METROID FUSION REDUX: Corruption & Redemption | GEEK CRITIQUE

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[@DestroyerOfAglets]

...Holy shit, mom, get the camera! I'm in a Geek Critique video? I feel like I've really made it in life! Thanks for the shoutout- and thanks for all the amazing videos you've made over the years! Since I probably won't ever have a better opportunity to say it: you've genuinely changed the way I view video games as a medium, and I enjoy the hobby so much more for it. I've loved Metroid since I layed eyes on it, but I always felt weirdly disconnected from the fandom and the way the games are discussed, especially with Fusion and Prime 1. Hearing you take the words out of my brain and put them into a video made me realize how much i appreciate replayability, skill mastery, and fun-focused games in general. I don't want to sound too dramatic, but you've made my number 1 hobby- and, by extension, a good part of my life- a whole lot more positive and fun. Thank you, Josh, genuinely. Honestly, I forgot I even made that hack all that time ago. I remember a whole lot of copy-pasting while a youtube playlist ran in the background. (Something about... Sonic the Hedgehog? I could be mistaken.) But! I'm glad I did, if only because it got me mentioned in one of your videos. You inspire me not just as a consumer, but as a(n aspiring) creator, as well. -DeeDee P.S.- you're wrong about Sonic Heroes ;p

[@Furluge]

0:03 - You can't just tease me with a good time like that. I'll expect that 14 hour essay on Metroid Fusion on my desk by morning, Covarr.

[@UmbreonMessiah]

That opening joke was chef's kiss. Your thoughts about Fusion are spot on; I don't think I'd be as big a fan of the series were it not for Fusion and Prime. They perfectly encapsulated what Metroid *could* be, which only made me want to find out what it *had been* even more.

[@morganmedrano920]

This was basically going to be my comment so.... [Bump]

[@elibonham4388]

People suck off the prime games there not that good

[@blueberrimuffin6682]

​@@elibonham4388They aren't 10/10 experiences, but I played 1 for the first time on Switch and couldn't put it down. Navigation was a bit of a mess but the world design, upgrades, and controls were amazing, despite the occasionally lacklustre combat and dredge of the artifact hunt (if they were optional they'd probably be great fun). I've seen 2 and 3, not played, but they seem like iterations upon the first with some pros and cons for each title. 2 and 3 just seem like incredibly fun stories with a lot of incredible looking worlds.

[@Davian2073]

Linear games? I don't know, Metroid inspired Metroidvanias, and one common thing about Metroidvanias is its non-linearity, then this game that inspired non-linearity gets a linear sequel, why?

[@Davian2073]

​@@elibonham4388I hate Prime as much as you (they're highly overrated), but the bosses are pretty fun, and an experience unlike any other FPS game

[@pixelatedshinobi2945]

One thing about Fusion that I loved, having watched your video beforehand (it was what got me *INTO* Metroid) was how *aware* it is of it's player and the conventions of the genre. I played in chronological order (Zero Mission, AM2R, Super), and by the time I got to Fusion my Metroidin' skills were tightly honed - I knew what to do in an unfamiliar room, to pick up on hints and item upgrades - and Fusion expected that. There are so many amazing moments in Fusion where doing what you would do in any other Metroid is a *trap* laid for you by the X - shooting randomly around to find the way forward blasts open a crate of Ice-X, a Chozo statue, previously a sign of relief and determination, is a boss. The boiler meltdown alarm nearly threw me out of my chair. Fusion is such a good game to me because it *KNOWS* what you're expecting, both from a story and gameplay perspective, and it uses that as much as it possibly can. You really do feel like Samus if you've played the previous games, because you together have cultivated the same set of expectations and skills - and Metroid Fusion makes that your greatest weakness.

[@LinkMarioSamus]

The stupid thing is those are precisely along the lines I appreciate The Last Jedi even though I don’t actually like the movie that much.

[@nickfifteen]

​@LinkMarioSamus The Last Jedi would've been better as a "Galaxy Quest"-esque parody/homage movie for Star Wars than an actual official movie... placed on the outside where it can criticize but love without the scrutiny of being "official".

[@nickfifteen]

> "how _aware_ it is of it's player and the convention of the genre" My favorite moment of that was the Missile pack that was actually a Mimic. Like, usually lone packs have some kind of puzzle or trap... but ultimately the pack WAS the trap. I remember having a good laugh at that: they knew what they were doing!

[@LinkMarioSamus]

@@nickfifteen The stupid thing is when I actually saw it I just thought it was another Star Wars movie. And even though I didn’t like it the movie still felt far more like what the critics were raving about than what the Internet likes to crap over.

[@rulfus7]

I just now realized that the X knowing what Samus would do makes both sense in the Metroid universe - they analyzed Samus' suit and know everything about her behavior that's recorded in the logs - but also the developers were experienced enough by that time to know the behavior of You, the Player. It's a funny little meta level thing i guess

[@elfrangofrito]

I really appreciate that these redux videos aren't a replacement to the original videos, but rather a complement. These videos were great back in the day and still are today, they don't need to be remade. But sharing how your opinions changed in the series is still very welcome.

