, and as a game I'm sure many (especially recent fans) would consider it on par, if not better than, Super Metroid.
While I can't say I agree entirely, there's still a case, and being comparable to SUPER METROID is the mark of a good game.
Metroid Fusion IS, for all intents and purposes, a good game.
I don't know what I'm ranting about anymore, tl;dr Fusion is cool
I was too scared of SA-X to ever move after the B.O.X. fight
This is probably still my fave 2D Metroid game. Even Dread couldn't touch the creepiness and atmosphere that this game evokes imo - and that is an AMAZING game
Well dread wasn't named "Metroid Creepy" or "Metroid Atmosphere" but I get your point
@@SolDizZo well yeah but it was lacking much sense of dread most of the time, even compared to Fusion.
@@andreethier816 I'll argue that "scary" for mature audiences comes from tension and scale, which was achieved with the sound design at the very least. There's immersive and darkly beautiful scenes and soundtracks to pace you out between the E.M.M.I. Zones, and each challenge is just enough of a step up from the last that you don't jump straight out of dread and into thrill. By the time you finish the game once, it has made you master its combat and movement beyond you thought you could in such a short time.
For instance for a jump-scare to work it has to establish a norm and lead you into a false sense of security with contrasting elements.
But Metroid isn't really a jump-scare genre.
Point is, it's not cheap thrills, and Dread achieved something spectacular with the path that Fusion laid out.
@Tristan DizZo I get your point but I would argue that 'Dread' sounds like a much more atmospheric, tense or creepy experience than 'Fusion'
Dread was a great game but when it completely failed in one part, it was being dreadful. It had none of it. Generally, the visual design, sounddesign, atmosphere and map layout was just way less striking and intense than in fusion. Not bad, but simply not on par, especially considering it came out 20 years later.
But the gameplay was phenomenal and the cutscenes were quite good.
The Sa-x is the best antagonist. Having a full powered Varia Suit hunting you is terrifying. If only the could have it show up a bit more regularly. If it had a "I wanna kill you" vibe, but also some kind of "eh, I've more important things to do" if you get out of reach fast enough, they could've had it hunting constantly instead of the half a dozen times it does.
Metroid Fusion was the first GBA game I thought of when Nintendo added GBA to NSO. Needless to say I was so happy when they added it and 100% the game which I’ve never done before.
I’ve been waiting for an eternity for this video! It was worth the wait. This game is arguably better than Metroid Prime and Super Metroid. Metroid Fusion is mesmerizing. This is definitely one of the greatest GBA games of all time.
I guess you can argue anything.
Don't know about Prime, but definitely Super.
Personally I hate super metroid I don't get what the hype is about
Definitely liked Fusion's controls more than Super's. That run button was a pain in the a to get used to.
@Bt-7274 While I don't hate Super, I definitely agree that it is overrated as hell.
Samus controls like garbage in that game.
People say "linear" like it's a bad thing. I no longer understand that.
Sa-x was terrifying just hearing those footsteps sticks your neck hairs up
Impressive that the section on Cyberpunk looking great has very visible screen tearing lol.
Seeing Jirard Bomb-Jump at 12:57 instead of bombing the tile right below him to get the metal platform both hurt me and was impressive at the same time.
Linearity didn't bother me at all in that game. Sure the whole direction is very straight forward, but you're always playing in small labyrinth areas and you have tons of stuff to unlock and all. As long as you're not doing a speed run, the game feels amazing to play.
And back then in the early 2000s it was amazing to play such a quality 2D game on a small handheld.
This was my first Metroid game I played..... I must say I had a choice between Fusion and Zero Mission and younger me was drawn to the Fusion Suit design. It still remains a favorite design
8:40 video might need a editor note because Fusion is totally available on the Switch GBA store as of at least yesterday when I saw and played it
Came here to say the same thing. I thought I was going crazy at first.
March 8th, 2023 Fusion was released on Switch.
Mercury Steam has the ability to create BY FAR the best Metroid game of all time. Fusion and Super Metroid (specifically Super) are the next two on the remake timeline.
This is personally my favorite metroid game. Splendidly terrifying.
Fusion's more linear progression allows for a more difficult combat experience overall, which honestly, I really loved! The bossfights in Fusion can be super tough, but also, super interesting! Coming off of the back of Super, trying to top it immediately was probably impossible, so going for a different direction was Nintendo's best move imo.
It made for a fascinating story and imo, the best atmosphere in all of the 2D games. The oppressive, vulnerable nature of the game is almost on the levels of some of the best horror games! LOVE Fusion 😁
Federation Force is honestly, for all tense and purposes, is actually not a bad game, for what it is, its a perfectly fine spin-off with a neat potential to expand the world and lore of the Metroid series outside of Samus's POV. It has some unique mechanics to it, and the very idea of a co-op adventure is a pretty novel one.
