entremet
Member
I recently beat Metroid Zero Mission via the Wii U VC--kinda wish this was on the N3DS as Super NES games are on their, but whatcha gonna do, it's Nintendo.
I was really impressed what they managed to do with the remake. I've always loved the original NES Metroid, but it's not that great to replay. No in game map, dated controls, terrible password system. Zero Mission modernized Metroid and also added a lot of fun things for advanced players, such a hard mode and cool intentional sequence breaking.
Being on a Metroid kick, partly inspired by the Return to Samus remake announcement, I bought Metroid Fusion. I missed most of the GBA catalog, as I was in college at the time and gaming wasn't a huge focus for me.
The first thing I noticed is that Metroid Fusion, which came out before Zero Mission, was way more guided than the other 2-D Metroid games I played. You're on a space station, not an isolated planet, so the confines are smaller and tighter. But you're receiving mission objectives from a fictionalized AI. Samus also self narrates portions, all in text. Very different for Metroid.
The setting should not be a limitation, as Alien Isolation showed you can have a sense of horror and in smaller confines. Fusion does this with the main antagonist, SA-X. Even given the hardware limitations of the GBA, her appearances are well done., and do provide that needed sense of dread, no pun intended.
Where Fusion does shine is in the action. The controls are very tight and the bosses, while not Souls level challenge, do provide some challenge compared to Super and Zero Mission.
All and all, the design choices of having more narrative and more guidance for the player did feel out of place for the series. It doesn't hinder the game too much. The new setting and conceit was refreshing. We've had at least 5 games that did the isolated planet formula, so I didn't mind the change.
Metroidvania fans should definitely pick this up.
What were your thoughts on this game?
I was really impressed what they managed to do with the remake. I've always loved the original NES Metroid, but it's not that great to replay. No in game map, dated controls, terrible password system. Zero Mission modernized Metroid and also added a lot of fun things for advanced players, such a hard mode and cool intentional sequence breaking.
Being on a Metroid kick, partly inspired by the Return to Samus remake announcement, I bought Metroid Fusion. I missed most of the GBA catalog, as I was in college at the time and gaming wasn't a huge focus for me.
The first thing I noticed is that Metroid Fusion, which came out before Zero Mission, was way more guided than the other 2-D Metroid games I played. You're on a space station, not an isolated planet, so the confines are smaller and tighter. But you're receiving mission objectives from a fictionalized AI. Samus also self narrates portions, all in text. Very different for Metroid.
The setting should not be a limitation, as Alien Isolation showed you can have a sense of horror and in smaller confines. Fusion does this with the main antagonist, SA-X. Even given the hardware limitations of the GBA, her appearances are well done., and do provide that needed sense of dread, no pun intended.
Where Fusion does shine is in the action. The controls are very tight and the bosses, while not Souls level challenge, do provide some challenge compared to Super and Zero Mission.
All and all, the design choices of having more narrative and more guidance for the player did feel out of place for the series. It doesn't hinder the game too much. The new setting and conceit was refreshing. We've had at least 5 games that did the isolated planet formula, so I didn't mind the change.
Metroidvania fans should definitely pick this up.
What were your thoughts on this game?