[@CappnRob]

The funny thing about Fusion is it’s only explicitly linear as opposed to deceptively. Super does have some sequence breaks and tricks to pull them off by design (namely wall jumps combined with the ice beam), but the majority of Super’s progression is really linear in that it traps you in a small slice of the map and won’t let you out until you find the right item. Fusion does the same thing, it just strips away the smoke and mirrors. Which given the artificial nature of the habitats Fusion takes place in, and the entire direction the story goes in, is all likely very intentional. For me what brings back to Fusion the most is vibes and game feel. Samus isn’t as floaty as her previous encounters but she’s also not as zippy and heavy as she would be in upcoming games. She’s got this graceful chunk to her that makes Fusion unique, expressed through physics and sound design. And the story I think is truly great too, a dark and dangerous tale that ends on an optimistic high note in light of recent tragedies, which is something all Metroid do but Fusion says it out loud for everyone lol.

[@ZeroScore]

Very well said, where's your Metroid Retrospective series? :p

[@CappnRob]

@@ZeroScore trapped behind a lack of technical skill and free time for making essays to begin with :(

[@Kadotus]

Super Metroid has "some" sequence breaks you say? Okay... :D

[@CappnRob]

@@Kadotus I’m talking intended ones put by the developers, so mockball and other exploits that create sequence breaks through glitches don’t count. Super has a very small amount of intended breaks and even smaller still ones that dramatically change the pace of the game, the most notable one being wall kicking for early power bombs once you reach Brinstar Red.

[@lpfan4491]

How intentional a sequencebreak is is very much overrated. I am fairly sure half the walljump-nonsense is not intentional, they just gave us an untested tool and made us go nuts with it, but it works really well. Meanwhile the Zero Mission sequence breaks for instance are very much intentional, but like...they feel clunky and fake by comparison. "You can skip longbeam if you know about this conveniently placed row of shootable tiles from a guide. And the result is not even fun because the game is designed around the range to a rediculous degree"

[@GeekCritique]

The season finale, a feature-length critique of METROID DREAD (seriously it's the longest episode I've ever made), comes out on Monday, December 25! Or... you could unwrap that present early for just $1 on my Patreon! patreon.com/GeekCritique

[@OlaAremu]

A wonderful Christmas gift indeed!

[@Gamingwithahandicap]

I hope next season we get a Zelda retrospective! :)

[@Mac_Omegaly]

I really should play through it. I bought it recently on sale despite absolutely hating the demo (I didn't even feel like finishing that demo) and what the developers did to Metroid 2 messed with established lore and the story of Super, by changing the ending of two made Samus out to be an idiot to leave the baby with the scientists. (These are the same developers who killed Castlevania, who have taken Metroid on this bad path.) I've heard people praise the game, but it's melee counter persisting through from that terrible retcon of 2 just makes me sour. It's like they took the worst parts of Fusion and designed the game around that. But since I haven't played the whole game yet, I can't call it worse than "Other M" definitely until I do. Maybe the demo just is a bad slice of the game? I highly doubt it, but I've not given it the benefit of a basic any % run yet. It feels like the franchise has jumped the shark and isn't for me anymore, and I'm angry about that, which is why I haven't started the game yet. I'm sad that this is likely the future for the franchise and that there's no hope for it to return to it's super roots. It's not a good place to be when trying to be in an open minded assessment of a game people supposedly somehow love.

[@hajilee4539]

I was really hoping this redux would acknowledge the It's Covar rant, it was one of the funniest and most misunderstood parts of the original, glad to see it tackled comedically right off the bat in the intro lol.

[@maitiulynch]

Glad to see Covarr getting another chance lol, that’s some fan service

[@jjtheenton]

There's another Fusion hack called Special Edition that allows for sequence breaks, which can lead to some crazy shenanigans like getting the Plasma Beam before the Wide Beam. It also slightly adjusts the physics to be closer to later titles and improves the map screen. I recommend checking it out whenever you revisit the game.

[@GeekCritique]

Ooh, that sounds good, I will!

[@LoganV3535]

@@GeekCritiqueI’ve played that hack, and honestly, it’s really fun, even if the story kinda, breaks in half, if you sequence break enough. Makes fusion very replayable. Though, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to sequence break at all. The hack plays perfectly fine if you play it as normal. Just, whatever you do, *don’t* go try to get wave beam early without space jump. You can beat the second security robot fight. I managed it, though, I had plasma, charge shot, super missiles, and the varia suit at the time. But if you save down there, you’re just stuck. Escaping the secret Metroid lab before it explodes is dang near impossible without space jump. The only way, is to get a perfect damage boost off the baby Metroid at the very top of the room to reach the platform on the right side next to the exit. And the worst part is that, the baby Metroids spawn randomly. So sometimes you’ll make it to the escape sequence from your save point, and it’s just impossible. Even the person who discovered that trick said he took many many tries to manage it, even with save states. I personally couldn’t manage it at all. Though, I was playing on 3ds, so I didn’t have any save states. This single point is the worst part of the entire hack. Everything else about it is great. You can even get the 100% ending if you get power bombs early from an upgrade and the game says you’re still missing one upgrade on the map screen! It’s a great hack, but just. Don’t lose your first save file by trying to go grab the wave beam early without space jump, like I did.