But I will say, it's far from perfect, it definitely has some flaws worth addressing and ironing out if they wish to make some kind of continuation of it to expand Metroid as a franchise. Just wish they didn't announce the damn game when there was a near two decade hiatus of such a beloved series, if it was postponed til after Samus Returns, I don't think it would've received quite as harsh criticism, but then again, I doubt it would've been picked up all that much either, it was very much a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation for the game
8:40 Boy is that a lie…
Oh, didn’t notice that blurb on the bottom
8:36 It IS available on NSO. I've played it a few days ago.
Awesome video, but something that I want to point out that you missed is that there are some illustration scenes that were only available in the original Japanese version of Metroid Fusion that we, outside of Japan, never got in the released game.
Playing Metroid Fusion for me is a little bittersweet. Mostly because it was the last non-remake game made by Nintendo RD1 before splitting up. This matters because they made Wario Land 3, my favourite game of all time. I see the similarities to Wario Land 3 when playing Metroid Fusion as well. Game split up into separate areas? Check. Said areas change as you progress? Check. Mission control not being as benign as they seemed? Check. I'm still of the belief Wario Land 3 is the most unique metroidvania ever made and created a video where I did a reading of an essay I wrote awhile back. Having said this, I do think Metroid Fusion improved on Wario Land 3 in a various number of ways. Pour one out for Nintendo RD1.
I literally just started playing this game for the first time last night.
Its so much fun.
I'd argue that Fusion is the best Metroid game and that to call it a "bad Metroid game" because of its linearity is to misunderstand not just what the game is doing but how good it is as doing it and to what end it is doing it for. You can't tell the narrative Fusion wants to tell while keeping the (mostly illusory) freedom of prior titles and its narrative is the best direction the series could have taken with the series and honestly made Samus Aran into Nintendo's best character.
Video starts at 5:30
Metroid Fusion is the game that made me take a step back and challenge my nostalgia around Super Metroid... and when I did do a modern run through Super, I found out that I actually liked Zero Mission, AM2R, Dread and Fusion more than Super.
So glad to see a big name talk about Fusion... if not for Dread, Fusion would be my absolute favorite game in this series.
I'm glad to see someone actually take a critical look at Super despite having nostalgia for it.
Too many people gloss over Super's flaws and ignore all the improvements its sequels made.
I didn't play Dread thus far(No idea if I will play it still because I ended up seeing spoilers and I did not particularly like what I saw) and Super Metroid is still comfortably in my top 4, kicked off from the top 3 place by the Metroid 2 remakes(Fusion is first place). Zero Mission just sorta isn't it tho? To me, it always feels like if someone threw Super and Fusion together but worse and then cut back the scope to resemble Metroid 1. The remake-unique "post game" after Mother Brain is pretty neat, but not exactly great enough to make up for me just not enjoying my time much overall.
Metroid Fusion may be my favorite Metroid game. It takes a unique approach to the Metroid formula and its linearity lends itself to a horrific atmosphere and a narrative the likes of which the series hadn't seen at that point.
5:46 - Review starts.
What a coincidence, i literally bought this game two days ago
It feels like you actually paid attention to what you were playing.
Fusion is my favorite Metroid game. I hope to play it again, on an actual handheld this time
I still love that intro.
"Worst"? Excuse me *sir*
Fusion is awesome and I will never understand the hate it gets. I love that it has more story than typical Metroid, while not being bad (like Other M). And the traversal in it is still great, which is what I usually see people complain about.
Now I gotta replay Fusion again lol
I know we all can't wait for Metroid Prime 4, but I'd also like to see a Metroid Prime Hunters remake.
"Fusion is not currently on the Nintendo Switch Online app"
Didn't they drop it on the app several weeks ago?
I was sick as balls and stuck in bed with my GBA when I picked this up back in the day. It was, and still is, one of my top games ever.
How sick are balls exactly?
Fusion is the shit. Anyone that hates it just doesn’t appreciate what it was going for. You cannot say it’s a bad game, just divisive
People who say Fusion is a bad game are straight up delusional
I will never forgive the fanbase for hating on Fusion. It was always be my favorite. And I actually find Fusion way harder than any of the others in terms of combat/bosses.
this Metroid game is the first in the series that I’ve played, and I love it
I remember playing through this game numerous times before I finally managed to earn the 100% in
Fusion is where I really found my feet with the Metroid series. Metroid 2 was my first Gameboy game and my first Metroid game but when I play it now I wonder how I managed with it as a 6 year old. When Fusion came out I would have been just the right age and had a few years of gaming familiarity under my belt. Plus the slightly more hand holding approach really meant that I got so much more out of it. Would love to revisit someday.
