It's impossible to talk about Metroidvania without mentioning the franchise that is one of the reasons for its very existence: Metroid. Through the years, it has produced many games, fascinating fans with how they make progression feel like a true journey by providing tough but fair enemies, placing power-ups at strategic locations, and incentivizing plenty of backtracking through beautiful environments.
Each entry offers an enjoyable experience, and fans often debate which one is the best. Every person has a different answer, citing names such as Metroid: Samus Returns, Metroid Dread, and Metroid Prime, among others. But as someone who has played nearly every entry, I can confidently say that Metroid Fusion is the best of the best.
Some may question this choice, given that it's a Game Boy Advance title released back in 2002, but what it's able to do despite its age is what makes it so amazing. Out of all the other entries, the thing it does best is provide an amazing reason for players to want to make Samus stronger.
To understand why, it is important to know the premise. While on a mission to a planet named SR388, Samus encountered and was infected by a deadly X Parasite. The Galactic Federation treats her, removes her suit, and sends the parts to the Biologic Space Laboratories (BSL) research station for quarantine. Then they cure her with a vaccine derived from the Metroid hatchling she encountered on her journey in Metroid II: Return of Samus.
After recovering and obtaining a less powerful but X Paraiste-immune organic fusion suit, she is then tasked with investigating the station where her infected equipment was sent. Upon arriving, she discovers a horrifying situation: the X Parasite has mutated. During the process, it created a doppelganger of her, complete with her abilities, eventually referred to as the SA-X.
This entity is the cause of the station's destruction and infection. Unable to stop the monster in her current state, Samus flees and is then forced to grow stronger to eliminate the SA-X and the infestation, while uncovering the truth behind the BLS's dark purpose.
At the beginning of the game, the player is given a taste of what a fully powered-up Samus is capable of via the first encounter with the SA-X. By observing its abilities and witnessing its destructive capabilities firsthand, it provides players with an amazing adversary to look forward to beating.
Additionally, since the entity is essentially Samus in her best state, it conveys to everyone that they, too, can attain the same power eventually if they put in the effort. Providing a great incentive to explore every area of the game, as every corner could lead to an additional advantage needed for the upcoming battle.
It also helps that the SA-X can appear from nowhere, as it is continually hunting Samus while she's in the station. The unpredictability adds a layer of atmospheric tension that none of the other games possess, which is great for ensuring that there's never a dull moment during the process of getting stronger. It forces players to always be alert and attentive while playing.
By combining the elements of fear and anticipation via the SA-X, Nintendo managed to create a Metroid game that outshines all the others. If you want to see whether it deserves its status as one of, if not the best, entry in the franchise, then you can play it via the Nintendo Online + Expansion subscription on your Switch or Switch 2. Take the time to do so, and see if you find yourself sharing my sentiments about Metroid Fusion.
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