[@cato3277]

I found it a little prone to soft locks but it's really fun. I got stuck in an SAX section, and after I left the chase music never stopped playing. Save states are a definite must.

[@ParmMannREBORN]

Ooooh maybe I'll have to download that hack if I ever get a hankering to replay Fusion

[@gigabyte2248]

Another hack for replayability: there's a Metroid Fusion randomiser! No story, the only objectives are to collect the missiles, charge beam and plasma beam, release level 4 locks, then defeat the SA-X and do the ending sequence.

[@jacobmonks3722]

Fusion is the best story in Metroid. Both for what it does to develop Samus, and for how it subverts the ideas of Super. Amazingly, I love it about as much as that legendary classic because it does so well to create its own identity and evolve what Metroid can do.

[@LinkMarioSamus]

At the very least it’s the best linear Metroid.

[@MaximumPayine]

I have to agree on the story aspect but I'd go as far as to say it is up there with Super Metroid in terms of building up player tension. Metroid Dread severely lacks in this unfortunately

[@lpfan4491]

@@MaximumPayine I never played Dread thus far(I'd eventually like to, but I am on a major Xenoblade-grind, so it won't be any time soon), but I eventually ended up nearly fullspoiled by pure accident. From what I have seen, it is in its bones essencially Fusion over again, except filtered through the powerfantasy of Samus Returns. It is pretty obvious why exactly it does not reach the same amount of Tension(and ironically, dread) by default.

[@BigHailFan]

The throwing shade at Covarr was beautiful.

[@SdudyoyO]

Fusion was my first 2D Metroid, I later went on to play Zero Mission, and then Super. But before Super, I confidently claimed that Fusion was one of my favorite games, and each time I tried to play Super, I'd find myself lost or bored until it finally just clicked with me. But once Super clicked with me, I had a far harder time getting Fusion to click with me. The simpler structure was PERFECT for the Metroid novice like I was -- While I got into the series thanks to the Prime games, Fusion was the first I ever completed, and I was hooked for life. But that simple structure makes it hard to go back to with a Post-Super mindset. I still enjoy what Fusion does, and there are things about it that I enjoy more than Super -- But it doesn't offer everything I've come to love from the series, much like how I find it hard to replay Prime 3, but can replay Prime 1/2 any day, I can replay Super or Dread any time, but I haven't found myself coming back to Fusion in a while. Fusion has only become harder for me to love, when Dread took its ideas and concepts and evolved them beyond what Fusion could possibly do while taking some of what made Super great as well. It's a game I recommend any Metroid fan pick up and play, and I especially recommend it as an introduction to the series -- But I also can't say that I plan to play it again anytime soon. The problem with that is most games can get me to play them, but I can only truly love the ones that get me to _replay_ them.

[@kevinfromsales9445]

I remember really liking Fusion but that was because I didn't like or didn't understand Metroidvanias. But now that I do like Metroidvanias I don't like Fusion, not because it's linear, cause some of the best games ever are linear, but because it's kinda boring... The world, the music, the enemies and power ups were so much more memorable in Super than in Fusion. Samus controls better, the bosses are varied and has a better narrative in Fusion but I really just wasn't enjoying the game as much I remembered, it's really weird but now I do think Super is just a bit better than Fusion.

[@tracesosebee5485]

Fusion was my first metroid game, and I loved it. If you play the Open Randomizer, you have a lot more of that exploration challenge. Soft locks are a real possibility, but if you've gotten 100% in the base game, the randomizer very good for replay value.

[@eletricsaberman8916]

When games like this start to feel like they're losing replayability, grab a randomizer. They extend replayability to near infinity, as long as you like the puzzle of figuring out where the next progression item is.

[@cookiestar3069]

Lmao! Love that intro callback. I got into Metroid through your videos, and Fusion was my first. I’m equally bad at navigation and I STILL need guidance every time I return to it! Also, you’ve made references to Wario Land over the years, and I’d LOVE to see your critique of ‘em. Wario Land 4 is so damn good.

[@TempoTronica]

I think with Kovarr, it was mostly the tone. I didn't really think he sold the fact that it was a joke. Speaking as an autistic, I understand how it happened. Tone is tough sometimes, and people have a tendency to tone police those of us who struggle with it. That being said, he absolutely nailed the line, "did I seriously just download missiles?"

[@RobinLSL]

I played through Fusion not so long ago, and felt it was "lots of mini-metroids" and really enjoyed it while looking at it that way.

[@superfriends-sammy]

Love Fusion and agree with what you said. Fusion is a masterpiece BECAUSE destroying the series roots is the theme of the game.

[@Leee275]

"An *insult* to the franchise's roots, but that's *not* a bad thing". The wording here makes no sense.