16:00 ish - My hypothesis has always been that the powerups have a limited lifespan, as they are ancient chozo artifacts and were likely mass produced
22:20 I wouldn't call it sacrifice but nature, that the X virus is enemy of the Metroid, so Samus got lucky the SA X prioritize the omega metroid over her.
Do people actually think this is bad? It's one of my favorites.
Only compared to other Metroid games, which is quite a high bar.
It's third best in my opinion, behind Samus Returns and Dread.
@@lpnp9477 Samus returns was sick!! I actually like it better than dread. The EMIs were annoying lol
@Trise prime is probably my favorite.
Fusion is my personal favorite.
I check in every now and then to see how much the intro has evolved. Nice to see we've reached the point of a reference montage!
I’ve been waiting for this cuz Metroid fusion was my first Metroid and it terrified me minute one ,when I first heard/saw the title screen
So, Based on how you seem to feel about Fusion, have you tried or considered the Rando?
8:08 I guess these videos do take a while to make, huh?
Love you and the Beard Boys. You all are wonderful people. The whole team. This was such a wonderful watch. I recently watched your play through of Fusion with Alex, Trivia Love always. It helped me get such good rest for work. Thank you for being the best of the best. 💜
I've been so busy with life and haven't been able to check out a Completionist video in a while. It was nice this morning to sit down with my coffee and watch one. Thanks for all the great videos Jirard and team!
I love this channel. I get to see the games that I grew up with and the ones I never had. It brings me joy that you guys archive and showcase all these games. Plus, I love Girard and his personality. It really makes the videos perfect.
Personally I don't mind the linearity of fusion. I hate getting lost in games because it frustrates me. Fusion I felt hit a good balance.
Yeah, I like when a game gives you an opportunity to figure something out, but offers a hint system if you can't. Don't beat me over the head with it, but don't leave me for dead.
I actually prefer this over Dread and Super. It strikes the right balance of being linear but doesn’t feel like it’s holding your hand
Completionist really likes games like NEStroid and M2 more than fusion? Fusion is my favorite metroid game bc of its charm and controls. It's short, but every time I play it it never gets old. To each their own though. :)
Your videos are always awesome to watch, Jerard! Thanks for another great episode
never got where this "Samus answers to nobody" thing came from when she's literally a bounty hunter/mercenary. Feels like an overprotective read of the character because other m wasn't written well
Fusion was my introduction into the series. Besides her appearance in smash. I had it for the gba with a playbook for both fusion and prime. I’ve compared every main title to fusion. I memorized every corner, every powerup, every piece of dialogue. It gave me a reason to revisit the older titles. I’ve memorized every piece of metroid lore, storylines, character developments, and easter eggs from every title. Because fusion was so jammed packed with them, i couldnt fully appreciate them at the time. But now i love every bit of it. It made me a diehard and lifelong fan!!! It defined the scifi horror game genre all together! And should always be played with love
After watching Alex and Jirard play this game, I will forever hear the metriud item acquisition music as Alex singing: "ahhhhYou know dasher, and dancer and prancer and vixennnnn~"
“The best worst metroid game” kinda has me fuming in terms of “yeah ok it’s straightforward” but it serves the more story driven element of the game…
And I’m just gonna say this now. I’ve only played Super once. It is overrated as hell to me. Yes it nails the atmosphere and the loneliness. But the controls??
My god, they did better in Fusion- and Dread was so much more fulfilling.
Not only that- but FUSION AND DREAD *NAIL* her character! They give her an internal voice in Fusion and then an actual voice in Dread! Plenty of Metroid titles are better than Super and I think we don’t say it enough.
Fusion was also my first game, so yeah, bias, but also, come ON man- we dick ride Super now like there isn’t WAY more games that control and feel better than Super Metroid ever had.
"It's currently not available on the Nintendo Switch GBA online app"
Uh, ya sure about that?
During that segment of the video there was an annotation saying this video was uploaded March 1st for patreon members. Its been done for some time now, before Fusion was added to NSO.
This was actually my first Metroid. The story is great. I understand that veterans were a bit upset about the game getting a bit lineal but it never bothered me. They could have added ways to skip the story, break sequence or alternate scenes.
The good news is that Fusion IS now available on the Nintendo Switch Online app, along with Metroid 2 - if you have a switch and NSW Online, you can access every 2D Metroid game.
I 100% this all endings included back in High School on the GBA was pretty easy, time wise, once you know how to do everything. A very good game
Did you say this isn’t available for NSO? Because it is
This video went up March 1st early for patreon members. We are only now getting it which dates some of the NSO info. That is why he added a little annotation during that segment.
Did you sing Rudoph the red-nosed raindeer every time you got an item ? =)
I have this as a OG GBA cartridge.
