CJC
07-12-2013, 02:37 AM
I recently revisited Metroid Fusion, AND I played Metroid Zero Mission for the first time.
First, some background info. I first played Metroid Fusion a few years ago when I borrowed it from a friend. It was the very first Metroid game I ever played, and I was absolutely awed by the experience. I later acquired Super Metroid on the Wii and played it thoroughly, but Fusion held a special place in my heart.
It seems that place was 'first game nostalgia', though, because my revisit to the game was quite disappointing. From Super Metroid I learned several sneaky tricks, such as how to bomb jump and wall jump like a boss, as well as shinespark and mock ball tactics (I even broke sequence the second time through the game by mock balling to get super missiles before Spore Spawn, wall jumping up the shaft before Maridia to get Power Bombs before Kraid, and mock balling again to get the freeze ray before the speed booster). But in Metroid, the Bomb Jump is completely disabled (bombs have no effect on Samus's morph ball while in midair), and the recoil from the Wall Jump is so severe that it has no practical applications in the game. It was almost as if Fusion was punishing me for learning the tricks of Super Metroid.
Metroid Zero Mission, on the other hand, practically encouraged these little tricks. There were even several engaging puzzles (that I'll admit I googled) involving extending the duration of the speed booster with repeated shinesparks. It was a very rewarding experience. I also got lost less frequently in Zero Mission, as the game's design really pointed you in the right direction (it certainly helped that the Chozo statues actually POINTED you in the right direction). Fusion, on the other hand, would move you through the game by trapping you in a region and forcing you to locate secret paths, many of which are very difficult to spot. It was actually quite frustrating, particularly because the game did not have an x-ray scope.
Don't get me wrong, Fusion still has quite an impressive storyline. Zero Mission has way more polish, though, and is the more memorable game overall.
So, if you've played the Metroid series, which game is your favorite? And if you haven't, start with Zero Mission! ...Or maybe you should start with Fusion, since it utilizes the crazy tricks the least and can introduce you to the series with the most ease.
First, some background info. I first played Metroid Fusion a few years ago when I borrowed it from a friend. It was the very first Metroid game I ever played, and I was absolutely awed by the experience. I later acquired Super Metroid on the Wii and played it thoroughly, but Fusion held a special place in my heart.
It seems that place was 'first game nostalgia', though, because my revisit to the game was quite disappointing. From Super Metroid I learned several sneaky tricks, such as how to bomb jump and wall jump like a boss, as well as shinespark and mock ball tactics (I even broke sequence the second time through the game by mock balling to get super missiles before Spore Spawn, wall jumping up the shaft before Maridia to get Power Bombs before Kraid, and mock balling again to get the freeze ray before the speed booster). But in Metroid, the Bomb Jump is completely disabled (bombs have no effect on Samus's morph ball while in midair), and the recoil from the Wall Jump is so severe that it has no practical applications in the game. It was almost as if Fusion was punishing me for learning the tricks of Super Metroid.
Metroid Zero Mission, on the other hand, practically encouraged these little tricks. There were even several engaging puzzles (that I'll admit I googled) involving extending the duration of the speed booster with repeated shinesparks. It was a very rewarding experience. I also got lost less frequently in Zero Mission, as the game's design really pointed you in the right direction (it certainly helped that the Chozo statues actually POINTED you in the right direction). Fusion, on the other hand, would move you through the game by trapping you in a region and forcing you to locate secret paths, many of which are very difficult to spot. It was actually quite frustrating, particularly because the game did not have an x-ray scope.
Don't get me wrong, Fusion still has quite an impressive storyline. Zero Mission has way more polish, though, and is the more memorable game overall.
So, if you've played the Metroid series, which game is your favorite? And if you haven't, start with Zero Mission! ...Or maybe you should start with Fusion, since it utilizes the crazy tricks the least and can introduce you to the series with the most ease.