[@user-be3qc7re9o]

​@Leee275 The term "insult" was a poor choice of words, but it should be seen in a loose term compared to what people consider to be "sacred." Often times, fans are so bent on franchises being executed a certain way that people become shortsighted as to what makes a game fun.

[@foxeye245]

I’ve replayed Fusion more than any other Metroid game, and I do it while reading all the dialogue. To me, Fusion is like a good book that needs to be read at a slow pace. Although I do speedrun it, it being one of the only games I do.

[@RainbowMan9407]

Fusion is currently my favorite Metroid game. I've only played Zero Mission, AM2R, and Super otherwise (and haven't replayed them yet), so I'll have to see how well it holds up for me.

[@GBDupree]

Zero Mission is my favorite! It's because I replayed it that I was able to see the beauty of it, as its surprisingly open with a lot of fun tricks. Fusion was the next game I played afterwards, and I really enjoyed it despite its differences, but the lack of flexibility hurts it (but the challenge keeps it fun to come back to). Zero Mission is fun because Sequence Breaking is built into the game; Fusion is interesting because Sequence Breaking is built into the story, though its sadly missing in the gameplay. I find Super requires some knowledge on glitches and exploits to really enjoy its sequence breaking, but Zero Mission feels more natural (though you may end up still researching what is possible to save time). So that's the game I would replay first, since Zero Mission is both easier to play, and easier to sequence break. Plus, it keeps track with its endings if you beat it faster, 100%, or even 15% (the real challenge of the game that will make you appreciate its design). Like you can get Varia suit early (though to make it WAY easier, wait until Power Grip) and then find a way to beat Ridley before Kraid. You could also find ways to get other things early as well or skip items entirely. But it plays so different just doing Ridley first that I would recommend that first before trying 15%.

[@RainbowMan9407]

@@GBDupree Thanks!

[@Covarr]

When I try to be posutive about Fusion but get shut down 🧐

[@SirSicCrusader]

Enjoying these, reminds me of back in the day watching you grow from these videos (I cant believe its been such a long time), great work my dude!

[@mrsirperson9656]

The fusion video was actually the first one of yours I ever saw. And as you talked about, I saw the “corruption of a masterpiece” subtitle and groaned, thinking it would be a video about how fusion ruins what made super Metroid great. I immediately realized how wrong I was when I watched it, then I proceeded to binge watch the entire Metroid series.

[@chibacityblues2003]

I adore the work you put into the fake Covar video essay description is incredible. “This video is brought to you by Don’tShareSkills” is one of the best jokes of the year!

[@Covarr]

Fun fact: Josh actually let me write and edit that entire section myself. Everything up until he takes the microphone is 100% me. I made it my goal to jam it with as much hyperactive editing and fast paced jokes as possible, to make the style a complete mismatch from Josh's usual editing style.

[@jwbstuhr]

I still don't know how you manage to get me emotional over Metroid every single time, but you do. Your content is endlessly enjoyable to rewatch and I love the constant re-evaluation and searching for ways to appreciate games, even if you don't fully enjoy what they do (i.e. Metroid Prime). Not many people on the internet in general are willing to do that, and it makes your content stand out all the better. Thank you for being so dedicated to the games you cover and for boosting my own fandom of Metroid higher than it ever was before your original Metroid critique series. Also, that was a hilarious opening.

[@JasonBoyce]

the same-ness of the SA-X encounters was definitely the impetus for Dread. Clearly they wanted to do more but the GBA didn't have the juice. A remake of this game with the SA-X free-roaming the station and able to chase you like Alien: Isolation would be amazing 😂

[@poohdini2392]

And the Emmis are kind of a disappointment in that regard. They also have these designated zones and all which removes the fear and tension

[@DragoRidley17]

​@@poohdini2392 Agreed. The SA-X was terrifying the first time you played the game. Even if she showed up in the same location every time, there's zero indication of what those times are on the first playthrough. The EMMI? Have a giant glowing door before their area that screams "Prepare to be annoyed for this section of the game!" Dread is still amazing, but damn do those things suck

[@poohdini2392]

@@DragoRidley17 True. The thing about Fusion is that I believe it's not really supposed to be replayed. Or rather they put their all into the first playthrough. That's where the fear of the SA-X really shines. You are in constant paranoia of encountering it, which would be your death sentence if it were to happen. There is a scene of a "custom" made Metroid Fusion game, where you would go up an elevator, then have to go to the right in order to advance but it takes a little while to leave the room. Meanwhile you can see how the elevator goes down so someone must have summoned it. A few seconds later and you see how the SA-X is coming up, while you barely manage to leave the room in time. That is the type of stuff I want to see in a possible Metroid Fusion remake.

[@DragoRidley17]

@@poohdini2392 Bruh, that is some RE3 Nemesis level terror. I'm absolutely here for it

[@MaximumPayine]

@@DragoRidley17 After all the praise I kept hearing about Metroid Dread, I thought that there wasn't anyone who felt a little disappointed by the direction Dread went. Nice to know there were others.

[@theinfantmetroid]

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOURE DOING MAN, DONT YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME????? NEVER AGAIN" cracked me up so hard 😭

[@Garchompers]

The redux videos continue to be fun additions to the original season, and fun hearing Covarr show up again briefly.