Norfair? Dude! *Brinstar.*
I'm definitely intending on playing the older Metroid games at some point in my life, not having grown up with Nintendo originally. Also, Jesus, if I didn't see incorrectly... At around 17:20, taking contact damage from SA-X literally chewed through AT LEAST 374 points of energy, if those little bars are the Energy Tanks in the game beside the Energy number.
That's scary.
0:51 “It may be an easier game…” (shows the hardest part in the game)
It is available on Switch now, isn't it? I saw that it went live on the GBA expansion on March 8th.
I'm pretty sure it was a launch title on the GBA Online app.
@@Morgil27 It wasn't, but did come shortly after. It was announced as one of the titles that was coming later after the launch lineup.
This video was written and uploaded by March 1st. Patreon members got to see the video early, everyone else gets it now. Some of the NSO stuff is outdated now, which is why he added an annotation during that part.
@@ians_parks That makes sense. I must have missed the annotation. I can't think of another more thorough RUclips channel, so I believe you.
Honestly I think all Metroid games are linear at least the first time you play them. The developers designed all of them to have sequence breaks but unless you have seen a playthrough before or have played the games multiple times you probably wouldn't know about it. Plus they leave you breadcrumbs to follow so that for first time playthroughs you don't get too lost. Anyways with that being said Metroid Fusion is the most linear of them but with the horror aspect of the game it needed to be this way or the atmosphere would not have payed off and is part of the reason why this is my favorite Metroid game. I think everyone should play this game with those thoughts in mind and I feel a lot of people who disliked it the first time through might enjoy it more for a replay. Great video as always and sorry for the long message I just wanted to give some thoughts on the Metroid series as a whole!
Damnnnn the start of the video made me realize who much time has passed and how old we’re getting damnn Bro I appreciate you and ya content bro
A Sentence to describe Metroid "Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence." [Startrek 2009 bones]
Not gonna lie, I was terrified of the SA-X when I first played this even though I was an adult at the time. The reason why was because when they first showed the SA-X' face when it first appeared, I didn't see a copy of Samus' face, I mistook the shadow above the nose as it's mouth. It looked completely alien to me and my heart always jumped when I ran into it. Loved the game though.
11:19 I'd say Super Metroid was also split into several themed sectors. Surface, Water World, and Lava World.
Pro tip: You get a nice checklist of how many Missile, Energy Tank and Power Bomb expansions you have out of the total there are in the area you're currently in on the map screen when you play on "new game plus" mode (the Screw Attack symbol) on a save file you've finished.
I thought I'd made it to Ridley with a full health bar. Then I picked up an energy tank and discovered the *SECOND ROW*
Honestly, design for games on the go as a topic always feels weird for me as a person who grew up with the DS Lite and 3DS which have sleepmode available at all times basically.(GBA games also have sleep mode, but not all games use it. Shoutouts to the Fire Emblem GBA games that for some reason require the unused debug-menu to use sleep mode.)
So gaming on the go for me wasn't about having less time to play, it was about having MORE time to play because my playsessions basically never had a clear start or end(barring temporary pauses) as they weren't bound to a standing console like the Wii or Wiiu and those handhelds actually had a small size and decent battery life unlike the Switch.
This is my all time favorite Metroid, and also my first Metroid, after falling in love with Samus from Smash. I have played most of the others (never finished the Prime trilogy as it is my least favorite), but this personality and story is probably why I love it the most.
I was terrified as a kid, of being caught by the SA-X anytime it showed up, and my heart would race as I heald my breath trying to sneak past to safety. I loved the back and forth between Samus and "computer program" because it felt like the most powerful person in the galaxy had the brakes put on, and as a kid, I felt like there was limits on what I could or couldn't do (not that I was the most powerful in the Galaxy, but you know what I mean).
This game also lead me down the rabbit hole of finding the other Metroid games and playing them, and to my two other favorite Metroid games, Zero mission, and Other-M. I loved seeing where Samus came from in Zero mission, and to finally put more context to the relationship between her and Adam in Other-M.
Any objections Lady?
Fusion and Prime were flawless
Jirard, you missed a major bonus to Fusion that tests your abilities:
The shine spark run. That is how you test you have mastered metroid and get a neat bonus for it too.
I remember this was my favorite game as a kid and i also remember the dissapointment going from that to a stiff feeling zero mission.
17:36 Samus being that powerful is both incredible and terrifying.
I think the way the game plays out is very much a product of the GBA’s limitation and honestly, it’s not a bad thing. This game is absolutely perfect. I’m not going sit here and over analyze it’s place on a Metroid tier list or be critical of “Adam’s” role because it’s part of this particular games story. Fusion is a masterpiece and one of the best GBA titles there is.