Pong and Beyond

313rd played so far

Genre: Platform/Shoot ‘Em Up
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Year of Release: 2002
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo

It’s been a while since we played the surprise discovery (for us) Super Metroid. While we knew some things about the series, we weren’t entirely expecting it to be this much fun.

As one of the larger series on the list, it’s one we’re actively keeping track of, and yet for some reason we’ve fallen behind in covering the series (partially because the next few platforms don’t work for our stats… trying to keep track of it all for you!). It really is time for another game, though, and Metroid Fusion is a good next game.

A cheap ‘purchase’ for us to. As early 3DS adopter, I got the game for free for being a ‘Nintendo 3DS Ambassador’ – an exclusive downloadable too as it will not be released on the e-shop. Easier for us though!

Our Thoughts

One of the most addictive parts of the (Pre-Prime) Metroid series is probably that it taps into the ‘one more…’ mindset. In a giant space ship with its large setting, dividing it into smallish rooms that takes only a minute or two to get through, there’s always the rush to explore one more, find its secrets and get a bit further.

The main story, explained in the introduction, is related to our warrior Samus having fused with an odd alien virus called the ‘X-Parasite’. Although she is cured with the help of Metroids, making her immune to the parasite and even being healed by it, she is also tasked by investigating a large space station where an infection of it has broken out.

Your travels go on in typical Metroid style. Starting off with just your blaster, you slowly gain more attacks and abilities to reach new places and defeat the bosses that are scattered around the area.

From there on out, the story also develops quite nicely. A lot of exposition follows from Samus’ thoughts during the elevator rides, with your more immediate objectives coming from your ‘superior’ briefing you every time you reach a navigation room.

The graphics are decidedly GBA quality. Just a tad blocky and pixelly in places, but colourful and detailed. Even if the backgrounds don’t always make sense (I’m sorry, why are there caves inside a space station?) they look lovely, as do the weird alien creatures you encounter.

The game spreads a fairly large amount of save points across its world, and while it may seem generous at time, you’ll soon find you need it. So far I haven’t encountered a situations I couldn’t handle after some trial and error. The save points were necessary for that, but didn’t get in the way as much.

What I find interesting with a series like Metroid is how they play with chronology. Despite being the fourth game in a series of ten (eleven if you count Metroid Prime Pinball) this places last in the Metroid world behind the most recent installment Other M. There are not many games that would jump around like this with such ease (with Zelda being the other that comes to mind with a far more complex timeline) but stands to make a franchise more interesting. Especially if you choose to play it through by fictional date rather than release date.

Final Thoughts

It feels difficult to judge a game and genre like this when you haven’t had much contact with it. Not by active choice, I just never played them often.

With that said, the game is difficult, but fun. It takes some time to get used to the game and to figure out the ways deal to with each enemy. It looks good and has an interesting story – and an interesting way to tell it.