[@DirtyMike124x]

Appreciate your work man

[@dfed324]

I can't believe it's been 7 years since your initial Fusion video.

[@Turo602]

Came here to write my piece on Metroid Fusion and it's incredible just how many people in the comments are just taking the words out of my mouth and just how many of us were not only introduced to Metroid with Fusion, but all seem to appreciate and understand it in pretty much the same way.

[@anthonytamuzza591]

Funnily enough I was rewatching the original Fusion video you made last night and the Covar section of both of these is night and day.

[@ravingraven2522]

I'm half a year late,, but I'm so happy to see both this redux series and the Dread critique show up! Also GODDAMN you can't just hit me with a PSO Ep. 3 jumpscare like that! That's still my favorite card game!

[@TempoTronica]

Ok, so to Destroyer Of Aglets in your discord who made that mod. "Yeah, fair enough," had me audibly laughing. Thank you, Destroyer Of Aglets

[@DestroyerOfAglets]

Not a sir, but I'm glad you enjoyed it! It was definitely a shock to see it mentioned all this time later, hahaha

[@TempoTronica]

@@DestroyerOfAglets correction noted and updated.

[@DestroyerOfAglets]

@@TempoTronica I appreciate it!

[@LAP-bd7oi]

Nah, to me the best was Samus reaction, she's like "Wow, it was that easy? I didn't expect it to work"

[@robertlauncher]

Very excited for Dread. It may be my favorite of the series. Samus just controls so well and that flow combined with her new moves redefine what the character is capable of for me. It no longer feels like I’m just mindlessly blasting at stuff or maybe aiming for one weakness. Combat feels so alive and intense.

[@aeroditesonicgaming279]

Glad you finally revisited my favorite Metroid game, I costantly replay this game (and your 2016 Metroid videos) at least a couple times a year, I always love it and only recently did I go out of my way to get the best ending which I proud of my self for getting. Heres hoping the Dreas video goes on my yearly video rewatch list

[@davesouza86]

You know it's funny how things line up sometimes. I've been on such a Metroid kick lately and now these videos pop up on my feed!

[@Thor-the-BlueBoy]

Fusion was my first exposure to you, Josh; Oh, and Covarr as well. His introduction to this video was amazing and I REALLY wanted to hear more!

[@CheeseMonkey18]

I looked up a speedrunning guide and got 100% in just around 2 hours when it dropped on the Switch Online service. It’s still my favorite Metroid game after all these years, and I think it’s because of the perfect pace from beginning to end, and how it’s constantly keeping you guessing, and how the action is so tight and fun. Super Metroid is probably a close second for me for different reasons.

[@itsukich.1077]

This is the nicest way I've seen anyone say Fusion isn't as replayable as other entries, and I mean that in a good way. Fusion was my introduction to the series and I replay it every year to capture that feeling I had playing it growing up the way others replay Super. Its ambient music, powerful enemies, and the game stressing how powerless you are is what I think made it nail the horror aspect that I think was missing from Dread. The E.M.M.I are terrifying from a gameplay perspective on a first-time playthrough but I think they lack presence in the game's plot compared to the SA-X. By the end, they're like obstacles and nuisances in the way of your fight with the final boss. This is how I felt comparing Fusion to Dread after my first playthrough back in 2021, but I wouldn't be surprised if my next Dread playthrough changes my mind on things. I think the reason why I defend Fusion outside of my nostalgia for it is that it's the fans' punching bag for arguing why linearity is inherently bad for the Metroid series. As Super's follow-up, like you said, it's the anti-Super Metroid. Your gameplay freedom is gone in favor of a more cohesive narrative and an even more difficult game to get through. If anything, Fusion showed Metroid could go somewhere new instead of repeating the Super Metroid formula for each future entry. I love this game and can admit it's flawed because at the end of the day, it's a fun game that I think people should try without letting any negative bias color their judgement on a first playthrough. I will be that person, but after wanting to get the definitive experience playing Metroid on the NES by isolating yourself from the internet, I'm baffled by why you didn't take the same approach playing Fusion even with its narrative interrupting the gameplay. Like you said, it's part of the experience. Not a deal breaker for the retrospective, just a nitpick. Anyway, dumb ramblings aside keep doing what you're doing man. Your Metroid reviews are fantastic and I enjoy them far more than other critiques I've seen on here because they've shown me new ways to appreciate the series that I would have never though about on my own.

[@hockeycrafter6086]

Wow It’s really been 7 years since I first took a shot at Covarr in the comments. Good times

[@Hutch2Much]

fusion was the second metroid game i played after dread. i love it so much, it’s what really made me a fan of the series. i will say it hold ur hand a bit more than necessary, but id rather that over wondering aimlessly with literally no idea where to go. pair that with the gorgeous visuals and captivating story, and yeah. fusion is awesome.

[@luciantendogaming]

I still remember more than 20 years ago that Nov17 and Nov 18 2002 i was 16 and for my birthday my mom got me Metroid fusion with a GBA SP and with my first job i bought myself my first console the Game Cube platinum color this was in Circuit City RIP good old days and the game cube was bundle with 2 free games one of them been Metroid Prime and the other i picked Eternal Darkness.... Ohhhhh all i can do right now is just think back on the good old days as Christmas birthdays and all those things will never be the same ever again...... Well merry Christmas to everyone and God Bless you all 🙏 😊

[@benortiz8702]

This game holds a special place in my heart, it got me into the series, and was how I found this channel and became one of my favorites

[@benortiz8702]

It’s also the only game I tried to speedrun

[@Redmage913]

Fusion was the second Metroid I finished, but it was my first 2D I truly got invested in. Prime was first, and it honestly feels like a hybrid between the classic and Fusion approach with what to do next. I usually turn that off in Prime, but play the randomizer primarily. To anyone using the randomizer - change the door locks. Makes for a whole new adventure, especially with two-way randomized elevators to still play glitchless, but with new variety.

[@deshawnwilliams503]

That opening was amazing.

[@evgenyti3250]

I love Fusion with a passion and it's absolutely my favourite Metroid game, but seeing that stupid bomb block room before you unlock red doors mentioned still brought me vindication because I always get tripped up there even on replays

[@dkabot]

Oh dear, that opening

[@drunkenskunkproductionsdsp8094]

Samus: "Open the hatch!" Adam: "...Yeah, fair enough." PFFT

[@dmoney8963]

I have always thought and still do that fusions replayability was more connected to the speedrun aspect where it’s less of a matter of routing and more how you can improve your execution throughout to get faster and faster And I still love the narrative 😅

[@jonesthemoblin1400]

I'm not letting that Star Trek terminology go without comment. I see you TGC.

[@GenericSoda]

Over time I think what makes Fusion so divisive is that it's basically an action game with an unusual structure. The boss designs were the series' best until Dread, which makes sense as it's a successor to Fusion.

[@goddess-of-wisdom5790]

I like fusion a lot, and share in the lack of instant replay issues, but playing Fusion randomizers absolutely changed that for me. You can set your own skill ceiling, get items totally out of order, and it’s just a blast to play

[@stevep9177]

You haven't played Metroid Fusion until you played Samus Goes To The Fridge To Get A Glass Of Milk

[@motherrearthbound26]

You ever considered being a voice actor? That intro is the most insanely realistic portrayal on god.

[@Superfirefox1996]

Fusion is probably the Metroid game I've replayed most (except for Dread), and it's actually for all the reasons you listed it wasn't as replayable. Even though all that tension and fear were only going to be at their height during my first playthrough, I love reliving the story, I love following the same actions, and I like getting better and faster at it the more I do it! But even though I've gotten much better at the Yakuza gauntlet...yeah, I still hate that thing. XD

[@netsendjoe]

I loved Metroid Fusion. I didn't get to play it until many years after its release. Then I played Corruption for awhile and enjoyed it. After that I discovered that there was a lot of hype regarding the unreleased Metroid Dread and people were creating their own stories on FanFiction. It all just really got me obsessed with the lore.

[@StormsparkPegasus]

My Metroid Fusion battery just died. Fortunately I have a cart reader and had dumped my safe before that happened. Replaced the battery with a battery holder, so the next time it needs replaced it'll be easy.

[@tetermc]

4:26 Clever transition

[@alanherbethe7338]

While this game isn't in my top 5 of the franchise and I still haven't decided if I like it more than Dread, there is something I think is really cool about this game: the Charge Beam. Here it does more damage if you shoot next to an enemy. I wish this mechanic had been used instead of the counter in SR and Dread, as it feels more in character, I think.

[@GBDupree]

yeah, I think its explained by the Arm cannon overheating and that being the exhaust, but its cool that it adds a hitbox that covers directly in front of you. It really would be a great alternative to the counters, as it already covers the same area in front of you. Its not super useful in Fusion, but making it stun enemies like the counter would make it more interesting.

[@AsparagusEduardo]

Oh man, I distinctively remember going out of my way to comment in the first Fusion video to say "screw you covarr". I like to think I've become more chill since then 😅

[@jprn3024]

Fusion has the best reasoning for Samus losing her powers

[@mop6064]

Hey man, love ur vids. I didn't know I wasn't subbed to you, thought I was. Your vids are great. I remember you had a clip from DBZ where piccolo goes "I can win, I feel great, I can do this!." and you corrected me when I thought it was just a joke abridged made up. Keep up the good work man!

[@Retrblu]

I got around to playing this when it came out on switch online last march and despite being probably the second weakest out of the 5 2d metroids I've played (used zero mission and Samus returns for 1 and 2) I still think it's a great game and goes to show how great and consistent 2D metroid has been that the weaker games are still a great experience Also the opening gag definitely got a good laugh out of me, excited to see the dread video this Christmas!

[@Iandar1]

There’s actually a single sequence break in the water area after the nightmare fight. It’s a tough one that requires mastery of the shine spark.

[@MarceloOmegaAGDM]

The fun way to play is doing a 1% run. The game.becomes an action packed adrenaline rush, with the stealth being really scary and bosses being really challenging

[@AB1138-]

Fusion was also my first Metroid. Such beautiful artwork, the pinnacle of colorful late 90s-early 00s artstyle imo.

[@rroadagain2810]

Fusion was my first foray into Metroid, and it's... interesting. Metroid, as mentioned in the NES Metroid video, is a series that should get better as you play it multiple times, and it has this built-in reward for speedrunning it. I've done that exact thing for Zero Mission and Fusion. And while I would absolutely say that Zero Mission does it better, in the way a Metroid game should, that is, learning ways to break sequence and learn where and how to get upgrades... the fact that Fusion cuts out the sequence break half made it much easier for me to get into, at least initially. I think that mirrors the hypothetical first experience you brought up too. It's like Fusion is made to be "baby's first Metroid" in a way.

[@onionbrotm570]

This is actually my first Metroid game, and before I got my hands on fusion, I was a huge fan of Castlevania games. I had a ton of playthroughs under my belt of Aria of sorrow, Harmony of dissonance, Symphony of the night and a little bit of Circle of Moon, I even got some "hard mode" romhacks for the GBA titles to spice up the experience. Fusion reminded me of those games and it warmed up to me instantly and despite the similarities this game is its own beast. I don't think there is a reason to hate it because it's "different" than all the other metroid games, Fusion is fun and that is all that should matter.

[@ModelAAA90]

This is it… the final stop on this train ride… Dread is the next station. (Nice Covar cameo btw)

[@CarbonRollerCaco]

When you think about it, Metroid Fusion was really the only sane type of sequel that could then be made to Super Metroid for both story and gameplay. The Metroids are all dead, and Samus is pretty much at the peak of her power, so for her to be challenged any further would require something to bypass that power, yet the Metroids still need to remain significant somehow, plus the whole deal with the Galactic Federation had yet to be strongly explored within an actual Metroid game. And Metroid I had already done freeform area-revisiting gameplay quite well, Metroid II did the same for linear area-by-area play and Super Metroid was somewhere in the middle, so to revolutionize would mean pushing everything at once to the extreme and somehow have it work. The new enemy being a copycat parasite that the Metroids were created to counter was clearly the foundation for supporting all of this, with a resulting idea of a nigh-unfightable mega-deadly hunter type of enemy being leaned more into in Dread and also helping to support the rest of that game's structure being between Super's and Fusion's, while the situation with the Adam computer would both support Dread's structure and invite the creation of a still-more story-oriented acrobatic 3D prequel to Fusion in the form of Other M, execution not withstanding for that last one, leaving the Prime games to handle stuff about the Chozo and the Space Pirates in the interim between I and II as well as more immersive 3D play. Interesting how Metroid pretty much wrote itself as it went along.

[@DennisEngelhard]

My favourite part of Fusion is when all lights turn red, the alarm starts howling and the loudspeaker repeats "emergency in sector 3" over and over... and then Adam locks me in a room until I talk to him so he can tell me that there seems to be an emergency in sector 3. Y'know, there's breadcrumbing, there's signposting, there's handholding... and then there is whatever the hell that was.

[@jonzales333]

I did have Phantasy Star Online 3 on my 2023/24 bingo card, but hell that throwback hit so hard my arm hurts.

[@davidconlee2196]

I definitely prefer the invisible hand of Super Metroid and the feeling that I can choose where to go and what to do, but I still love Fusion and am glad they made this and showed us there are many ways to make a great metroid game

[@lilsoonerfaninmo]

That opening joke was perfection

[@zachc7111]

Every time I hear you talk about what games you like, I hope you do a series on Dark Souls

[@mushman1395]

Still my favorite Metroid game. I don't mind the more linear structure and the atmosphere is amazing

[@seanewing204]

Feels weird to se you cranking these out, but awesome at the same time.

[@bhizzle64]

I think the note about hidden walls is even more true if you are going for 100%. A ridiculous amount of fusion’s optional items are hidden behind invisible passageways where you just have to throw yourself at every wall in the game to find. Between that and the fixed sequence. I think fusion is definitely one of the least replayable games in the series.

[@Yellowpikachu1]

Ok but I would like that video essay from him. Just to see what he would actually say

[@darkchild130]

This and Zero Mission are the best Metroid games imo.

[@thefizzwizz1662]

1: I replay Fusion all the time, specifically for the purpose to beat the game faster and faster to get the best ending. You can't sequence break in the game and I can understand that being a turn off to other Metroid fans, but when you pull out the scope of replaying games outside of Fusion, games like Super and Dread and Zero Mission have way more sequence breaks but once you experience them and master them, the only reason to go back to those games is the exact same reason one would go back to Fusion, time attack. Getting the best ending and the fastest time with the most items collected. Fusion is definitely smaller in scope than these other games due to the lack of sequence breaking, but I wouldn't say it's less replayable than the others due to it requiring a more specific demand of mastery in it's levels and controls. 2: If you really wanna gain a new appreciation for Fusion's level design and mechanical mastery, I HIGHLY suggest you try the Randomizer. Idk if randomizers are you're thing or not but the Fusion Randomizer definitely breathes new life into the game and really shows the potential in how the game can be stretched in new ways just like any other Metroid game.

[@bookishdelight]

2:42 4:25 ...oh, so we ARE the same person. 😂 I grabbed a Switch OLED and finally cracked open the copy of Dread that I'd been putting off for over a year (one could say I'd been _dreading_ it, for reasons) and _wow._ Not only is my mind utterly blown in ways I never expected, I now absolutely can guess at least a few reasons why this redux season exists as a leadup to the Dread review proper (at least for non-patreon folks). I'm going to take my time and savor the ride, but I also can't wait until I finish so I can sink my teeth into your take. :sunglasses: -Covarr did nothing wrong and everything right, and continues to-

[@autismandgaming4532]

Monday can't come soon enough

[@ximrodriguezx]

One main improvement in Fusion that wasn’t mentioned was the Item Hunt. Way more interesting puzzles, and Shinespark was great.

[@epsilonthedragon1249]

TGC needs to experience item randomizers.

[@TwilightWolf032]

"Metroid Fusion is an insult to the franchise's roots" Metroid Other M joined the chat. Metroid Fusion left the chat.

[@Covarr]

Federation Force joined the chat

[@Goodfella097]

Damn I love this game, I was 5 when it came out and I've been a fan of this franchise ever since.

[@Davian2073]

There's a patch called "Sequence Breaking" that allows Bomb Jumping and Wall-Jumping, just like Super Metroid, and it's pretty fun getting the Power-Bomb, early, because from there on, you can go anywhere you want, and not listen to Adam. There's even a ROMhack which uses this patch and also fixes the story

[@senor-achopijo3841]

Fusion was my first Metroid game, though at the time I didn't really know what to do with it (I was like 8 back then). Unfortunately, I would dismiss the Metroid series for 15 years before I tried Zero Mission and fell in love with it. Today, Metroid is one of my absolute favorite video game franchises ever and Super Metroid is one of the four video games I recommend everyone to play at least once in their lives (the others are Zelda: A Link to the Past, Megaman X and Chrono Trigger).

[@NoahEurich]

I’ll admit, I had no idea that Covarr’s opinions in the original weren’t authentic. But now that I do, it permanently reshapes how I perceive the last part of the original video. It’s actually quite the plot twist.

[@Covarr]

I genuinely didn't like the game (albeit didn't loathe it either; that was cartoonist exaggerated), but not really for the reasons presented in the video. Josh had already mentioned all my reasons in the script and I didn't want to repeat him, so I ended up coming up with some reasons that were, frankly, hot BS. Now I've come to like the game a lot better though, once I accepted the game for what it was actually trying to be rather than what I wished it was.

[@scottdarrington6009]

I love the story in Fusion! It's nothing super huge, but it's meaningful and feeds into the story of the series overall and especially Dread. Really excited to see the video on that.

[@wariodude128]

To me, Metroid Fusion is the true Wario Land 3 sequel I was hoping for instead of what we got in the game Japan calls Wario Land Advance. As someone who considers Wario Land 3 my top game of all time, even writing an essay about it then doing a reading of said essay on my channel, that says a lot. Just a shame RD1 was basically shuttered after it was made though.

[@yourmother7845]

I just beat fusion again for the 50th time still my favorite Metroid game. Partially because I can finish it in a couple of hours. Also it was the first Metroid game I ever played.

[@GoandLove]

Covar will never get our forgiveness 😂

[@niclaswa5408]

I apologize, Covarr, for writing a 20 page essay on why you’re wrong and not understanding it was a joke.

[@johandori7795]

Okay, so like, I actually WOULD like to see a full length thing by the non-caricature Covarr about Metroid Fusion, to learn his take on it, in general and nowadays particularly. I think I remember seeing briefly in one of your videos that he has a youtube channel (Was it your og Fusion review?), so does anyone think he'd do anything like that?

[@Covarr]

I do, and I've considered it! Mostly I just stream but I've been considering making more scripted videos. Right now the only Fusion thing on my channel is me barely beating the timer on that cooling unit bit.

[@Farmeryeti]

Fusion was my first Metroid game, at least that I finished. When Prime came out I was stil young enough to "get" it and bounced off pretty quickly. I discovered Fusion long afterwards when I was in high school and *ahem* acquired a completely legitimate version online *ahem* to sate my curiousity. The game being as linear and straightforward as it was was a big plus in my book at the time. I didn't have the patience something like Super Metroid would have needed from me so I could actually keep playing. Plus the story being so at the forefront of the thing meant I could actually get interested in Metroid's story, well what little there is. Now I've played all of the 2D Metroids (though I've only finished Fusion, Zero Mission, Dread and Super). Prime is still a big gap in my Metroiding but I'll get to it eventually I'm sure.

[@LinkMarioSamus]

Lol I wish you understood the movie references in the games, like how Samus demanding the computer to open the doors is inspired by Space Odyssey. Argh, I guess based on Other M’s opening Samus is the Starchild lol.